September 20, 2008

• Somersault Fun

  This week during one of the Tai Ji classes I had a moment of pure panic! When our teacher said we were going to practice somersaults I just stood there and laughed. All I could think about was my 3 1/2 year old grandson and how easily he can do somersaults. Then I tried to figure out how many years it had been since my last somersault. Then I thought, “I’m a grandmother! Will I be able to do this?” Are grandmothers even allowed to do somersaults? LOL Then I wondered what would happen when I tried to do one, and I laughed harder as my panic level climbed.

  Well, I’m very happy to say that I can still do somersaults!  The most difficult one was that first one. Once that one was under my belt I was able to breath again. It was all great fun UNTIL late that night when I was tossing and turning unable to sleep. I realized that my tailbone area was killing me. This poor tailbone of mine has been broken twice; normally it is not a problem, but that night it was painful. An extra strength Tylenol and an ice pack finally allowed me to fall asleep and dream of somersaulting down hills.

  

  My Tai Ji class

  

  Maggie and Chen live in China. They have been in the states for a year on a medical exchange program. Maggie is a head nurse, and Chen is a medical doctor. They will soon be returning home to China.

  

  Some of the senior student undoing their sashes. I don’t yet know what the sashes signify. Some students have red ones instead. I wonder how many somersaults one must do in order to get a sash. Just kidding…

  

  This is a portion of the mat that we do all our work on. After class we all help wash the mat down.

  

  Now doesn’t this make you think of going back to preschool? Also, do you see all the flip flops on the left edge of the mat? We step out of our “slippers” and onto the mat then we bow and proceed with the class. Whenever you get off the mat you go and stand with your back to your slippers and bow then step backwards into your slippers. Do you know how difficult it can be to step into flip flops backwards? LOL

  

  This was Maggie’s and Chen’s last class with us. Maggie was sharing video she took of the seniors practicing their shoulder rolls. It has been fun to get to know them both just a little. My world was expanded and enlightened.

  • 3:17 pm
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