The Photo:
It was warmer this morning, in the mid 60’s, with a very
faint breeze from the south (I think). I immediately needed to take my
windbreaker off and was plenty warm with a t-shirt and long-sleeved sun shirt.
The tide was high at 4:54 this morning and low at 11:19 am. There was still
plenty of hard packed sand to practice on.
I used my Sony camera on a tripod this morning. I captured
this photo just before the sun came over the cloud bank and the bird just
happened to be flying south. I love the way the rays of light shine before the
sun makes its appearance. Once the sun comes up all the color washes away .
With gratitude and appreciation!
The Practice:
This morning my main focus again was maintaining Zhong Ding
or Central Equilibrium throughout my Warm Ups and Standing Meditations. Once I
arrived at “Standing like a poised scale” with relaxed balance, sinking my mind
and qi downward to the soles of my feet. I attempted to maintain a state of being
whereas the entire body is held plumb erect (neutral posture), first while
being still then while moving. My focus was to maintain that idea in my mind
throughout and notice when I’m not and then without emotion (good luck) simply
return my mind to attending to my Zhong Ding. Without this state of being in
force throughout, there’s no possibility of any higher level of achievement.
Your balance rules the day!
My student/friend Gary came over for 1 ½ hours of Modern
Arnis 6’ Staff/Spear practice. It felt really good to review some 6’ Staff
basics.
Gary smiles a lot when he is playing Modern Arnis. He just L
O V E S it!! Here he is having fun in my backyard.
Notes:
I saw one of the ‘walking crew’, to wave to, this morning.
Afterwards I saw Bob the Mailman and his walking pal Mike. They stopped and we had a discussion about strengthening the muscle on his right shin bone. It’s the muscle that lifts you toes towards you shin. It’s #4 in The 10 Exercises (The Phoenix Stretch). Mikes has been aware that he is unable to lift his right foot when he is walking these days. So his right foot slaps down as he is walking forward. I encouraged him with a minimal effort he can strengthen that muscle and change his gate for the positive.
I also saw Rita and that walking crew in back of Las Brisas
to say hi too.
We had a new garage door installed this morning. So I need
to get back to the house to prepare.
I did not dally;^)