Lever Splits, How?

My best friend likes it when I send her lyra pictures with my cleavage on display. Here's the most recent interaction. She could not figure out how I got into this position. I'm meant to be learning lever splits. This is step 1.

Inspirational

This lady...man, I wish I could train with her. LOVE HER!

Deanne Love, behind the scenes

Check it out! Deanne Love has been instrumental in my hoop skills. I consider her my teacher, though we've never met. I really hope to meet her one day.

Hangin'

My PC got upgraded to windows 10 (fuck you, microsoft) and lost my movie maker. Until I get that up and running, no videos to upload, but here's a screenshot of my latest accomplishment. I've asked a couple times to learn this over the last year, but my teacher felt it was too soon. It requires a strong single knee cinch. She told me I'm only the second student she's taught this to. Yay me!

New Favorites

My teacher helped unlock the "secret" to french gazelle. I'd never felt secure enough to let go before. Also, this drop is badass. But hurts like a mofo.

Learned a kind of profile shoulder stand variation, like back arrow, which needs work, but has the potential to be one of my favorite moves!

Lyra Flow

Couple of fun sequences. Look! I'm an aerialist!

My Teachers

My lyra teachers, at their finest...

Satya (I call her Katie)

Aly
 

Pretty Hoops

These are from Saturday.

Pretty popsicle...and some hooping

Intermediate, baby

First official intermediate lyra class last night. Technically, I took the first class of the last unit in April, when the fundamentals teacher had an emergency, and the studio combined the fundamentals and intermediate classes. Since the teacher knows my skills, she just had me follow along with everything the intermediate students were doing. But I wasn't official. In fact, I had already been told I promoted...but not for that unit. I had to wait for this unit.

Yes, last night's class was all review. I'm totally OK with that. Popsicle is a fun move to practice. My wine glass looks so splitty. My momentum to ball could use some work. And my favorite dismount.

Silks Conditioning

I am a genius! I want to continue cross-training silks, it's a fabulous conditioning workout, but I'm tired of paying extra for classes, when classes are the exact same format for about the first hour. I've been attending silks classes long enough to have the conditioning part of class down. Straight arm hang/knee tucks, shoulder lockoff/L sits, hipkeys, ball inversions, straddle work, climbs, footlocks from the air (both basic and single). My private track subscription is valid for all apparatus that I'm trained on. So yesterday, I went to silks practice time. It felt exactly the same as class, only on my own. Boom! It was perfect.

I finished up the hour with a couple rounds of leg wrap. This is upper body intensive, which is why I like working on it. And with my improvement on footlocks in the air, I can get much higher off the ground. I look so cool up here.

straddle on top

Fantastic lyra lesson today! Of course, both run throughs of warmup, I had to catch my foot on the pullover. Darnit. I'm still very miss with this hit or miss mount.

Then this gem. I requested to learn it. When she was demo'ing it, I admit, I had my doubts. I was like, wait, I take it back, I don't want to learn this. We ran through it twice, both times I got into straddle from standing. It's an easier way to get into it, just fine. With the idea to work up to getting into straddle without my feet on the lower bar. Getting out of it is also scary. When I did it, she said she even had some intermediate 2 students unable to do that on the first try.

When she asked at the end if I wanted any pictures or videos, I thought about this, but getting video would require doing it again. Kinda funny how that works, to get a video, I had to brave the move again. But this time, I got into straddle without standing. Wahoo! And all the praise from the best teacher. I've had lots of dance, skating coaches. This gal is by far the best, most patient, most supportive. She never makes me feel like I'm wasting her time or annoying her.

Circles

Happy 4th! I've taken a few extra days off work, nice 5-day weekend. I can think of no better way to spend it than inside a circle.

Yesterday was lyra followed by flexibility private lesson. Flexibility is tough, y'all. I can see why it's ignored mostly. I can see why even weight training would be more appealing. Flexibility is a discouraging, slow, painful process. I just hope it's worth it.

I played around with this lyra sequence, on the low hoop.

And then today, I went hooping for a nice, long session. I tapped into some creativity to come up with choreography. I always feel more polished when I know what moves come next. Flow is an elusive bitch.

New Hoop

Learned a bit of a flow session and tried to make it my own. Yea, it's a bit clumsy. But I was having fun. Isn't mah new hoop so purty?!

Silks, again

I'm back with cross-training silks. I've been three times in the last few weeks. It really is a fabulous aerials conditioning workout. I don't have any aspirations of looking graceful up there. But I hope it helps with lyra. I am seeing progress with ball, less jumping, more control. I can finally hold my straddle (I mean, jumping up into it, spiderman pose, squeeze thighs together until I'm sure I have it, then spread 'em). Of course, now my teacher wants me to focus on stack. I'm not sure I'll ever get a good stack. I just feel there's too much body in my boobage/tummy area for my arms to properly pull and stack. I'd need too much bend at the elbows, which requires even more strength than straight arm. Show me a plus size aerialist doing a proper stacked straddle, and maybe I'll think differently.

