Basic Stretches for Tight Hips

I just found some hip/turnout stretches I'll be incorporating into my stretch routine: "Basic Stretches for Tight Hips" (web page). I've seen pretty much all of these sometime in my life, but as a new dancer, some I haven't worked on yet. (I've also been paying lose attention to exactly what is tight when I'm trying to do my splits, and one of the kinda surprising areas I need to work on for splits are my quads. I especially feel the tightness in that area on the leg going towards the back- it's tight right there at the top of it...)

Anyway, here's one of the poses I've seen before and enjoyed and now will be doing more of, taken from that article.

Music & Markings

I happened to glance down at the record player (yes, my instructor uses an old-timey record player with vinyl records!) as I was walking out of class last week. Really, all I noticed was the word "Cecchetti", which possibly gives me something to go by when I'm practicing certain movements that differ between styles, such as arabesques.

Then I was watching some ballet videos and heard one of the songs that we use in class, the title below the video: Robert Long's "Battements Glisses". I just decided to check out the iTunes store and see if I could could find the album- and sure enough, there it was, along with a number of other songs we use in class. Of course, I shelled out the $10 so I can practice along to the right music :)

I also took some masking tape and marked where my feet should be in first/fifth near the barre (I tend to stand too close to the barre, and this is a proper distance away). Then I tendu'ed to second and put an X in masking tape where my a la seconde should be (since we don't have perfect turnout, my instructor has us do a la seconde wherever our feet point in first position instead of straight out to the side). I repeated for the other side, using the same mark for first/fifth (which I put near the halfway mark near the center of my barre). I've noticed (and it's been pointed out to me several times) that my foot should always arrive at the same place in many occasions when in a la seconde, so I'm hoping this helps me develop the muscle memory I need for this.

Parent's Night, Remembering Class

So my last class proved to be quite different from normal classes. I somehow skipped the memo that it was parent's night. (I think it was actually on the paper that we were given something-something-parent's-something-parking-parent's, whatever, it didn't seem to pertain to me at the time.) I was settling in on the floor as the girls were positioning themselves, and I was starting in on my ankle rolls (god, those still hurt!) and the parent's were coming in and sitting in the chairs. "Is it parent's night?" I asked my little red-headed friend. She nodded her head. "Oh! I'm a little nervous now!" I told her, and she giggled at me.

So there we were, on the floor under the barre, doing our ankle rolls, myself towering above all the others (and I'm not in bad shape, but when surrounded by little nine-year-olds with pretty much no fat on their bodies, I look like a big, fat giant next to them!) One of the parents is staring at me, and I stare back at her, but it was an odd stare standoff because I knew she was staring and she knew I knew she was staring but she wasn't quite making eye contact with me, just staring at my face somewhere. While still staring at me, she asked the instructor something, who replied "oh, no, she's a student!" and then they kept talking, but too low for me to hear, and the lady kept staring at me! So that was a little awkward and I'd love to know what was said. At least one of the other parents looked impressed and said something about "exercise", but that was all I heard. All in all, I'm really glad there were no fathers there, because I would definitely have felt awkward.

I happened to have on my most modest leotard, thank goodness, and I'd also not forgotten to put on my silicone nipple covers (I just ordered more- those are sooooo handy! My first class got very weird when I noticed my nipples were shining through). I even had on a sports bra I usually don't wear, because the wide crossed straps in the back are obvious, but on this night I was glad for the extra modesty. (Don't get me wrong, I'm never ever dressed inappropriately- I won't even wear a camisole, remember? But a couple of leotards are a little lower in the front, which only proves a slight problem when we lay on the floor for our back exercises, and I have to be sure to pull the neck up a touch or the slightest cleavage will show.) I'd also happened to take a bit of extra anxiety medication, so it didn't go too bad.

I did get called out a little more than normal, but that was okay- I was doing things incorrectly. I kinda blew a few things in the center. When we do center, I usually have to follow the one girl who is very good, or another one of the girls if she isn't in front of me. The slower movements like our arabesques go fine enough, but with the faster-paced things (like pas de bourres), it can take me a few beats to figure out what we are doing. On this night, though, it took me more than  a few beats when I messed up, and I had more trouble than usual on center. But I didn't let it bring me down! I was glad when class was over, though, and made my way out quickly after curtseying to our wonderful instructor.

So today is Saturday and I am trying to go through in my head what we do in class and write it down so I can work on it. I know we do plie, tendu, degage... and then the order gets hazy for me. I do know we also do ronde de jamb and frappes... and then it gets very hazy. I'm thinking we do passé developpe but there is also something before that, two somethings I can't quite think of... Oh, awesome. I'd been looking at that linked video in a playlist and came across one of the movements: it's just a passé. So that comes before the passé developpe. Now for the other I can't remember. It's like the passé but our leg doesn't come up into retire. So I'm just missing one for barre (although I'm not sure the proper preparation for each of them), and our last one is, I believe, an echappe sous-sus? It's done facing the barre, 1) spring up from fifth to sous-sus 2) spring back down to fifth 3) echappe? (both feet go out away from each other) 4) spring back down to opposite fifth... spring up, don't change fifth, spring out, change fifth, etc.

Center, of course, gets more difficult, and it changes up. But I know we do: our arabesques, positions of the body on stage, the echappe sous-sus or whatever we do at the barre but in the center, and our port de bras, which I allllmost have down. I'm going to try those today because I like them and I really want to have them down without having to watch the other girl. (I'm sorry, friend! I know it must be awkward to constantly have a grown-up staring at you and trying to follow along, especially if you make a mistake that's highlighted because two of us are doing it!)

So yep, that's where I'm at today. Still not having time to practice every night, but I'm working on getting more and more stretching and/or exercises in during the week.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Ballet...

Here's a good reminder article for technique and foundation: "The Seven Deadly Sins".

I'm currently most guilty of rolling in, misaligning the spine, and using unnecessary tension. The article brings up a good point about the rolling in:

To get a 180-degree first position, dancers will sometimes let their arches roll forward. But turnout is not about forcing your feet open; it’s about opening up in the hips. “Turning out is an activity, not a position,” says Irene Dowd, who teaches anatomy at the Juilliard School. “If we stop sustaining that movement, our feet will passively roll in.”

This is a good point for me, because I do catch myself rolling in, and when I do, I always think it's because I'm trying to push past my limits of how far my turnout actually is. But this suggests that I'm not necessarily doing that; instead, I am failing to maintain the turnout that I am capable of through my hips (which can be caused by overdoing turnout- i.e., not being able to hold it suggesting I'm not yet strong enough for that much turnout, but not necessarily).

I'd like to state that it's definitely easier to recognize when I'm rolling in with my new MDM shoes, which I am still loving (and yes, are still pretty "new" because I only wear them at class. I can tell when I pull them out which goes on left or right foot since they have molded so well. I will get another pair after these, I believe, and use these at home once they have worn out some, but it looks like it may be awhile). (And maybe it's really because I'm just nervous in class or we are moving a bit too fast, but it seems like I have more trouble balancing in class than at home, and I'm kinda wondering if it's the split soles, as I do feel a small difference there when I try both at home.)

Anyway, so I'm continuing to love ballet, especially the freedom it gives me from anything else going on in my life. I'm really starting to pick up what is going on in class, and have started safely practicing a few movements at home without worrying I'm messing them up (except the preparation- there are two main ones we do, or none at all, and I tend to forget which goes with which). I'm beginning to stretch and workout more on my off days. Everything is going great!

Something is going on in my life- totally nowhere near a done deal yet- but I may find myself in a situation where I can basically take as much ballet as I want, and have plenty of downtime to practice as much as I want. I would have to move two hours away, but I've already checked, and there is a ballet studio that offers adult classes ranging from beginner to advanced/pointe. I really love my teacher, and I have grown comfortable working with the kids who kinda look up to me, so the thought of totally changing that is a bit scary (especially working with mostly adults now that I've gotten used to this). But the benefits to my ballet will be many, and I can also most likely take private lessons as well! I'd probably start with one thirty-minute class a week. So that's on my mind lately- but again, very tentative right now, and not likely to happen for at least a few months, if ever.

To get a 180-degree first position, dancers will sometimes let their arches roll forward. But turnout is not about forcing your feet open; it’s about opening up in the hips. “Turning out is an activity, not a position,” says Irene Dowd, who teaches anatomy at the Juilliard School. “If we stop sustaining that movement, our feet will passively roll in.” - See more at: http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/January-2008/The-Seven-Deadly-Sins#sthash.lXIM2BQM.dpuf

To get a 180-degree first position, dancers will sometimes let their arches roll forward. But turnout is not about forcing your feet open; it’s about opening up in the hips. “Turning out is an activity, not a position,” says Irene Dowd, who teaches anatomy at the Juilliard School. “If we stop sustaining that movement, our feet will passively roll in.” - See more at: http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/January-2008/The-Seven-Deadly-Sins#sthash.lXIM2BQM.dpuf

To get a 180-degree first position, dancers will sometimes let their arches roll forward. But turnout is not about forcing your feet open; it’s about opening up in the hips. “Turning out is an activity, not a position,” says Irene Dowd, who teaches anatomy at the Juilliard School. “If we stop sustaining that movement, our feet will passively roll in.” - See more at: http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/January-2008/The-Seven-Deadly-Sins#sthash.lXIM2BQM.dpuf

Today: Stretching & Strengthening

I have done so little lately in terms of strengthening that I can totally tell. Grande plies are a bitch right now- I struggle with them again. I'm starting back with randomly doing pliés, relevés, and uh, I don't know if it's a ballet move but it's a développé derrière skipping the attitude positions- so like a back leg raise to target my glutes, basically. (I'm a bit afraid that doing as many of these as I like to do may actually hinder my développé derrières due to building so much muscle, and due to the fact that I actually do it a little outwards instead of straight back because it seems to work my glutes more, but the payoff is proving to be a much firmer ass, and so it's worth it to me to work on these. I do need to work more on keeping my extended leg straight, as that doesn't come naturally in that position.)

Basically, since I've started taking actual classes, my work outside of class has dwindled. I do try to arrive an hour early to stretch before class, and sometimes to have some of the girls help me out with some movements, and I also try to stay at least 20-30 minutes after class stretching some, but otherwise I haven't been doing as much as I was, and that needs to change.

I have stopped working the classes I was doing online. I really want to focus on strength and stretching right now- and working on learning the movements in class as quickly as I can, because those are what I want to be practicing at home. I almost have them down to where I will feel comfortable practicing at home, but I'm not quite there yet: I'm afraid of practicing and getting a movement down well, only to be in class and realize I've been doing it wrong. But I am picking things up pretty well, and that will soon be an option for me.

I'm focusing a lot on stretching right now, after doing the warmup I usually do (which I have mostly memorized, so it's also what I do when I first get to the studio and get changed from work clothes). I'm quit excited because even though two of my splits are still embarrassingly high, one of them, my left side split, is actually making noticeable progress! I'm not to the ground yet, and am still inches away from it, but less than a foot, I think, and that's a big difference for me!

So yep, back to it!

Oh, edit! I just wanted to say that when I first started, leg raises/releves were kinda difficult for me- I mean, well, they are hard.  When I first started, I would do about 12-15 one-legged relevés (usually with the other leg in sur le cou-de-pied or retiré) and 30 relevés in a set. Now I'm up to somewhere like 60-100 relevés and I've doubled my one-legged retirés, doing 25-30+ each set. (And I guess I've been doing enough lately, because even with some weakening, I am still able to do these with some ease.)

Recently...

Wow, it's been awhile since I've updated! I've been super-busy in my personal life (involving a whole lot of sleep, among other things- I believe it's the meds I'm on. I just can't get enough SLEEP!) I had to miss one of my ballet classes, along with about five days of practice/workout, because my stomach was very upset for awhile :(

I went to class, let's see, last Tuesday, and skipped Thursday. I went to both classes this week. I'm feeling a bit mushy because I just haven't worked out like I was, but it's okay because absence makes the heart grow fonder; I'm actually craving workouts and stretches, which is something I don't think I have ever done (except maybe once, a semester over a decade ago, where I took three glorious months of yoga classes). Tuesday I still wasn't feeling well, but went to class. Wednesday I started back up with some minor exercises (throwing in some plies and leg raises when I can). Thursday, yesterday, I started really feeling some improvements in class.

I've had a hell of a week or two. It's been quite stressful for me, and overwhelming. I usually try to keep my life very, very simple. I limit stress as much as possible. But one thing happened that was very stressful, and another thing has happened that is positive but still overwhelming, so it's a bit stressful too. So I've constantly had all of these things on my mind. And the ONE time I am able to totally clear my head, not think or feel anything, is when I am in class. (That's a big difference from working out at home while doing my own ballet-oriented workouts, because my mind was somewhat free to wander.) It's absolutely fantastic. After only a handful of classes, I crave going to class, being fully in my body instead of in my head (where I usually am) or heart (where I can sometimes be found). I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

I'm starting to pick up what exactly we are doing. I still don't have everything down, but I am getting there. I am starting to be fussed at for my arms, because sometimes I am just so caught up in making sure my feet are doing the right thing that my arms are just doing whatever, occasionally moving to the right direction only to stay there while everyone else moves on.

So, I just wanted to make a quick update. I hope to be back on some sort of routine schedule soon, and be able to post more.

Ballet as a Coping Mechanism

I mentioned before that I've suffered from depression and other mental health issues in the past. I recently brought up ballet to my therapist, and he said that ballet should be a good coping mechanism for me, in tough times when I need something.

I had a fairly rough day emotionally, the other day. My emotions were all wound up. With nothing else to do, I turned to ballet. Well, it was mostly working out ballet-style, but whatever the case, I threw my heart and soul into it. My thoughts and feelings didn't go away- they were still there, but it was like I was able to feel the feelings I didn't want to feel and think the thoughts I didn't want to think by pushing all of the hurt into exercise, all of that negative energy detoured towards something more positive than wallowing in it all. I'm very grateful to have this new thing in my life, and the reasons are multiplying.

I have my third class later today, and I am very anxious for it to start. I'm leaving work earlier than I need to so I can go straight there, get dressed, and get in a good warm-up and stretch session before class, now that I know it's okay to use the extra studio (very large, tons of mirrors, barre against two walls). I can also practice those steps my new little friend taught me last Thursday (still working on those). Now for 3:30 to get here, c'mon, c'mon...

Ballet Attire

I'm a little sad. I mentioned that I managed to get the last Bal Togs Two-Tone Strappy-Back Camisole leotard in my size from DiscountDance. Alas, I received my shipment this afternoon, and that one was not in my package :( I did get a good deal on plain black short-sleeve leotards, at least, but I was really looking forward to the Bal Togs one. Oh well.

I've been obsessing about finding a way to feel comfortable in a camisole leotard. When I purchased my first leotard, I tried on quite a few to see what size and what styles looked best on me. Camisoles were a definite "no" at the time.

At one point, I received a beautiful black leotard from eBay. It is not a camisole, but it has a low back with odd straps; the front is pleated at the chest. (I don't think I've posted photos yet- I have a few new leotards to take pics of and upload here.) It's not something I can wear a normal bra with, not with the straps the way they are. Furthermore, the side of the chest area stops abruptly (instead of continuing around to the back). Between all of that, I didn't think there was any way I'd ever feel like I looked nice in it.

