Beneficial weekend

I attended a workshop this past Friday and Saturday in Waukesha. Very convenient location – I just stayed at Grandma’s. It was held at the YMCA in Waukesha. What is was was a training to get certified to teach the Arthritis Foundations Tai Chi program. But in doing so, we were also certified to teach that particular Tai chi style to others, too.

I’ve been doing Tai chi at work, using dvd’s, and really enjoy it. But learning it well enough to actually teach it without a dvd was an indescribably gratifying experience. I’ve known for a long time that tai chi is very good for you. It is comparable to walking as far as a moderate aerobic exercise, and yet it is slow and relaxing at the same time. And when you finally get the form (which is all the moves) down, it requires such focus and concentration, that you are almost transported from the craziness of the world into your own little world for that short time. Hard to describe, but I am terminally hooked on tai chi. I’ll be attending future workshops and so on to learn more forms. When we watched the instructors’ demonstrations at the end of the two days, it was like we had learned to play ‘Mary had a little Lamb’ and they could play Rachmaninoff! There is so much more to learn, but what I do know is still something that challenges me and provides me with the exercise and other benefits. I’ll teach some when we are together for Christmas, if anyone is interested. (I’m teaching Dad right now – I think it would be perfect for him, since he really doesn’t like workouts where you get all huffing and puffing and sweaty!)

In other news, we are close to done with the sheetrocking in the bathroom at the new house. Now that Dad is only working one job, he has a bit more time for that project. I doubt that we are done by New Year’s Eve, but we should be done by spring anyway.

Middle school concert tonight, so I’d better get busy with what needs doing before then.

And a picture for your viewing pleasure. (From the Nashville trip)