But I can finally do a single foot lock from the air. This was elusive for so long because you have to hang on from each silks, without a wrist wrap. Thus my grip is extra tight and needs to be super strong. I didn't have the strength until now. It's not graceful. But I was able to do the full single foot lock series from a single foot lock in the air, so I'm higher up. And considering I haven't done this since Feb 1, I'd say not too shabby.

And then a basic foot lock from the air into my favorite simple pose.

Intermediate lyra classes start soon. I've been promoted, but I still don't believe I should have been. I plan to continue training silks, maybe on the weeks I don't have a private lesson for lyra.

Moving Along

I'm still in a lyra rut. There's so much I still can't do. Especially inversions. This bothers me muchly. I feel like I'll never get them without cheating/jumping. I start intermediate classes soon, and my anxiety is telling me, they're all gonna laugh at you! You know, on the inside. I don't believe anyone will actually say anything mean. They'll just think it, like how in the hell did this chick promote, she can't even invert properly.

I learned profile shoulder stand, transition to a deep man in the moon. It's quite fun.

Then as per usual on Saturdays, after lyra, I went hooping. With mah new hoop! Just arrived yesterday. I love it. It's 35" so a bit smaller than I'm used to. But the 37" was starting to feel a bit too big. Such a pretty color!

Oh and some backbendy progress from last night, attaching April's photo again.

4/24/18

6/29/18

Rachael Lust 2.0

Another Rachael Lust workshop last Saturday. This time, BREAKS! She's ahmazing at them. Me, not so much.

Pullover!

Pullover SUCCESS! I did it without catching my feet on the second warmup run through. Of course, not on video. I tried again like 9 or 10x with video, and nope. Still catching my foot. Until I tried once more, got an ugly version but still a success. And then this, a much cleaner version. Yay! I hope it stays with me so I can show my teacher in person at our next lesson.

Then I went hooping. I can't use my phone camera because it stops the music playing in my earbuds. So I use a regular camera but woefully did not have a good angle. Gah! But still, I can see how into it I am, how spunky I feel. There were moments of pure joy, losing myself in the music, in the flow.

All things Hoop

Is it fall yet? I swear, it was warmer inside the studio today than outside. And it's summer in the south. I was dripping sweat everywhere. And my favorite double tabbed hoop has been temporarily made into a single tabbed hoop for the current intermediate unit. I don't have a lot of experience on a single tab. It's a lot less stable, very shaky.

On Saturday, I went hooping. I finally unlocked windmill into 2- and 3-beat weaves and back again. It needs some smoothing out. And I'd like to get better at reverse weaves, too, to make it even more awesome. Check out my space! I love hooping in here.

Improvements

Wow, it's been a minute since I posted. I got stuck in a funk for weeks. Everything was upsetting me. I seem/hope to be coming through to the other side now. Saturday, I kicked butt. I went to lyra. Had a flexibility private lesson. And went hooping at my new gym, in the aerobics room. I'm allowed to use it when it's not already in use for class. I am STILL sore from Saturday.

First up, finally! An overhand shoulder lockoff. I never could hold this, I would drop immediately with no discernible hold. I would joke about, how can you improve on zero? I held this for like three mississippis. This may not be a big deal to a lot of people, but it's huge for me.

Check out my ball to top. It feels horrible. But it doesn't look that bad. I mean, it just looks like I need a slight foot catch. However, it FEELS like I have zero control. But it actually doesn't look all that terrible.

And splits in front is finally somewhere interesting. I think my quad flexibility is limiting me here because the foot pain was minimal, which was the barrier to this for so long. I should work on extending my arms and see if my foot stays in the hoop.

Backbends

Last summer, my lyra teacher recommended a fitandbendy video called stretch and strengthen. I was pretty diligent with it for many months, doing it once a week for a bit, then twice a week. Then three times a week for a few months. I burnt out on it. You can only listen to the same woman say the same things for so long before you crack. The last time I did this video in full was back in February. Since then, I have been doing some modified moves from the video but not the video in full.

Yesterday, I wasn't feeling well due to period issues. I decided the only workout I would do would be this video. I dunno, can you see improvement?

12/27/17

4/24/18

Yay, Flag!

Saturdays are for lyra.

Played around with this fun sequence, I was on the low hoop though. And I love the compliment a friend of mine says as she sees me in shoulder stand pike. Warms my dark heart...

I totally should use this pose in my next photo shoot...so pretty! 

