Tai Cheng - Day 1

Today was day one of Tai Cheng. I have really been looking forward to this! After I finally got past some obstacles, I did a round of Insanity from April to June. That was a fabulous experience, and I plan to do it again. However, there's nothing like moving your body through space at top speed and doing explosive work to highlight your movement shortcomings. I'm all about correct form, so I'm looking forward to what Tai Cheng can do for me. This seems like the perfect thing to do during the Ultimate Reset, which starts tomorrow.



Energy Assessment There is a very revealing energy assessment for Day 1 and Day 90. I had to answer sometimes and always to too many. Boo!

Function Test The first physical thing Dr. Cheng has you do is a functional test. It's in your book, and he also reviews it on video. He smartly recommends that you have someone do this with you, because it's hard to score your own form. There are 7 moves with a very specific scoring system. I had an issue on the very first move!  One of the things I like already is his discussion on pain and discomfort during these movements, and you score yourself accordingly. My tough spots: right knee, low back, tight right shoulder/lat, tight hamstrings. I consider myself to be fairly strong, somewhat flexible and have good form. I scored a 9 out of a possible 20. I have work to do!!

Master Scroll Tai Cheng provides a DVD that takes you through things like breathing and a break down of each move. I went through the entire DVD. It's amazing how holding static postures and doing movement with fluid control is more challenging than it looks! On the very first move I felt a little tweak in my knee that has been bothering me. I made all the adjustments Dr. Cheng instructed, and it completely corrected it - I felt no other discomfort during the rest of the moves.

Day 1 The first training took me through a Neural Reboot and the first Tai Chi move. The reboot includes very controlled and precise key body movements through space, as well as foam rolling. LOVE it. This was my first exposure to Tai Chi. For someone who is used to intense workouts, psyching myself up, pushing hard, etc, this is a complete change. I'm ready for this. It made me realize how bad I need it. It will take a lot of discipline and mindfulness for me to grasp this fully.

My overall take is that I already have tremendous respect for Dr. Cheng, I very much need this progrram, it's perfect as I go through the reset, and it confirmed my need for improved movement patterns before adding external weight and explosiveness. 

I Completed Insanity!

Many of you know that the year 2011 wasn't a favorite year for me in terms of my personal fitness. I started the year battling elbow tendinitis and to my surprise it completely threw me off track, mentally as much as physically. So if something is injured on your upper body you just work the lower body, and vice versa, right? That's what I would say. Until it happened to me. I learned a lot about myself in 2011. I had a great physical therapist and a husband who would call me out on my attitude and so I made it through. Hopefully it will make me a better coach and friend, and I can help others have an easier time of it than I did. 

2012 started shaky. I spent much of my time in the early spring with my sisters, taking care of our Dad. We lost him on April 12. I wouldn't take anything for the privilege of taking care of him. I was not ready to let him go, and I am still in some phase of the grieving process. 

Two days after we buried my Dad I started Insanity. I can tell you that I cried my way through more than one warm up. There were days I didn't want to work out. I was really out of shape for me, and carrying more weight than my frame needs. I called Shaun T all sorts of names. I couldn't believe how much I was sweating during the STRETCHING. 

Three people really helped me through this:

1. My husband Jimmy

I can be really mouthy at times and he just pushes forward anyway. He worked hard to keep the schedule clear, help me protect my time and encourage me. He fixed meals, snacks, Shakeology, post-workout drinks, whatever. On some really tough days for me he got out there and did the workout with me. I could not have done it without him. 

2. My Dad

The realization of how hard he fought Parkinson's is very prominent to me right now. He persevered. During some of the tough times he could get more done in a day than some people get done in a week. If something that used to take him 2 minutes now took him 30, well that's just the way it was. And the thing that suddenly stood out most to me was that he NEVER COMPLAINED. I mean ever. He would fuss at us when we wouldn't let him do something he wanted to do, but I never heard him complain about having Parkinson's. How could I not push forward when I had that type of spirit for an example?

3. Shaun T

In 2011 I met Shaun T in person. You cannot help but love the guy. His word of encouragement for me that day - "when you think you cannot possibly do one more [rep, jump, minute]...then do one more, and you will get there." He's probably told 1000 people that. But it spoke to me that day. There were days when I'd push play and think "there is no other word for this program, this guy is nuts!" but I adore him. I can't tell you how excited I was to tell him this year that I'd completed (not mastered) Insanity, and I was calling it Round 1. 

Whatever you are going through right now, do not neglect your physical exercise. If you think you cannot get going, put on your shorts and do 10 minutes. If you can't push on after that, stop for the day. But chances are you will keep going. True fitness doesn't happen in spurts, or randomly, or short term. It's a long term commitment to be the best you can be. It's cummulative and it takes deliberate effort. 

You are worth every second of it. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Make it a priority. Do you have to do intense workouts like Insanity? No. But for the love of all things holy, do something! Everyone has to start somewhere. Set your goals and own them. You never know what you might end up accomplishing!