Just Breath (journal)

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 23 Mar 2005 17:02

I have decided to take up footbagging. A friend of mine does it and I am always up for trying new things. I have very good legs and have always wanted to try footbagging. Of course I know I will be dropping it a lot but having someone that can give me pointers is a great plus. And, he is awesome to watch.

I got started with a 15 min session the other night and was able to do 3 toe hits in a row. (right foot, two with left)

I know it isn't much but I was encouraged. My left leg is not totally helpless either.

It might also help to wear some shoes although I am a sock person.

Thank you, B_Man & Brad Kaplan for helping me get my account working.

FootbagginBum · Post by **FootbagginBum** » 23 Mar 2005 18:06

try to get 10 kicks with the inside parts of your feet. You will need to wear shoes...but the inside part of your foot is bigger in a shoe than the top of your foot, so its actually easir once you get going. Just push your knee straight out (rather than up) and lift your toes and heels til they're about as high as your other knee, then put your foot down as quick as possible and kick with your other foot. And also, try to keep the bag under shoulder height. If you can get 10, you'll be able to get 50, and then you'll be ready to freestyle.

Hope this helps. Sorry to invade your blog, I just think people get started better with lots of pointers, ideas and encouragement.

You can do it!

Loren

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 23 Mar 2005 18:45

You did not invade anything Loren.

I like getting tips. And, I can see what you mean. But, you have not seen how wide my feet are.

You are right I have been raising my knees. hmmm.... Good tip! Thank you. Now to put it to the test.

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 26 Mar 2005 09:59

OH MY GOD!!!!!!

I can't believe it. I am soooo.... pumped right now. *dances around shaking her booty* I tried hitting with the inside of my foot and just went crazy. LOL... *breaths and tries not to get ahead of herself* Okay... okay... Sorry, I am so excitable sometimes and footbagging is like a total high.

First a friend told me to take some beads out of my bag. I bought one at the store for about $8 and everytime I would hit it. WHAM.... Straight across the room.

*sticks her finger in her mouth and gives a "did I do that" look* So, I took some beads out. That is when I finally hit the 3 with my toes.

I do not know if taking beads out is really okay or not but I took somemore out before my next practice and I could really feel the difference. I have control of the bag.

CONTROL *swallows the saliva that was pooling in her mouth* AMAZING!

Yes, I am a noob. LOL... So anyway I only practiced for 15 min again but it was so awesome. I was trying to hit on the inside like Loren suggested. *sorry no shoes again, makes a "I hope I do not get hit" look*

I actually had to hit the bag. It was cool. It also made my legs work. I could feel it in the inside of my theighs. Awesome.

I hit several 2 in a rows but when I hit the 3.... I had to take time out to do a booty dance that lasted a good 30 seconds.

If I hit a wild one it ended up being an inside and then a toe with the last hit leaving my leg fully extended.

One almost made it into the bathroom which was to my left and behind me. My kitchen is no longer safe.

I really need a bigger place to practice. The 3 was almost a 4, that is if I could have kicked the bike and still hit the bag.

I have felt like a bum lately. I have been so busy and tired that I have not taken the time to practice. But, after just 15 min. of footbagging it has left me with extra energy and the feeling of picking up the nearest person to me and spinning them around.

I am sure tomorrow my theighs will be making me feel something else.

But, tired achey muscles just make me feel alive.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 26 Mar 2005 10:18

You sound so excited and stoked on footbag!

Doesn't it juice you up with the sweetest most rewarding and explosive feelings??

GAW it's the greatest!

Just keep trying and trying and I promise you will make leaps and bounds you didn't know were possible and your life will change forever because you'll finally realise you are a superheo.

As far as your bag goes you should reeaaally look into getting a nice proper freestyle footbag.

You probably have a crocheted bag full of plastic beads, yes?

You will be MUCH better off learning with a nice starter bag like the Mr. Sandbag from http://www.freedomfootbags.com
In time you'll surely want to step up to a nice handmade 32 panel bag.

I added you to msn, I'm excited to talk to you about footbag!!

Happy kicking!

Ooh! and I challenge you to hit 4 alternating toe STALLS, not kicks!!
Stalls are really what the sport is based on and I think trying to learn kicks early on is really hard and frustrating.

