Practicing alone
- Thread starter Pitt
- Start date
What do you guys do to motivate yourself? I take two privates a week and probably waste a lot of money because I don’t practice enough 
Ravenmoon
New Member
I know the feeling all too well. That's me during the summer when I'm away fromy my college team and partner. I haven't quite figured out just the perfect way to motivate myself, but music really helps for me. I put some dance music on my iPod and just go back to practicing my basic and the little things. It doesn't have to be perfect but I just try to keep my memory fresh is nothing else. This way too, I not really rusty by the time I go back to school.
delamusica
Active Member
When I practice alone, I don't do routines or steps so much as drill small aspects of movement.
mamboqueen
Well-Known Member
That should be motivation enough! I motivate myself by reminding myself that I don't want to repeatedly pay for the same information over and over. But honestly, I do enjoy it. Maybe you can try to mix it up so it doesn't become rote. Different dances, different days. Play around with different technical items....etc.
_malakawa_
New Member
i think we all have days like this.
i also pu some good music, and it cheers me up.
just don't do routine. because if you are a competing (it depends on which level you are), but i know that in my routine for some steps i need my partner.
so when i practice alone, i am more focused on basic steps and just to feel the music.
try to do basic steps with different feelings, different expression ..... i think it will help.
tanya_the_dancer
Well-Known Member
I like to have some music on when I practice. Somehow that motivates me to keep on going.
Standarddancer
Well-Known Member
I practiced alone for a while when I was between partners. I was taking regular private lessons though so when I practice I know what I was working on. I guess it's hard to practice when you are not taking lessons regularly so after a while you running out of things you can work on.
Schedule your practice times when you know there will be someone cute in the studio. Eye candy helps get me to make walk to studio when I'm not really feeling up to it. Then I HAVE to practice so I'm not just sitting there staring at her.
I don't think this would work for me...don't want to be known as the "creepy old guy"
cornutt
Forum Master
I don't think this would work for me...don't want to be known as the "creepy old guy"
I can just see myself going to one of the female instructors at the studio and saying, "How much would you charge to just stand around the studio for an hour so I have something to look at while I practice?" 
mamboqueen
Well-Known Member
I don't think this would work for me...don't want to be known as the "creepy old guy"
heh...good for you!
eace:
_malakawa_
New Member
great. :raisebro:
:rocker:
samina
Well-Known Member
Nothing motivates better than having a *reason* to achieve something. All you need is one good one. Must be gut-felt and not intellectualized. If "to save money" doesn't do it for ya, find what does. But IME, that's what puts the drive in overdrive to achieve a goal.
And certainly, music is the great caffeine- and calorie-free mood elevator.
And certainly, music is the great caffeine- and calorie-free mood elevator.
Nothing motivates better than having a *reason* to achieve something. All you need is one good one. Must be gut-felt and not intellectualized. If "to save money" doesn't do it for ya, find what does. But IME, that's what puts the drive in overdrive to achieve a goal.
And certainly, music is the great caffeine- and calorie-free mood elevator.
The lack of a strong goal could be my problem...I just want to improve my dancing...but I am not super ambitious about it
I'm with Sam. I sometimes use the money as a motivation, other times I think "What is the competition doing?" Other times I'll watch a video of me dancing or a one of my favorite pros dancing, that helps to remind me what I look like and what I want to look like and how much hard work is in between. Sometimes my motivation is to make my teacher's jaw drop at my next lesson to see how much progressive I've made. If you are still having trouble finding motivation, ask yourself "Why do I dance?" Odds are that answer can be turned into motivation.
I will do routines to keep them memorized or commit them to memory (I figure if I can't do it on my own there is no chance of doing it with a girl infront of me). Most the time I work on fundamentals. Maybe see if your instructor can give you something technical that you can pound at for a while (weight transfer in Rumba is my current one).
The other thing I do for gym workouts is I make myself go for at least 15 minutes, after that I can leave. However after 15 minutes, I'm in the groove and will usually work out a full 45 minutes. Good luck.
I will do routines to keep them memorized or commit them to memory (I figure if I can't do it on my own there is no chance of doing it with a girl infront of me). Most the time I work on fundamentals. Maybe see if your instructor can give you something technical that you can pound at for a while (weight transfer in Rumba is my current one).
The other thing I do for gym workouts is I make myself go for at least 15 minutes, after that I can leave. However after 15 minutes, I'm in the groove and will usually work out a full 45 minutes. Good luck.