Human interest story #2 Buster's shack

Last week's classes were busy. Add to that new client's from out of town on Friday night and an early start on Saturday morning for private plus 2 classes after that...light practice for me today. Arm bars, work on bent press, tgu 5 minutes 8kg, 5 mins 12kg. Then drills: stand to lunge,1/2 kneeling BUP,elbow post+head turn, high hip+head turn. On other days I've been working in heavier swings after many weeks of light swings due to energy drain. SLDL often included or is exclusive lift along with hip flexor work, rolling out quads on foam roller and calf work with The Stick.

Human interest story #1 Sadie

Louisville experienced 85 mph winds in September's Hurricane Ike. Power and school shut down for over a week. Is was nice to sleep outside in quiet darkness. It was restorative to me. In November we inherit an "abandoned" dog. A nice leather collar and sweet temperament indicate that she has been loved. Her name is Sadie and no one seemed to be looking for her. In February, her ex-owner and my husband meet while walking. Her ex-owner has a new living situation that includes 2 female dogs with whom Sadie cannot tolerate. At some point Sadie is placed in a new home, but she runs away. I guess they did not think to read the "found dog classifieds" or post a sign?! Our two dogs accepted her pretty immediately-as if they had a say. A young cat found the back porch appealing and with the terrific cold we had, I built her a swell shelter with a sleeping bag and all. At this moment ,he, I have to remember it's a boy cat, is jelled on our couch. "Buster" the cat has put the stink eye on all of our dogs. Even the old hound who thinks cats are tasty avoids Buster.

A January ice storm cancels school for a week and again we are without power for over a week. Brr. I had a cold with a fever during that time. Prior to that I experienced some un-fun energy drain unrelated to training. That was November through January. My training is in maintenance mode with plenty of tgu's. My energy is feeling very normal again.

Client opens jars with glutes and other "feets"

"Knee caps up,hip snap, finish with the glutes,tight,tight,tight," I say as I encourage students to seal up energy leaks. One client admits mid- set of military presses that she uses her glutes for "opening jars." The class roars with laughter. "No, really,she says, I have use them for everything: closing car doors, opening cabinets,carrying groceries." It is just too much and the class dissolves in a heap of giddiness. She claims that it is her relatively weak arms that force the glutes into action!

The sisters from down the pike who make the trip into Louisville to uncover the "secrets of" moving better and to get stronger. That's Catherine on the left and Marie on the right. Happy comrades!

I'll post the "feets" tomorrow...some tremendous party approved footwear.

Equity for all,The Golden Rule

Do unto a light bell as you would a heavy bell. It is a gift to work with clients who do not rush things and allow the bell to be part of the feedback loop. The wall squat sometimes is the teacher. Not a popular teacher, but the body is gaining good things. The teachers you remember are the ones that didn't hand it to you, rather they provided the platform for you to discover and experience something new. I can see expressions of satisfaction as a clean clean replaces a bicep curl clean. Double cleans and alternating presses today; awesome,powerful!
These ladies practice the corrective strategies on their own time and ask great questions. I love it when students participate beyond the mechanical component of class. Mastering new patterns can be frustrating, but actually you are loosening up the tangle we sometimes get into with the grey matter. What's that mean? It means let go of it already, put your hands on your hips and "laugh out loud,fling out your arms and cry out for your pathetic,whining self." Get over it, get on with it and grab the bell. And have fun!

Thank you Catherine, Marie, and Laura! You made my Saturday great!!

More indulging

11/3/08 Long time spent in sauna. Quiet.
11/4 kgbells: 20,16,12,12,8 20 2Hsw w/each top of the minute,+20 w/12 kg to finish off on time.
rest :30, 2x12kg farmer's carry 1 minute :15 rest,1mincarry
more 2HSw 50 1x12kg,50 1x8kg
10 face the wall squats
20 bw push-ups,Brettzel L/R,20 pu,thoracic stuff,10/10 pu child's pose,10/10 pu cobra

Got a practice in!

10/30/08
jm,stick work gastroc-soleus,worked on hip extensors per SOS.
5mins 20 2Hsw top of the minute 5(20) 12kg
:60 rest
5mins jump rope 20 at top of min
4 mins c&p once OH Hold 2x12 kg bw squats btwn sets of 30 secs
4mins walking alt press jog room at end of length or at fatigue finish w/standing alt press 2x12kg
4mins Dbl kb frsq 3 (10) 2x12kg handstand hold btwn sets

Screened two 12 yr olds today. Most bizarre contortions I have seen yet to do the Hurdle Step. Knocked kit over twice,cleared in on 3rd but on 2nd side actually he crouch, hopped on one foot to launch his leg over. In line-lunge same guy does a serious pelvic thrust to remain (somewhat) vertical. More creative problem solving ensued when second candidate struggles to position feet on kit for ILL. Begins by placing the front foot first and then taking back foot to position. Revealed static and dynamic single leg stance issues. Never succeeded. But a functioning brain was apparent.

yoga am+kbs pm

8 am yoga Just Surya Namaskar a & b 5x each. Then Pranayama.
7 pm Snatch test 16kg GymBoss @5mins: 15/15,rest in OH lock,15/15.Done. Exactly 2 minutes remain on timer. Hardstyle only,no freaky styley. 3(5/5) Cleans 16kg.