Our knees are:
• shock-absorbers when we land 
• springboards when we jump 
• transmitters when we are still, and 
• propellers when step forward 

All of these collude as beautiful links in any or all of these ways for balance postures. This class is designed to help you understand why your knees ache, specific diagnoses, and various degrees of each. We’ll discuss ‘high signs’ with knees, and ways to prevent any of further discomforts. We’ll work with ways that ankles and hips contribute to achy knees and modifications inside of postures to prevent these. And finally, we’ll look at how new patterns can be strengthened both on and off the mat.

More about my Shape-ups experience: After spending some time, with my now several pairs of Skechers, I learned that Shape-ups use a dynamic rolling bottom, soft foam insert and dual-density midsole, to get the kind of results I can recommend in a walking shoe. All of these factors, the time I have spent walking, and living in Shape-ups, and the commitment they’ve demonstrated to not only developing, but studying the realtime performance of their shoe technology, proved to me that Skechers is serious about the health of the people who purchase their shoes, and walking on a regular basis, as part of a healthy lifestyle.

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And then essentially (except for a lunch with Robyn, one of the owners who immediately felt like a girlfriend I had known for years) four days on my own, a silent retreat in a world of non English speakers. [[Show as slideshow]]

My hotel, former headquarters to The Dalai Lama, and still considered the Tibet in old Beijing. An ancient temple in my courtyard. Really? Really. The quiet was the most precious I could imagine, and although I walked I believe every square inch of old Beijing, and got terribly lost at The Great Wall, (still lost in the thought that , it seems so odd to m that way back, when this all began, might people have realized, that no amount of fighting could ever make us different, and that we’re actually, all, the same…) and, I got just as lost at The Forbidden City, and kindof enjoyed it as I was utterly addicted to silence. (until I realized it was late, ‘park’ was closing, and well….goofy story goes here….) Re-entry even as I came into my work schedule, felt difficult. But that was overtaken by the three amazing studio owners/managers, Robyn, Mimi and Joo, and my gorgeous and brilliant interpreter Lily, who made me feel like there was no language barrier, and who ’sang’ with me for four days. If there was a moment of pretense or authority or snobbery from any of them, I totally missed it. 35 Students (half had some English although none were American…they were from other English speaking countries or had just learned in school) were so open and happy and receptive, from start to finish, (certificate CEREMONY! uh huh… each student is called up, everyone claps, we hug and take a picture!) and most joined us Sunday night for an optional closing (dutch) dinner. Plane ride home, beyond peaceful. Arrived, rested, humbled and completely inspired.