Personal Training

So, why would anyone pay for personal training. I mean, come on. We all know that moving and exercising is clearly the way to better health.

I walk, hike, and bike so I should be excellent right? 

I don't need any training, I know what I should be doing.

Huh.

Well. Not really. I had a talk with one of the coaches at the gym and I signed up for a half hour session. She contacted me with several questions regarding my diagnosis.

When I got to the gym, I felt silly. Here I was paying someone to tell me what to do and how to do it. Dumb idea. 

I warmed up on a bicycle while she finished up with a class. Then she waved me over.

There was no hesitation. Angie said, "Let's get to it."

I went through a series of exercises that I'd received from Physical Therapy last year. While I was doing them and she was making sure that I kept my core tight [and she explained that these particular muscles guard the lower back]...
I kept thinking. 

Well duh, I know this stuff. I can do it at home. Why am I paying someone to tell me to do this? 

Do you want to know the answer? Easy. She making me do it. She made sure that I did it correctly. 

We did a lot of core exercises and then moved to lifting. Whether you want to believe it or not, we lift all the time and we lift wrong especially as we age and become less mobile.

Strengthening and mobility go hand in hand to prevent injuries.

It has been nearly a year since I have been to CrossFit. After receiving that diagnosis that blew my mental world apart, I did make an attempt at doing my exercises that PT gave me. But with no one standing there and making me do it, I put it off. 

It was so easy just to say to myself: Well I walked a lot today and I mowed grass, gardened, and did chores. That should be enough.

Most days in the last several months ended with me having sore back muscles. They constantly ached and if I sat for a bit, I felt like I was 100 years old when I stood up to go get a drink of water.

What did I learn? 

One thing.
I felt good afterwards but wondered if this would really make a difference.

I got home and mowed the yard, weeded the shade garden and did other normal everyday things.

I sat down to watch TV. When I got up a little later to walk out and watch the sunset...

It ... hit...

me.

There was NO low back muscle pain. The muscles were not tight, the muscles didn't hurt. 

For the first time in months my back muscles didn't hurt. 

It sounds like I am one of those annoying 'fitness' people doesn't it?

Here is my conclusion. I could do nothing and take pricey medications with lots of side effects that make me sick and see the doctor more often. I could follow my physical therapy exercises... OH, wait, I tried that already. 

My PT exercises I got are on the frig. I don't know if they help the frig or not.

But that was not working for me. I actually feel like a huge weight was lifted from me this week. 

Fingers crossed that I can keep up the good work. 

The motivation from my 'coach' is great. Positive vibes do work.

I'm pleased and I guess that is all that matters.

 

Fair Picks of pics

Last year and well, ... in previous years, I've had friends encourage me to go ahead and enter the Fair Photo exhibition.
I'm sort of shy about my work. I don't like the thought of putting it out there for the 'public' to see.

Well that isn't the smartest thinking because I have a Flickr photo-stream which has had something like 3 million views. And those views are from around the world, not only that, I post them here on Blogger.

I may as well print some and prepare for the Vernon County Fair. However, I have to submit my paperwork by tomorrow. Eeek gads!
That is okay, I have to consider what I want to 'show' and since I have to be in town for my mid summer hair cut anyway, I may as well, put in my Fair paperwork.
It is due August 1st. Nothing like waiting until the last moment right?
However to be honest, I didn't get the Fair Book until Saturday.

Black and White Category:
Silhouettes:

 Summer Solstice

Water Scene:

Plucked

Still Life:

Thank You

Macro:

It's a Small World

Winter Scene:

Ice Falls

...or this shot taking with my pocket camera...I sort of like it better?

People at work:

Hot Shoeing

I'm going through them a bit at a time.

It is so hard to choose what I'd like to display.

These photos are unedited except to make them black and white. 

I'm working on my color stuff now. 

Decisions, decisions....

A Love Affair of Sorts

What happens when you introduce a young lady to equine? What happens when this young lady learns the feeling of self confidence and awe when she learns to ride?

I've always felt Siera had some potential in some sort of fashion.

I recall the power of attraction when I was Ariel's age. I recall the how my heart soared each time my uncle would let us go riding. I recall staying at his place and him telling me that a horse he was keeping called 'Buddy' was mine to ride and care for during my week long stay.

At the begining of the week, I told Ariel that Siera was her mule for the week. Hers to groom, to ride, to hand walk if she felt like it. Hers to handle for her stay.

Imagine suddenly having the confidence to walk into a pasture and gather up the mule you are to take care of.

You can catch her at any time and take her out. You've learned to properly saddle her by yourself.

These are the things Ariel learned this week. She also learned so much more about riding.
Siera has been an excellent mount for Ariel. The mule is calm, relaxed, easy going, and quite attached to her handler.

Experience ... Experience ... Experience. Practice and practice. Riding is a long and gradual learning curve. Each experience builds on another.

But the experience becomes more real and more incredible with each ride. Slowly, each piece of the puzzle that comes together.
Catching Siera,
grooming her,
and then saddling her properly by herself.

These are things Ariel has learned and can now do with confidence.

We took our first extended long ride. I rode Sunshine my little redhead.

We passed along the ridge top and then headed into the valley where the creek is. The snow mobile/camp road has not been used at all this year so we had to make our way slowly. It involved a bit of 'ditch diving' which is mule-speak for dropping off or climbing up ditches that are about 5 feet tall.

I led with Sunshine and for a moment Ariel sat on Siera and said, "Um, that is steep! I don't know."

I smiled and said, "Trust your mule, Siera won't let you get hurt. She likes you."
Actually, mules are self preservationists and normally refuse to do anything dangerous.

Ariel asked Siera to drop down the harsh steep bank. Siera balked and then calmly made her way down.
The realization and the smile of wonder that lit up Ariel's face was worth all the hard work we've done for the past three summers.

We rode down into the forest where I stopped to check saddle girths before we rode down the steep hill.

The trail had suffered some fallen trees so we did a bit of brush busting. We rode into the valley and Ariel was surprised at how different yet same things looked and how much more fun it was to ride to the creek than walk!

We explored for a while and I told her that in the future we'd cross the creek and explore some more amazing places. I lamented too that now that I had a fun riding partner ... she had to go back home.

We rode quietly back towards home as the sun was setting. Our very first sunset ride.

And I leave you with this....a Quote I found while browsing Horse Quotes. I changed the one word to Mule.

Why do I ride mules?
Because I look at my mule and I see
My Hopes and Dreams.
I see my Happiness.
I see my Hopes and Dreams.
I see my Pride and Soul.
I look in a mirror and I see a
Person.
I look at my mule and I see
Myself.

And that I think, says it all.