week 9

PLAY

This week's challenge might sound down right ridiculous, but that just makes it all the more appealing : ) Also, it's really simple. Bonus!

Head to the playground. That's it. Watch kids playing in their un-self-conscious ways - no reps, no ‘exercise as a chore’- and see if you can get on the equipment and move like they are, within the range of what is an option for you physically right now.

Why is it not OK for adults to play on those things anyhow? We are missing out. I can no longer pass one by without having a swing on something...

Stephen Jepson

"We no longer have to move to survive. We can go to our refrigerator to get food. Most of our lives are sedentary. We sit to drive, work, watch TV and movies, and play with our gadgets. By not moving, we become mentally and physically sluggish. Our creativity diminishes, and our bodies begin to die a little at a time through lack of use. Modern medicine works overtime to keep us healthy and negate the effects of inertia on the body and mind.

Puppies and kittens and children run around wildly chasing each other, tumbling, rolling, developing quick and agile movements. Children play jacks, hopscotch, jump rope, swing, slide, play running games and ballgames on their playgrounds, continually refining the speed and accuracy of hand and foot movements, stamina, and breathing - very important at any age in continuing the plasticity, growth and health of our brains as well.

Never Leave the Playground teaches the method of lifetime fitness through toys and play and games that can be played alone or with others of any age throughout our lives. By simply returning to the playground every day, your memory will improve, you will become more creative, and you will look forward to each new day with the excitement and vigor not experienced since you left the playground of your youth. It's time to go back to the playground and never leave it again."

-- Stephen Jepson // Never Leave The Playground

The Bolivian grandmothers' handball league

“There are days my knees hurt from rheumatism, but when I play it goes away,”

-   Rosa Lima (second picture), 77, during a game.

images from aljazeera

Saturday Cartoon

BIG admiration for Ido Portal and his approach.

Aikido

Basic forward roll

"...in a non-wimpy way"

Exploring the work of Steve Paxton today.
Much useful, inspiring and fascinating stuff in this video...


...in a non-wimpy way / steve paxton from lenk3rad on Vimeo.

And this for a beautiful example of the spines capacity for movement.

play

Found here.

"She"s stuck I"m not Stuck I"m waiting."

Cycle of a Sari from Legs Hernandez on Vimeo.

Wish I could have seen this!

Women's Jam

Strong, beautiful women moving through, over, around and under straight lines and curved spaces.
From Brandee of monkeemoves.

Adeptness

“ Better a broken arm than a broken spirit." 

- Lady Allen of Hurtwood, 1968

(images of 1950's Cuban playground found here)

park life

Found here

Image found here

Sequence

Introducing basic movement patterns into everyday life.

1. SQUAT! Anywhere and everywhere. Work towards making this a position to rest in. Practice makes perfect!  

2. Take the stairs...but don't just walk up them find as many different ways to ascend and desend as you can. Two steps at a time, on your hands and knees, sideways, hoping...

3. See how long you can hold your breath underwater in the bath.

4. Hang! From anything. This is a current favorite of mine...

5. Run for the bus, even if you know you will probably miss it.

6. Get of the tube/bus/horse a stop or two early and enjoy the walk. Infact walk as much as you can. This is another favorite of mine, I've discovered all sorts of hidden treasures on my walks round London and it actually doesn't rain that much...

7. Pay attention to the movements you repeat most in your day and work on ways to make them more efficient in your yoga practice.

8. And then use your yoga practice to include the movements that your daily life lacks.

9. Massage your feet.

10. PLAY!!!!

Image by Barnaby Kent

Sunday Tune

(From the album PLAY!)

How to be an explorer

1. PLAY.
2. Always be LOOKING (notice the ground beneth your feet)
3. Consider everything alive and animate.
4. Don't be afraid to alter your course.
5. OBSERVE for long durations (and short ones)
6. Notice patterens.
7. Make connections.
8. DOCUMENT your findings (field notes) in a variety of ways...like blogging ; )
9. Observe and experiment and explore with MOVEMENT
10. Trace things back to their origins.
11. Question what you are told.
12. Use ALL your senses to investigate your surroundings.
13. IMAGINE.

Jump!

Have a lovely weekend!

Illustration by Marc Johns and gif from here.