When You're Wrapped Around A Ball

It's swinging day and the workout went along these lines:

Two-Hand Swing, 30 seconds

Clean and Squat, 30 seconds (right arm)
Clean and Squat, 30 seconds (left)

Row, 30 secs (r)
Row...

Clean...Squat...Press...Snatch...Rack...Press (60 secs)

Two-hand swing...

Next up, reps:

15 V-Ups or Knee-Hug Sit-Ups
30 Two-Hand Swings
20 Cleans
50 Mountain Climbers (25 Per Leg)
20 Rows (L & R)
25 Push-Ups
10 Around the Body with a Catch and Lunge

Clean...Squat...Press...Triceps Dip...(60 secs)

The 20 kettlebell cleans totally owned me...

For more ab work, we grabbed a medicine ball and did windshield wipers and crunches. I asked Chip if he felt the burn. Burned out, he replied.

In the middle of the workout, Marisa told us that newbie, Paige, had done over 100 push-ups the other day. I mouthed Who cares? and Marisa ratted me out. I care, she said. I do need to be more careful. I don't know Paige and I shouldn't joke with someone the first time that I make their acquaintance...

Went home and popped Stretch Max into the DVD. Did stretch routine two with the fitness ball. The music is so relaxing. A lot of the moves reminded me of yoga moves -- with support. I encountered bridge, child's pose, up and downward-facing dog and a floor spine twist. The ball just made every stretch phenomenal. Oh my God, baddha konasana a.k.a. butterfly pose was amazing. I also enjoyed the arm, glute and hamstring stretches and the one where you yawn your whole body out over the ball -- another move that we do in yoga but feels even better when you're wrapped around a ball. This stretch session was such a treat. Gingerzingi, thanks for turning me on to Stretch Max.

Moving Michelle Back

Move her back, Mike told me as he demonstrated a side kick...1-2-3-4...knee...3-4 maneuver. And it was fun moving Michelle back once I got into a good rhythm.

One of my favorite sequences of the night was a simple right (roundhouse), left (roundhouse) and back kick. My hips didn't quite agree with me though.

At the end of class, Mike showed us a self-defense move. Taking out the knee is vital. He told us that if we didn't kick the knee the first time to keep trying then told us again that the knee is the key.

I immediately thought about yoga and how we are told to be careful with the knees. During tree pose, we are told to put our foot anywhere except for on the knee. I've also heard to not torque the knee etc. so it makes perfect sense to take out the knee if someone is attacking you.

Mike asked us to read a poster on the wall -- the one with blood dripping down it -- with an excerpt from a David Baldacci novel whenever we have time...

I stretched immediately after boxing. Otherwise, there are consequences. I also pulled out Cathe's Stretch Max when I got home because I am now copycatting Gingerzingi. I chose stretch routine three that incorporates a resistance band.

I see why Gingerzingi calls it a bondage scarf. I felt hog-tied during the quadriceps stretch but being in that position was amazing.  I kind of got lost during the process of stretching my forearms. It took my mind a while to get with the program as far as positioning the resistance band.

After stretching I wondered why I don't do it more often but yoga takes care of a lot of my stretching needs but I like variety and I also like "10 minute" solutions so I'm going to stretch on my non-yoga days.

Oh yeah, totally dug the pink and burgundy outfits that Cathe and her crew had on.

The Rough Plan

Got several emails about climbing. The rough plan was 9:00 a.m. Yoga Under The Arch. Some folks would hit the climbing gym around 10 and others around 10:30.

The likelihood of me making it under the Arch at 9 was very slim but you never know...

I wake up in phases since I often go to sleep with the TV on despite having a timer. I woke up and watched Lester and Jenna participate in the new line dancing craze on The Today Show then propped myself up to read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Yoga.

I went to the basement, rolled out my mat and tried to lift up into wheel pose. The book ended up being by the scale and I weighed myself despite making a decision to stay off the scale for a day. I was not satisfied with the number and I already knew that I wouldn't be...

Drank my smoothie (almond milk, banana, unsweetened cocoa, flax seeds, peanut butter powder, ice cubes) clipped my fingernails, got my gear and headed to the gym.

I didn't see anyone that I knew and waited a bit before I put on my unforgiving shoes. I'm pretty sure that I've been stood up by four people so I gear up and hit the auto-belay. I climb, get water. I climb again. Get water.

It's been a long year week and the tears come. I rubbed my eye and dislodged my contact and, of course, I didn't have any contact solution plus I had a little chalk on my hand. I grabbed a paper towel and placed the contact on the brown paper, washed my hands and hoped for the best.

As I exited the bathroom, I am invited to climb by two women.

Me to Tanya: I thought you looked familiar. Are you David's friend?
 D...: We are David's friends.

So Davel...I can't remember how to pronounce or spell her name put the first part is pronounced like navel put starts with a D...and Tanya chatted with me for a while. They made it to Yoga Under the Arch and expected to see David and Jessica but didn't.

Not too longer after that, the pair walked in. They totally overslept...

I passed by a guy and recognized a tattoo. It was Ryan.

Ryan: You only recognized my tattoo?
Me: Well you look different.
Ryan: I have hair.

Ryan said that while he still felt like he had the coordination for climbing, he was out of shape. He hadn't really climbed in three years and he weighs 25 pounds more than he used to and he says it's such a difference  carrying more weight up the wall. Tell me about it, brother...

