Archives by Tag 'Fitness'

Tai Chi Chih: Princess In The Valley

By Travis - Last updated: Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Welcome to another installment in the Tai Chi Chih “Joy Through Movement” series. I apologize for the long delay between installments, but life here has been the far side of hectic. But, we are back in stride now!
So, without further ado:

So far in the series (in order) we have:

Rocking Motion
Bird Flaps It’s Wings
Around [...]

Tai Chi Breathing

By Travis - Last updated: Friday, May 7, 2010

A couple weeks back, Esther left a comment on my video showing the Tai Chi Chih move Bass Drum.  She wanted me to mention something about the breathing pattern in Tai Chi.  So, today after class at the Sunroom I had her film me giving the answer.
Here it is!

Sorry the sound quality is not so [...]

Tai Chi Chih: Princess On The Mountain Top

By Travis - Last updated: Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Here we are with the latest installment in the Tai Chi Chih “Joy Through Movement” series.  Today we look at: Princess On The Mountain Top.

One thing I failed to mention in the video – The hand position is gender specific.  For men it’s right hand passing in front of left. For women it’s left hand [...]

Tai Chi Chih: Bass Drum

By Travis - Last updated: Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Here we go with this week’s installment in the Tai Chi Chih “Joy Through Movement” series.  This time we look at Bass Drum.
*drum roll*
(Get it?)

Some key points:

Do what you can.  Push yourself, but not your limits.
The hand flutter in the left hand comes usually after about two years of regular practice and is a confirming [...]

Tai Chi Chih: Around The Platter

By Travis - Last updated: Monday, April 12, 2010

Alright, time for another installment of Tai Chi Chih!
This week we go over “Around the Platter.”  This is the first of the general set of motions after the two warm ups we went over, Rocking Motion, and Bird Flaps It’s Wings.

Some keypoints:

The breathing pattern is not strictly one way, but should be consistent within a [...]

Tai Chi Chih: Bird Flaps It’s Wings

By Travis - Last updated: Sunday, April 4, 2010

Here’s the next installment in the Tai Chi Chih series.  Bird Flap’s it’s Wings.

A few points for this exercise:

Build up the knee flex slowly(!!), and make sure the knee moves along a line guided by the inside edge of the bone process leading up to your big toe.  Take it nice and [...]

Tai Chi Chih: Rocking Motion

By Travis - Last updated: Sunday, March 28, 2010

Welcome to the first installment of my Tai Chi Chih series. Tai Chi Chih is a simplified version of basic Tai Chi Chuan movements developed by Justin Stone, and was what kicked off my first 1,000 day vow, and is what helped me to lose over 200 pounds.
In this video I demonstrate the first [...]

Recipe: A Good Morning

By Travis - Last updated: Thursday, January 14, 2010

On twitter, tirayk said, “Hey! I’m lovin the recipes! Keep’ em comin!”
So, here ya go:
A Good Morning
Ingredients-

Programmable Alarm Clock
Prayer Beads
Exercise Space
Wife
Meditation Cushion
A Good Book
Coffee

For the Programmable Alarm Clock I use my iPhone.  I set three alarms, each to go off at 5 minute intervals.  I use the Bell Tower, Robot, and Marimba sounds, in [...]

Using Video Games To Enhance Your Fitness Regime

By Travis - Last updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Personally, I don’t.  But, there’s a great article over at the Escapist for those of you who do, or are interested in doing so.  Check it out, Gamer-size Me.  Their current issue is all about the cross-over between the gamer lifestyle and the healthy lifestyle. Enjoy!
My favorite bit:

I’ve not exactly being pushed to my limits, [...]

100 Push Ups Week 6, Day 2

By Travis - Last updated: Monday, November 2, 2009

Week 6, Day 2:
Instructed -

Set 1: 22 reps
Set 2: 22 reps
Set 3: 30 reps
Set 4: 30 reps
Set 5: 24 reps
Set 6: 24reps
Set 7: 18 reps
Set 8: 18 reps
Set 9: 58 reps (minimum) to failure

45 seconds rest between sets.
Achieved-

Set 1: 22 reps
Set 2: 22 reps
Set 3: 30 reps
Set 4: 30 reps
Set 5: 24 reps
Set 6: 24 [...]