Wscad wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 11:34 am
No posts on yoga so here we go.......my wife does yoga and Pilates each week. Friday evening just past she says.....why don’t you stand on one foot for 30 seconds blindfolded?
I proved in (physical) rehab that I can't do 30 seconds on one leg with my eyes open, definitely not trying with my eyes closed
(And yes, I do need to sort that out!! A mate has trained as a yoga teacher and once her car is fixed we plan to set up a weekly meet up as she plans to specialize in creating yoga for people with disabilities that affect movement )
With the knock-on effects of my Chiari (eyes wobble, poor control of my legs), I'd been intending to start Tai Chi.
Definitely MTB to stop me going loopy, even the road ride to work chills me out and puts my mind/self in a good place to cope with everything a difficult shift can throw at you.
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
Wscad wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 11:34 am
No posts on yoga so here we go.......my wife does yoga and Pilates each week. Friday evening just past she says.....why don’t you stand on one foot for 30 seconds blindfolded?
I proved in (physical) rehab that I can't do 30 seconds on one leg with my eyes open, definitely not trying with my eyes closed
(And yes, I do need to sort that out!! A mate has trained as a yoga teacher and once her car is fixed we plan to set up a weekly meet up as she plans to specialize in creating yoga for people with disabilities that affect movement )
With the knock-on effects of my Chiari (eyes wobble, poor control of my legs), I'd been intending to start Tai Chi.
Obviously can't fix those issues, but is working to develop awareness.
Sessions have elements of yoga & Pilates, selected for particular relevance.
If you get the right tutor, Tai Chi is for balance.
After my extremely painful episode arising from old damage to my lower spine I started doing Pilates classes (run by a qualified physiotherapist). That's been too. Now the tutor is going to run some trial sessions of Qi gong (chi gung) so I've signed up for that too.
Currently practising standing on one leg while I brush my teeth (eyes open!)
Count Steer wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:14 am
If you get the right tutor, Tai Chi is for balance.
I'd heard that Tai Chi was something to do with martial arts - which didn't make sense until I saw this:
Yup. As it's usually done it just feels nice and relaxing. Our tutor showed us what happens when you speed things up. There's a move where you roll your hands like you have a ball in front of your chest. It feels very chilled but, apparently if someone reaches for your throat, that's how you break their forearms.
Mind you, some say that ikebana (flower arranging) is a martial art.
On the subject of stress and relaxation, I have a Garmin smart watch, which I use for running. I was wearing it the other week while driving back from an orienteering event. For some reason I started to imagine an encounter with Elon Musk, in which I was telling him how much I hated him, and why. At which point the watch buzzed at me, and flashed up a message saying, "you are unusually stressed at the moment, time to relax". It both impressed and alarmed me at the same time.
Scootabout wrote: Sat Feb 07, 2026 10:46 pm
That's a good article, Count, thanks.
On the subject of stress and relaxation, I have a Garmin smart watch, which I use for running. I was wearing it the other week while driving back from an orienteering event. For some reason I started to imagine an encounter with Elon Musk, in which I was telling him how much I hated him, and why. At which point the watch buzzed at me, and flashed up a message saying, "you are unusually stressed at the moment, time to relax". It both impressed and alarmed me at the same time.
I've noticed a few times when driving has indicated elevated stress levels - but my Garmin doesn't do the buzz thing. Sometimes it even classifies a drive as exercise due to the pulse rate (and counts the bumps/potholes as steps)! Thank heavens I don't have to drive in Central London every day any more!
Count Steer wrote: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:11 am
I've noticed a few times when driving has indicated elevated stress levels
Have a look at a couple of heart rate traces:
.
20240201_121854~2.jpg (39.5 KiB) Viewed 382 times
.
20240201_121924~2.jpg (23.88 KiB) Viewed 382 times
They're from days of ambulance calls.
First is three calls in an afternoon.
Second starts with a 15 minute drive on gravel-strewn, flooded and icy country lanes, begins to recover - then into CPR until relieved by the professionals.
I’m going to have another go with my eyes open . If you don’t hear from me in the next couple of weeks .......it didn’t work out too .............aaaahhhh
for balance.
