Adventures in Big Bear

It's been super busy the last month, and I have not had a chance to do any writing on here, but all is good. I was out of commission for a week thanks to a freak fall when I was running to catch the bus, which knocked my sacrum all out of whack. But since then, I've been getting stronger and finding the time and energy to make it to aerial classes a couple times a week. Then we had a busy week of guests, and this past week was packed with preparations for our vacation at Big Bear Lake with some friends for the 4th of July weekend.

The weekend in Big Bear was active and successful and so much fun! We hiked to the top of a mountain overlooking the lake. To get the best views and most fun, we had to scramble up to the top of some giant boulders, which happens to be one of my favorite things to do. Climbing is such a fun activity and a safe challenge for my body as long as I'm properly braced up, with limited opportunity for hyperextension and plenty of opportunity for using muscles properly. (I wore my knee brace on the hike and would have worn a wrist brace if I knew ahead of time I'd be climbing up rocks.)

On our last day in Big Bear, I went on a stand-up paddle board for the first time. It was a huge challenge for me, and an absolute blast! Barefoot activities on the ground are already challenging on my foot and ankle musculature, because I don't have inherent, structural stability and I rely heavily on my super-supportive sneakers with additional arch support when I do outdoor activities. Add in the board wobbling on water - even when the water was calm - and my feet and ankles were on fire within the first 5 minutes. Once we hit some waves and the wake of passing boats, my hips and core (both of which I'm currently focusing on strengthening in physical therapy) had to pull their weight to keep me standing. I fell into the water a couple times when my muscles were no longer interested in keeping me upright - all in good fun! Now add in the back and abdominal and shoulder strength for actually paddling, plus grip strength for hanging onto that paddle, and you have a full body workout that is low-impact and perfect for every stabilizing muscle.

So basically, I'm now wishing I could spend all my days paddleboarding in the morning and practicing silks in the afternoon so I could be the ultimate badass and strong beyond any expectations.

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Note: I started an Instagram profile to accompany the blog. Instagram name is flyingthroughit and I anticipate a vacation pic or two!

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