Things haven't slowed down this week, and I struggled to get any training in. I am headed to Montreal for a birthday/ anniversary trip with Adrien so I definitely won't have my spear with me!
I am really looking forward to Pandamonium and I know that more than any other year my kids are more engaged and excited about the Pandamonium. It's great to see them interested in things that matter! Thats all I've got this week, I'm headed to the airport. See you all next week.
Sifu Prince
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Week 12
I feel like I say a lot of the same things in my blog every week, so now, trying not to be repetitive, I have nothing to say.
It seems like as it is with many other team members, work is crazy. Yesterday was the first bad day I've had in a year working where I am. There was a lot going on but part of it is that I'm back in isolation with sick calves. There is a line up of farmers with calves, all with the raging poos. I find I am getting angry because I'm anxious about getting sick again. I am taking all the precautions I can but I'm not finding peace of mind with that. I can't convey the sinking/ overwhelming feeling of dealing with so much poo. I know this is a terrible thing to blog about but seriously, I wanted to cry.
I went to my first Tai Chi class on Saturday and I enjoyed it more than I thought. Thanks to Sifu Kichko for helping me out! I will miss this Saturday, I'm seeing my mom for mothers day out of town. Have a good week!
It seems like as it is with many other team members, work is crazy. Yesterday was the first bad day I've had in a year working where I am. There was a lot going on but part of it is that I'm back in isolation with sick calves. There is a line up of farmers with calves, all with the raging poos. I find I am getting angry because I'm anxious about getting sick again. I am taking all the precautions I can but I'm not finding peace of mind with that. I can't convey the sinking/ overwhelming feeling of dealing with so much poo. I know this is a terrible thing to blog about but seriously, I wanted to cry.
I went to my first Tai Chi class on Saturday and I enjoyed it more than I thought. Thanks to Sifu Kichko for helping me out! I will miss this Saturday, I'm seeing my mom for mothers day out of town. Have a good week!
Monday, April 28, 2014
Week 11
I've been getting lot more kung fu in the last few days with the better weather, getting lots of kms too. I am finding that doing double articulation is super hard on the shoulders. I am also finding it hard because I have always had my hand position wrong for double articulation and it wasn't until I was a black belt that I found out. Old habits are hard to break, as you all know, and I find myself easily slipping into bad habits.
I have started a kind of physio routine for my shoulders, they are pretty sore right now but I feel that there are some good changes happening. I am doing an exercise to push my shoulder joint into the back of the capsule using weight, it feels awesome. Anyone who slouches their shoulders forward should try it. See you all this week!
I have started a kind of physio routine for my shoulders, they are pretty sore right now but I feel that there are some good changes happening. I am doing an exercise to push my shoulder joint into the back of the capsule using weight, it feels awesome. Anyone who slouches their shoulders forward should try it. See you all this week!
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Week 10- whoops
Totally forgot to blog. Totally. Not that I had much to say anyway. I am pretty much just plugging along over here. Had a good Easter weekend with family, ate a lot of food! I am actually enjoying the rain since it's not snow.
At lunch today I was reading a veterinary magazine and there was an article about a vet who had her nose broken by a dog who lunged at her in the exam room. The point of the story was about how not to get hurt by an agressive patient, anyway, one of the points was to learn how to dodge a punch. Really. This vet recommends having some kickboxing or martial arts training to develop your reflexes. In the weird way the world works, after reading this article, a pitbull went after me today in a closed space, I avoided getting hurt and although I can't say what combination of circumstances was responsible for keeping me safe, I will take the odds that knowing how to dodge a punch helped me out.
See you all on the mats
At lunch today I was reading a veterinary magazine and there was an article about a vet who had her nose broken by a dog who lunged at her in the exam room. The point of the story was about how not to get hurt by an agressive patient, anyway, one of the points was to learn how to dodge a punch. Really. This vet recommends having some kickboxing or martial arts training to develop your reflexes. In the weird way the world works, after reading this article, a pitbull went after me today in a closed space, I avoided getting hurt and although I can't say what combination of circumstances was responsible for keeping me safe, I will take the odds that knowing how to dodge a punch helped me out.
See you all on the mats
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Week 9
Today is one of those days that I am staring at the screen not sure what to write about. It is my only day off this week, it's been so busy at work, and while overtime is nice I am really looking forward to the long weekend next week. This is the most I've ever been away from the kwoon and it is hard. I am trying to go to the kwoon on Sundays to practice, although there is a growing patch of grass in the backyard that I will be able to practice on soon, hurray spring!
