AN – This is based on my adult gymnastics class both pre-COVID, and during the first UK lockdown.
As a child, Fee Grantham had trained competitively in gymnastics, stopping at the age of twelve. At eighteen, Fee had started a mixed ability, adult-only gymnastics class where you could work independently on your own things, but there were coaches there that you could ask for help if you wanted it. Most of the other gymnasts would also spot you if you asked.
When the UK went into lockdown, Fee had joined her boyfriend, Fermat Hackenbacker, on Tracy Island, where he and his dad lived with the family of billionaire ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy. Jeff's youngest son Alan was Fermat's best friend.
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Within the main house on Tracy Island, there was a room which was set up as a gym. As well as the various cardio and weight equipment, there was an area with a slightly padded floor near the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the sea. That was where Fee was currently sat, with her laptop on a bench and a bottle of water sat by it, wearing a sports bra and Nike Pro shorts. Her gymnastics coach was running conditioning classes over Zoom. The class was held at half past seven in the evening UK time but for her, it was morning.
"Hi everyone" the coach, Nikki, said once the Zoom call had been started. The rest of the class returned the greetings. There was around ten of them.
"Hey guys" Fee smiled and waved. Some people were in their gardens, some were in living rooms or bedrooms.
"Where are you Fee?" her friend Immy asked.
"An island somewhere in the South Pacific. My boyfriend, Fermat, he and his dad live on Tracy Island, with the Tracy family. Mr Tracy invited me to stay, so I came back with them when they came to pick Fermat up before Lockdown went into effect" Fee explained. As if on cue, Scott Tracy entered the room.
"Oh, sorry Fee. I can come back" he said.
"Nah, it's OK Scott, I only need the floor bit" she told him. Nodding, Scott put his headphones on and went over to the weights.
"Now that is dedication" Nikki smiled. "Right. Let's start with a bit of jogging." They all got up and jogged on the spot. Jumping jacks followed, then they stretched before doing conditioning exercises. They were focusing on their core today; sit-ups, crunches, knee-to-elbow in side plank, dish holds and rocks, arch holds and rocks, V-sits.
As they usually did, they ended the session on a challenge. Today, it was a three-minute plank hold.
"Gordon Tracy, don't even think about sitting on me" Fee said as she held a plank, spotting the person in question attempt to sneak up on her.
"Damn it" Gordon muttered, going to join Scott at the weights. There were giggles from some of the others on the Zoom call; Fee hadn't been on mute.
"Two minutes done, one to go" Nikki called out.
"How did we find that?" Nikki asked as they stretched. They all said they had enjoyed it.
"A good start to my day" Fee smiled. Bidding them farewell, Nikki reminded them of when the next class would be and that she would post the Zoom link in the Facebook group.