So the challenge is to go from left to stall, to right, to left, to right, to hand, to big smile.

Have fun!

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 07 Apr 2005 20:28

The coolest thing happened this last Sunday. I went to my sisters house and played footbag with Grace (my neice).

She is only 8yrs old but she loved playing.

It started with her jumping on her trampaline. She can not jump on it unless someone is with her so I just did some footbagging as she jumped. Pretty soon she was just laying there watching me. "Aunt Peggy what are you doing?"

I started showing her the basic kicks while she circled me and started playing on her swingset. Then she started counting my kicks for me. She is used to doing this for me with a volleyball. Then the little fart had the nerve to tell me I was better at keeping a volleyball up.

Soon she was picking up my bag for me. Now, that is the easiest way I know to pick up your bag.

Later we went inside and I started kicking in there. Finially... Doh.... (I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner) I told her that some people kicked in a circle and passed it to each other. Oh God. She was a wild woman.

She did a toe kick that almost took my head off. *makes a face as she remembers dodging a wild bag aimed at her face going at warp speed* We played for about an hour. God what fun. I was consentrating on passing her the bag and was not paying much attention to what I was doing really. Then I realized that I was actually gaining more and more control.

Hey Tom, I can do one stall now. Grace says 2 but I did not think that my falling over and her laughing at me really counted as I did end up dropping it.

You have also inspired me to make my own bag. Pumpernickel was too cute.

Besides Grace wants one.

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » 24 Dec 2005 01:03

*BUMP*

Nice talking with you.

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 24 Dec 2005 01:48

peggy's the shiz-snatchel in my satchel. read her blog

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 27 Dec 2005 20:32

It has been a while since I have posted in here. Lately I have had some extra time and the guys and gal in the chat room have lit the footbag flame underneath me and gotten me to take a chance. ;D

My knee has been pretty good lately. I have not had to wear my knee brace in about two weeks but have had a few iffy days with it. Last night I tried to start with the basics. LOL... Since I never really got past them that was a great place to start.

After about 5 mins. I had to stop and do some stretches. My muscles were so tight and hard. I had lost all ability to hit the bag where I wanted it. But, I went right back to work again after stretching. All in all I felt good about just hitting the bag around again. Even though I had to stop a couple of times during and stretch.

My knee did not hurt while I was working out. But later in bed when I was straightening my leg out I gasp out loud as a sharp knife like pain speared across the top of my knee cap. *rolls her eyes and groans* This morning it was not swollen up or anything.

So, I am going to give it a day and try again. It felt so great to focus on something basic again.

I have been reading some blogs for inspiration. Thanks everyone.

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 27 Dec 2005 21:05

Sweet Blog

And its breathE

shreddaily · Post by **shreddaily** » 27 Dec 2005 21:08

unless she means "just breath"... like no sick shred talk just my breath... take it as you will.
Could be wrong though.

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 27 Dec 2005 22:31

LOL... Yes, it is breathe Ben but I was out of breath at the time that I wrote that.

Thanks for the comment about my blog.

Now who would I be if I did not allow sick shred talk to be posted in my blog?

How would I learn anything from you guys?

Since I wasn't working the bag tonight I decided to do some weights. Just your basic, bi, tri and pecs. Then I threw some deep knee bends and very very controled lunges in (/w weights) just to test out my knee. In the morning I will see if there is any swelling. *groans and rolls her eyes* I also did more stretching.

*sighs* I am also going to try to get better nutrients in with my diet. Mainly this means milk products. *rolls her eyes* I hate taking pills. Calcium. But, if it is not ice cream then I am very reluctant to eat it.

If it is just a glass of milk at breakfast time or before bed then I may be able to work with it.

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 28 Dec 2005 21:52

I am hot, sweaty and drinking some milk.

My knee has been feeling weak all day even though it did not swell up. Seems like lunges no matter how controlled are just too much for my knee right now. I did not feel like practicing tonight so I just put on some party music really loud and did it anyway.

I did some stretches at the beginning and then some at the end but did not have to stop in the middle to do any. *dances around* Having music playing is awesome. It is surprising that I did not think of that in the beginning. Dancing only won out twice. Once for "Bad to the Bone" and then again for "We are Family".