I have been trouble with my shoulders again. I am so used to dealing with it I hardly think of it anymore, but the most frustrating thing for me is not being able to stay in bed. Like I said earlier, it's my day off and my big plan was to sleep in until at least 9. I was up at 7 because I just can't stay lying down and be comfortable. I can't sleep on my sides or my stomach so I lay in bed like I'm in a coffin. The swelling from not moving gets so uncomfortable I have to get up. It has made me think about how I tend to put up with things that I shouldn't, like constant pain. Adrien got me a really good book called "Becoming a Supple Leopard", different title but its an amazing book. There is a ton of info about your muscles and your body in general as well as how to fix problems- like your pesky shoulders. I'm going to try to be diligent with it this week and I can post more about it next week.
One a totally different note I just want to put it out there how grateful I am for the life I have and all the good things in it. There are people connected to me that are having tough times and it just reminds me of how many things there are to be thankful for, kung fu definitely being one of them. See you all next week.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Week 8
It's been a really busy week, lots of working late. It is the busy season for cattle producers so it's the busy season for me too. Even so, it's been a good week for training. I finally made it to class on Friday and was able to get in an hour or so at open training and on Sunday as well. I don't want to get too hopeful, but the weather forecast seems promising.
I have been thinking about guilt lately, specifically after reading some blog postings about how hard it can be as part of the I Ho Chuan team. I think this is my 6th or 7th UBBT/ I Ho Chuan year and I have felt a lot of guilt in past years. Feeling guilty for missing class or meetings. Guilt for not doing my situps or pushups. Guilt for not being more of a leader or for not starting a great initiative within the team, etc. etc. I think I have finally made the connection between guilt and the idea that my kung fu should be serving me. Guilt does not serve me. It makes me feel terrible about myself and want to throw my hands in the air and walk away. It makes me feel resentful towards kung fu and even the goals I myself set because here I am not accomplishing them.
Guilt in this setting is a useless thing. It doesn't accomplish anything. Sometimes life happens and you don't make it to class but that shouldn't be a reason to fall into a downward spiral. We are learning how to apply mastery in our lives, that isn't going to happen overnight. I have struggled with this a lot as someone who can't make a lot of classes or even open training most weeks. I just think it's important to remember why you joined in the first place, how terrible if your I Ho Chuan year made you never want to see the kwoon again because you couldn't stand it anymore. Just don't forget how much you love kung fu, and don't be so hard on yourself!
I have been thinking about guilt lately, specifically after reading some blog postings about how hard it can be as part of the I Ho Chuan team. I think this is my 6th or 7th UBBT/ I Ho Chuan year and I have felt a lot of guilt in past years. Feeling guilty for missing class or meetings. Guilt for not doing my situps or pushups. Guilt for not being more of a leader or for not starting a great initiative within the team, etc. etc. I think I have finally made the connection between guilt and the idea that my kung fu should be serving me. Guilt does not serve me. It makes me feel terrible about myself and want to throw my hands in the air and walk away. It makes me feel resentful towards kung fu and even the goals I myself set because here I am not accomplishing them.
Guilt in this setting is a useless thing. It doesn't accomplish anything. Sometimes life happens and you don't make it to class but that shouldn't be a reason to fall into a downward spiral. We are learning how to apply mastery in our lives, that isn't going to happen overnight. I have struggled with this a lot as someone who can't make a lot of classes or even open training most weeks. I just think it's important to remember why you joined in the first place, how terrible if your I Ho Chuan year made you never want to see the kwoon again because you couldn't stand it anymore. Just don't forget how much you love kung fu, and don't be so hard on yourself!
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Week 7
Life is getting back to normal, although Adrien is away for work again so the kids have been missing their classes, just don't get home in time for them to go. I missed Friday AGAIN! I got my first bad cat bite, it's kind of a given that it will happen at some point doing what I do, man did it hurt! Doesn't look very spectacular though, puncture wounds are just holes. So just one day after even though I'm on antibiotics it's infected, gross. I'm having trouble making a fist with my left hand because of the location of the bite and the swelling, so no spear for now. I feel really frustrated, like I just can't move forward at all. I have been keeping up with situps, acts of kindness and my diet tracking at least. Getting back on track with my kms as well now that I can walk the dog again.
The Silent River community impressed me again this week, Chantal wanted to be involved with Pandamonium and raising money and came up with the idea of a bake sale. She was so excited about the overwhelming support from fellow students. I'm so glad that my girls are part of such a great group that allows them to be involved in something worthwhile and gives them a venue to spread their wings as far as leadership goes.
As absent as I have been from the kwoon I am trying to stay engaged on my own, it's not quite the same but here's hoping I'll actually see you all on the mats soon!
The Silent River community impressed me again this week, Chantal wanted to be involved with Pandamonium and raising money and came up with the idea of a bake sale. She was so excited about the overwhelming support from fellow students. I'm so glad that my girls are part of such a great group that allows them to be involved in something worthwhile and gives them a venue to spread their wings as far as leadership goes.
As absent as I have been from the kwoon I am trying to stay engaged on my own, it's not quite the same but here's hoping I'll actually see you all on the mats soon!
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