Tennis Time!
Well guess what! I took the challenge to spare some time and spend it by playing tennis. I’ve been going for classes for the past few weeks and it’s not what I expected. I thought I would go right into playing the game, due to having some experience…however, I have lost some touch, resulting in going back to the basics. My supervisor, Mr.Flavian, has a schedule for me every day. Here’s a brief outline of it:
Warm-up
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2 laps around the court
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The Carioca Step – A sideward moving run with alternately crossing of from front to behind
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Angle Slides – Sliding at a 45 degree angle to right and left
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High knee ups and low knee ups
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Practice serves for just a short time
Then we get into the real business. We worked on my swinging…as usually, my backhand swinging is always better than my forehand; it should be the opposite.
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I am unable to hit the ball with my right hand without bending my arms
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By bending my arms, the ball swings to another direction and doesn’t go straight
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It’s suppose to hit at the center of the racket, but instead hits on the sides
When it comes to my serving… I can’t look up into the sun. The basic formula is throw the ball an inch higher than your raised hand, and take your racket (mocing from back to top) and focus right on hitting the dropping ball. However, I can’t focus due to the brightness from the sun, which is becoming a problem. I have tried working it out with hats, but it seems that sunglasses are the next option.
We then end with suicides, which is a painful and strenuous exercise. Doesn’t matter…I will perceiver on!
The Action 2
Badminton Time!
To be more consistent with my action activities, I decided to take badminton as an after school actitivity with Mr. Vargas as my supervisor. It wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be...it was actually a porthole to a 'relaxing activity,' where you emit all your feelings that you experienced in the day through the use of a badminton racket. They were times where you could let your anger run free or even enjoy the experience of competitive badminton playing. This was not a SAISA activity and therefore wasn't as strenous but I definitely was enthusiastic in Developing New Skills such as examining:
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My Badminton Grip
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My Badminton Footwork
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My Badminton Serve
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My Badminton Clears
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My Badminton Drop Shots (which is extremely amusing)
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My Badminton Smash (extremely difficult)
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My Badminton Drive and net play
I'm definitley at a mediocore level with all those skills, except the badminton smash and I know I'm benefitting from practicing those skills as my arms are in pain at the end of the session. The goal for any of my action activities is to undertake new challenge in a range of activities which I believe I have succeeded in doing so for the past two terms. By particpating in these activities, I get to collaborate with others and obtain new perspectives of badminton, e.g. From Akila, I learnt some tricks in trying to pursue a Smash Shot. Overall, I'm glad I attended the sessions and was able to have the opportunity to play doubles and singles against my friends.
Pro-Workout Training
Whilst looking at what action activity to pursue at, I brainstormed my possible options.
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Continue with tennis
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Join SAISA Badminton
Bot choises were defintiely pleasing but they weren't as desirable as I thought they might be. I wanted to do an action activity that I have the interest in doing not because I am forced to do so. This brough me to my own personal workout sessions. At least once a week, like a prayer, I undertake new workouts. The goals are:
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A minimum of 20 minutes of aerobic cardiovascular program - This helps me increase my metabolism
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Weight Training - Helps build and tone my muscles in order to burn fat more effectively
I have a constant workout routine that I follow in order to achieve these goals, but I was thinking, 'What If I could share these workouts to others?' I perform these routines because they're fun, not as ardous like army workouts and they are very flexible. I know others who would love to be fit, energetic, and also perform intense but not vigorous workouts. So, I introduced my cousin to my idea and she was on-board with it. Whenever we have time we get fit through my personal workout routine but we also research on others, such as Jillian Michael's workouts which urge us to push ourselves to actually finnish the workout. So at the end, we plan and initiated new activities. Below are the videos that inspire my personal workout routine.