Girl vs. Wild NewsOK.com Blogging Community

Yoga is all about body and mind. Both of which are very important to being a skilled adventurer.

I know some of you might be getting huffy with idea of doing silly stretching and centering your mind. But the benefits far out way how rediculous you might look. Plus, all the big time pro athletes are doing it and I am sure they don’t mind looking a bit silly.

Studies have shown that practicing yoga on a regular basis improves flexibility and joint mobility. As well as strengthens, tones, and builds muscle. Yoga is also ideal for people with back or knee issues because yoga strengthens joints and increasing stability. Not only will you benefit structurally, but will also be rewarded with increased stamina and circulation, weight loss and stress reduction. How could you go wrong with those yoga center statistics!

The Sun Salutation, Downward Dog, and Childs Pose are just a few of the physical positions that coordinate breath with movement to stretch different parts of the body. Yoga is the perfect complement to practiced and played sports. Such as running, cycling, and even golf. Various poses work and stretch muscle groups in your back, neck, shoulders, abdomen, hips, ankles, and feet. If your body is strong and centered you are far less likely to suffer repetition injuries and muscle sprains.

Golfers tend to be dominant on one side of there body. This is usually seen on their swing side with uneven muscle tone or growth. Yoga will strengthen the weaker areas while evening out tension and tone. The evened core that will develop over time will also increase balance and stability in ones golf the swing and stance.

When it comes to cycling posture and back problems usually arise. Such as stiffness and tension due to being bent over the handlebars for long periods of time. This can be remedied with simple yoga stretching to prevent curvature in the spine and develop supporting muscles.

No matter what sport you participate in or adventurous feat your training for yoga can aid in all areas of play. Yoga helps keep your body and mind in check while centering your thoughts as well as your muscular tone.

In the end you might feel a little silly standing on one leg with your arms out like a windmill, but it is all worth it when your strong in body and mind standing with success!

Last Saturday was my very first climbing competition. Guess what I got second place. The turn out was amazing with over 75 registered competitors this was the first climbing competition for Rocktown Climbing Gym and it was a great success. Aaron and Lisa Gibson worked extremely hard to make this amazing event possible, and they definately did that. Thanks goes to all there staff for such a smooth event.

The most amazing part of the day, was also the most humbling. To say kindly, I was schooled by several pint size competitors. Kids as young as 7 yrs old were smoking me up the wall. I stood in awe, and shock as I watched a waist high climber send a 5.11 with ease. It was amazing, and at the same time made me feel a little like the worlds worst climber. Man these kids were good. Girls and boys alike were schooling the grown ups and we were loving it.

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

Believe it or not, Oklahoma has rock climbing. Not just any rock climbing, but rocks that are known for developing climbers that are making names for themselves.

One thing climbers love is a little friendly competition, and Rocktown Climbing Gym in downtown Oklahoma City will host the Flashpoint Climbing Competition on Saturday.

Registration is $40 and can be done until Saturday online or onsite starting at 8 a.m.

This competition is one of several USA Climbing sanctioned events held in the Heartland Region. Climbers are coming from across Oklahoma and surrounding states to compete and climb routes ranging in difficulty and in height all the way up to 90 feet tall.

Those competing have the chance to advance to Divisionals, then on to Nationals, with the hope of advancing to the USA Climbing National Team.

The action starts at 9 a.m. with all youth, adult recreational and adult intermediate categories. Session 1 is all top-roped routes with varied difficulty and is set up in the USA Climbing Redpoint format. All routes will be made prior to competition and given a set point value based on the technical difficulty of the climb. Points are accumulated by climbing routes clean — meaning no hangs or falls, and a climber’s top 5 routes completed will be added up to make a final score.

The afternoon session gets under way at 2:30 p.m. with the Advanced category, and will be a modified onsite format competition. Climbers will be allowed to view the routes, but will then be held in isolation and will be called out one at a time to complete a series of four routes. There will be a set amount of time given to complete each route and a rest period between each. Climbers may attempt the route multiple times within the given time period, but the rope will be pulled and must be re-led each attempt. The high point of each route done will be scored and then added for a climber’s total points.

USA Climbing will award medals to the top six climbers in each category, and best of all, a competitors prize raffle will be held at the end of each competition session. I have heard from highly regarded sources that the raffle has some awesome prizes, too.

In addition to the competitors’ prize raffle there will also be a raffle/fund-raiser to benefit the Access Fund.

Anyone, climbers and spectators alike, may purchase raffle tickets for the Access Fund raffle. All proceeds go to the Access Fund.

For more information call Rocktown Climbing Gym at (405) 319-1400 or check it out on the world wide Web at www.rocktowngym.com

Now I know where I will be climbing Saturday. Grab, your harness, shoes, and chalk and head to Rocktown Climbing Gym for a day

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

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I am blogging from inside a soaked teepee and soaked in is an understatement. Last night it started pouring and we were flooded out of our tent and came to sleep in the teepee. If you think thats crazy at 6am one of the guys wakes up and says “guys, guys there is a skunk eating the tortillas in here” I joke not there was a huge skunk eating our food next to my face. So recap we are flooded out of the tent, now the teepee is flooded, and a skunk came in and ate our tortillas. This is the best adventure. Until I dry out I am Girl vs. Wild Jacquelyn Farris

According to the Associated press article that I have posted below more and more children are turning to TV’s instead of playing outside. Black box babysitters, as I so kindly refer to them as are replacing imagination and creativity with mind numbing wasted entertainment. You would think people would realize anything that makes your eyes glaze over and takes you into a trance like state other than common sleep wouldn’t be the best thing for a child or an adult.

