Kelly Eskridge has an amazing post over at http://www.kelleyeskridge.com/parkour-women/

Looking at these videos, from the viewpoint of a body stiff with arthritis and under-use, I want to tell every young girl to Go For It. But more importantly, to stick with it. I was a gymnast in my high school days. Now it's an effort to climb the stairs.

But I'm determined to use my body more. With the exception of the last two weeks in San Diego, I've been spending some time every day, just dancing. Not fancy dancing. Just movement. Fast, like jigs or salsa, and slow, like ballet, interpretative, or a swaying-kind-of-tai chi. 

But lots of movement. Because the only way to keep arthritis from taking over, is to move against it. 

Last night, I got inspired to start trying something else: squatting. That may not sound like much, but this is something I used to do a million times a day. Without thought, and certainly without pain. I don't know when I stopped doing it, but I know I can't do it anymore.

Squatting is one of the exercises recommended for women planning on a natural childbirth. It keeps you flexible, stretches the thighs and perinium, helps you open up. It's a natural position that most of the world uses for elimination, and it's an excellent position for giving birth. I guess when I stopped having kids, I thought I didn't need to do it anymore. I didn't know how stiff I would become with age. Don't we all think our youth will last forever?

Last night, at my first childbirth class (well, my first in 30 years - I'm observing the classes as part of my own training), the instructor was demonstrating a squat for the women. Now this instructor is easily my age. But she's been teaching these classes for sixteen years, and she never stopped squatting. I nearly shouted in amazement when she did it.

And I thought - maybe I can do it again. 

I'll start slow. But I want to get it back.