It was bound to happen eventually

I know that when training as hard as I've been, eventually some kind of injury will pop up. Mine is a strained pectoral muscle on the right side. It's not that painful, unless I do push-ups. I imagine that I injured it by doing push-ups every day. I don't remember a particular incident, it's just been steadily getting worse for about 2 weeks now. Well I took a day off push-ups and I'm still taking it easy by doing less reps more often. I try to position my arms so that they're doing all the work instead of my chest. I'm not sure what else I can do. I know that I need to give it time to heal but I don't want to get too far behind on my push-ups either.

So I guess I'll just play it by ear and take it easy in the meantime. Any tips from anyone would be greatly appreciated. Should I take more time off?

Struck Down Again

I got a cold this week. The second time I've gotten sick since I've been home. I decided this is not a good sign and I'm taking measures to fix the problem. Perchance my immune system is down from travelling or training so I'm taking some herbs to help bring it back to normal. In the meantime I accomplished very little this week. Did the bare minimum I had to in order to not fall behind but I certainly didn't make much progress. Except on one thing. The form I'm creating for our tournament in May is coming along very well. Added a couple of wicked new moves this week and polished what was there. It's really starting to feel good. I was a bit worried that it would end up looking the same as the sword form I learned in Wudang just with the moves rearranged BUT that is not the case. I don't even know where the inspiration for some of this stuff is coming from! The collective unconscious perhaps. Who knows. At any rate it's very exciting. I've never created my own form before and I didn't realize how much fun it is.

So I'm happy with my the new developments and I'm no longer sick. Life is good.

Yay me

So at the risk of seeming arrogant I'm posting a link to an article with me and my sister in it.

http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com

Click on the article Women of Wudang. I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

Wow. I can't believe I'm in an article for Kung Fu Magazine! I never imagined anything like this would ever happen to me. Haha. So maybe I'm bragging a bit but I'm just really excited.

Other than that all is well. I'm feeling good. Making progress on my goals and attracting all sorts of positivity my way.

My First Living Hero: Vandana Shiva

Why I love Vandana Shiva:

A few years ago I went to see Vandana Shiva speak at the university. The lecture was called The Seed and the Spinning Wheel. She spoke about the genetic engineering of lifeforms and how dangerous this new technology was. She went into great detail explaining how biodiversity works and how our ecology depends on it. She also shared several stories about industrial agriculture versus small scale, family farming methods, water shortages caused by irresponsible practices, corporations patenting life forms, and the cultural impact of these acts on local peoples. The lecture left a huge impression in my mind and I decided to learn more about this intelligent, articulate, and caring woman.

Vandana Shiva is a quantum physicist, environmentalist, author, and womens rights activist. She is my hero because she cares about our world and about women in third world countries and because she provides a powerful example of what one woman can accomplish. Her foundation Navdanya does important work in promoting sovereignty of natural resources, bio-diversity and organics, and empowerment of women and children.

There is so much important work that Vandana Shiva does, I have neither the space nor the fortitude to include it all here. For more info please check out the links below.

"The primary threat to nature and people today comes from centralising and monopolising power and control. Not until diversity is made the logic of production will there be a chance for sustainability, justice and peace. Cultivating and conserving diversity is no luxury in our times: it is a survival imperative."
-Vandana Shiva

http://www.rightlivelihood.org/v-shiva.html
http://www.vandanashiva.org
http://www.navdanya.org
http://www.ecoworld.com/Home/Articles2