It's getting to be harder and harder to blog. I've been using proxy sites to get through the chinese firewall to sites like blogger and facebook but now even those don't always work. Today I had to try 3 times just to get on this site. The UBBT website is completely inaccessable at this point. There's so many little things like this about living in China that can be really frustrating at times. Luckily this time we have internet in our room so I can keep trying. Last time we were here we had to use the internet cafe and if we wouldn't get on to our site, it was just too bad. We'd have to try again another day. On the plus side we found some hot chocolate mix here! It's not gourmet or anything but Mel and I both love hot chocolate so much that going without is a horrifying thought.
Training this week was pretty challenging. My body is going through a lot of changes and with the change, comes pain. I feel like my muscles are getting softer and more relaxed so I notice more the places where I am stuck. Like my tendons and joints. Tuesday I was really tired and I had shooting pains in my legs and a really sore right knee. It was a struggle to get through the last day of the week. Yesterday after class Mel and I went to get massages and though it was painful (and still is for that matter) I think it was a good idea. There is a group of blind men here that give really awesome acupressure massages. I'm pretty sure that because they're blind they have greater tactile sensation which is probably why they give such great massages. I'm really glad I went. I've wanted to try it for a while and I definitely needed some help with my body this week. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be back in top form.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Warning: If menstruation freaks you out, don't read this
I thought I'd write a post about something that's been on my mind a lot lately, menses.
Being a menstruating woman here is really different. Sifu told me that we need to take care not to overtrain during the first few days of our menses but it's kind of awkward because people notice that you're not doing as much as you normally do. Naturally they ask you if something is wrong, if you're sick, if everything is ok. I don't really want to discuss my cycle with the entire school but then you have to make up some other excuse "oh I'm just really tired today" and I prefer to tell the truth. I usually train as normally as I feel is appropriate and end up saying something vague, trying to change the subject. I think I'll eventually just have to get over it and the guys here will just know all about my periods. Awesome.
There are no tampons here either. We brought about $100 worth with us and when they are gone, we will have to go to the nearest big city to buy more. It's pretty annoying to have to make a big trip just for that but I can't imagine trying to do the training that we do while wearing a pad. I did bring a diva cup with me (www.divacup.com)but I haven't been able to figure out how to use it properly so until then, it's tampons for me.
Sifu told us that we're not supposed to drink cold drinks during our menses because it cools our blood too much and causes more cramps and can also make it last longer. I decided to give it a try and have only been drinking warm or hot beverages. It's really made a difference! I only had cramps the first day and they were quite mild. When I think back to all the times I pigged out on ice cream when I had my period it's kind of funny. Why are we sometimes so drawn to the worst thing for us? I wonder how many menstruating women are eating ice cream right now.
The book I'm reading right now is called Sex, Time, and Power and it discusses a lot about evolution and women's sexuality. The author claims that the reason homo sapiens were able to tell the passage of time so very long ago is due to women's menstrual cycles and they way they coincide with the cycles of the moon. The combination of an internal and external event of 29.5 days in length eventually got through our thick skulls and we were able to see the past and the future as well as the present. Humans are the only species with such a capacity for forsight and the only one with females possesing such a dramatic menses (a few other animals menstruate but none with the severity and timing of a human female). Well if you find the topic interesting, I recommend reading the book. It's very informative.
At home it's a lot easier to ignore my periods but while I'm in Wudang and training hard, it's a lot more in my face. I have to admit that in a way I'm enjoying being more in touch with my cycle. My sister and I are sharing a room and after less than 2 months our cycles are already synchronizing. I think another 2 months should do the trick. Then for a few days every month all the guys here will have to watch out! haha. I also read that the cause of PMS is a drop in estrogen and progesterone right before menses. This means that for a short while, women have more testosterone circulating than any other sex hormones. Basically we become more aggressive and difficult, the way men are all the time. ha! Of course I'm speaking in generalizations here, not everyone fits these kind of stereotypes. I just like learning about the physiology of peoples behaviors.
That's all for now. Hopefully people were able to set aside any squeamishness about this topic. I also hope that I've inspired some to learn more about thier bodies and how they work. Pretty cool stuff.
Being a menstruating woman here is really different. Sifu told me that we need to take care not to overtrain during the first few days of our menses but it's kind of awkward because people notice that you're not doing as much as you normally do. Naturally they ask you if something is wrong, if you're sick, if everything is ok. I don't really want to discuss my cycle with the entire school but then you have to make up some other excuse "oh I'm just really tired today" and I prefer to tell the truth. I usually train as normally as I feel is appropriate and end up saying something vague, trying to change the subject. I think I'll eventually just have to get over it and the guys here will just know all about my periods. Awesome.
