A Hockey Helmet and Duct Tape

Hard to believe it’s only 1 more sleep till Christmas.  I really can’t believe how fast this past year has gone.  It has been a full and amazing year; one filled with challenges, failures and achievements.  In all a year that has been an incredible year of learning.  Along with all the preparation for Christmas this month, I have been working on a few more specifics in my training.  The past couple of weeks (more so the last week), Sihing Robinson and I have been working on our weapons choreography.   Working on the form with the nunchuks is one thing; however trying to work with it against another weapon has been a whole other learning curve.  I never expected working with a hinged weapon to be easy.  I have realized that actually making contact with another wooden weapon when striking can be unpredictable, especially when you are first playing with it.  My best friend during these practice sessions has been my old hockey helmet and duct tape.  I may look ridiculous but have fewer bruises thanks to it.  With this weapon I have been playing with for the past 10 months for forms, I now am trying to figure out how it could be used in reality as a weapon.  Just the start of more learning!  I have enjoyed working on this and look forward to after Christmas working on it again, hopefully without the helmet!

I’d like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas.  Take time to enjoy all the blessings you have and we will see everyone in the New Year (except the I Ho Chuan, see you on Thursday).

 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Just A Big Elastic

This past Friday I started physio for my shoulder.  The last month things have gone a little downhill and I am getting desperate to fix it.  Loss of feeling and strength, pain and aching and loss of sleep are starting to take its toll.  On Friday I left the clinic and was sent home with 2 big elastics and a list of exercises.  I have to be honest and say that I couldn’t believe that after everything I do in my training, that a few exercises with a giant elastic was going to have any impact whatsoever.  It seems I might be wrong.  Friday night, all day Saturday and still today, I have a feeling in my arms that I have done all 50,000 push ups in one evening.  I’ve been told that I need to build on the rotator muscles and some of the muscles in my neck.  As piddley as these exercises may appear, they seem to be having some impact on my body already (hopefully soon it will be positive). 

 What I am finding to be the most disheartening is the thought that I may be letting down others.  If it’s just myself affected, that’s one thing but if my inabilities start having a negative impact on others around me, their training and their goals; that’s where I have a hard time.  I know that I need to progress wisely and be patient with myself, which is challenging since I have so much to work on right now. 

So I will give the big elastic a chance and work on all the muscles I have been neglecting (without even knowing it) and keep moving forward.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Another Year Almost Gone

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of another year.   As I have been working on my list of personal challenges for this upcoming year, I have come to the conclusion that I’m not done with some of this year’s list.  I like the direction things are going and what I have actually had the courage to try the past year and definitely want to stay with the momentum.   Although I have accomplished or come close to meeting most of the goals I set out for myself, I have found myself wanting to further challenge myself and expand on some things.  Why let a good thing die?  I have come up with a couple new ones to add to my list, one might be shooting for the stars, but is not impossible.  I’m excited for this next year.  The last 10 months I’ve learnt a lot, things that work for me and others that don’t.  I hope I’ve gotten a little wiser and can tackle my challenges in a way that will continue growth and get me closer yet to accomplishing some pretty great things.

 

I’ve had a hard time posting this for a couple of days, hope it works this time.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Take A Moment

Like for most people I know, these days seem crazy busy, just never enough time.  So many of us are stressed out and have our unending lists that keep haunting us.  Why do we have such a hard time just taking some time to relax and appreciate the moment?  Why does it sometimes take getting sick or feeling burnt out for us to finally realize we need to slow down? 

This last week I was fortunate to have a friend who after morning class, TOLD me to get in the car and ask no questions.  A little reluctant and a tad nervous I jumped in and off we went.  After a couple of stops our final destination was the Mutart Conservatory.   We walked and talked and laughed.  When we got to the last room it was filled with poinsettias and Christmas decorations, smelled like cedar, with soft Christmas music in the back ground, we sat and visited (and might have snuck some chocolate) for quite some time.  It was a wonderful day, in a beautiful place with a great friend.

 I didn’t get anything crossed off my list, but it wasn’t the end of the world and the list was still there the next day.  What I didn’t realize was that others were seeing in me what I felt but didn’t take the time to acknowledge.  I think we all need to take the time do things we enjoy.  We need to cut ourselves some slack and realize we don’t always have to have an end product to prove that our day was a success.   When we actually take the time to slow down and do something just because we enjoy it, we are probably going to be in better shape to attack the things we have to.

Thanks to my friend with the chocolate in her pocket!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca