Ice Skipping

On December 26th we were due for a major snowstorm here in the Northeast. I live on a lake. The lake was frozen. I went out before the snow began to fly and walked across the lake, the water was crystal clear. I wished I knew how to skate at that point because it was like a mirror, you could see right down to the bottom and the ice was like glass, not a bump or indentation. Perfect for skating. ALSO, perfect for skipping.

I don’t know what came over me and I quite frankly did NOT care what my neighbors thought. I started skipping back to the shore and across my yard. I was picking up branches that fell from the high winds the night before. I was truly enjoying the most wonderful time acting like the child, you know, the one that is in each of us and yet rarely comes out to play. Mine did that day and she had a great time. Albeit too short, but really fun. I thought to myself, I should do this more often. I am so thrilled to see your site. What a very cool thing to do – I shall think of you whenever I skip and I have indeed been skipping a lot lately.

My skipping reminded me of Phoebe on “Friends” in an episode where she was jogging – just running and swinging her arms. Such a free spirit. I was like that a whole lot more when I was younger – I think I’d like to revert back to that stage of not a care in the world. Living in the moment is great, but really enjoying it and BEING in the moment – PRICELESS!!!! -T.L. in New Jersey

Prison Skipping

After healing from an injury that caused me to leave my last job, I landed up working in a woman’s prison. I work in the Mental Health Dept. as a Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant. On Thursdays, we go to the gym. We often walk around the gym to warm up before other exercise. I had been skipping some of the distance which the women though was silly. But, eventually, one copied me and found it refreshing and then one more and one more. I wish I could send you a picture of this maximum security facility and the women with felony crimes skipping around the gym. It brings me joy just thinking of how they float along. -NC Skipper, PJ.

Woman’s World Magazine

The Jan ’11 issue of Woman’s World Magazine encourages skipping in an article called “Start 2011 Happier than Ever”. Check out number 2..

Side Step Stress by Skipping

It may sound silly, but spending just a few minutes engaged in activity that triggers happy childhood memories can rev the release of mood-lifting brain chemicals and lower levels of angst-inducing cortisol.

So true! So true! As anyone who skips will attest. Skip on!

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Solstice Skip Report

January 4, 2011 by kimskips  
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Chicago, IL – Chris Marshall braved snow and freezing cold to skip (and fiddle) on the Solstice! Here’s his first hand account…

The first annual Solstice Skip was a success. There was only me and my fiddle in attendance, but that was enough. There was 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground and it was about 30 degrees. Luckily, I had just found some thin gloves that I could fiddle in. I started with some fiddle-skipping around the inside of the gazebo, then went around the outside of the gazebo a few times. From there I went through the fresh snow in a big field in the park. Skipping in the snow was slow going, but it was still skipping. The tracks made from skipping in the snow were different than tracks made by walking. From the field I skipped on the shoveled sidewalk back to the gazebo for another few times around the outside of it, and then finished with a few times around the inside of it. Followed that up with a few more tunes, playing inside the gazebo. Tunes for the day were Arkansas Traveler, Blackberry Blossom, and Jack of Diamonds. Skip On, -Chris

Chris is planning future skips for the equinoxes and summer and winter solstices. He’d love to have some company. Subscribe to our mailing list or check back here for details.

Here’s an interview we did with Chris a couple of summers ago in downtown Chicago where he demonstrates his mad fiddle skipping skills…

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