Like the Nike slogan: Just do it

Tobey Maguire looked so hot as Spidey, not so much because of that tight black suit wrapped around his toned bod, but because he swiftly pranced from building to building, ever so gracefully swinging from the tallest skyscraper to the next as though there was an illusion of having a safety net break your fall or a harness wrapped around your pelvis to catch you. There's something fascinating, or maybe even attractive, seeing someone willingly put themselves in so much physiological danger but survive it. And survive it elegantly at that.

Luckily for the female population who like me, have entertained the idea of spending the rest of her young adult life with someone like Tobey or Spidey for the very reason I have stated, I am pleased to tell you that I have found a solution. I didn't exactly find a Spidey costume or a look alike of Tobey; but I did find members of Parkour Philippines who could jump far and high, and, hear this: they don't need a tight spandex suit tighter than your tights to show you their skills.Adapted from Parkour pioneer David Belle's philosophy or discipline of getting to point A to point B as efficiently as possible using only the strength of the human body, Parkour Philippines have gathered to train their minds and bodies to achieve the same goal. Seeing some of their YouTube videos, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about this art form and actually participate. After an exchange of quite an amount of SMSes, a jamming session was scheduled and posted online for the benefit of other traceurs (Parkour practioners) and first-timers who also wanted to give it a go. I must admit I was scared, only because I woke up late and got lost on the way to the meeting place. Because of such distractions, I had forgotten to feel anything re: Parkour lessons. In fact, I was actually zoning out while warming up and conditioning, just blankly following because it was too early to be touching your toes and jumping around for something I honestly was half-hearted about. In other words, I came as a reporter and not as a student; PLUS, I knew I couldn't do what they do in a day -- firstly because it takes time and training and secondly, they wouldn't let me anyway -- so my mind was fogged with many things.

So there I was, admittedly just rolling with the punches, more excited to see and film them do their thing than doing the "easy stuff" myself. After warming up, we separated and transferred to Luneta Park. I took my own vehicle and as I was looking for the Datu Statue, I see two guys with Parkour shirts on, walking aimlessly in the bright sun, like myself. I thought they must know where that Datu statue was and true enough, they did know but got tired of waiting since they've been waiting for a while and even came from out of town just for this jamming session. Damn.

Finally, we got to that Datu statue and everything was just a blur. Dudes would just walk walls, jump over rails randomly and I felt so out of place and remember thinking, "Wtf is going on???" Imagine a huddled group of guys just suddenly disperse and head towards different directions doing everything but walking, yelling "C'mon Erika!" as they start rolling around in the concrete. LOL. Awwkkkwaaard!

I trailed behind them, by foot of course, and they taught me so many moves that I would forget that I was there primarily to film. Suddenly, I was having so much fun crawling on rails and jumping off of rails because of that rush you get AS you are doing it.
This is me trying it. Believe it or not, but most of it is actually instinctive and after repetition, it becomes beautifully instinctive. Like when you're being chased, and you're forced to jump to the next building, you just do it because you'll get caught and die and while doing it, you don't look good doing it. So I feel with Parkour, you learn to take charge of this instinctive nature and efficiently and beautifully express it whenever you feel like it.

What I loved most about it was that it forced you to just do it. No holding back. No hesitations. The moment doubt creeps into your head, you're done for. Believe you can, picture what you want to do achieve, go for it, and just hope for the best.

Just like life.

So with an aching wrist and a less daunting outlook on the obstacles (both figuratively and literally) here on earth, I leave you with this thought.