So here it is, the post. The main things I'm proposing you keep in your body over the holiday break are your work with the Alexander Technique as it relates to Semi-supine, walking into running, and handstands.
Post your questions, thoughts, victories and defeats here.
Here we go...
Hello all! I bought a gym membership for the week at my old university's gym and have had a great time watching people watch me do my handstands and bridges, etc. I got really ambitious and started tumbling on a mat and I rolled my ankle doing a handstand forward roll. Luckily, the muscle is just sore and I can still run and do all the fun stuff! whew, that was a close one. (first day training by myself and I hurt myself, that WOULD happen to me haha). Cultivating a love for running and pizza this break. :-)
ReplyDeleteHello crew! I've been doing the work since I left CA. The biggest challenge is finding adequate handstand spots while traveling. I'll be going back and forth to different locations during the break, so each spot is a new search.
ReplyDeleteSomething I've found in just about EVERY place I've been: the front door! It can be the front door of a hotel room, or the hallway entering your house, but it almost always has an unobstructed path for your legs to come down and a blank wall to put your legs/feet against. FYI: be careful if someone unexpectedly comes through the door!
cultivating a love for constructive rest and less TENSION.
This is Emily: I trained today. I made a playlist that would inspire me. I ran behind a 60 year old man for a lot of the time and thought to myself 'I want to be running still when I am 60'. It inspired me to push myself a little it more and stop being such a negative nelly.....
ReplyDeleteI finally made it to San Diego, and found that the carpet in my bedroom makes a mat-like surface for headstands and handstands. I'm trying to find alternates to running/walking because my toe is yelling at me, so I have signed up for pilates/barre and will continue bike riding on the river trail by my house. After Christmas, I hope to go hiking in the sun! This has reminded me to go lay in semi-supine...
ReplyDeleteChase- that is a great idea about handstands on the door! Going to yoga tomorrow then doing handstands in my sister's tiny apartment because I haven't done ANYTHING the past 3 days. I think I drank too much in Richmond. Pickin it back up tomorrow in Savannah. I feel like a nomad and I FOREAL miss Blue Lake. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteOk peeps, I trained today (well tonight - I like jogging when the sun is starting to go down - I feel like its a special partof the day that I usually miss because I gravitate indoors as the cool/dark starts to hit). I did the five minute jog/walk 3 minutes X 3 with an extra five minutes jogging on the end. I REALLY enjoyed training today. I felt likee my inner coach was working and that I found some ease through my movement, there was even a couple of minutes where I thought 'jeepers, I could do this forever'. When I felt my attention to my body wavering, I would try to find release in my neck, swing through my gait, full and empty legs, push with the big toe and lively spine/spiral. This helps me alot. Sometimes I think my biggest hurdle to over come is my mental blocks and negative thoughts towards training. Today was different.
ReplyDeleteDoes walking count? Haha... I did handstands yesterday and boy is it hard to do on carpet! I'm sweating in Savannah and can't wait to get back and train with all you wonderful crazies!!! Here's a quote I just saw online somewhere, thought I'd share: "You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore." I think we lost sight of the shore a while ago but here we gooooooo
ReplyDeleteArg, I have been sick for days now and unable to train. I am trying to 'allow' myself to relax and not feel stressed about not being able to jog. I can't wait to get better so I can get out there.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it is to see everyone's thoughts and ACTIONS!
ReplyDeleteTraining for me has been interesting this break. I have been running thirty minutes straight about twice a week. Usually I run with someone from my family. I enjoyed running with my mom and brother, whose form I helped adjust and motivated them to not be tired and reminded them not to collapse. My little brother was also super stoked about getting in the zone. My step-dad has been good about reminding me to keep running. So, that's been fun.
My first day back, I went up to the third floor of this theatre where my fella lives. It's about the size of Watershed. Its downtown and has a super cool view. I did a mini-daily practice for about twenty minutes. Handstands, push-ups, backbends... It was wonderful. I haven't been quite as wild since that day. I usually about five handstands sporadically throughout the day, but I haven't been doing the "handstand" work out. But, I must do handstands, everywhere and anywhere I have the chance, I feel majorly lame if I do not.
