Sluggish feeling

[ballroomdancertoo]

Before I get started with lessons, I feel very sluggish as if my body does not want to cooperate. Has anyone have this feeling and what have you done to remedy it? I was thinking of that 5 hour energy drink that's in a small little bottle.

 

[Kits]

The five hr energy I think is not the best/healthy choice. I do feel the same way before I start a lesson. What I do is stretch, walk around a bit, drink water or vitamin water and eat some fresh juicy fruit like an orange or watermelon slices or eat a protein bar. Eating protein will help give your body the energy it needs. Take it from a Daughter who's mother used to be an Aerobic Instructor for 7 years.

 

[waltzgirl]

Well, I do usually have a diet Pepsi open during my lesson and sip it when the music is being changed, etc. The caffeine does help a bit with endurance (started doing it after I read a study about it). Being well-hydrated before starting to dance is also very important.

But stretching is what really gets my body ready to dance.

 

[fascination]

I practice half an hour before my lessons.. and I also drink an unsweetened iced tea before my lessons...you are bound to feel some sluggishness before you get rolling

 

[j_alexandra]

LGS

the best pre-lesson and post-lesson fuel evah.

Just ask sam. She'll be glad to tell you all about it.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

Before I get started with lessons, I feel very sluggish as if my body does not want to cooperate. Has anyone have this feeling and what have you done to remedy it?

I've had it and my solution was to get to the studio half an hour early and warm up.

If that didn't help, I either needed more sleep or needed more food - but neither right before the lesson.

 

[Linda J Schlensker]

I would also look at my normal body rhythms. Some of us have a low energy period in the afternoon when a nap seems like the ideal option. It's part of a normal cycle. If your lesson is scheduled during your low, it would make more sense to schedule it at a different time. I find that listening and moving to high energy music can help me as does happy conversation with a friend.

 

[samina]

LGS

the best pre-lesson and post-lesson fuel evah.

Just ask sam. She'll be glad to tell you all about it.

yep. any simple LGS, or the young coconut-goji variety i know that JA is a bit addicted to, haha.

using same to get rid of my own sluggishness.

 

[ireniecat]

I second the advice about getting early to warm up and stretch. And also make sure you are well-hydrated throughout the day. Just chugging a bunch of water right before the lesson won't help.

 

[ballroomdancertoo]

sorry cant figure out what LGS is.........

 

[j_alexandra]

sorry cant figure out what LGS is.........

Live Green Smoothie. google it. amazing stuff.

I also get to my lesson early to stretch and warm up, just get the body moving. helps with sluggishness.

 

[danceronice]

I second what Linda said--think about how you are generally. Despite not being a "morning person" I can do early morning or late evening, but am pretty much useless mid-morning. I just hit a mental slump no matter what I'm doing.

 

[Piggles]

What I do is stretch, walk around a bit, drink water or vitamin water and eat some fresh juicy fruit like an orange or watermelon slices or eat a protein bar. Eating protein will help give your body the energy it needs. .

+1 I'm midway through my third trimester and still dancing vigorously because I do all of the above. After a day at the office, I'm usually feeling a little tired before my lesson. But once I've had a healthy snack (usually fruit), hydrated, and got my circulation going then I can take on the world!

 

[kathyt cupcake]

+1 I'm midway through my third trimester and still dancing vigorously because I do all of the above. After a day at the office, I'm usually feeling a little tired before my lesson. But once I've had a healthy snack (usually fruit), hydrated, and got my circulation going then I can take on the world!

P: Awesome that you're dancing in third trimester.

I nth the recommendation to get there earlier and warm up so that you're ready to go by the time lesson starts. One of my regular running friends said that the first mile is always the hardest and I agree (especially when it's cold outside).