What happened to the days of my childhood? When building forts, playing army adventure rangers, and climbing trees was all the craze. I whole heartedly believe my generation was the last to seek the backyard for entertainment pretending space exploration and safari jungles.

Don’t get me wrong I watch my fairshare of TV. Man vs. Wild and Survivor Man airings are never missed at my house. But, watching those shows only makes me desire to be outside even more.

If we don’t educate, and encourage the generations to come to love and protect the outdoors, it will be lost to bulldozers making the next big appliance store to sell them one more flat screen TV.

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

Associated Press – February 4, 2008 9:33 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) – Researchers are concerned that as people spend more time communing with TVs and computers they may lose interest in nature and, eventually, lose interest in conservation and parks. They say their health could suffer as well.

The research appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that camping, fishing and per capita visits to parks are all declining as people spend more of their lives looking at a screen.

The authors warn there could be less interest in biodiversity and also that children’s “videophilia” has been shown to be a cause of obesity, lack of socialization, attention disorders and poor academic performance.

Yesterday I was desperately seeking an adventure. Any adventure. I needed to just explore, climb, conquer. I came up short though, and with the past holiday I went to the dreaded mall with my dear Mom. Brave women she is, with no fear wheeling through the massive crowds. Like Alaskan salmon swimming upstream after the prize.

With Alaskan salmon the prize is mating. There flesh tears fighting upstream, and the rough waters pool with blood all in search of love. These crazy people were merely after sweaters, socks, and of course Uggs. It became a game braving the crowds and I soon realized pushing and shoving was the norm, and not entirely frowned upon. I also was quick to learn that being small was great. On a tall day I am 5”3 and am a feisty spitfire with defeat a foreign word. These crowds became my icy waters and even though I wasn’t fighting upstream for an amazing love I still needed to keep my mind in the game.

Distractions were everywhere, and I curse the cart vendors waving lotion in my face. Did I look like I need lotion? Couldn’t they see I was on a mission?It was a jungle out there and I was off and not to be messed with. Starting at the north end of the mall and headed to the far southeast corner I hit traffic jams and bottle necks, but no worries I was a force to be reckoned with. I made it to my store, and my goal half met!

You should know that in the stores it’s far worse. Keep your elbows up in fighting ready. You’re most likely to encounter issues in the stores and some ladies get rough. Scary stuff. I saw the prize and headed straight for it and made sure to not miss a step. Out of the corner of my fierce eye I saw another girl headed straight there. Oh man I better get a move on. Don’t worry, I beat her there and got the last classy and sassy black dress. Score 1 for the fierce, 0 for the opponent. After 45 minutes of searching, finding, buying my mission was complete and I was home free. Successful with the mall and it’s animals conquered!!!! Good Luck…

Side note: On any day rain or shine I will trade just about anything to be outside finding adventures and fun. However sometimes society requires us to play inside. Don’t worry I will never trade the great outdoors for a stroll in the mall.

Hit the ropes Jack. Yes I want to hit the ropes. Climbing ropes that is! I have not been climbing in what feels like an eternity. Probably because I had my shoulder repaired due to excessive injuries, but I am off the injured list and ready to be a monkey.Oklahoma has great climbing to offer any level of ability. I know it’s hard to believe, but Oklahoma has climbing.

I am sure you are thinking how is there climbing we don’t have mountains? We actually do have mountains. Or what I prefer to refer to as big hills.I started writing this yesterday, and then came to a scientific realization. Outdoor climbing in the winter would be far to frustrating, and with that said near impossible.

I have science backing me that you can not enjoy climb outdoors in the winter. Bonus, Ben the Brooklyn climbing guru agrees! Think about what your shoes are made of. Silicone toes? What helps Silicone create traction? Heat. Cold rocks plus cold silicone equals no adequate traction. Go inside!Downtown Oklahoma City is home to once known as OKC Rocks, now Rocktown Gym.

Rocktown is a converted grain elevator with 16 full silos linked together with various rooms. Featuring indoor and outdoor top rope and lead climbs over 80 feet. With 32 routes 9 of which are outside routes there is something for any ability level to climb. Climbing and bouldering instruction is available.

I do recommend you either go with someone who has climbed before, or get some assistant from one of the local rock rats. A tip for those who are honestly wanting to climb, make friends with your local rock rat. They will become you best friend in conquering a route. Who do you think made the routes in the first place. Go straight to the source.Lastly, before you hit the ropes here is some mind fuel. if this is your first visit give yourself at least 2 hours. All first time climbers are required to take a short, but informative belaying and safety orientation.