Then I got to thinking... I tried it on with a bra. I think if I sew the cups of a bra into it, I will be able to wear it comfortably. I almost put it up for sale, but I definitely want to get around to trying this. I don't want to be so stuck in what kinds of leotards I can wear... even if I'm only going to be wearing them at home! (Yes, my leotard buying obsession continues...)

While I'm on the subject, I've already decided I am going to be dressing very plainly for class. Even if I rig my cool leotard right and feel comfortable in it, it shows too much skin for me to feel comfortable in the class I am in, with the little kids (who probably wouldn't notice or give a damn) and their parents (who I don't want to find the slightest fault with me because I'm so grateful to just be able to take classes there). I've been wearing a new VS sports bra, it's like an underwire bra within a sports bra. It's great. It's been very... cold... though. So I happened to find in a drawer a pair of these. They were just what I needed. (I also recently picked up six bras of several types that use adhesive to stay on. I will be trying some of these in my quest as well.)

My First Classes!

I know you, my dear (eventual, at least) reader, have been on the edge of your seat waiting to hear how my first classes have gone, the ones with the second year nine year olds. And I'm here to let you know...

I LOVE IT!!!

All of my fears went out the window just about as soon as we started the first class. First of all, my teacher (whom I'd met before) was very nice and put me at ease. I was feeling a little shy, but she told me to go ahead and take off my shirt to get to just my leotard/tights/slippers, and told me to get behind one girl who is very good, and in front of another girl (who was good as well, though not to the first's level).

Everyone (about six or eight children total, all girls except one boy, and I'm the oldest one by decades) was already on the floor starting their warmups. (I did a half-hearted warm up prior to class, but there were moms around and it was my first day there and I felt too nervous to do much the first day.) Almost immediately, I saw one thing I need to work on: ankle rolls! I've always done maybe 5-10 in then out at a time. Nope, not here. We start each class with 64 counts in and 64 counts out. OUCH! (Luckily, this is something I can work on while sitting in my chair at work.)

Our barre exercises were so much fun! From what I've gathered, the girls have been working on the same basics every class. They say a little chant of what each foot is doing as it moves (touch back, touch front, etc), and we've gone from tendus to plies to frappes to petite battements sur le-cou-de-pied to rond de jambes and a few others I'm forgetting. The exercises are quite a bit different from what I've been doing. I don't quite have them down yet, but it's definitely doable.

Note: What I just mentioned is THE best thing about my class. I can do the exercises, but I don't have them down yet- the order, the making it look pretty. So it's just right: difficult, but not overly so.

With the barre, I am having trouble with my arms and head. I only touched on that with my online classes and DVDs and am not used to doing it more frequently. I'm already getting the hang of some of the movements, but when we get to more complicated foot patterns, I focus on that and try to keep my arms in second or first (though sometimes they are all over the place).

After barre, we moved to the center: two rows, me behind the proficient girl. The center was more difficult for me, as I suspected it would be, but again, not overly so. Mostly, it's a matter of learning the order of each exercise, and then with the center, balance is another issue I'll be working on. The hardest thing for me as far as balance goes has been maintaining it while doing grand plies, especially fifth. Luckily, that's something I can work on at home. I also have trouble with my arabesques, but I'm quickly picking up the arm positions- I almost have the general placement down and then it will be time to fine-tune that.

Finally, we did some movements across the room diagonally, both ways. The first thing we did was a little three-step skip thing. The next one was way harder for me- I was totally lost. I told the little girl behind me to go ahead in front of me, so I could watch a little longer. (She is ADORABLE! Cute little girl with long, curly red hair! She's one of the staff's daughters.) She looked up at me with big eyes and whispered, "We have to go together." And so we did.