I've been babysitting and working at the restaurant, so I count those things as tiny workouts.
And yes, Gentry, walking definitely counts. As long as we keep moving, and don’t become major couch potatoes, I believe we’re doing well. But, pizza and sleeping are also really important.
I have no motivation to do any physical activity alone. Major props to those who are! It is really neat to see how we can inspire and support each other here and there. As in how we do this at Dell'Arte and how we do this while we are apart. I so much value or connection and support for one another. It's been really informative being away from everyone. I’ve formed and even deeper love and appreciate for each and every one of you. I miss you all greatly. I think about you all every day. I am looking forward to all the crazy wonderful things we will create upon our return. Six more months! Here we go!
HEYY 'YALLS! Deck the halls with bows and folly, falalalalalalala. I don't care if that didn't make any sense. It's so GREAT to see all of you working hard.
ReplyDeleteI went to backbendlandia a bit and feel I'm releasing my shoulders. I have to work on my flexibility to get my shoulders over my hands.
I was working on music for new year's and found myself slouching so I minded my occipital and straightened right up. Thank you body!
I'm missing you all. Keep up the good work. I hope to challenge your imaginations for our p.labs when we get back. Get ready.
back on the blog. Its been a good break so far. I've been keeping up with the training and thinking a lot about what I want to work on in the coming months and how I can start on some of that now. arm strength, anyone? Its strange to be back in the matrix for a while. I hear so many strange comments like "I could never do that" or "running is bad for you". Meanwhile I feel like I'm only touching the surface of the physical awareness and being that I can achieve. also, I like beer still.
ReplyDeleteOk ok, lets see if I can dredge up the last week.
ReplyDeleteDisclaimer: I do a work exchange with the yoga studio in Sonoma, so can basically go as often as I wish for free. I milk this for all its marbles.
Last Thursday:
4:30~ got back into Sonoma after a 4-hour long conversation of immeasurable depth with Anson on the ride down.
5:30~ went to a 1.5 hr Ashtanga yoga class at the studio.
Friday: 1 hr Ashtanga yoga class, followed by 1 hr pilates class.
Weekend:
Much uninhibited eating followed by a catastrophically enjoyable journey to the Great Dickens Christmas Festival with our resident satyr, Billy Higgins.
Monday: 1.5 hr Iyengar Yoga
Tuesday: 1.5 hr Alexander workshop at the yoga studio with a profound man named Michael Joseph.
Wednesday: 1.5 hr Iyengar Yoga
Thursday: 1 hr bike ride, up a big hill, 1.5 hr Anusara Yoga
Friday: Private Alexander session with Michael. He's having a holiday special and works five minutes from my house- too good to turn down. The session was the beginning of something profoundly simple. After that, 1 hr Pilates class. Pilates is a phenomenal practice- it will make you a superhero. Then also I made that bike ride again, it is beautiful.
Additionally, beginning this past Monday and going through next Friday I've been and will be meeting with one of my yoga teachers outside of class every day for 20 minutes, where she has been and will be helping me stretch the ever-loving bajeezus out of my hamstrings. Gotta get a little room in these legs. Today, day five, I can sit upright with my legs straight out in front of me with noticeably more ease than I could last week. 90 degrees here I come.
Been putting a few reps on the pull-up bar a couple times a day for kicks. Whosoever reads all this may deduce, I have nothing to do here but work out. Its great. More importantly, it has been a good opportunity to put the work we've done at Dell'Arte in a wider context of physical application. See how the new body rolls in the old world.
And it may be satisfying to announce that I have, with much joy and occasional pain, abandoned all semblance of a reasonable diet in the span of this week, and have eaten more cookies, ice cream, pizza, and other manner of sinfully indulgent food than I ever did prior to meeting Andrew and stealing his life. Several consequences here. When not up and active, my energy is less, definitively. The gasses which I so often announce from my face have chosen a different escape route for the holidays. ... Farts. I mean farts. Also my muscles have occasionally been cramping, which they certainly never did when I was on the bird. I look forward to not eating the ridiculous things my parents buy at Christmas time anymore.
Ya'll fine lovelies be sweatin' pretty seekin' the shine and I'll be breathin' easy waitin' on that sweet-sugar lovin' time rolls 'round we grind that groove again. Chocolate glory hallelujah.
