Well, I’m nearing the end of my first week and it feels pretty crazy. I need to try and get some pics up so you can get an idea of how beautiful this location is! One perfect moment I had was on Wednesday, I was just getting back from the morning run, wind chimes by the kitchen were tinging away and in the background as I walked towards our accomodation the nearby mountain had it’s top wreathed in cloud.
As for the lessons they are going very well. I’ve been told my animal form which is swallow. Apparently the Swallow is the most flexible of the birds and the form specific to my animal will be good for my health. Taking fire to my heart and water to my kidneys. Or something like that. I won’t get to learn it for a while I suspect. At the moment I’m going Qu Gong three times a day, once in the morning after the run (which I didn’t go on today) and once before each training session. I’m also learning bagua which is a circular internal form in the morning and I’m learning an internal staff form in the afternoons which I should finish tomorrow.
I should explain that I’m on the internal course which means tai chi, bagua, and Qu Gong. The other options are external and white crane. External is all about building up external muscles and power and white crane looks a bit weird to me but the people doing it sware by it… each to their own I guess. The internal matial arts are all about deflecting energy, defending and counter-attacking. It’s very cool 🙂 This does mean however that the idea of me coming out of my three months looking like some kind of greek statue in stature are less likely.
Unfortunately I’ve got sunburn on my feet. Completely stupid mistake on my part, I put on my sun cream, walked up to the training area (I really want to get a picture up of this area soon, it’s fantastic) then took off my shoes and started training.
Hopefully my feet will be healed up enough by tomorrow for me to wear shoes as we’re all supposed to be going to the local town in the evening.
People are nice, food is nice but very samey and our master is brilliant, I may talk more about him later.
That sounds amazing, can’t wait to see some photos. Hope your feet are ok now too, and tell us about the trip to the local town! Keep the posts coming…its so much more interesting than being here at work.
Hi Rob, I think the blog is excellent.
The swallow sounds good to me – being as flexible in the mind as well as the body.
The sun burnt feet, does sound funny, but it is probably a kind way of slowing you down when your body is in need of a rest. A bit like hainvg the op when you were in the middle of your pre-trip training. Keep listening the body and it will keep you safe (even if it is frustrating at times).
I’m very proud of you and looking forward to learning from you on your return.
lots of love
Jody
Very cool bud, I must say I’m very jealous!! Keep the info flowing bud, if you can’t get pictures up then do your best to describe things you have seen. Don’t slack on the blogging and keep them long so I can read them instead of working 😉
I think my animal character is a mountain plover, probably living in Montana, USA!