There are no tampons here either. We brought about $100 worth with us and when they are gone, we will have to go to the nearest big city to buy more. It's pretty annoying to have to make a big trip just for that but I can't imagine trying to do the training that we do while wearing a pad. I did bring a diva cup with me (www.divacup.com)but I haven't been able to figure out how to use it properly so until then, it's tampons for me.
Sifu told us that we're not supposed to drink cold drinks during our menses because it cools our blood too much and causes more cramps and can also make it last longer. I decided to give it a try and have only been drinking warm or hot beverages. It's really made a difference! I only had cramps the first day and they were quite mild. When I think back to all the times I pigged out on ice cream when I had my period it's kind of funny. Why are we sometimes so drawn to the worst thing for us? I wonder how many menstruating women are eating ice cream right now.
The book I'm reading right now is called Sex, Time, and Power and it discusses a lot about evolution and women's sexuality. The author claims that the reason homo sapiens were able to tell the passage of time so very long ago is due to women's menstrual cycles and they way they coincide with the cycles of the moon. The combination of an internal and external event of 29.5 days in length eventually got through our thick skulls and we were able to see the past and the future as well as the present. Humans are the only species with such a capacity for forsight and the only one with females possesing such a dramatic menses (a few other animals menstruate but none with the severity and timing of a human female). Well if you find the topic interesting, I recommend reading the book. It's very informative.
At home it's a lot easier to ignore my periods but while I'm in Wudang and training hard, it's a lot more in my face. I have to admit that in a way I'm enjoying being more in touch with my cycle. My sister and I are sharing a room and after less than 2 months our cycles are already synchronizing. I think another 2 months should do the trick. Then for a few days every month all the guys here will have to watch out! haha. I also read that the cause of PMS is a drop in estrogen and progesterone right before menses. This means that for a short while, women have more testosterone circulating than any other sex hormones. Basically we become more aggressive and difficult, the way men are all the time. ha! Of course I'm speaking in generalizations here, not everyone fits these kind of stereotypes. I just like learning about the physiology of peoples behaviors.
That's all for now. Hopefully people were able to set aside any squeamishness about this topic. I also hope that I've inspired some to learn more about thier bodies and how they work. Pretty cool stuff.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Tai chi is so awesome.
Last night we practiced our tai chi form together and Sifu told us to focus on our dan tien and try to move very slowly but without stopping. We also did standing meditation afterwards. It was a great practice, I could really feel something. It's hard to desribe accurately but there was a sort of fullness in my dan tien (lower abdomen) and a feeling of tingling and a weird creakyness in my hands and arms. Sifu says not to focus on trying to feel any particular sensations but there are times when they're so strong that you can't not notice. The reason he says not to try to feel anything is that is because many people try so hard to feel what they're 'supposed' to that they create something in thier minds when the feeling actually comes from your body. That's supposedly why we train our bodies so hard, so that they become relaxed and strong, a clear channel for chi to flow through. It's pretty great to see it happening in my own body, I still have a long way to go but the progress is encouraging.
He also corrected me on a part of the form that's been kind of awkward and I couldn't figure out why. It feels a lot better now and even though he made me do it over and over and gave me heck in front of everyone I was able to stay calm and focused instead of feeling angry. I'm not sure why but Sifu can really make me feel embarrassed and angry when he chastises me harshly or gives me a knock on the head in class. I know that he wouldn't do that if he didn't care about helping me and that he does it purposefully but I've had a difficult time not having an emotional response in the moment. I think last night is a sign that I'm making progress in that regard too. It also made it easier to correct my mistake because I could focus on what I was doing instead of having my mind clouded with emotions. Cool.
I actually had a really challenging week of hard training and also frustration with certain people that I have no choice but to spend a LOT of time with. It was really draining and by Tuesday/Wednesday I was pretty exhausted mentally and emotionally. Thursday being the day off helped but last nights' class was what really helped me get over all that and replenish some of the energy I'd lost during the week.
Last night we practiced our tai chi form together and Sifu told us to focus on our dan tien and try to move very slowly but without stopping. We also did standing meditation afterwards. It was a great practice, I could really feel something. It's hard to desribe accurately but there was a sort of fullness in my dan tien (lower abdomen) and a feeling of tingling and a weird creakyness in my hands and arms. Sifu says not to focus on trying to feel any particular sensations but there are times when they're so strong that you can't not notice. The reason he says not to try to feel anything is that is because many people try so hard to feel what they're 'supposed' to that they create something in thier minds when the feeling actually comes from your body. That's supposedly why we train our bodies so hard, so that they become relaxed and strong, a clear channel for chi to flow through. It's pretty great to see it happening in my own body, I still have a long way to go but the progress is encouraging.
