I am on track

It was nice to get back on the bicycle after a long cold winter and enjoy the fresh air, heading toward the thousand-mile walk, run swim. I have completed one of my personal requirements I am officially a certified open water scuba diver, got my certificate number. Crunches are going well, as for pushups I have good days and bad days elbows give me problems doesn’t mater where I put my hands still using the same muscle, tendons in the elbow. Oh well just keep plugging along take a couple days off then play catch up. Still on track with crunches and pushups, have not faltered a bit, if I miss guilt sets in and I catch up to my weekly amount of 1050. Stretching 10 minuets a day is helping keep the old body more flexible. My meditation is going well I found that practicing scuba diving in the deep pool at the Kinsmen center is a great place to meditate no one can bother you and all that can be heard is the sound of my breathing and bubbles. Learning the cane form going well and also teaching it. No Black Belt participants to learn the Tai Chi Broad Sword form yet. Next on my list is to learn to fly fish may start next week. Journaling that is another story, not easy. Many times I sit in front of the computer black screen, blank mind. I do think it will get better in time.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Spring I’m Sprung

Spring is here finally; after a day of warm weather then a week of cold a day of warm weather a week of cold a day of warm weather a week of cold, oh I am repeating myself. Do maintenance on the tractor off with the snow blade on with the lawn mower. Ready the motorcycle for summer by the way I have not had a ride yet. Change the winter tires over to summer tires on the vehicles. Cut the grass, rake the grass, till and plant the garden, fix the driveway, fill the tomato boxes with fresh dirt. Cut down some dead trees some for firewood some for the brush pile. Get rid of some dandelions. Fix the deck. Put out the lawn furniture. Trim the trees. Looks good when it’s done. Oh ya UBBT. oh oh……... Catch up. Don’t you just love it! Oh ya!
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Certified Scuba (open water)

Went to Jasper Friday night so my body could adjust for an altitude dive. (Altitude 3484 feet) Saturday morning 8:30AM at Lake Edith it is four Kilometers from Jasper. Air temperature 33 degrees F or plus 1 degrees C. Water temperature 42 degrees F or plus 5 degrees C. Adorned a seven mill wet suit, hood, gloves, boots. Then the BCD (buoyancy control device) air tank, mask, snorkel, fins thirty two pounds of weights, then we are ready to go, looking more like the Michelin man with an air tank, than anything else. There is something about looking at the snow line in the mountains two hundred feet above the water and saying to yourself, I know where the water is coming from, it just does not sit well with your mind, this looks cold! But we come this far we must forge ahead. Into the water we go, the initial shock of the water is cold but not that bad. It is just a little instant cold when the water seeps into you suit, then your body warms up the water, then it is OK. It is not that bad! We go out into the lake down to twenty feet, at altitude it is like being in thirty-five feet deep in the ocean. I do my skills like I have been trained under the watch full eye of our instructor. Take my mask off put it on clear the water out. Take the air regulator out of your mouth put it back in. Basically skills are practicing every thing that could go wrong so you can deal with an emergency if need be. Done some under water navigation. That is different following a compass under water. After Saturday and Sunday dives I logged two and a half hours of bottom time. Passed a few hours in Jasper to let my body adjust before crossing over the Obed Summit (Altitude 4400 feet) on the way home, a precaution against the nitrogen narcosis. I had a great time; this is a sport that I will continue. Can’t wait to dive the ocean.
Sifu Hayes www.silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Home Stretch to Scuba

I am now on the home stretch to next weekend Scuba open water. I’m really feeling a little anxious and wondering if I will accomplish what I am tested on. What is happening; my mind is playing tricks on me before the testing. I’m just over thinking. I have practiced and I am ready for the experience. The open water exam will be done in Jasper Alberta Canada; the lake is glacier run off water. Going to be interesting. Till next week then.
Sifu Hayes Stony Plain Alberta Canada www.silentriverkungfu.com

Peace and Quiet

Have you ever just sat quietly and watched people on a downtown street busily going here and there, makes you wonder what our society is so hurried about. Or at a beach and watched people talking and splashing in the water having a relaxing fun time. Have you ever sat in a forest just listening to nature? Listening, watching in silence to the tranquility of life. There is nothing like just sitting outside in peace, and taking in all nature has to offer. It seems like our society just does not have time or doesn’t know how to enjoy silence, there always has to be a radio, TV, IPod, or some electronic device making noise. How about just sipping on a tea. Have you ever hugged a tree?
Sifu Hayes http://silentriverkungfu.com Stony Plain Alberta Canada