Progress...

I'm feeling really good this week.  I'm seeing definition in my arms that I've never seen before and definition in my abs that I haven't seen in a long time.  

I had some minor setbacks this week, due to a strained gluteal muscle; but now I'm back in the game!

In last week's aerial class, I performed a Georgia Twist into the beginning of the Cross Back Straddle.  I really have no way to describe this move other than twisty, bendy and more than a little painful.  It's been so humid that the silks were sticking my calves and shins rather than move down to my ankles like they are supposed to.  This led to me being stuck in an awkwardly painful mermaid position for a bit until I figured out how to get into the starting position for CBS.  Oy.  

I remember thinking as I was hanging in the air, doing my Double Dance Wrap for Marionette, that I've come so far in my upper body strength.  I can do moves now that I only drooled over when I was first beginning.  That said, I've still got a ways to go.  I've only been able to do the CBS once, so I'm taking measures to further strengthen my core.  There will be copious amounts of crunches, pilates, and yoga...And an insane inversion move that my instructed tortured me with last night (but I love her for it).

(As I was typing this, I pulled a SILVER HAIR OUT OF MY HEAD!  ERMAHGERD!  WTF?!  WHERE DID THAT EVEN COME FROM?!)

So, I'm not a super-amazing-fantastically-wonderful-aerial-artist yet.  BUT!  I'm getting closer every day.  I'm going to keep doing my bastardized pull-ups, and my ab exercises, and lifting weights, and I'll get there.  I've come a long way in just four months, and I'm pretty damn proud of myself.  

Conquering the Crossback Straddle

Last night's aerial class was extremely gratifying.  After three months of aerial class, I have finally conquered the Crossback Straddle.  Combine that with performing Double Dance Wraps in the air successfully on the first attempt and performing the Marionette for the first time, and you had one happy pixie.

Combine that with dropping 6 of the 15 pounds I have left to shed, and I'm feeling pretty spectacular.  (Granted, after last night, I feel more than a little like someone beat me with a stick, but that will pass!)  My body is getting stronger, I'm getting leaner, my belly is flattening out, and I'm having a grand ol' time.

What is "Active Recovery"?

Aerial class is working a completely new set of muscles for me.  In the past, my strength has been in my legs.  So, naturally, my aerial classes have left me a bit (read, extremely) sore the next day and even more stiff and sore 48 hours after.

In researching how to prevent this soreness, I kept seeing the term "active recovery".  The first question I had was "What is active recovery?"  Active recovery refers to a low-intensity method of exercise done either immediately after or the day after an intense intense workout.

Unfortunately, I don't have time after my aerial class to do any low-intensity cardio, because I'm getting in my truck right after class and sitting for 10 minutes on the drive home.  At that point, a low-intensity workout becomes pointless as my muscles are no longer warm.  

So, it looks like I'm stuck with option number two, which will be a low-intensity cardio routine the day after aerial (or any of my other conditioning sessions).  It's not ideal, but perhaps it will help with the lingering soreness on day 2 after a workout.  It's certainly worth a try.
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/tipsandtricks/a/activerecovery.htm

The following article mentions Self -Myofascial release (SMR), which is a method of self massage using foam rollers or tennis balls.  I use tennis balls and have found that massaging my forearms after an aerial class helps release the muscles.  I have been doing this for the last two weeks, and as a result, my forearms haven't been sore at all.
http://www.builtlean.com/2013/01/21/active-recovery-workout-ideas/   

I hope this helps those of you who may be experiencing the same problems I am.

Becoming a stronger me...

Aerial class is rocking my face off!  I have phenomenal instructor, and I love my classmates.  There are all kinds of people in the Beginner class from all different walks of life.  Some stay, some take one class and decide it's not for them, but whether they stay or not, we're all very supportive of each other.  

The best part about it is that I can tell I'm getting stronger.  Our instructor has us do conditioning exercises that target the muscles in the upper body.  (I spend half the class upside down in handstands, cartwheels, or doing bridges.)  

Before I started aerial I had very little to no upper body strength.  I've danced for more than half my life, which has led to having very powerful legs.  Arms?  HA!  There was a major difference from last week to this week; though, to be fair, I didn't go to the two classes before last week, and since then, I have added two additional workout days to my schedule.  But it makes a huge difference!  I'm at the point where if I'm having a difficult time with a wrap that I can usually hang in the air long enough to get into the position I need to be in.  It feels great to be making progress, however slow it might be.   

   

Learning to Fly

Those of you know me, might know that I was a ballet dancer for 16 years, and was in a modern dance company for a year.  Since then the closest I've been to a dance class is Zumba for Xbox Kinect.

It's been a dream of mine for 15 years to learn the art of Aerial dance.  The first time I saw an aerial routine was in a performance of Cirque du Soliel.  I was mesmerized.  The flow of the silks, the execution of the moves, everything was perfection, and it spoke to the dancer in me.

I'm finally living my dream.  I took my first aerial class last night, and let me tell, it is nothing to scoff at.  On some level I knew that it would be a lot of work, and there would be intense training involved.  However, I think a part of me assumed that since I was a dancer, it wouldn't be as difficult.  Wrong!

One thing my first lesson taught me was how seriously out of shape I am.  o.O  I do realize that I'm using a completely different set of muscles than I am accustomed to using, but geez!  I'm sore from the waist up.

I'm aware that it will get easier eventually, but in the mean time I have the circuit training exercises to do every other day to build my upper body strength.

Wish me luck, kids.  It's going to be one hellaciously fun ride!