The Cue Taker

Patti and I often exchange schedules so that we can figure out when to climb and, sometimes, in the middle of figuring out logistics, Patti morphs into guru:

Me: On Wednesday, I plan to go to that workshop from 6 to 8. I'm not too crazy about going but it will probably be helpful...

Patti:  You may be surprised by your workshop. I know you were hesitant about climbing at first and look where it got you!

Because of changing schedules et al., I haven't seen some of my climbing comrades in a while but almost everyone was accounted for today. Missed you Cindy and Tim...


The Gang: Patti, Crystal, Kristen, Leah & Mike

Morgan, The Tireless and Very Sweet Ten-Year-Old

Kristen Had The Right Idea

I'm going to take a cue from Kristen and go off to stretch. My MT told me that if I'm in a time crunch and I have to choose between stretching before or after exercising, stretch afterwards.

The Sweet Talkers

I have been looking at my fuller face figure with amazement and seriously trying not to get stuck on it.

Staring Down Sweets Before Ordering Veggie Burger

Yesterday, I went to kettlebell class and, oh, the struggle. Kirsten, who keeps quite a cheerful face and talks to the class about 80’s music etc. whilst kicking your butt, looks over in my direction and say Hi, ‘Drea. Yes, hi to you too… If nothing else, I had people struggling with me. The two women next to me had me cracking up with their exclamations. When we got to windmills, my immediate neighbor said, I like windmills -- like being relative…

After kettlebell, I headed to the climbing gym since Cindy, Kristen and I had been attempting to rendezvous for a while. I told them straight off that I only had a couple of routes in me because my upper body was already on fire.

As I came down from a route, Cindy and Kristen were giving me extended looks. We just like to watch your skin tone and muscles. We’ve said that before but it’s the first time that we’ve told you. I would have turned fifty shades of red if I could have...

You're Going to Need A Bigger Towel or Overheard in the Gym

It's going to be interesting riding a motorcycle after this... Man in climbing gym

You're going to need a bigger towel. Cindy to two newbies who brought hand towels for Hot Yoga.

If you find something beyond your reach, step up. David to someone who had just finished Rock Climbing 101

Just think of it as climbing meditation. Kristen to Cindy

Kristen -- Thinking About It...

The arête is a rut... Kristen

You look so easy from the bottom. Cindy to the Zen Garden route.

Cindy Tackling the Tornado Simulator Route

Dad, stop worrying. A kid reassuring his non-climbing dad that he was properly attached to auto-belay.

Hippie bath... Cindy's stance on our debate about whether to shower before or after climbing.

Dad, he wants to be belayed...

I don’t ever want to get on a slackline again. A male youngin who had been vertical but took a sudden seated position on the slackline.

The School of Rock Climbing

Time lapse photography. That's what I was reminded of yesterday as the cardio class let out and the yogis flooded in. Within one minute, all real estate had pretty much been claimed. I thought if you plan to attend this class, you better be on time. Ha-ha. About ten minutes into class, this woman parallel parked her mat between mine and the woman in front of me. The latecomer was so close that she had to readjust her mat when we did a balancing pose of extending our right leg and left arm because she was about to have a foot in her face...

As I take more yoga classes, I become less and less annoyed by latecomers. There is also the fact that it is yoga class where we’re working on our minds and bodies. When I mentioned latecomers to Kristen as she prepared to ascend a route, she said that she would rather have someone come late rather than not come at all. In fact, she likes it when people come late because she thinks it’s a good lesson in detachment for other yogis. Ditto for Cindy – she prefers that people practice yoga than sit out because they can’t make it on time...

Cindy on the "Green Holds" Route

Kristen

Cindy Practices Slackline Yoga

As we climbed, some men set up the slackline at the climbing gym. Kristen said that climbing and traversing a slackline was her idea of safe, healthy fun. Cindy and Kristen tried out the slackline and Kristen, unfortunately, sprained her ankle and it was very painful but, as Cindy said later on, you can get hurt having healthy fun but what’s important is that you get back up again.

