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<blogEntry id="4193">
	<title><![CDATA[Training Regimen]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today I decided that I want to talk a little bit about my training and workout routines. While it varies a little bit week to week it pretty much stays in the same rotation. I have a 4 week rotation that is three weeks heavy 1 week recovery. Each week I have 5 days heavy, 2 days recovery. Here goes each day.

I try to do some Misogi most mornings, either right before or after my bible reading and prayer. I feel the three help me get a really good start on my day. I am up to about 15 minutes of misogi with a couple 5 or 10 second breaks where I simply lean forward to stretch out my legs.

Mondays is chest day. Used to be my favorite day of the week. I started losing flexibilty in my chest muscles so I don't lift nearly as much weight as I used to. I am almost exclusively low weight high rep hypertrophy work out (kinda means I'm trying to get pretty not strong.) I end the workout with 30 minutes on the elliptical and 10-20 minutes in the dry sauna.

Tuesday is play a sport with my kids day (I have 5, 4 of which are old enough to play sports.) My wife usually plays and we play for about 2-3 hours. After that I eat and go to Aikido if I can.

Wednesday- Shoulder day. I haven't really been able to do this much as I hurt my shoulder a little bit a couple weeks ago. Tomorrow I plan to work the weight up for 2 lbs dumbbells to see how much it hurts if it does at all. Again with the elliptical and sauna. Also the Aikido class at work after the work out.

Thursday- More sports with the kids and  Aikido if I can go.

Friday- Arm day. Pretty self explanatory. More Elliptical and sauna.

Saturday- Back/Lats day. This ones tough to get in cause the gym is busy all day and I'm not allowed to work out while clients are in the gym. If I actually get the workout done and I have time more elliptical and sauna.

Sunday- Recovery- This is the only day where I demand time for myself. I get at least 15 minutes to be in my bedroom and think. Other than that I stay pretty busy.

So you maybe asking "I thought he said 5 days?" Well I count Tuesday and Thursdays as recovery days cause there is no weight training.

Thanks for listening ... err reading.
~R]]></body>
	<date>04-19-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4191">
	<title><![CDATA[My introduction to Aikido]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[So, my first blog. This entry will be about how I learned about and subsequently started practicing Aikido.

I work at a drug and alcohol rehab center. One of the evening classes the center offers is an aikido class. Initially I had little interest or knowledge of what aikido was nor did I have the time during work to try a class. That all changed when I switched positions to work in the gym where the class is held and had time to actually try a class. I still didn't really have an opportunity to attend a class as no clients were interested at that time. After about 3 or 4 weeks we finally had a few clients decide that they wanted to try it out. One of those clients suggested that I join them as the instructor told her "The more the merrier" and I did. I wish every time I practice that I could thank her.

At first it was a little rough for me. I was able to attend the classes at work but didn't have days off when they held classes at the dojo. Even when they did start offering a class at the dojo on my only day off I found it hard to attend (father of 5 here, hard for me to attend anything that doesn't involve the kids.) Now 8 months later I find myself with the opportunity to attend 3 classes a week but it's still hard for me to attend them all. I try the best I can but sometimes it just doesn't work out.

I am really glad that I have found the dojo that I did. Everyone that I've met the practices there is really fun to be around. Sensei is really good and has been practicing for quite a few years. I've even hung out with the instructor at his house with my wife and kids and his fiance'.

Currently I am still a white belt but starting to feel confident that I could test and pass, kinda. I am kinda worried that I'll forget something simple, as that seems to be my forte. Stay tuned for updates on my training and what I learn at classes.

-R]]></body>
	<date>04-17-2011</date>
</blogEntry>


</blogEntries>