The only time I really felt out of place some (and honestly, this would have happened even if I was their age) was when everyone did splits. Only myself and one little girl cannot do at least one split- we hover a foot above what everyone else can do. I knew that would happen, and I knew I would compare myself, but I'm already working on that. (Okay, well, I feel a little out of place when I'm looking in the mirror, and towering over everyone. I think I've gained a little weight- it fluctuates- and I think I've gained a little extra muscle mass in my legs, so not only am I taller than everyone, my weight really stands out, too. Yes, I know I'm an adult, but... ok, I'm self-conscious about the way I look!)

Tonight's class was a lot easier in terms of my anxiety. I left work a little earlier than planned and ran home and changed. I arrived at the studio early, and spent time doing some decent stretching. I was just on the hall floor, and then the little redhead comes over to me and opens the door to another studio room and tells me that's where we usually go and warm up. So we went in there and I was warming up and the little girls were making their way in and warming up, playing on the barre, talking.

Tonight went pretty much the same (though we didn't have to do awkward grand plies, yay!). I did better at keeping up, though I still have a ways to go. I got a few corrections tonight, which did not happen in my first class. (I'm also trying to take in any corrections she gives others and apply them to myself, as long as I'm not totally wrapped up in just trying to get a movement down.) My little red-headed friend seemed happy that we partnered again (her mother told me she'd been all excited that we were partners the first class!). At the very end of the class, my teacher went over that last diagonal movement we do. It involves a plie, a tendu, two steps, a half-turn while switching to a third step with the other foot, a very small arabesque, two backwards steps, and a half-turn switching feet to land in a plie with tendu. (Whew!) Luckily, my little friend brought me into the extra studio room after class and she pretended she was the teacher. First, she showed me side by side how to do it. (And didn't complain when I asked her to do it several more times with me.) Then, she sat in the teacher's chair and played teacher. She helped me with it some more next to me, and another girl came in to work on it with us. I lingered a bit in the hallway as everyone was leaving, practicing this step so I could work on it this weekend, with four days in between classes. And I pretty much have it down! I'm SO glad my friend showed me. It's one of those things I am definitely going to have to do over and over to pick it up (and that's before actually making it look somewhat pretty), but I have the steps in my head in the right order, and that's half the battle.

So yes, totally psyched about ballet! I'm definitely not ready for the next level, and am definitely fine staying in this one until I'm ready to progress. I'm going to try not to rush my progress and rush getting into the next class, for I know that the longer you work on your basics, the better a foundation you'll have (especially once en pointe- provided I make it that far, which I do hope!)

My self-teaching has definitely helped me. One thing I've been doing incorrectly, though, has been my rond de jambes en dedans- my toe is supposed to come more in front of the toe of my standing leg, so I'll be relearning that some. I've also been using third instead of fifth, but we work from fifth even though none of us have 180* turnout.

So yep, that's how my first two classes have gone. I love going, I'm already getting more comfortable, I already have something new to work on (oh, plus some port de bras in the different stage positions, if I can remember... along with terminology- she quizzes the little girls on that a lot, and they stumble over it), and I'm definitely more motivated now to stretch!

This I can do...

Now this... this I can do! Is this what my class will be like? Do I want it this easy so I can go on to the next class (that fits in with my schedule better)? But then the next hardest class won't fit in my schedule well at all! I don't think I want my class this easy! Will it be? Won't it be? What will it be like??? Argh!

Yes, still worrying!! Class starts in less than three hours.

Leaving work in about 12 minutes. I will stop by my house and see if I have enough time to get dressed before doc- I should, but if not, I can at least grab my mostly-packed bag and get dressed, if nowhere else, in a (quiet) parking lot somewhere before class.

Yipppeeee!

First class today!

