Anything But Politics, News, Or Viruses

[Michael]

I did this border around the front of my house. Have any of You done any projects around Your house lately? Thinking about re-doing my attic steps.

[MBS]

Pulling lots of thriving weeds from my desert landscape. 

Have a few remodeling ideas, but am gonna wait till later this summer to start. 

[Michael]

It's much later than I usually do my mulch. But I have to do 5 yards.

[Dave Reslo]

I've been digging out a ditch outside the bar. The original was probably about four foot wide, I'm only making a channel about half that width through it. An hour of digging is quite nice variety for the shoulders but I'm glad I don't have to do it all day. I've found countless crisp packets and beer bottles but I've also found golf balls, toys, clothes and shoes. People are disgusting.

[Michael]

Hey, Dave here are a couple of questions for You. When You were digging did You favor one side of the body? For example, if You're right-handed, left hand on the bottom and right on top of the shovel. When most people try to say work is enough exercise some don't realize they are favoring one side of the body causing muscle imbalances. I know I do this when working because it becomes a habit plus doing something from the other side can become very uncoordinated if not practiced.

[Dave Reslo]

Hi Michael, you seem to have forgotten your second question but to answer your first question I do try and use both sides roughly equally, although I doubt I have the movement pattern the same on both sides yet. I think I'm moving a little smoother actually doing it left-handed, whereas right-handed I'm prone to sort of stabbing it in, which I ought not to do.

[Michael]

, I did forget. When someone is working they usually favor one side over the other or whichever way feels more comfortable. I know I do it. I'm more aware now than in the past so some things like dragging brush I'll switch sides. But there are some things I just don't do it for different reasons. Sometimes it's just not feasible. This is where physical work can cause overuse injuries and muscle imbalances. That's why for myself I don't and never will consider work exercise.

[Dave Reslo]

For me it's the same as practicing boxing, I've always tried to practice both sides equally but not to the detriment of the activity itself and I know fine and well it won't be an exact division.
And, naturally we all favour one side, most mammals do although I recall it's actually a peculiarity of humans to mostly be right-sided. There's the old story about left-handed people living a few years less than right-handed.

Since it isn't politics, news or the virus, in the xingyiquan five elements there are four basic strikes which are done either left- or right-handed and a fifth which is traditionally only done right-handed. When I got into xingyi, it was because the footwork of this punch was very similar to something I started doing myself, and sure enough I have never really been able to do it left-handed.