Tried a new exercise class this morning. I was probably one of the youngest there with the oldest being ninety-seven. It was gentle but you work at your own level and the teacher was very good, making sure I was doing things exactly right. She said, 'I can see you're capable so I'll pick on you.'
She paired me with a chatty lady who knew - more or less - what was what. It seems like a friendly group and it's a bargain at £3.60 so I'll give it a go. Still going to my class on Wednesday (apart from the last few weeks), which is a bit harder work - again because the trainer picks on me.
One thing today's teacher said to me was to keep my feet aligned straight. She's the first one to mention my tendency to walk like a penguin and it's going to be difficult after sixty-five years of doing so to change the habit. She explains it very well though - all to do with hinges - and I do wonder if my dodgy knee is a result of my paddling. Although I feel that it is unnatural for my foot to go straight but whether that is through habit or being born like it I don't know. Nature or nurture.
Anyway, it's my first weigh-in at slimming world tonight. I have stuck faithfully to the instructions so I have high hopes. No, I don't. Last time I joined and obeyed the rules I lost nothing in the first week - unlike others who lose anything between three and ten pounds in their first week.
I haven't been physically active either. Too busy.
Now I have to prepare to lead bible study tomorrow night. After I've showered that is. And tried again to find a hotel in London. If you recall I booked to see White Christmas in the West End and I'd like to combine it with a few days' sightseeing as we've not 'done' London for years. I thought the prices that were headlining on the websites were for three nights. Wrong: one night. I suppose all big cities are expensive. I was looking for a central hotel because I thought it would be handy but maybe I need to move out a bit.
Anyway, the lovely Welsh Rugby Union sent me this:
7 comments:
Dodgy knees comes from living in a barrel ;-)
Liz:
I have found "feet position" to be VERY valuable and helpful. In my region we typically refer to the outward positioning of the feet as a "farmer walk" and lots and lots of folks do this.
Until I started my daily 5 mile walks a dozen or so years ago, I never gave much thought to my foot position, and I *did* have a very pronounced "farmer walk". However, as I became more serious about walking (and now running) each and every day, I read in a few exercise morphology/kinesiology textbooks about the benefits of forcing myself to relearn to walk with a straight foot poisition. It *DID* take considerable effort at first, but after about a month or two of thinking about this while I was walking, it became more natural to do so.
The benefits are two fold. One major benefit is that the straight foot position puts much less torsional stress on the knee joint.... leading to a lower risk for knee joint pain, inflammation, and decline. Another major benefit is that the "farmer walk" leads to shortening of the musculature on the lateral side of the body and elongation on the medial side.... with straight foot positions, overtime, the medial and lateral sides equilibriate to a large extent and this can be *very* helpful in decreasing the risk for lower back pain. The "farmer walk" position allows the lower back muscle (latissimus dorsi) to shorten in such a way that for many folks it can lead to impingement of some spinal nerves in the lower lumbar region.
So, having read the above information, and realizing that I have many relatives who have had knee joint replacement surgery, and many more who have chronic lower back pain.... and having experienced a few bouts of fairly long lasting lower back pain when I was in graduate school..... I feared I had better try to "fix" my own gait.
For me, it has been very helpful.... and I think it has been especially valuable for me as I transitioned to running. I suspect my former "farmer walk" would have been even more problematic while running.
PipeTobacco
Why, Stu?
That's helpful, PipeTobacco. Interesting that you managed to change it. I will have to concentrate on doing it.
Walking is my preferred exercise. Must take the dog out after supper for a jaunt around the neighbourhood. She keeps me going!
Good luck with the weigh-in.
My condolences about the game. Next year, Wales, next year!
The advice to keep your feet straight when bending the knee is the same advice we get in tai chi. Apparently overextending the foot out to the side will cause knee injury. My right knee is uncharacteristically acting up on me, so I'm trying to be extra observant about this rule too.
I walk the dogs for an hour most days but at a nice gentle pace, so I don't think I'm fit. I'm looking around for a keep fit or yoga class.
Liz,
I just made a pun on "Diogenes", a Greek cynic/stoic who lived in a barrel.
Of course, barrels were made from planks (lat.plancus , meaning someone with splayed feet ;-)
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