Arrgghhh… I dread the days that I am the only one at the pilates class! He kills me. Normally if there are a couple more - preferably kids or ladies in the class, it make s huge difference. The trainer’s attention is diverted and you can generally cheat a bit by a doing few reps less and by not going all the way in the exercises. But when you are alone, he is focus is on you and you alone. He tries to push you to do more and do right. He counts the reps properly and waits in the middle if you stop. Oh man. I don't know how people love personal trainers. I hate them. I refer training is a smallish group.
Today he made me do all sorts of things. And the big one! I can do the bakasan! This is a crazy asan. You first squat and then you put your hands in front of you and then slowly you lift your legs off the ground. And then you glance like a freaking frog but just on your hands. This is a tough thing to do. You try to push your legs so that they rest on your elbows and you try your best to stay there without falling front or back. When in the class they first showed it to me to do it, I was wondering if that was even possible. Why was he showing this to us - we cant achieve this at all! Slowly slowly overtime - I saw my self improve. One day I realized it was possible and that it required to get off your legs slowly and from the tips of your toes. I balanced for a fraction of a second. This became my new BIG ONE after the chakrasan! Slowly slowly I got more control on the asan. Today was a big moment. I could do it without the trainers helps and could hold the position for more than 5 seconds. Steady man Steady….
Wonder why its the crow pose - it should be the Frog pose!
but yes - after the workout that I cry to go to every morning I felt much better and fitter. I think it fundamentally aligns the body and keeps it fit. So yes - next Tuesday you will find me again at the place, trying to look like a frog who is actually a crow.
Jispa is now in the 8th standard. She now follows the IGCSC curriculum. So she has a choice to make - “should I do computer science or art or drama”. Now thats a weird choice to make. In many ways i think thats bucketing the students between the type of student they want to be. But hell, i don't mind whatever she takes. I said do what you want to. I asked what all they teach in each. After hearing her out I was ok with whatever she choose. “Art should fun”. “but is computer science like the right thing to do. Computers are all important and all, nah?” she asked me. Sure they are important. I have always maintained that computers are important along with math. But in this case I told her “listen kid, it really doesn't matter. sure computers are important but what is more important is that you enjoy and like what you do. Do whatever you enjoy. Computers have exams at the end of it, and that can be painful, i understand. Plus you are not really interested in it. When I was your age, I too did not understand the value or fun or future potential of computers. I did not know and I did not care. If you don't like it too much, its cool from my side. You do what you like. Art is fun and so is dramatics. I would have taken dramatics if I were in your place. Take art if you want.” Jasmine was clear - don't take art if you are going to get any art home work. with Jispa’s swim schedule, there is no time for any extra homework, which Jasmine will end up doing for her :) . I continued “Also understand, math is important but to a level where it allows you to choose what to do. If in the end you give it your best shot and you don't like math then thats cool as well. We drop it. If you like, do geography, do history. In fact I would be so happy to have you do history and we would discuss this stuff and WW2 together.” . “ya? What would I do with a history degree”. “i don't know - be a teacher, write a book, do some research, or become museum curator I guess… Whatever. Do what you like and what interests you at the end of the day. And in the end - you can always do your marketing MBA and become a marketing manager”
Wow - I was so proud of myself for having this conversation. I always wanted to have this conversation with her. Go forth and conquer. Just go forth. DO anything, try picking one thing that you like and that one thing that you think you are good air and where you find your passion. We can figure the rest!
Faltu bonus song - just to prove that I am still cool because eI listen to my daughters choice in music and thats whats plays in the car when we all go. She has her songs on the cell phone which then plays from the bluetooth. Cool. I am too cool.
