The sauna almost made me racist
Why can't the Aquatic Center sauna look like this?
Usually after I work out in the gym, I’ll head into the pool area to go into the steam room and whirlpool…possibly the sauna. The steam room clears up any allergies I have and helps me breathe better and the whirlpool helps with any muscle pains I have from going to Aikido three times a week and working out on off days. I’m not really sure why I go into the sauna afterwards because by the time I get in there, I’m burning hot and can only stand being in there for a few minutes…not enough time to work up a good sweat. I’m sure it’s good for the skin, but I sweat doing other crap anyway.
The other day, I went into the steam room, whirlpool, then played water basketball by myself in the pool to cool down before going in the sauna. Walking in the sauna, I felt like I could stay in there longer than usual so I looked at my watch and told myself I’d get out after 10 minutes. A few people come in and the place is running out of seats. 7 minutes in, I’m starting to get uncomfortable with the heat but have a good sweat going. 8 minutes in, I found myself in a painful conversation about football. I couldn’t breathe well enough to maintain conversation and I don’t have enough football knowledge for the conversation anyway…and I’m sure the guy I’m talking to wants to talk longer than the 2 minutes I have left in there.
My watch says I’ve been in there for my 10 minutes, but I’m still in this conversation. I tell him I don’t follow football that much and try to give him one or two word answers so he’ll be quiet…planning on saying goodbye in the inevitable conversation silence. Just when I get an opportunity to say goodbye and leave, a Middle Eastern guy walks in and takes the only available seat which is right next to me.
In my head, if I leave now…it’ll look like I’m leaving because somebody sat next to me. Worse, I think that he’ll think I’m racist and can’t sit next to a camel jockey.
If I stayed for only 30 seconds, I don’t think it’d be enough time to convince this stranger I’m not racist. If I stayed for a few more minutes, I might pass out…or worse, be involved in another conversation. I cursed in my head, wondering if this guy knew what I was going through for him to feel comfortable.
I decided to stay for another minute and if he thinks I’m racist after that – then it’s his problem. By the time I made it out of there, my face was incredibly red from heat and I felt dizzy, anxious, pushed around and confused. I’m wondering if the health benefits outweigh what I’m doing to myself mentally.
And people wonder why I smoke right after I get out of the gym.