It seems like I have a sweet spot on the inside of my left foot. *looks confused* Isn't a right handed person suposed to do better with their right side? I almost always get a two hit when starting off of my left foot but the bag seems to like to hit my right foot everywhere but on the inside of my foot. *rolls her eyes* I felt soooo... good tonight kicking.

Okay footbagging aside. What the heck is up with people trying to fix me up. Mark, from work, and I have been friends now for about 3 years. My sister, that works with him at his second job, decides to say something to him about me. *groans* He has driven me to and from the airport, I have hauled some stuff for him when he moved and now all of a sudden he has this idea that since my sister thinks we may be a good couple that he can ummmm..... pull a move on me. ?????? What the F..... Jeezzzzz... Luckily he was cool with me giving him a huge, "NO". My sister on the other hand is lucky she only has burning ears right now. Mark is a player. A huge player. Apparently my sister did not know that. It is one of the reasons I felt safe being his friend. I am what my friend Tim calls "a keeper". And, right now I am not in the market for a full time relationship. The list goes, school, family, work and then friends. *rolls her eyes*

The episode above made me so mad this morning that I took a hot shower and ended up scrubbing the whole shower even after the water turned all cold. I clean when I am mad.

I have not gotten much better but I feel more for sure of myself when kicking. At least I have a smile on my face now.

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 29 Dec 2005 12:23

my knees are too weak for lunges as well, i've been taking knee strengthening exercises from: http://hood.012webpages.com/Living%20Ro ... ength.html

the knee extensions are where it's at

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 29 Dec 2005 23:41

Awesome!!! Those extensions are working just the right spot on my knee.

*arches one eyebrow at Kevin* Now how did you know that?

It says to tighten your muscles as you do the extension. Oh, God. I tried one without tightening my muscles and just about came up off of my chair from the pain that started in my knee. *white knuckles grasp arms of chair as she settles back into her seat* After that one I kept thinking "tighten muscles.... tighten muscles" while I did some more. *groans and rolls her eyes* They felt good. Thanks Kevin.

Just did basic exercises plus extensions tonight. No lunges.

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 30 Dec 2005 12:15

peggy winkleman wrote: *arches one eyebrow at Kevin* Now how did you know that?

you must not have been aware of my psychic abilities

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 02 Jan 2006 21:08

My New Years Eve was wonderful. I got to play games, spend time with family, get to know my nephew better and get drunk for the second time in my life.

I stayed up until 7:30 am talking to my nephew. It was awesome. I got about 2 1/2 hours sleep then cooked breakfast and drove home to shower and sleep most of the next day away like a lazy bum.

Tomorrow I have to go back to work.

But, at least I have another week off of college.

I hope eveyone had a wonderful New Year.

Just how good are your psychic abilities, Kevin???

*wonders just what she can get away with and what she can't, smiles innocently*

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 03 Jan 2006 12:20

[quote="peggy winkleman"]

Just how good are your psychic abilities, Kevin???
[\quote]

if you only knew

no, my psychic abilities are piss poor. but every once in awhile......

peggy winkleman · Post by **peggy winkleman** » 04 Jan 2006 21:09

My knee swelled up some and is pretty sore so I have not done any foot bagging since the holiday. I am starting to wonder if drinking made it swell up.

I am doing stretches and exercises.

The choke on my truck was sticking but I think it is fixed now.

I got my books for this semester of school. Oh, God!!!! They cost over $400. *rolls her eyes* They make a fortune on just selling us books.

*shakes her head at Kevin*

Oh, man you shouldn't have burst my bubble like that.

Let's see how I do. *looks as if she is focusing her thoughts* Huuummmm.... You woke up with a slight hang over even though you didn't feel like drinking last night. Then you had some coffee and spilled it on the front of your shirt. *suddenly looks slightly stunned and arches one eyebrow at Kevin* Then you tried to impress a girl with your so called psychic abilities and she really thought it was cute. *looks shocked*

How did I do?

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 05 Jan 2006 09:36

The first half of your psychic predictions are wrong, and that's because you were thinking. don't think. just feel and act

...and play footbag

peace