Cruel Summer

I have been training hard for a few months, shoulder hooping and breaks, with my 32" hoop. It's a touch too small for my frame. But good for a challenge. Switching back to my 37" today, suddenly everything was so much easier. Had a fun session, got good and sweaty. Decided to film a bit at the end, totally freestyle. And except for a few sloppy bits, I'm pretty pleased with the performance. I wish I looked as good as I feel while hooping. Cuz I feel pretty fucking fantastic!

Flow

When lyra is cancelled, and the day is beautiful, one hoops. Some clumsy emo freestyle here. I can't tell if I look totally awkward or totally cool.

Having a Ball

Last night's lyra class was AWESOME!

Highlight of the evening was momentum to ball, without cheating. Check it, I did not catch my foot on the hoop. I wonder if the size of this hoop helped. It's a 38" single tab.

And then a new transition. I've been working on monkey rolls but can't quite get them. The teacher had me do momentum to stag seated directly into a "half" monkey roll (single hip hang). It was quite fun.

Also worked on gazelle in stag position. It's weird keeping that front bent leg, but check out my ball inversion. I'm getting more consistent with crossing my feet...but I still don't fit all that well under the hoop.

Finally, some free time. I did an "easy" sequence that turned out rather pretty.

Fundamediate Class

Lyra class last night was....interesting. The fundamentals teacher had an emergency. Instead of cancelling class, the intermediate teacher combined the two. There were four of us there for fundamentals and five for intermediate. The teacher lumped me in with the intermediate students. I basically had my first intermediate class.

New warmup. I rocked it. I mean, it has a pullover mount, and mine is still cheated. And then the dismount to shoulder lockoff, I cannot do. But otherwise, I did everything, I didn't do fewer reps of each exercise to make it easier. I rocked it.

This unit is about rolls. So we worked on mill circles and monkey rolls. Mill circles, I'm OK at. But how to make them more difficult, more fluid, by not looking down during the drop and keeping the legs straight. The aim is to flip back to seated in one motion, without much of a knee cinch at the bottom.

And then monkey roll. I literally just learned this last week at my private lesson. And by learned, I mean, was shown how to do it. I couldn't actually do it. This one is gonna take some practice. I couldn't get it last night, either. But inversions are the only thing I get upset over. Another student was struggling to get monkey roll, a legit intermediate student, she's promoted officially, and she's actually cussing and crying because she can't get this. Monkey roll. I shouldn't criticize someone upset over not getting a move, but I just can't see what the fuss is about. You've promoted. You can do your inversions. Everything else is just gravy. She looked young, tho, early 20s. Me and my 40 year old self.

Flag

Again, not much was going well for me at lyra last night. Performance prep took the hoop I was planning to use, my favorite. So I was left with a much higher, much bigger hoop (38"). I have short limbs, which makes the 38" awkward. And I found out another student I know promoted. Every student I know or have been friendly with has promoted in a year or less. I guess aerials IS easy. I'm just the dud for whom it's hard.

One thing went a bit well. Flag. I've seen this move done differently online with an overhand grip, but this is how my studio teaches it and thus, this is how I practice it. It's the first time I've been able to drop without touching the ground. A few more successful tries with the low hoop, and I'll be ready to try this on a regular hoop.

When nothing goes well, do the pretty

Nothing seemed to go well today. Ball. Pullover. Ball to top.

Here are some new things I've learned that are pretty. Shoulder stand pike. In this sequence. Video too large for blogger, so I loaded to youtube.

And splits behind with one hand. I meant to keep going in the above video but realized my hands were way too sweaty to attempt a one-handed anything. So I got down, re-chalked, and made this.

Monday Lyra

Monday lyra. I got video of the warmup. It changes with every intermediate unit (~14 weeks). I'm finally starting to like it, and it'll change next week. I liked the last one, too. Then it changed, and I didn't like this one and preferred to do the old one. I guess the next one, I'll hate it at first. Probably.

I think this warmup was instrumental in improving my profile straddle.

And then ball. This is the much higher hoop, so it's easier for me to get into position. Although this was the only successful attempt of the night. Others were the usual uncrossed feet and that awkward struggle to get one leg through then the next.

And then, some improvement on straddle back balance, felt more secure. I like the transition from shoulder stand into straddle back balance, but it felt even less secure than just sliding into it from seated. If ankle hang taught me anything, I'll get it eventually. I'm not so sure about inversions. But anything else, it'll just take awhile.

Saturday Practice

Another Saturday, another lyra...

Mermaid ON TOP

Lyra class last night. Gotta use these class passes up before they expire, the ones I bought for silks. But meh, silks. I'd rather do lyra.

There were only 5 of us last night, all about a similar level. So we all did the same warmup and worked on the same moves. Some skin the cats, my shoulders are sore today, trying to pause before touching down.

