I am not only really tired but ridiculously sore (hips, back, ankles, shoulders and chest). It's been a very challenging week....and a great one! It's not often that I have weeks like this and it makes me really happy to experience it.

On Friday I swallowed big gulps of air which is something I've been struggling with for almost 2 years. We practice a technique called tu gu na xin (swallowing air) that really helps clean the digestive system and is one of the basic building blocks for internal training. It's been so frustrating to try to get it for such a long time but thanks to a tip from a friend, I've finally started to get the hang of it. yay!

I also had my best splits day EVER the other day. sitting relaxed on the ground for the flexion splits (one leg in front, the other behind me) and touching my inner calf to the ground in the adduction splits (both legs out to the sides). yay again! This year we have a different coach leading our basics practice. We only learn new stuff from shifu but we have a senior student lead us for the practice of basics (kicks, stances, etc) and drills our forms sometimes. Well he is amazing. This week he really pushed us in our stretching and everyone improved so much. Last week it was jumping. I can see that if we continue training with him, we'll go through a quantum leap of progress. He's my new favorite! This is a photo of him.

It's raining outside with thunder, lightning, the whole deal. Even though we don't have heat in our rooms this kind of weather always makes me feel cozy inside. We do have hot water bottles and warm blankets. It was getting pretty warm for a few days there and then things took a turn for the worse and we're in winter again. Spring and fall are such short seasons here, summer and winter are both too long.

This week I did something to my lower back so I've mostly been taking it easy. It's been a lot of tai chi and bagua walking and although I never enjoy injuries, it has been nice to practice more internal stuff. I think my posture has improved in just one week of concentrated practice, even Shifu commented on it. I also love the feeling I get from doing bagua walking (circle walking) for a long time, it's euphoric. Although I've never experienced runners high (I dislike running), I imagine it's a similar experience.

Well, time for some hot tea. Hopefully spring comes soon, here and at home for you guys!

We had our disciple ceremony on Friday. It was such a great experience in a way that is so hard to describe. Up until that day I'd kind of been worried that a lot of the tradition and meaning had been lost by including so many people but that turned out not to be the case. Not for me anyway. I really felt like I was making a serious commitment and being accepted into a very special group. We took an oath and did some ceremonial bowing, presented Shifu with an offering, received a booklet with our Taoist name inside as well as a ceremonial sword with our Taoist name inscribed into the blade. Then we bowed to our kung fu uncles and the next group went up. Doesn't sound like much I know, but for me every part of it was infused with weight and magic.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonfreak/6820741300/in/set-72157629182053122/

This is a link to a classmates photo of me in the ceremony.

This week not much happened. I was pretty tired for our Wednesday evaluation so I just went with the old stand by sword form that I like. It's hard to hold on to a weapon when the weather is so cold though, I dealt myself a glancing blow to the forehead at one point! Luckily I don't think Shifu noticed and it wasn't painful, just a little silly. Here's a picture of me.