Balance, Yielding and Flexibility

Today it seems like Spring, however, there is a weather outlook for some precipitation, possibly including snow. I can recall several really heavy snowfalls in February and March in our region. With that in mind, let me remind you of Gold's Gym Fredericksburg foul weather policy:

Weather Policy for Gold's Gym Fredericksburg

Kids Club and Group Exercise classes will be following the City of Fredericksburg Schools.

If the City of Fredericksburg schools are closed or on a delay, Gold's Gym will also be on a delay as follows:

Kids Club will open at 10:00 am.

All Group Exercise classes before 10:00 am will be cancelled. All classes after 10:00 am will run as regularly scheduled.

If the weather is questionable please call the front desk at 540-368-0032 for the most current information.
While we want you to use the gym. it's important to be safe.

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Speaking of safety and bad weather, Tai Chi has long been noted for the great improvements in balance that you can achieve. This anecdotal evidence has also been demonstrated in several modern clinical trials. It has also been shown in modern clinical trials that balance, like physical strength and cardiovascular health, requires regular training as we age or it will steadily deteriorate.

Tai Chi has been clinically demonstrated to significantly train and improve balance in participants. This is especially important in the season of icy sidewalks.

Let me share the following literary passage.
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Men are born soft and supple;
dead, they are stiff and hard.
Trees and grass are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.

Thus, whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.

The hard a stiff will be broken,
The soft and supple will prevail.

---Tao Te Ching
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The hallmark of Tai Chi is to yield and be flexible.
Steadily advancing without directly confronting force with force.
The training encourages the development of physical and mental flexibility in the activities of daily living.

Exercise

So far as exercise and diet goes, keep it simple and keep it daily. Do something for yourself and push back against the forces of age.

We do not stop exercising because we grow old - we grow old because we stop exercising.
-- Dr. Kenneth Cooper, founder of Cooper Institute.

Exercise and temperance can preserve something of our early strength even in old age.
-- Cicero (106 BC-43 BC) Roman orator and statesman. An Old Age, X.

Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.
-- Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby (1826-93), British statesman. The Conduct of Life, address at Liverpool College, 20 Dec 1873.

Goals

It's a dream until you write it down, and then its a goal.
-- Anonymous

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. 
-- Aristotle (Greek Philosopher)

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
-- Epictetus (Greek Philosopher)

The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.
-- Juma Ikangaa (Modern Marathoner)

The key is not the will to win... everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.
-- Bobby Knight (NCAA Men's Basketball Coach )

The quotes above need little amplification from me.
Sit down with yourself and set one goal.
Start with something small.
Write it down.
Then do what you have to do.
When you achieve that goal, and you will, set another and achieve it.
Make it a habit one day at a time.

Schedule Change for 22 November

Due to some family issues, I'll be out of town and Tai Chi class will not be held at 0800, Saturday, 22 November 08. However, Gold's management may offer a substitute class during that time slot. Look for the announcement in the gym.