I'm so excited, and nervous, and excited and nervous! All of these what-ifs going through my head. Anxiety because I don't know yet how I will get into my ballet outfit... I think I am going to have to stop by home on the way to the doctor appointment (I do have one today) and put on my leotard and tights, with my cute VS sweats over it all. My appointment is over around 3:45, but class doesn't start until 5. But I do need to be there a bit early, to register and what-not. Should I just head to my therapist early (I usually get out earlier if I do) and THEN head home to change and get ready? If not, what do I spend that extra time on after I leave the doctor? I don't know if I will have time to run back home, and I don't want to get there TOO early, although they do let observers watch, and I could see the grade before me. I'd really like to stretch- if I get there early enough can I actually stretch inside the building, or am I supposed to be already warmed up when I get in there? I very much dislike having so many questions- I get myself all wound up and anxious! And oddly, it's always these little silly before-event intricacies and etiquette that get me worried. If anything, I should be a little worried about my actual class and whether or not I will be able to keep up, but I'm so wound up with the other things, I'm not so worried about class! I figure: my teacher did NOT seem like my doing YouTube videos was anything close to doing real ballet (she doesn't know I was studying a ton as well), and so she is assuming I know nothing about ballet. And while I do agree that I pretty much know nothing about ballet, I do at least know positions, movements, what it's like to be at the barre, and how much I don't like center :) So I think I will be a little bit ahead of what she expects, and thus I should be able to keep up with the class. Also, what about my MDM ballet shoes? Is she going to notice I have split soles and say something about how I should have full soles? Should I show her before class or just wait until she mentions it? Or show her after, if she does say something?

What I'm really, really hoping for is that this class will be quite a bit too easy. The next grade (10-year-olds, 3rd year) fits my schedule so much better, but I could still take some of these classes as well. I won't be able to take the grade before this one; it's just too early. But wow, three years of ballet sounds like soooo much. Already, as I've mentioned, these girls I'll be with have had 1.5 years of ballet.

STOP, MIND!

Dear Me,
Whatever happens is exactly how it is supposed to happen! You'll figure out the clothes situation. You'll get there on time. Even if you go in totally cold and there is no warm-up, take it easy and you'll know next time, and you'll also know if you can warm up in the building (which would be ideal). You will be fine with the nine year olds. You will be able to keep up. Even in the center. And even if you don't keep up so well in the center, just give it your best shot and spend your focus just trying to remember the general idea of the steps, especially names.

It doesn't matter if the class is too easy. Worry about this class only for right now. Other classes can and will come when you're ready. Either way, you can definitely watch the older girls, the next grade, who will be starting as we end.

Don't forget your notepad and pen for notes during/after class! And yes, your leotard plus underwire sports bra is modest enough. It's packed, as are both shoes (MDM and full-sole) and deodorant and if there's anything else you need, you'll know next time.

YOU GOT THIS!
Love,
Me

Inspiration

Ballet Ad

There aren't many times I enjoy the YouTube ads that hop on in front of the ballet videos I watch. But this one caught my eye a few weeks ago, holiday-time. I stopped and watched the whole thing instead of skipping over it at five seconds, because it's actually cute (and ballet-related).

Office Exercises/Seated Stretches

My job consists of computer work five days a week, eight hours a day (plus an hour for lunch that I may or may not work during). I'm lucky in that I can get up and walk around a bit, and go outside once an hour for my (horrible, I know, I know!) habit of smoking (during which I am usually doing some sort of movement).

Since starting ballet, I've been playing around with various exercises and stretches I can do while at work, while sitting. I've looked around the internet for office exercises/seated exercises, and really haven't found as many as I thought I would. Many of the ones I've found... well, I'm in a large shared office with three other people and the occasional customer, and I'd look ridiculous doing most of what I've found. (How would I explain sitting down, standing up, sitting down, etc. over and over again?? Or holding my arms straight out and doing arm circles, while everyone else is working?) I've been doing some of those I've found, and otherwise been working on creating my own. So I thought I'd start a list here of some of the seated/office exercises I do, and you may want to try as well.

