It’s hard not to talk about September 11, even in a health and fitness article. But I was at the gym that fateful morning, as were dozens of others. The reaction was diverse, ranging from horror to disbelief to almost apathy as exercisers went through their motions.

It was a regular Tuesday. I arrived at the gym just before nine to take Andi’s body sculpting class. After exchanging pleasantries and setting up our benches, we began the warm-up. Susan came running in late saying something about the World Trade Center being hit by planes.

We ignored her and did the lunges. Out of the corner of my eye I saw folks running to the monitors, staring at the TV’s. We did the bicep curls.

The numbers outside grew, transfixed the monitors. The reporter in me was painfully curious but the exerciser in me thought, “Oh, nothing can be that drastic. We’ll finish up and then deal with it.”

A gal to my left simply could not take it any more. She ran out and came back with the announcement that the World Trade Center had been hit by two planes. We did our abs.

Andi took a vote. Do we stop or continue. The overwhelming response was to continue. The woman to my left, who had seen the horror on the monitor couldn’t take it.

“I feel too weird to be in here,” she said as she left the room.

When we stepped into the gym and saw the sheer tragedy and catastrophe before us, we wept. I wept. I sat on the floor with Janine and we held each other, tears streaming down our faces.

I registered the look on Michael P’s face. On Andy’s face. On Leslie’s face. There was shock. Disbelief. This was not a movie. Bruce Willis wasn’t on his way to capture the terrorists.

I think all of us went through the same process of grieving: Shock, denial, anger, fear, and finally resolve.

Michael noticed that when the Greek Orthodox Youth Association (GOYA) came to the gym the following Sunday they were more energetic than usual.

“They seemed to have pent up energy they needed to release,” Michael says. “I think that exercise at a time like this is crucial. You need to take care of yourself. You need to get rid of anxiety in a healthy, positive way.

“You need to stay on the same fitness routine your body thrives on,” he says. We all know that exercise releases the “happy hormones” or endorphins.

The gym became a major source of refuge for those who needed to unleash the emotions that threatened to cripple them.

Despite the sadness that permeated every class thereafter and still lingers in our hearts, we must move forward and show the world that we continue to be strong both mentally and physically.

It is interesting that the terrorists worked out in several South Florida gyms to prepare themselves for their dirty deed. It made their connection to us that much stronger and more insidious.

So, let us continue to pursue positive lives and spread the message of fitness to others. The same solidarity that America is experiencing is evident at Michael’s. I believe that members are more considerate of others and are paying attention to fellow members as a result.