Who could it be now?

Locally someone, not an RKC, was on TV demonstrating the fine art of kettlebells. I did not see the spot. I can comment that it has brought me some business! Folks know they need reliable support when taking on the iron ball.

New RKC snatch rules...no doubt this was well thought out and discussed by those who have observed many,many people testing at the RKC. I think it will be deceptive to candidates (1st timers) as they may view the snatch test as the "icing on the cake" and think that if they nail their numbers then they are good to go. Oh boy, that could be a painful lesson. I think the old rules are a superior indicator of preparation,fatigue/anxiety management, shoulder stability and grip endurance. Are the new rules suggestive of less emphasis on the snatch test as an indicator of preparedness for the RKC? That is not such a bad idea.

Just to see how it flew, I grabbed the 16kg at 9am before my classes to see if there was anything weird about the 60 reps for my weight class.I set the gymboss for 5 minutes, and hit it. I rested in lockout after 10 reps per side x3. I had about 90 seconds left over. Bell did not touch the ground.

In less than a decade I'll be able to test in Master's Class.

You fill up my senses

...like a night night in the forest, like a walk in the rain. Ah! It finally rained here. I think we had 1/16" in August. Very parched. Walked for an hour and smelled the bundled trees felled by the storm. I love weather and being out in it. It's a challenge for me to be contained in a city and the kettlebell is one way to cope with sensory overload.
Post walk I did Ramanand Patel's "yoga for pain." So, that was all about the feet. From there I did Ardha Chandrasana against the wall. I'll say it again, I don't find any comfort or steadfastness in this asana, so I held it for awhile and checked it out. It's a walkin',talkin' question mark for me. The bottom foot is not firmly rooted as the hip is not settled and I don't like having my trunk open the way the posture demands. Torso stability figures in. Having the chest open and heart exposed is a threat to the whole deal. Maybe I can try it in body armor or a weight vest.

I'm not in my fat pants yet...

though I am a little behind on blogging. Here's the deal: No blogging from the workplace. So, no inspirational moments can be piped into my day in the form of my blog friends, and readers, who probably don't read for my "workouts" anyway, don't know what's up. The last I felt, it was heart wrenching to even see the John Denver and George Jones videos posted on Aaron's blog. John Denver was one of my childhood heros and I don''t think I have forgiven him for being a drunk ( or was he?) and crashing his plane. I DID grow up in the country singing his songs at the top of my lungs with my sister in the back of a red Datsun pick-up, the bed rusted out from salted deer hides, my dad playing the clutch and gas pedal to give us the most "giddies" as we drove the rolling hills to get soft ice cream. I was not a boy,but people who could not see me thought I was until I was maybe 11. I wore mostly Billy the Kid brand clothes,Lees,Levis and harness boots or my swell Tigers.. I was either on the XL 75 Honda bike my dad got me in 1978 or ballet class -yes,point shoes too. An absolute blast and I have not "outgrown" any of it. I will save my rant on suburban life for another day.

For regularity in practices, Tuesday's I get in kb work,Wednesday Ashtanga, Thursday kb work and Friday some straight bar stuff. Yearly PRs will only happen in Minnesota, as it is a total pain to load a bar for deadlifts by myself,or maybe I am missing the obvious. KBs is basics,can be heavy,can be grinds. Lately,exploring windmills. Also overhead holds and negative press with 24kg. I've snatched it. Ken Froese saw it at RKC II. No big deal, you just have to be ready to receive it. Pressing it must be earned though, so I'm surveying to see what's ready and what needs more work. Also pull ups and leg raises. Ladders from 5.

One recent yoga practice I did the hardest asana for a Westerner-Savasana. I intended to do much more but once I got on my mat I pretty much melted to it and stuck there. Oh happy day when my nothing is enough!

Client wise-busy! Picked up 6 new clients since July. Made progress with one fellow who always asked after class, "Can you make it so I am more tired after class?", insisting that fatigue is a sign of a "good workout and progress." Patience and a heavy bell,my friend. Now that we are communicating better there is an understanding that knowing when your body is fatigued is a sign to stop and certainly indicates energy leakages, he is perhaps rowing the same boat as the rest of the class. He found a paddle anyway and we'll take him if he decides to return.

Food wise- doing better on fruits and veggies at school. Not so good on after school pastry and coffee. Weight stays the same 2lbs + or -,strength and endurance same though recovery varies with my inconsistent practices. Waking up earlier than I used makes for a smoother transition to the classroom stage.

Gutsy winds

The winds here in Louisville were gusting at 75 mph last Sunday! Yahoo!~I watched it all go down,literally,from the front porch swing. Our home did not sustain any damage. We don't have any power,which to me is a dream come true. The weather since then has been gorgeous and perfect for sleeping outside, which I have been doing every night since the storm. Pretend camping! I did not have school at all last week and did a great deal of reading,walking,mountain biking and some kettlebells and yoga. I ate a ton too:) Storing it up for the long,cold winter ahead!

New Class!

9/11/08
This evening's new class drew a very good crowd! It is also a good time for me to get a little practice in as most of the students have an established practice. For me it was just suitcase deadlift w/ a 20kg in one hand a 24kg in the other 3x5, then 1 burpee 1 sumo up to 5 w/the 20kg, and various planks.

Prior to class was Primary series up to the Marichyasanas. Felt great to get in a yoga practice. Last Thursday this time I was catching a cold. All better!

A bit of practice

9/10/08
Slow walking/stepping,assorted jm,toe touch w/ball of feet on Nissen mat.
2Hsw 16 kg 4 (25) halo w/ 8kg btwn sets
1Hsw 12kg 25/25
Stride work and ankle flexion
Strict MP 16kg 3(5/5)
Press handstands: 3 where hands two hand's lengths from toes, then 2 presses one hand's length from toes. My hands are not in front of my toes, rather btwn legs.

Chocolate and a spoon

While others fret over precise nutrition,my body's cycle pretty much rules and is precise. Warm pan of brownies right out of the oven,two spoons and a big glass of milk. Between my husband and I, the pan is finished in two days,mostly while the pan was still warm. From there it is several days of light eating,deep resting,less lifting and more walking,emphasis on flat and downhill. I enjoy my lady's holiday! It's a built in time to renew and re-group.

I added two more KB classes this month. One for new students and one for students with an established practice. Some highlights for me have been watching students decide that it is time to pick up a heavier bell for swings and rows. Go Carrick!!

Brynn showed us a flawless double sots last week. Nothing to it!

There are surprises for me on the Screening front, particularly on the ALSR. The idea is not to assume or interpret the screen until all the data is in. However, I still am surprised by the 3s I thought would be 1s or 2s and the 2s I thought would be 3s. No one dislikes the hurdle step more than I do. I speculate it is the standing leg stance. My left foot is kind of dead. I have a dim memory of injuring it in college. So, my body is playing favorites, to the dismay of efficient movement.

Last Friday I ended up with a stomach ache and a low grade fever. Monday night fever was 100.9 and broke with a restful night's sleep. Today I practiced kbs with class to feel back in the land of the living. Foam roller over the weekend made me sweat. Maybe contraindicated for flu.

This is normal for me. The season is changing and my body performs a pre-season re-boot. Cool temps tonight feel right to absorb the evening fever flare up.