So. Here goes. First, I am sorry that I have been missing from this blog for the past few weeks (I know. I said I'm sorry. Again. Haha). It is a wonderful source of inspiration and motivation. Both of which I know I have needed. My consistency over break has been off and on. I have done a version of daily practice at least 3 times a week (my little sister laughed at me when she saw me going through the polar bear, crawling, climbing, and running sequence in my father's bedroom). However, finding a place for handstands is quite difficult. I live with my older sister 3 nights out of the week and she has no place for them. However, I found a place at work finally as well as one in my house. I have been really working on tucking my butt in on my handstands and it seems to be going really well with a little help from my older sister. She introduced me to the pelvic floor and has given me a simple breathing exercise to learn how to stregthen and control it. Simply kicking up into handstand has become significantly better.
ReplyDeleteI also catch myself collapsing ALL THE TIME now. It is wonderful! I can be anywhere and I have to remind myself to relax, release, and expand upward and into the floor. Brilliant.
Backbends and headstands are also underconstruction. Back walk over, you will be conquered.
I have also done alot of pondering on the core. What it means to move from it, to act from it, and to allow it to control intent. This will be my work for awhile. To not only intellectually understand, but to be in it.
However, my only cardio has been one session of insanity which was intense. My running has been at a zero. For one thing, after working an eleven hour day, I don't have much desire to hit the pavement. But also, I have allowed myself to believe that I hate running again which I know now is not true. So, because of your dedication, I am about to go run. Thank you for the motivation.
One final word. Something that I am extremely grateful for this break is the ability to gain perspective. I was so immersed in the work we were doing, I felt like I was making no progress. This sounds ridiculous of course but it was something I was struggling with. But in coming home, I have been able to see the leaps and bounds we have all made. It has allowed me to relax which has increased my movement exponentially. I was holding on so tight that I couldn't let go, and letting go is essential for the work that must be done. I know that there is much farther to go, but this knowledge fills me with a fire to plunge further.
I hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday! I miss you. Can't wait to see you. Let's Roll.
Spencer I can't believe you ate COOKIES!!!! haha good for you. I've been eating pounds, literally POUNDS of chocolate every day. It's sick. Anyway, I just went on a run with my sister through the Smokies! It was beautiful...She's training for a half marathon, so I was giving her tips about running (as well as reminding myself!) We made up superhero names when we got to the big hills...I'm Velveeta Viper! I just did some hand stands (check out the hilarious photobooth pic I took just now on Facebook) Besides running and doing handstands, I haven't been doing much else besides EATING! 1 week y'all!!!
ReplyDeletewoot! I made it to Minnesota. It's cold but dry, NO SNOW which is unheard of this time of year. I got to see a friend last night who asked me about the program so far and I felt like a kid in a candy store without a paddle. My inner Joe came out when I talked about quality of movement and my occipital joint and how important it is to be mindful of it...bla bla bla you's know the deal. It just felt really great to explain what i've been doing in a coherent way. Gentry reminded of that with "(as well as reminding myself)" You all are so cool. Suz is making me do a dive roll in our "first dance". That should be interesting in my dress. Off to handstandladia!
ReplyDeleteHey gang- just a drive-by post to say that constructive rest and I have been getting very well-acquainted this holiday break. And by "constructive," I mean "chocolate-filled." Just got back from a quick trip to Handstandlandia (and boy, are my arms tired!) and I felt compelled to confess a recent transgression: I woke up the morning after a friend's birthday party to find photos on my camera of myself in a tutu and combat boots, doing a backbend. Apparently, after executing said backbend, I immediately began wailing about how we were explicitly instructed not to do such things under the influence of (etc. etc. etc.) I was most contrite, and after the crippling hangover subsided, I rewarded/scolded myself with a nice long run.
ReplyDeleteMy occipital joint and I are headed up to Ashland for a few days- let's see if I can get Weekend Dad out of his bathrobe and into some running shoes while I'm there.
That's the news from San Fran, everyone. Can't wait to see you guys again soon- vacation is dandy, but I'm ready to be rolling around on the red floor with my famiglia again.