Back to Basics

The focus of May was all about basics.  It was a month of recovery but also a month of closing loose ends prior to summer.  Relaxation and frenzy went hand in hand during the month.

During our regular routines, I find it very easy to forget about the basics; the basic needs, the basic reasons even the basic moves.  As I cover it multiple times over the years, relaxing is a basic need to move forward even stronger.  However, given the daily routines it is very easy to push off to a later date.  Having fun is a basic reason on why we do certain activities.  However,  when working around scheduled times it is easy to get caught up in the panic of making it from one activity to the other.

In May, I began with the most basic reason - why I came all the way to San Francisco.  Most of you already know - to windsurf.  I decided to make it happen again at a regular cadence.  Even though, windsurfing heavily relies on the wind, San Francisco is great at delivering it on a daily basis, especially in May.  Therefore, I made a plan.  I loaded up the truck and made it an activity FOR ME where the kids would need to accompany with - as opposed vice a versa. It became our Friday event.  I played it by ear and it worked.  Most importantly, we all had fun  regardless of the cold water.

Secondarily, I focused on my most basic need - relaxing.  Thanks to my dear friend, I was able to do my very first yoga retreat.  It was amazing.  One and a half day of doing Yoga, being with my good friend, breathing the ocean air, meditating cleared my mind so much that sitting in traffic for 35 minutes didn’t even phase me when the retreat was all over.  I came home with a huge smile, relaxed shoulders and filled with energy for the rest of the day - regardless of sitting in the traffic and watching the same traffic light circling through colors multiple times.

And lastly, I brought the focus in Train and Smile to the basics - the core of all the moves.  Using a chair was extra helpful, especially when we worked on our squats, as basic as anyone can get.  As we advance in our workouts, it is very easy to let go off the basic moves like a simple squat pulse or a lunge hold.  In our heads, we have already mastered those moves.  However, it helps to get back to them from time to time and focus on precision as opposed to quantity.  Our body readjusts and corrects whatever might be wrong.  Below is our first session on “Back to Basics”.  I hope you will have the chance to test it out and leave me a comment

A big high five to you when you have the chance to focus on the basic - of whatever it might be!

Love (and coffee) - basic

Good food - Basic

Have fun - Basic

And all basic moves combined for the Murph challenge - 1 mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, 1 mile run (all in 30 minutes)