Thanks to Jane Fonda

I started working out way back in 1986. I was not into enrolling in gyms or fitness programs though. At that time the only fitness or rather slimming salon in the Metro was Joanne Drew. Well, I definitely could not afford the services of Ms. Joanne Drew. Good thing my friend Susan has a "new" video workout of none other than the first and ultimate fitness guru- Jane Fonda. In the mid 1980's Jane Fonda was in her 50's. But gosh! you would think she was in her 20's with the kind of lean and sculptured body she had. Susan, myself, our church deaconess, and 2 more youth from church, decided to tackle the workout of Ms. Fonda. Everyday from Monday to Friday at 10:00 a.m. we converged in Susan's living room, re-arrange the sofa and table, turn on the TV and VHS player, feed the tape on the player then proceed on the hour-long workout. By the time we finish at past 11:00 a.m. we were all sweaty and hungry.

Those workout days proved to be real helpful and useful. First, it started me on keeping fit by working out. I eventually enrolled at Slimmers' World. Second, the time spent on the floor doing abdominal exercises and some pilates served as the window of opportunity for Susan, the deaconess and I to plan on putting up a pre-school in our church. We did! The first batch of nursery students included daughter #3, the dentist. That was in 1987.

Thanks to Jane Fonda. The church school was conceptualized and materialized. The school has about a thousand students now from nursery to 4th year high. Susan is the directress.