This is a story about a girl who inspires, transcends, and empowers. It's not about me. Back in 2000, I started going to the Equinox fitness center to get in shape. I had always been a gym-carrying-card-holder, but I just never used the card. I think I was still depressed over my mother passing away from breast cancer at 64. After getting up to a whopping 1.75 on the treadmill, I decided I needed some guidance in the form of structured group classes. Kickboxing sounded cool, so I found myself in the back room of a Powerstrike class with a teacher by the name of Ilaria, shouting out instructions in a sexy Italian accent. She is incredibly attractive with long dark blonde hair braided in a ponytail. Her body is thin and taut. I had never seen such beautiful muscles on a body before. It was now January, and I was out of shape by 50 pounds. I had always failed at the gym but something hypnotic started. I was so enthralled with this instructor, that I actually started going to the gym! And I started following Ilaria around like a hopeless puppy dog.
Not only was I taking her kickboxing class, I soon added Definitions (or body conditioning) to my regimen. But it wasn't enough, so I started taking Ilaria's Forza class, which is essentially Italian sword fighting movements. The heck with my job as a producer for Good Morning America, I was more intrigued with my body now, and with Ilaria. I wanted her to be my friend. One day after class, two months in--I asked her if she might incorporate some moves which would help my knees in skiing the Austrian Alps, and she did just that. As I began to lose the weight from taking two hours of classes almost every day, I added another one of Ilaria's classes to my repertoire. I was now in boxing class. I loved her sometimes Italian inflections in her speaking voice calling out the routines. Her classes are as highly crafted as The Lion King.
As I got to know her, I discovered Ilaria worked out a few hours a day before she began teaching every day somewhere close to 25 classes a week, always participating in all of them and dancing to the electronic beat that she so loves. Then at night, she would go home, to create new routines for the next day. Talk about a dedicated individual, I'm so glad she landed foot in this country! She is the cool kid, you aspire to be. The cool cat, the Frank Sinatra of fitness. After a good seven months, I had lost the weight I had sought to, and Ilaria had become a really good friend. But I'm a shit. While I continued taking her classes, I started taking them less. And as the years went on, I stopped going altogether. I became estranged from the woman I so admired and have always felt such guilt over that--such supreme shame.
And then over the weekend, Ilaria bravely announced that she has breast cancer and would have to suspend her classes for the time being. I read it on a forum for Powerstrike's Facebook page. I read it and cried. How could I not think of my mother? When my mother's doctor called in May of 1996, my family of seven were dazed and confused. Who do you call for this? When I called Gilda's House to see if there was a support class for me, they told me no, that they were only there for ovarian cancer families. I was so lost, and I only found my power again when I started taking Ilaria's classes.
I have been praying like crazy for her. You might think I belonged to a secluded convent, my prayers are so deep and concentrated. I haven't prayed this hard since my mom received her news. I know Ilaria will be alright because the medical world is so much smarter now. Plus Ilaria is a warrior at heart, and this is her ultimate fight. I wish I could be there at the sidelines with her, but the only gift I can give her is by saying, I'm so sorry that I dropped you, and by dropping you I dropped me. As Ilaria continues with her battle, I'm heading back to the gym in her honor. I owe it to myself but I owe it also to the pied-piper-of fitness--that is Ilaria. God bless you my friend.
