Starting my Rokmil Fitness Journey
Let me introduce myself. I am a fitness dabbler, and I have an on-again, off-again relationship with working out. I’ve sampled the world of at-home workouts like a frequent visitor at a buffet, filled my fitness plate with 30-day shreds, celebrity trainer videos, weekly-routine yoga videos by 80s film stars, and streaming-service yoga videos by Instagram-trending instructors. I learned to run with couch-to-5K and took a Zumba class once – the jumping triggered an asthma attack. I didn’t go back.
When quarantines set in, my small efforts became less. I work from home, leaving only to go to the grocery store.
My muscles began to stiffen.
My lower back tightened into a hard knot that sleeping did not ease.
At first, I tossed my jeans into the discard pile because who needed them when people were only seeing me on Zoom? Later, I quietly folded my jeans and tucked them out of sight because who needed the reminder of what no longer fit?
Discovering Rokmil Fitness
When I discovered Rokmil, it seemed fun but intimidating. I’ve been on this fitness journey a long time, long enough to know that I am seriously out of shape. I’d tried an at-home abs workout a week before I found the program and I couldn’t last five minutes.
So that’s me, and where I started. And I did start, despite feeling nervous. I tried Rokmil and journaled my experience so that you can see what it’s like to try Rokmil if you’re like me – looking for a way to get moving, but anxious about how far you’ve let things go.
My first experience with Rokmil
Day 1: November 30th
It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving, and I am super nervous. I haven’t worked out in ages. I have become quarantine lazy. I work out to videos on YouTube. I pause and catch my breath a lot. Like, a lot. I don’t keep pushing when it’s tough.
Because I was nervous, I requested as much information as possible. I don’t know too much about Rokmil. I know that it requires a Rok, and I don’t have one. I know that the moves are supposed to be natural, but my natural state of movement currently is sitting on a chair for work, and then sitting on a couch to veg out. Not great.
So, I asked to see a video to prepare myself for what “natural” looked like. Milton kindly sent me two. But then I was too nervous to watch them.
So here I am, fifteen minutes before class, nervous and ill-prepared. I’m in exercise clothes but also a jacket because my apartment is cold and there is snow outside of my window – looking at it, I feel even more isolated and chilled. The most I have done is listen to the instructions Milton sent me:
“Because this is your first session today and especially considering that you’re doing remotely, keep in mind the objective is for you and your body to get acclimated to the movements. It’s not to keep up with us, it’s not to keep up with the competition or even really challenge yourself in that way. It is for acclimation, alright?
You completely govern yourself. Any time you encounter pain you stop what you’re doing. Get away from that movement. Either do something else, modify the movement, or simply get and start dancing. What’s important is that you keep it moving. Most people in their first time modify anywhere between 50-80%. And 100% modification is all good.
Listen to my instructions and watch what we do for the form. I’ll also be calling out parts of the body. I want you to visualize that part driving the movement.
I hope you have something that’s suitable enough for the Rok. If we end up doing something that’s not suitable for you obviously don’t do it. Try not to push yourself really hard because that’s not what today’s about. It’s about your body getting acclimated.”
Okay, four things. Not too many. Acclimate, self-govern, find a stand-in Rok, and listen. I get started with my small step stool at my feet.
But do I listen?
I sure don’t.
If you’ve ever been in a room where people are dancing and the energy is so good you just start moving before you know the steps, you’ll understand. You get caught up. As soon as I connect to the Zoom session, I feel the energy, and good vibes coming through. Milton is there with his class. Everyone’s dancing and looking good. Confident. Mindfully connected to their bodies. So, I jump, I squat, I plank to the music.
I watch and follow. I snatch my coat off because, whew, I am hot. Using a step stool in my house instead of a Rok is working out better than I expected. I place my hands on it and plank, jump into a squat, plank again. It feels like I am right there with everyone. I’m going strong to the music and then I feel it.
Muscles rippling, warming, hell – talking to me.
I fumble. But then I hear Milton call out “hamstrings!” I focused on the muscle and pulled my leg up. I kick along with the class. Ah-ha! Much easier if I listen.
I remember what Milton told me. I take stock of what hurts, ease up, slow down. He gave me that permission, I remember. Then I give that permission to myself as well. I have to take it slow and I have to be okay with it. Acclimate, I say to myself. Just try to acclimate.
The workout itself was in manageable sets. I can’t say how many exercises because I wasn’t keeping track, but there was always a good rest and a water break in between. I sweated more than I have in months. I really moved my body. I also flopped out, rested, and spent a good deal of time calling out to Jesus. But I made it through.
At the end of that first session, I was too tired to shower. I had to rest. But after resting and cooling off, I felt good. Energized. Most importantly, not too intimidated or exhausted to continue.