Hop or Hop Not, There is No Try.

"But hop, you must." ~ Easter Yoda.

Continuing our journey through hyperspace, with a quick stop in Dagobah, in our X-Wing in the shape of a couch, we have now completed Empire Strikes Back. Which means we met Yoda.

Again, though this is supposed to be a "rewatch" for my husband and me with our 6-year-old, every time it feels like we've never seen it before. The combination of it being so long, plus seeing it through her eyes alongside her narration, has made this the most hilarious and just magical viewing experience. In case you're wondering, we're watching in order of when the films were released, not the timeline of the story. So, going from 70's practical effects with miniatures and aliens with sideburns to today's AI-generated spectacle.

These are the takeaways after watching Empire Strikes Back. Noemie now loves R2D2 the most; she's concluded he's the bravest "and cutest." She's unsure what happened to her old favorite "Onobe-Wan Kenobi" but knows his Jedi force is strong, so he's "probably fine." Yoda is really crazy-looking. He is also wise and a necessary sage to becoming a Jedi, but also Michal and I didn't realize how wacky he is. My memory of him was stoic and he spoke in backwards sonnets, when really he's CHATTY and has more of a slapstick, disorganized Doc Brown vibe. Noemie is now annoyed with C3PO; she seems to be really keeping tabs on who is not pulling their weight. C3PO blew their cover a lot and got blasted and pulled apart for his pieces the second they landed somewhere.

Which then added a side rescue mission on top of trying to run from Darth Vader. Chewbacca has been bumped up; he was less of an "annoying dog" this time, proving to be a really skilled mechanic. Now she thinks Princess Leia and Han Solo "will marry" (because they kissed), before she thought it was her and Luke (because they kissed). Which, by the way, Princess Leia is playing both of them! She'd make a perfect Housewife of Alderaan.

I also feel like if Darth Vader wore fewer accessories, lighter boots, and wasn't such a heavy breather, he would be way more stealth. It's a real disadvantage when he's trying to sneak up on his opponent in combat. Vader needs more cardio, not more Force. Spoiler Alert: In this series, Darth Vader revealed himself as Luke's father. Noemie was shocked but also said under her breath, "I knew it."

Our favorite takeaway that has stayed with us through our week, is Yoda's words and training sequences with Luke. Especially when Noemie is being a rebel at the skate park (similar to the fighting spirit of the Rebel Force). Lately, she has been a bit of a know-it-all, not listening to her parents and coaches and deciding she knows best. Kind of like Luke when he first crashed his ship in the swamp of Dagobah. He was so determined to find Yoda, quickly learn to be a Jedi and get on his way, he didn't even realize Yoda was right in front of him. Then when he finds out, he doesn't believe this small quirky character had it in him. The same way Noemie keeps waving away pro skaters and coaches that ask her if they can show her something new.

“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?” ~ Yoda

Then there's the sense of haste and not being patient in the process. Feeling like just because you can do a handstand holding Yoda at your feet while floating objects in the air, that now you are fully trained and there's nothing more to learn. Yoda pleaded for Luke to finish his training before going off to fight Vader. This is Noemie after she made level 3. She thinks just because she can drop down on the big ramp, she has made it and therefore doesn't have to learning anything further.

"Ready you are? What you know of ready?" ~ Yoda

This sequel in particular, and Yoda's famous quotes, have actually been a really helpful resource to help us break through to our stubborn youngling. We showed her the comparison of how when Luke thought he already had the Force and attempted to lift his ship from the swamp, he failed. "Why?" we asked her. "Because he still had more to learn," she said.

I'd like to say she went on to never have standoffs at the skate park ever again, listened to her coaches, didn't lay, body draped over her board, on the top of a ramp because someone else was on "her" ramp. We still had nights where we had to pull her off the ramp and leave early because she was being, to put it simply, a punk. I didn't think it was possible to outpunk a skate scene. However, there have been small wins. For one, she still shows up. She'll sometimes attempt something new, sometimes be part of the group and share the ramp, sometimes even do something cool that wasn't part of her plan. Yoda's advice is good advice for her parents too; we know we need to be patient with her young Jedi process and growing pains.

This week we're going to take those scary leaps that are unfamiliar, but part of the necessary process to get to a stronger, more masterful, Jedi level. We're going to take quite literal leaps - or bunny hops if your prefer. Even if you think you've done it all in the studio, we'll train ourselves to let go of everything you know - including the ground underneath us.

I don't push you and take away reliable supports just for the sake of it. Learning how to land softly from a jump and do balance work, all those circuits we do on the Bosu or on a light spring, has huge benefits for preventing bone loss and gaining practical stamina and stability. The type of strength that keeps you capable, independently living, and pain-free as you get older. Dr. Stacy Sims is an Olympian, exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist, and expert in female-specific nutrition and training. She was asked what is the most efficient way for a woman older than 50 to train to maximize longevity. She said jump training. Especially when it's in combination with heavy resistance training and interval training (all of which we do in every circuit class). She said women lose about one-third of bone mass at the onset of menopause. Instead of using pharmaceuticals to stop bone loss, which can have all the wacky side effects, she said external stress and muscle pressure on bone is way more effective.

Here's a great podcast with Stacy Sims discussing hormones, her approach to fitness, and how to acheive longevity.

So get ready for Jedi bunny hop training all week long. I'll be your Yoda on your back as you train, goofy but not to be underestimated.

Excited to make your bodies sweat, smile, and in Yoda's words, "unlearn some things to learn new things."

Favorite Yoda Quotes:

“Hard to see, the dark side is.”

“Not if anything to say about it I have.”

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.”

“To be Jedi is to face the truth and choose.”

“When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not.”

“Ready are you? What know you of ready?”

“Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future, the past, old friends long gone.”

“Not if anything to say about it I have.”

“Much to learn, you still have.”

“Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you.”

“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?”

“If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.”

“Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is.”

“You will find only what you bring in.”

“You must unlearn what you have learned.”

“In the end, cowards are those who follow the dark side.”

“Reckless he is. Matters are worse.”