Super Saturdays

Saturdays have become my time.  I look forward to getting up and heading into town. I look forward to changing into my workout clothes and hitting the mats.

It starts with Tai Chi class, which helps end the busy week and allows me to reset for the next.  It makes me focus on "where am I and what am I doing".  It allows me to listen to my body.  I find that I really need to "Focus my eyes, focus my mind, focus my body" when I am in class.  It is moving meditation.  It is building micro muscles. Tai Chi also allows for quality time with my son as I love practicing the moves during the week with him and having our time together.  I wish I would have joined this sooner but I am happy I am doing it now.

Next is Lion Dance practise during open training.  This is the ultimate exercise in focus and endurance.  Never anything the same twice, making changes on the fly, organized chaos.  I have noticed that there are finally times that I can "be the Lion".  Times where I am not always thinking about how to do the next unicorn step.  If you have not done a Lion Dance, you are missing out.  If you are a person who over thinks everything in Kung Fu (like I am), Lion Dance will help with that.  There is so much going on that initially I was overwhelmed and confused so I had to let go and just do it. This has been spilling over to other areas of my Kung Fu and improving that as well. The  Lion Dance is great exercise and you are having so much fun that you don't realize it until its over.  By the end of practise, the head feels like 50lbs, my face is red, and my legs are burning but everyone is always smiling when they pop out of their Lion.  

I know that these two activities have been helping me get through each week as my work stress continues to rise.  There are many times during the week when I start feeling overwhelmed and anxious but I can bring it back by using the tools that I have learnt in Kung Fu.  I just started exercising at work (I still struggle with finding the time but I am making it a priority),  do deep breathing,  ask myself "where am I, what am I doing",  do yoga or Tai Chi.  

So thank you Sifu Dennis and Sifu Brinker for taking the time during your weekend to instruct these two events, please know that it is greatly appreciated.  Thank you to the other Sifus who are always there to help and guide us and thank you to my teammates for your dedication and commitment.  I can't imagine where I would be without you.

See you next Saturday!