Humbling or Month-End Review, November

I often think about how humbling kettlebell class is... Marisa drives us hard for 60 minutes when most kettlebell classes are 30 minutes or 45. Luckily, I’ve learned to rest when needed.


Kettlebell practice is not my only humbling exercise. Rock climbing and yoga have provided plenty of moments as well. All in all, I’m just grateful that I continue to want to move my body and that my body holds up -- something that my tweaked hip has reminded me of...


10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix

Cardio Kickboxing, 2 x's

Cardio Kick, One of My Fave 10 Minute Segs

10 Minute Solution: cardio hip hop*

Hip Hop 101, 1 x

House Party, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: Dance Your Body Thin!

Smooth & Sexy Moves

10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones!

10 Minute Stretching, 2 x's

Bicycling, 1 x

Kettlebell, 4 x's

Latin Cardio Party*, 1 x

Leaf Raking, 3 x's

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Total Body Circuit, 1 x

15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 2 x's

Rock Climbing, 1 x

Swimming, 7 x's

Walking, 7 x's

Yoga, 12 x's

Any recent, humbling exercise experiences?
*Disclosure: received without reimbursement.

Lock The Ankles Not The Knees

Missed the pool during its closure.

Swim mom (SM) was back and, as she gave her daughter more diving tips, it crossed my mind to ask her if she’d teach me some fundamental diving techniques.

After coaching her daughter for a while, SM worked with her son on the front crawl.

Some of my best swimming tips have come from eavesdropping on adults teaching kids.

Lock the ankles but not the knees…Don’t cross the midline of the body….Left stays on the left and right stays on the right…That’s what the black line is for…

What I like about SM is that she is hands-on, demonstrates, checks for understanding and gives positive feedback. I think she would make a great teacher for adults too…

The Grease That Slid Down The Counter

I ate the macaroni and cheese. I had enough sprouted grain bread for one almond butter and preserves sandwich for the ride back home – so I ate the mac and cheese and it was definitely not low fat. There was not one thing about the concoction that had reduced anything.


I ate the fried turkey even after I stepped in the grease that slid down the counter and made a puddle.

I ate the sweet potato pie knowing that sweet potatoes are sweet enough.

I traveled with oatmeal, sprouted grain bread, Chobani, preserves, Kashi snacks etc. but, in the end, I didn’t carry enough.

I did not like breaking my four year streak of not eating fried foods but I’m moving on and, next time, I’ll take more food…

I went on a pre-Thanksgiving Day meal walk and was hungry when I returned. I peeled an orange and asked my sister-in-law if she wanted any of her orange. I got those for you, she said. I also have oatmeal…

The last time that I went she had granola bars for me as well. Very sweet…

When I went for the walk, my uncle joined me…

The next morning I got teased for pretending to be sleep while playing games on my iPod.

Me: For your information, I was watching Men with Kids so that I wouldn’t disturb you early-to-bed folks and I was listening to music to quiet my mind after that.

Debbie, my aunt: Yeah, because you didn’t get to quiet your mind when your uncle joined you for a walk.

Hardy har har, my peeps are so funny…

Until Then

Treasured my time at the pool yesterday knowing that it will be closed for almost a week and, besides that, I feel more and more at home in the water. In addition, my mood improves and I sleep so solidly after a stint in the water. I had, and I don't use this word often, a lovely time.

During kettlebell class, I felt as if I could barely lift my arms towards the end but, apparently, there was still life in them as they did not bother me one bit while swimming or maybe that speaks to the wonder of what the body is capable of.

As I showered, Chatty Kathleen made me laugh. Her granddaughter, who is about seven, went to change in the bathroom but she forgot major items but didn't want to come out. Kathleen, who never wanted her in the tight quarters of the toilet, told her:

Be brave. Show courage. Come out naked...

I wished Kathleen a happy Thanksgiving and told her that I would see her next week when the pool reopens and she wondered whether or not she would survive, as she calls it,  her broken back until then...

Words to Watch Out For

Marisa walked over to give me a high five after class Thanks for hanging in there.


A high five was not the only thing that Marisa gave me. Watch out when Marisa works out with you or says Get ready for the pain. I told her that she hadn’t really been treating us with kid gloves up until that point.

We did progressive circuits:

60 seconds of swings, right and left

60 seconds snatches, right and left (120 around the body with a catch for me)

60 seconds clean and press, both sides


90 seconds of swings -- right and left sides

90 seconds of snatches (180 seconds of around the body… for me)

90 seconds of cleans and presses, right and left


120 seconds of swings...

120 seconds of snatches (240 secs of around the body for me)

120 seconds of cleans and presses...


My calluses were very pronounced and the only thing that I could really feel at the end of class.

Should Have Gotten More Than One Tube

More of "This" Needed As Well

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.

I Am At The Helm

I narrowed my exercise choices to Zumba and yoga but didn’t really feel like jumping into a new adventure so I nixed Zumba but had to look for a yoga class that I don’t normally go to because there wasn't a class that I wanted to attend at my regular gym.

It’s often unnerving to walk into a new situation but I went anyway. Fast forward to savasana -- tears started to roll. I’m definitely in a weird space right now.

As I drove away, I felt such intensity in my throat -- as if a sock was in there or a boa constrictor around it. Interesting since I went to a mindfulness workshop yesterday. I found what the therapist said about the throat chakra very interesting. I can’t remember what she said exactly but it was something about the throat chakra being the gateway between the heart and brain.

Release...and relief. My lower back was tight and, now, it’s not; I think I have bow pose to thank for that.

Now that I think about it, we did this Breath of Fire situation at the beginning of class and I've never done it before and wasn't comfortable with it either. Almost feel like if someone initiates the Breath of Fire, it's kind of like doing Reiki and permission should be asked first. I want to say that I was not at the helm but it is my yoga practice and I should have not participated in the exercise if I didn't feel comfortable. At any rate, I think BOF might have contributed to the sensation in my throat.