How are your practices going?

FancyFeet said:
... a nasty bug that had me off work and in bed for two days... and some practices have been amazing, where I feel so balanced - loving the way I'm using my feet and legs, and how that frees me up to really stretch and work through the upper body - but then the next day, I can't find it and it's work.
Click to expand...

Me too. Body aches that I was blaming on eating things I shouldn't (eating the raspberry jam I made) are looking rather like the flu. Solo practice at weekend was really pleasing, got some lovely sequences on video. Thursday? No balance. No compression. No ANYTHING. Made 15 minutes..... then went home to bed and have been there on and off since. At least I can re-watch the footage and pick holes in it :eek::rofl:
 
Yeah, mine was definitely the flu... any time I'm sleeping 15-ish hours in one shot, well, I'm sick. At least it explains the balance and stamina issues I'd been facing for a couple of practices prior!

Two days off of work and three days off of practice, plus a couple of lighter days (shorter less-intense practices, no gym), and I seem to be recovered. Back to full practice today :)
 
GinaN said:
Big difference last week to this one...:( I practiced more last week, and it showed in class...and last week I felt so balanced I felt like I was spotting more and not afraid to spot, feeling my feet against the ground more...and this week...one day I tried to practice and I felt so out of balance I just stopped after 15 minutes. :/ My second practice this week was a little better but still did not feel as pulled together as last week. (when I read your post FancyFeet I felt like OMG yes! that's how I feel - even though my levels and yours are surely worlds apart!)
Click to expand...

Gina, I feel you. Just wanted to say that there is definitely a line at which I'll go 'ok, it's not working today, I'm out' (usually when I'm sick or a little injured or super stressed about something else)... but there is definite value in practicing even when it isn't coming easily. The way that I look at it: days when I am completely on are really rare. Knowing how to work through days when things feel less-than-awesome is only going to benefit me in the long run, because knowing how to work through it when things feel off is going to help me improve. So, maybe, keep practicing when it feels like that, and turn the focus of your practice into trying different things (like with where your weight is or what muscle to concentrate on) to get as close as possible to the 'right' feeling. With time, working through it will translate into consistency.
 
FancyFeet said:
... turn the focus of your practice into trying different things (like with where your weight is or what muscle to concentrate on) to get as close as possible to the 'right' feeling. With time, working through it will translate into consistency.
Click to expand...

Just to add to this, if you are allowed to video, do it. So many times when I been struggling with doing/understanding something, and watching the footage afterwards has clarified where the issue was.
 
have practiced as much as I dare alone...feel that if I do much more without him I will forget to dance with him when he finally gets back and is available for lessons....
 
Decent practices this week/weekend. Doing a bit of a show dance with my amateur partner the middle of next week. Syllabus steps, so nothing obscenely crazy. Most of our work was just kind of "playing" the moves to the song better.
 
A short practice yesterday. I ran through my dances as a Follower and tried to pay attention to what the standing leg was doing.
 
FancyFeet said:
Gina, I feel you. Just wanted to say that there is definitely a line at which I'll go 'ok, it's not working today, I'm out' (usually when I'm sick or a little injured or super stressed about something else)... but there is definite value in practicing even when it isn't coming easily. The way that I look at it: days when I am completely on are really rare. Knowing how to work through days when things feel less-than-awesome is only going to benefit me in the long run, because knowing how to work through it when things feel off is going to help me improve. So, maybe, keep practicing when it feels like that, and turn the focus of your practice into trying different things (like with where your weight is or what muscle to concentrate on) to get as close as possible to the 'right' feeling. With time, working through it will translate into consistency.
Click to expand...

Definitely FF - that day was just one of those "OK I am *so* off I am not going to get anything out of this." But the rest of the time yes, precisely because of what you say - the days when I'm "on" are so rare. And then the next week I'm so shocked I'm off again. You'd think I'd learn not to expect to be "on" twice in a row. But no it catches me by surprise every time. :rolleyes:
 
Sometimes in rhythm I do this weird thing where I compress my spine vertically. Since there is absolutely no good reason to do this ever, today I practiced keeping it nice and stretched throughout various movements.
 
Did a little practice this weekend, mainly focusing on relaxing the muscles around my spine so that I can be more fluid and not so tense. Realized after discussion with my husband that I had not practiced as much as I usually do - a combination of the stress of the changes at the studio/new partners making me not want to practice, kids being sick multiple times, me being sick, new role at job, and the frustration I've been feeling in lessons over the last few months. I am sure this contributed to my poor performance at the recent comp. I actually wanted to practice this weekend, which was nice. It was not a lot, though, and it is still difficult to practice connection (my other main issue) alone :p.
 
They're not... been off for a couple of days as I did the chiro and massage therapy rounds :(

Did something odd to my hip, which spread into my lower back, last week. The thought is that I had a really tight tendon, which led to a couple of tight muscles with wicked knots, which led to pulling my L5 vertabrae out of place while dancing tango during a lesson due to said tightness. Basically, I was uncomfortable. A visit to each of the above, and a few days of rest, and things are feeling a little stiff, but much better. Back at it after work today.
 
Got on the floor with my Little Red Paso Book and worked through the Bronze figures that I've got so far as a leader. It might be starting to make a bit more sense to me. Then I ran through my other bronze latin dances as a leader. Then switched to waltz to road-test my head and shoulder positions without guarding my neck. I'm feeling somewhat hopeful about that.
 
Real practices not happening - looks like the hall is booked for some sort of function over Easter. Means I will be reduced to a 3 meter square space in my art studio for the next few days.... still, there is a mirror, so reverse turn, whisk, wing combos will fit. There is also a passageway that I can a feather and three step into... oversways, umm, sure there are more I can think of:cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Dance Ads

Advertise on Dance Forums Reach dancers, teachers, studios, event organizers, and dance-friendly brands. View ad options
Back
Top