Of tai chi and pirates

The unpleasant thing about Mondays is that it's the deadline for most of the unfinished work last week. And to make it worse, your body hasn't really snapped out of its weekend-mode.

I'm particularly sluggish today. Yesterday, Joan took me on a tour and trial workout in her fitness club. For five hours we tried out the machines and attended two of the club's group exercises: tai chi (the "silent body killer") and Body Balance (the "not-so-silent body killer").

Note to self #1: Never take tai chi and Body Balance together in one afternoon, or even on the same day.

Note to self #2: I have no problem whatsoever achieving the wuji or empty pose of tai chi. Nose aligned vertically to the navel, knees slightly bent, shoulder relaxed, hands hanging on front of the thighs, tailbone tucked, and butt pushed slightly forward.

A lanky frame that spends most of the time seated in front of the computer + a not so well-endowed butt = wuji.

Tai chi instructor: "Maganda ang pose mo, pare..." *Runs his hand down my lower back*

Ooops, spider sense is tingling.

Anyway...

Two hours of basic Tai Chi put most of the pressure to thighs and legs, while the so-called Body Balance is a mix of Tai Chi, yoga, and pilates, strung together in a one-hour full body workout.

Now my abdominal muscles are so sore it hurts to just cough or laugh. Walang magpapatawa today! Arrr!

But it was a refreshing weekend, plus it's a good way to bond with your spouse. It reminded me of our martial arts sparring days, back when our motto was "I will hit you because I want you to learn" or something like that. ("Here, Mahal *pushes you to into a leg split*)

Arrr! That stretching did good to me seafarin' legs!

I'd hate to be the captain of the Flying Dutchman.

One day at shore and ten years at sea?

Darn.