Monday, 27 October 2014

Yoga

So on Thursday instead of doing fitness a workout video, Mr. Vaughn had presented about 20 girls in our block with the chance at doing yoga! I jumped at this chance because I have been feeling so stressed with everything, and wanted a chance to do this again! I have done yoga before when In middle school through a program called T.A.S and it was great, and I loved it. The yoga session was really about relaxing and focusing on breathing and shaking everything out. We even learned this thing called the breath of joy which was really relaxing and put everything at ease. Now If you're thinking "yoga is so easy, no fair." It wasn't easy at first and you get into it, the instructor asked if I had done this before because I was a natural! Yoga takes flexibility, core and leg strength, and really focusing and tuning everything out! I loved this class and have sort of an action shot of a pose I learnt, although I may undeniably look like an upside down chicken LOL the pose is actuall called the crow! This pose requires patients because you cant just jump and throw all your weight onto your arms, you'd fall on your face trust me... I know. In this pose you use the back of your arms and armit area to anchor your knee until you have a steady balance! 

Tuesday, 21 October 2014

#TiringTuesdays

So today for P.E we didn't do fitness, which we usually do on Tuesdays but this class was still tiring; (hence the hashtag #tiringtuesdays) Today our class and Mr. Vaughns class played capture the flag on the lower field. How ever this wasnt a regular class where the teachers are making sure you're on task, this time around the TA rebecca and I were in charge. My job was basically to make sure that we set up, split teams, and also make sure our class was on task. 

When we first got on the feild I made sure the grade 10 boys in our class set up goal post boundaries where we kept our bean bags, and also that we put a line in the middle using the cones! 
That part was successful, the only tricky part was the division of teams. The first thing we tried was Dark coloured shirts (black, navy blue, and grey shirts) agasint Light coloured shirts (white, and other light colours). We ran the game and soon found that the game ran almost too quickly and people were becoming on motivated. So Rebbecca and I called everyone in and numbered people off 1 and 2, we also tried grade 9 against grade 8 and 10. With this we saw the problem and chaos of confusion and not knowing whose team was who, and people also moving teams to be with friends thus reaulting in unmotivated people. We didn't have pinnies to use and it was well into class to go get them. Together Rebecca and I told  everyone to stay calm, and asked Neuf and Vaughn for some Ideas and with their help, it then hit us not literally, figuratively. Class against class, a good way that u can tell who was on what team, and it would be an equal amount on either side. 

Once we went back we called eveyone in and thank goodness we didnt have to yell that often, just whistling and gesturing people in was good enough. We told them class against class and that we want to see people play by the rules and actually work. We played and you can tell the difference right away, both classes were engaged, and into it. Our class won the first 2 times and then the longest game was the 3rd/ last it was also the most competitive. You can tell that both teams were engaged because just when you think you beat the opposing team the team would have already stolen the bean bags and return them, which meant they were motivated.

From this process, I learned how to work on leadership skills, and also that compromise is key. If you dont have something like pinnies use something distinct, also I got a small taste of what teachers and TA's get. I learned that its hard to get a class under control, but once you have em focused they wont stop. I also learned that our class does set the tone, and that it was a way better strategy to use class vs class; It not only allowed me to encourage our class, and the others, make sure people were on task, and also contribute to the game like getting a fee bean bags across. I loved the experience of this class because it was a challenge, and hope to do it sometime again. Oh and s/o to rebecca for being awesome! And also to both classes for being patient and on task! 

Saturday, 11 October 2014

Locomotion


It's the day after fitness Friday, and I'm in bed with my super sore legs. Yesterday we did locomotion on the field for fitness Friday, but even though it was tiring it was a great workout and well worth it! As Neuf's class we like to set the tone of period 3 gym and I think we always do that, whether it's fitness or not. I love our class because we can all have fun, keep our smiles up, and the energy up even when we are dying out there.
During the fitness there were times I wanted to give up, and stop but I told myself not to, and it helped that everyone was encouraging each other, and that I would return the favor and encourage people if i saw them struggling. During the Minute section of locomotion, I paced myself, and tried to use more of a proper form for the exercises since I was going a bit slower than in the 30 second rounds. Halfway through the whole thing I focused on putting all my recent stress, frustration, and anger into the work out, but kept in mind that I needed to have a smile on my face everyone in a while. Neuf commented saying I had a "nice ugly workout face" which is what he wanted to see because it showed we were trying, and I was but i actually was just dying, and trying to get rid of all the bad stress. 
The last 5 minutes/last round I felt a sense of ease but also felt it getting a bit harder, because in this round it was the time to push yourself til the end. By the end of the workout we were all sweaty, and my face was red as a tomato, but it was fulfilling o know that I didn't stop, and had fun out there. 
Here are some pictures after the workout that we took.

Monday, 6 October 2014

Atomic Volleyball

This class we played atomic volleyball, and even though i haven't played since the last school year, it made no difference! We played with teams of 6 and on my team was Janelle, Shiraz, Grace, Ruth, Avaloni, and Myself being the only grade 10. So the first game was already in full swing and as soon as the rules were clear, we stuck with them, reminded eachother of rules and pther teams politely. As a team we supported each one, and each and every one of our opponents by clapping and encouraging them. We got really in to the game, and had fun doing it, we took it seriously but also had fun with it which was a great balance! I Had an epic time playing and had a awesome moment when i was the only one left against two other people and i dove for the ball and tapped it and hit it another time than caught it, sadly after that it was out but it was okay because we were all having fun! By the end when we were recieving go cards we all noticed we were sweating quite a lot, and it showed how into it we actually were. I had a great time today and it really showed me a lot about the spirirlt of my peers!

Thursday, 2 October 2014

Capture the Flag

Today we played Capture the flag with Mr. Hepting's class even though we were supposed to be in the weight room. I didn't mind and I don't think anyone really did, a little friendly competition never hurt anyone, right? I loved playing with their class because they had really active and fun people and also in ours, so it kept all of us motivated, and kept us going. It was awesome because we all took the game serious, encouraged each other, and had fun doing it! I don't remember who won because the game was always so close,  mainly because it was a game where there was constant movement. I got in to the opposing's team box a few times but never came back with a "flag"/ football, better luck next time though. However I helped with defense and keeping the other team from passing and tagged quite a few people, always trying to stay alert of what was happening. Definitely worked up a sweat on the field today chasing others in the sun, oh and props to a lot of Hepting's class because they were super fast, but our class didn't mind the challenge!