sweat baby, sweat baby

crazy hot training last night & although i did not die like i thought i would, nor faint, nor heave, it was a good class with a large # & quite a lot of chi! its the largest class i have seen all year & sifu, apart from reminding us that winter is coming, gave quite a number of breaks (for water, bathroom or uniform change). i got there fairly early & was surprised to find the fan on & despite this the thickness in the air made me sweaty immediately (even while i was still figuring out shaolin hair which is so important in this heat!). people kept showing up, some faces we haven't seen in a long time & new faces jus don't stop coming. we were all drenched in our own & in one another sweat. i actually changed undershirts which could be wrung with little effort. it scared me that my heartrate wouldn't even out & i thought more than once looking at brothers who stepped out of line in to sit in mabu for some of the movements that i should do the same but i didn't. i kept going with my uniform for the first time worn with one arm out in the style of damo (thanks to heng mo) & it really helped i think. sweat was pouring out of me uncontrollably but as i looked around i could see we all suffered the same fate. hell, standing still in there would produce the same end. i made it to ceshoufan then was sent off to kfk where i had to motivate myself & others with lots of calls for more chi! the newbies are so slow i had to really breathe so as not to get irritated. the stretch section was super heady but olivia & i stretched with a newbie to show him the ropes. i felt supple & disoriented. i drank water slowly & in small amounts lest it fed the desire to heave. in the 2nd part of class i practiced chuji quantao a bi before drills again. we were all subjected to yangshen yunshou & my arm problems still persist. at least the slower i go, the better the movement is, so i will take my time. sifu even had us do some arm stretches to open up the chest & keep the arms straight. the we lined up for mabu gongbu (which he hasn't had us do in a while) & with each strike & pivot, other people's sweat sprayed me as i am sure i did to those around me. then push-ups, situps & back bends. then finally the end of class for cleaning meditation. the mirrors were all taken so i worked on the altar & met a new brother from greece with an awesome name - seraphim. we lit incense together. sifu reminded us once again that there should be no talking during class. i think we were just exhausted beyond reason & to encourage one another i did hear mutterings & was guilty of it myself. must remember.
i couldn't get out of the dressing room fast enough & though it was so nice to take the soaking gear off, i was loathe to put my street clothes back on! there was a lot of talk about this season going commando in there, an idea that is old hat.
a group went to train soup. it was good to rehydrate with chicken broth though i was so in the mood for salad, i wasn't willing to experiment on a new dish. soon we will dine outside as is the plan.
anyway, we made it in good cheer through the first really hot day in training. more of these days are upon us. need to get a new uniform & soon. in the meantime, changes of undershirt & a towel are a must!
more chi!