He also corrected me on a part of the form that's been kind of awkward and I couldn't figure out why. It feels a lot better now and even though he made me do it over and over and gave me heck in front of everyone I was able to stay calm and focused instead of feeling angry. I'm not sure why but Sifu can really make me feel embarrassed and angry when he chastises me harshly or gives me a knock on the head in class. I know that he wouldn't do that if he didn't care about helping me and that he does it purposefully but I've had a difficult time not having an emotional response in the moment. I think last night is a sign that I'm making progress in that regard too. It also made it easier to correct my mistake because I could focus on what I was doing instead of having my mind clouded with emotions. Cool.
I actually had a really challenging week of hard training and also frustration with certain people that I have no choice but to spend a LOT of time with. It was really draining and by Tuesday/Wednesday I was pretty exhausted mentally and emotionally. Thursday being the day off helped but last nights' class was what really helped me get over all that and replenish some of the energy I'd lost during the week.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Status Update
Training here has been pretty intense but I do feel like I'm getting used to the demands being placed on my body. I still feel really tired sometimes and fall into bed exhausted at night, I still get sore muscles and strange mystery pains, and I still feel discouraged when I can't do something but I can see the progress I've made so far and it pushes me to keep trying my best.
The other day we were practicing stances and I know that I've improved a lot but it seemed like all of the teachers were pushing me to go lower, punch faster, take bigger steps, etc and I was getting really frustrated. I was wondering why they were being so picky when I've already gotten better. It made me start to think about the way I train at home, have I just been pushing myself to reach a certain level of skill and then just staying there instead of continually striving for more? It really gave me something to chew on. I don't think I always did that but I do believe that in some cases I did. Here the teachers push us to always go harder, better, faster, stronger (like a Daft Punk song!) and I'm having to adjust my style accordingly. It's interesting.
We started learning a new form; Xuen Gong Chuan 1. I only know about 4 moves but it's really cool. Up to now we've only been practicing taiji and the basic form; Ji Ben Chuan. I already knew these forms but I wasn't very good at them so I've just been working on making them better but I was starting to get tired of doing just those forms over and over again. I was really excited to start learning something new and I really like Xuen Gong Chuan a lot, it reminds me of some of the hung gar forms I learned at home. I still have lots of stuff to work on with the other 2 forms too but now I can mix it up a bit more. sweet.
My Ubbt requirements are all over the place. The things that are a part of our daily training here like running and sit-ups, I'm way ahead on. The other stuff like grappling and such, I've made no progress on at all. I was hoping that I'd be able to train in that stuff outside of class but I pretty much just eat and sleep when I'm not training and I really don't have the gumption to ask someone to spar with me after a 10 hour training day. Maybe once I adjust more I can work on that stuff. We also found out that our month break starts Dec 20 so I can try to finish some of that stuff while I'm back in Canada. I'm hoping that others will be playing catch up too so we can help each other out. I'm really looking forward to coming home for our break.
Today is our day off and I'm psyched to just sit around, watch a movie, and slack off. YESSSSS!
The other day we were practicing stances and I know that I've improved a lot but it seemed like all of the teachers were pushing me to go lower, punch faster, take bigger steps, etc and I was getting really frustrated. I was wondering why they were being so picky when I've already gotten better. It made me start to think about the way I train at home, have I just been pushing myself to reach a certain level of skill and then just staying there instead of continually striving for more? It really gave me something to chew on. I don't think I always did that but I do believe that in some cases I did. Here the teachers push us to always go harder, better, faster, stronger (like a Daft Punk song!) and I'm having to adjust my style accordingly. It's interesting.
We started learning a new form; Xuen Gong Chuan 1. I only know about 4 moves but it's really cool. Up to now we've only been practicing taiji and the basic form; Ji Ben Chuan. I already knew these forms but I wasn't very good at them so I've just been working on making them better but I was starting to get tired of doing just those forms over and over again. I was really excited to start learning something new and I really like Xuen Gong Chuan a lot, it reminds me of some of the hung gar forms I learned at home. I still have lots of stuff to work on with the other 2 forms too but now I can mix it up a bit more. sweet.