The Hours: Rock Climbing Edition

Some of the Clocks at Upper Limits Depicting the Time in Climbing Areas

Managed to get myself out of bed and make it to Cindy's 9:30 a.m. yoga class in the park. It's pretty cool looking up at the sky and trees while getting your asansas on. Went to run errands after yoga then met up with Cindy, Kristen and Tim for climbing. Afterwards, as I headed to get food, I realized that we had spent four hours in the climbing gym. Now, it’s not unusual to clock two or three hours in the gym but we stretched things out today. I often sing a line from Culture Club’s Time (Clock of My Heart):

Because time won’t give me time…

But I didn’t mind spending that time in the gym because, frankly, it’s a relief not to be sitting down for a huge chunk of the day at work and we’ve all heard how damaging sitting can be even if you’re active.

Kristen About to Hoist Herself Over Bouldering Wall

Cindy & Kristen

I just finished watching Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. I liked it when one of the experts said that we’re not chasing animals anymore and we’re not running away from them – although we eat as if we are doing just that. So, yeah, even though we’re not chasing animals it felt good to chase a few climbing routes.

Plus, it was a fun climbing session. We watched fearless children climbing the walls and smiling as they did. We watched a couple position a SUV stroller on the climbing floor then later got a kick out of the stroller baby who happily waved all of his or her limbs. We worked together and cheered each other on.

Determination, Grit, Perseverance & Other Trifectas

Experienced a trifecta of deliciousness yesterday. Hung out with Hazira at the swimming pool, went home to refuel then headed out for climbing and yoga with Cindy, Kristen and Lisa.




Cindy and I, A Little Tandem Climbing on Elephant Wall

 



Eyes on the Climber

 Rooftop yoga in these parts in now equivalent to hot triple digit yoga. Wiser heads did prevail and rooftop yoga was moved from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

So, there's roof one and there's roof two. We did yoga on the lower roof which had more shade. It was such a nice experience practicing yoga with friends underneath the sky.

We set our mats up and Cindy, Kristen and Lisa readjusted and moved closer to the front. Lisa said that she was a dork like that and likes to be near the front. Cindy asked me if I was going to move my mat and I was like no thanks. I was perfectly fine with my back row spot. No one needed or needs to witness my awkward alignment.

I soon realized why Lisa moved up front. She did Cirque du Soleil worthy chaturangas. No need to buy a $50 dollar plus ticket to the circus when Lisa is practicing illish asanas nearby. I know, I know. You're not supposed to be a lookie loo during yoga practice but girlfriend was all up in my peripheral vision.

Lisa Rolling Up Her Mat

Sometimes, I don't know what's more challenging -- chaturangas or downward facing dog. Agatha, the teacher, got on a little mantra about grit, determination and perseverance but I didn't pay any attention to her because she did some Cirque-worthy plank bind situation.

Toward the end of class, Agatha had us in bridge which we would hold for a spell while making sure that our chins were away from our chests. As Agatha said, it's a good position for folks who work at a desk all day. After releasing the bridge, we'd close our eyes and put our hands on our bellies. Repeat bridge, release -- hands on belly. Yummy sequence. Yummy day, repeat...

Cindy & Kristen with Post-Savasana Smiles

Checking out the Arch from Roof Two

The Fun Dihedral or Overheard At The Gym, III

Male climber: You're selectively nice.

Female climber: Silence.

Female climber: More silence.

Female climber: I'm going to be selectively nice and let you take Metrolink instead of giving you a ride.

He has a strength to weight ratio that I can only dream about.

Chris, one of my climbing partners, regarding his son who scampered up Grab the Jug, a 5.8 route.

Chris

On belay?, Climber

Belay is on., Person taking belay certification

You can't answer that question., An Upper Limits staff member

The would-be belayer had not taken enough slack out of the rope.

At this point, I'm not running my schedule; my schedule is running me.,Chris

I don't really eat meat but I'll eat Pappy's ribs., A woman's comment when a discussion about said ribs broke out.

So, it's better to have climbed and lost than to not have climbed at all?

After explaining to Jerry (Mike's brother) that, while one should follow the designated route, sometimes we climb out of our comfort zones, get practice and make our way to the top any way possible.

This is horrible -- Sophie about halfway up a gnarly 5.11b.

As Sophie got towards the top, she did this awesome move were she swung her body from right to left to get over the arch.

Sophie is strong., An observer watching Sophie climb

I don't like this route (Billy Goat Chips). I probably need to do it out of antipathy., Chris

That dihedral is really fun., a climber suggesting a route to Patti and me.

But, um, yeah; it's a 5.11a called Top Kill.

I saw the Reel Rock Tour and realized that I have been such a pansy. I'm going to take my climbing to the next level., Kristen

What are you taking to the next level?