• Doming. Of course this is one. This is my most used one, actually, and THE reason why my arches and pointed feet are improving so quickly! (Seriously, I do it all day long.)
• Calf raises. (I just discovered this one- a different way, which inspired this post.) I've tried the normal seated calf raises, where the feet are in parallel and the lower legs get lifted into releve, but that didn't seem to do much for me. I just set my right ankle on my left knee and then did a calf raise, and the extra weight really helped me feel the exercise. Then switch sides. 
• Seated stretch #1. Same position as calf raises: right ankle on left knee. Lean forward. When you're ready, switch sides. I'm not going to attempt the anatomy here, but I do feel it in a number of places- be careful that you don't overdo this one, or do it too quickly!
• Ankle rolls. Pretty self-explanatory. Raise right foot, rotate clockwise. Rotate counterclockwise. Switch. 
• Pointed feet. Raise right leg slightly. Take foot from flat through demi to full pointe, going slowly. Reverse. Switch.
• Butt clenches. (A little controversy on whether or not this one does anything, and it can be noticeable, so do at your own risk.) Using the muscle only, squeeze one side of the glutes. Hold for three counts, then switch.

To be continued...

Struggling with Leg Extensions?

Who isn't struggling with leg extensions, if you're into dong ballet? It's damn hard to get legs up in the air like that!

If you're a newbie like me, you may be using the wrong muscles! I had a feeling I was, and then I came across a forum thread that totally changed how I'll be doing leg extensions from now on, because I was indeed using the wrong muscles!

I've read about how you're not supposed to use your quads when lifting the leg. For awhile, I didn't even bother trying to figure out this concept because it sounded kinda foreign. Then I happened across that post, worked through sort of like how a poster explained it, and now I can lift my leg (my right one, anyway) without using my quad so much!

I did a modified version of what was said: do a leg extension. (I did mine to the side.) Now hold it there. Hold it there for TOO long. Hold it there until your quad gives out. When your quad gives out (I had a sensation of it relaxing), the correct muscles automatically kick in, and voila! Just like that, you're using the right muscles!

So simple to do! You're welcome :)

Now height? You're on your own for that! I'm so inflexible, and am sure that I will compare myself to the young ladies I will be doing ballet with- who are 26 years younger than me and likely just naturally more flexible than I have ever been. I'll have to really work on catching myself when I compare myself, or it will totally bring me down, as it did awhile back (when I was focusing so much on my imperfections- my poor turnout, my tibial torsion- that it dragged me into this darkness where I wasn't enjoying ballet anymore). But I will be diligent in catching myself before getting dragged down, I will be diligent in working on improvements, and I will be diligent in stretching and strengthening to the best of my body's abilities.

My New Two-Tone Strappy Back Camisole Leotard

I've started to realize that, excepting some of the by-bid listings, it costs just as much to purchase new leotards on eBay as it is on DiscountDance (not an affiliate link, though I wish they offered affiliates!). Maybe the brands vary some, but it's most often a lower end brand(?) like Capezio or So Danca. (I don't have enough leotards to compare the differences, but am assuming a less-expensive leotard is going to be made a little less well than a more expensive one.)

Well, earlier today, I decided to check out the site in honor of my upcoming new classes (in only a few days!!) and yes, I scored 2 So Danca plain black short-sleeve leotards for $11.57 (cheaper than on eBay, even WITH shipping), but I ALSO grabbed this amazing deal by Bal Togs (which I'm assuming is a more mid-range brand based on price)... a two-tone strappy back camisole leotard! I can't wear it to class (hey, I like looking pretty when I practice at home, don't hate), but it was... $13.70, when I think they usually run around $30. This was the very last one, and it happened to be in medium. And while it's a camisole, it's not the normal kind, so if it fits right, I will feel comfy in it because the front is so high.

I'm really stocking up on leotards. I have a bit of an obsession with them. I sure as hell hope I love ballet, real actual ballet classes, as much as I'm hoping and expecting to.

Off to stretching, while my muscles are still a little warmed up from taking my dog to the park and for a walk. Cheerio!