My Ubbt requirements are all over the place. The things that are a part of our daily training here like running and sit-ups, I'm way ahead on. The other stuff like grappling and such, I've made no progress on at all. I was hoping that I'd be able to train in that stuff outside of class but I pretty much just eat and sleep when I'm not training and I really don't have the gumption to ask someone to spar with me after a 10 hour training day. Maybe once I adjust more I can work on that stuff. We also found out that our month break starts Dec 20 so I can try to finish some of that stuff while I'm back in Canada. I'm hoping that others will be playing catch up too so we can help each other out. I'm really looking forward to coming home for our break.
Today is our day off and I'm psyched to just sit around, watch a movie, and slack off. YESSSSS!
Monday, September 14, 2009
So I'm almost through the second week of the program and I have to say that it's been waaaay better. My body is still stiff and sore but it's been greatly reduced. We do a ton of stretching which you would think would make it hurt less but when you do splits 8 times a day or so it only makes you more sore, at least at first. It is pretty exciting to see improvements so soon. The running is a lot easier already (I can keep up with the group now) and I think because of that my calves are getting stronger and consequently my jumps are getting higher. I still suck at jumping but there is hope for the future. It's crazy how high some people here can jump, especially the teenage chinese kids! I swear they could jump right over my head. I'm also practicing handstands and I can do a one handed one on the right hand. I'll take a picture soon and post it here. Once I can hold it for long enough for someone to get a good shot. haha.
Overall things are going a-ok. Mel and I are settling into being roommates and into the routine of daily training.
That's all for now, I'm going to get a friend to massage my hip for me.
Overall things are going a-ok. Mel and I are settling into being roommates and into the routine of daily training.
That's all for now, I'm going to get a friend to massage my hip for me.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
It's only our second training day for the traditional program and I'm totally wiped.
We ran for 50 min instead of 1/2 hour this morning (the longest I've ever run by the way) and by breakfast time I was fully exhausted.
I feel a bit better after an afternoon nap and meditation but I am constantly going back and forth between feelings of excitement and utter discouragement (with the latter being much more common at this point).
When I'm not actually training I can see the bigger picture and I know that I'm going to improve so much, when I am in the midst of physical and mental exhaustion however, it's a different story.
Hopefully I'll feel better soon.
On the plus side I had a really weird dream with a beautiful knitted tunic in it this afternoon. My first knitting dream!
We ran for 50 min instead of 1/2 hour this morning (the longest I've ever run by the way) and by breakfast time I was fully exhausted.
I feel a bit better after an afternoon nap and meditation but I am constantly going back and forth between feelings of excitement and utter discouragement (with the latter being much more common at this point).
When I'm not actually training I can see the bigger picture and I know that I'm going to improve so much, when I am in the midst of physical and mental exhaustion however, it's a different story.
Hopefully I'll feel better soon.
On the plus side I had a really weird dream with a beautiful knitted tunic in it this afternoon. My first knitting dream!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Yesterday was the official start of our traditional kung fu program. We started off with a meeting to discuss the details and last night we had a big celebration dinner with the whole school. Shifu also gave us 3 days off! It was a really awesome surprise. Sometimes he can be really generous, when he's not kicking your ass. haha.
So Mel and I are relaxing and resting our already sore bodies until then. I'm enjoying it a lot but I'm also really looking forward to getting started.
Our daily schedule will be as follows:
5am-wake up
5:10- run
5:40-stretch
6-qigong and tai chi
7:30-breakfast
8:30-morning training
12-lunch
Break (nap time)
3:30-meditation
6-dinner
7-9-evening training
10:30-lights out
Every saturday at 5pm we are also having a taoist philosophy, kung fu theory, etc class. It sounds like it'll be really interesting. Shifu said that if we want one he would also organize a chinese language class for us once a week or so which would probably be wednesday afternoon after our performance day. I guess we'll also be taking about 3 days per month for just meditation and cleansing practices with certain qigong exercises and herbs. I can't wait to blog about that!
So Mel and I are relaxing and resting our already sore bodies until then. I'm enjoying it a lot but I'm also really looking forward to getting started.
Our daily schedule will be as follows:
5am-wake up
5:10- run
5:40-stretch
6-qigong and tai chi
7:30-breakfast
8:30-morning training
12-lunch
Break (nap time)
3:30-meditation
6-dinner
7-9-evening training
10:30-lights out
Every saturday at 5pm we are also having a taoist philosophy, kung fu theory, etc class. It sounds like it'll be really interesting. Shifu said that if we want one he would also organize a chinese language class for us once a week or so which would probably be wednesday afternoon after our performance day. I guess we'll also be taking about 3 days per month for just meditation and cleansing practices with certain qigong exercises and herbs. I can't wait to blog about that!
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