How I Recognized Ryan

More of Ryan's Tattoo 

Jessica Working On a 5.10 Route

Before Jessica and David appeared, I was going to cut out but I'm glad that I didn't. I felt pretty good on the wall even though I botched more routes than I care to remember but I stuck with everything -- even the last route when I felt my energy wane and my fingertips smart... Jessica reminded me to use my legs and behind more...

Trisha's Rat Tattoo*

I felt good after climbing and enjoyed the way my body moved. On my post-climbing walk, I am reminded of an important lesson -- to not let my mind write stories...

Such A Divine Fragrance That I Walked By Twice

*Trisha co-taught the lead climbing class that I took eons ago.

You Wouldn't Do That, Would You? or Stuff People Say To Me

You wouldn't do that, would you?

My mother upon hearing that Andrew Mason, former Groupon CEO, posted a video of himself doing yoga in his underwear.

You know how we eat radishes in Switzerland? With a little butter and salt on top. Mmm, so delicious.

Sarah

It's you that smells like Christmas.

Jessie to me after I magnetically cleared her energy field.

You look regal.

Bonnie, a woman who thought she knew me then chalked it up to my look.

Scudder me...

Sue to me during energy workshop

No thanks, I'll find the bees.

One of my boxing classmates who was not looking forward to allergy season. She preferred taking local honey to acupuncture.

I don't want to kill him but I don't want to have lunch with him either. 

Woman at Serendipity Cafe about a bee on her menu.

Does everyone have their cell phones on stun?

Pat before we started energy therapy work.

You were doing aerial fitness. 

Patti to me after my rope got seriously tangled with the auto belay.

Spandex is a privilege and not a right and it's a firm belief of mine that if you're a male, it's a privilege. 

David to me after I commented on his cool (non-spandex) bike shorts.

If There's A Kettlebell Static Hold Contest

Went to kettlebell practice despite not feeling 100% but I would have felt worse had I not gone. Marisa's menu today:

One Arm Swing, L & R
Snatch, L & R (Around the Body with a Catch and Lunge, modification)
Clean and Press, L & R
Overhead Static Hold, L & R
Two-Hand Swing
A to Grass (i.e. Squats) with Kettlebell, 10 x's
Tactical Lunge
Push-Up

Repeat...

We did each maneuver for one minute. I made it through the first round okay but staggered through the second one. I must say, though, I can hold a kettlebell in the upright position for a very long time. If there's a  Kettlebell Overhead Static Hold contest, put your money on me.

Because of recent incidents, we talked about personal safety. Barb had a good point. She suggested parking so that you don't have to back out. Chip said that, if in danger, he would not hesitate to hit other cars to get away. I reminded everyone that fire stations are usually occupied...

Barb talked about her recent trip to California. Everyone in Cali is in such good shape. I think this talk of Cali people made us swing our 'bells a little longer and lunge a little deeper.

Speaking of safety, Marisa reminded us that if we could not maintain good form to cease and desist with the reps...

How I Spent My Tuesday

Came home from work, ate a few apple slices, put on sunscreen and headed out the door.

When I returned from walking, picked up yard debris and heard the subtle motion of water. My neighbor was in his new pool floating around in a plastic chaise longue. It's swimming day but my pool is closed for renovation.

I contemplated offering my neighbor a cold beverage so that I could float as well. Instead, I took the trash container to the curb then went inside to eat.

At some point, I moved my dinner bowl away from my legs, read the introduction of a book that just arrived then went prone. I got cold but could not be bothered to get under the covers. Stayed in the same position for almost two hours...

Think that I go TKO'd by the heat. Even though the humidity was low, we went from light jacket weather to 93 degrees.

Dandelion in the Middle

I Brake for Cardinals But They Don't Brake For Me

Let It Go On Its Way

Looked at Gloria and we started laughing -- a hold over from yesterday's laughter yoga class.

It was my first time going to laughter yoga and, with anything new, I had my reservations but I went. 

Before I entered the studio, I was captivated by the staircase. I love passageways and corridors.

The Way to Flex Fitness

What to say about laughter yoga? So funny. It was both what I expected and what I did not. One of the most powerful parts of laughter yoga was the laughing meditation -- think savasana but with peals of laughter. 

We were all lying down with our heads in the same direction. Gloria was next to me and just about caused my demise. Her intense laughter, soon joined by the intense laughter of others, made me absolutely lose it. I slapped my leg, stomped my foot, took my glasses off and said Oh my God a few times...

Emma, our laughter yoga leader, is really good. She guided us, beautifully, at the end of practice: If a thought comes, acknowledge it and let it go on its way...

Gloria had me chuckling again right before practice. She read funny quotes about mothers. She also had me laughing when she said that she didn't like her mother until she was around 40 since they had their differences and she also "confessed" to not being a perfect mother but said that she did the best that she could which reminds me of one of Oprah's favorite Maya Angelou quotes: when you know better, you do better. 

We started off in downward facing dog. Gloria said that we should feel warmth and I instantly felt the heat which was kind of nice since it was such a chilly morning. 

Get hot happy Gloria said as we folded over then she encouraged us to make a healthy forward fold by bending at the hips instead of bending at the back. 

I don't fold too much but I often think of what Madonna said: the more you do yoga -- the more your body opens up.

The View Leaving Flex Fitness