And a bit of this. Inside mermaid to the top. It's a little awkward to get into, definitely needs smoothing out.

Saturday

My favorite way to Saturday. Lyra. Sushi lunch. Hair did. In that order.

Funnily enough, my profile straddle is getting better than my regular straddle. Although I was able to do a few (bad) regular straddles today strict, with no hop, bending my legs then unfolding them, like I do in profile straddle.

At my private lesson on Thursday, my teacher showed me this to work on, to build up stabilizer muscles. I think the point is to eventually do a pike in shoulder stand. But I need to train the balance first. I'm doing fairly OK here.

I also am really loving momentum to ball. I prefer it over straight-up ball to the top. I guess the momentum helps me get into position. But look at that form, my toes nearly touching the bar in a swing! Badass!

And back balances. Is there anything better than feeling solid in a balance? Whether front or back. I just wanted to get on video how long I could hold this. Maybe I'll start timing myself and building up that time.

Some pretties...

Intermediate

Ack! My lyra teacher promoted me to intermediate classes. Well, with a caveat. The next unit that starts in April is quite difficult, and she thinks it would be better for me to wait until the July unit. I was sort of speechless. I was like, but wait I'm not ready. She said she feels I'm a very well rounded aerialist, quite strong, with a lot of strengths that some of her intermediate students don't have. So while yes, some of my inversions are cheated, while a lot of her students can do them cleanly, I can do them well enough to be safe in class. And she's not worried about anything I'll learn in intermediate classes.

We went through what I'm still struggling with that is technically needed for promoting. Pullover. Got on video with her spotting me a tiny bit. I need to practice, no longer trying to finish the mount at any cost (i.e., catching my feet) but instead focus on that moment of weightlessness with my legs in the air, trying to remember to pike. Legs to face!

Then a mini sequence from shoulder stand to straddle back balance (which didn't feel very secure, need to practice this quite a bit) into bird's nest. She commented after that she wants me to pay attention to my straddle mount when I watch this video. She thinks I have it and need to now train myself out of thinking I have to jump.

I totally just registered for the first intermediate class, July 16, when the new unit starts. I just want to see it in my dashboard, reminding me that I get to go to intermediate classes now! Well, starting in July...

Bit of Practice

Highlights from practice yesterday...
That angel roll twist to front lion. Definitely needs polishing.

And balances...

Fun Class

Lyra class last night was muuuuuuch better. I came prepared with some sequencing ideas, should the teacher ask us what we wanted to work on. But she also came prepared with new variations for us more advanced students to learn.

Fun sort of angel roll twist into front lion. I didn't get any video of this, I'll try Saturday. But it was fun. Funner on the double tab. I tried this on the single tabs, but I'm just not fully used to how single tabs wiggle, and it was hella awkward. Or it felt that way anyway.

Then this, vine climb roll with an extra roll. It's pretty fun.

And finally, gazelle to the top. I finally let go! And did it on the high hoop! I looked down at that crash mat and remember thinking, wow I'm high. I was trying not to hook my foot in the straps but still ended up with not such a pretty foot. Something to think about when practicing...

Final bit of interesting from the class...while I was waiting on the hoop for something, the teacher said to me quietly, how do you feel about promoting? I wanted to laugh in her face. I simply said, there's still so much I can't do. I told her I'm still catching my feet on pullover. My ball to top is still awkward. She did say the most important part of ball to top is coming out of it back to seated, which I pretty much have (except not so well in the above video). She said she'd talk to Katie about it, who's out of town right now on a modeling trip to Thailand. mhmm...I bet she forgets to talk to Katie about it, and there's nothing to worry about. The next unit starts in April, and it looks pretty hard. It has a pullover to the top. Even if she remembers to talk to Katie, I bet the answer is still, I'm not ready. Which I don't want to hear. It's like if you know you're fat, that's one thing. But if someone tells you to your face you're fat, that's hurtful. I don't want to hear the words, you're not ready, when I already know it.

My Stupid Back

So, yea, I hurt my back a little bit on Friday. Not with weights, like last time. Well, not free weights. My bodyweight did this. I held a shoulder lockoff, overhand grip, with my pullup bar and planned to descend slowly. Wahoo, I can hold this! sometimes. On that descent, something pulled and hollered. I had thrown my back out. I was face down in my bedroom doorway, unable to move. My husband had to step over me to get in the room to fetch a pain killer. Except I couldn't sit up to chase it with any water, so I waited until I could.

Much ice, heat, and a painkiller later plus a few hours, I was sore but no longer in pain. I am so over throwing my back out. I decided to skip lyra on Saturday. I ran some shopping errands instead, and yet I had to actively stop my car from driving to the studio.

I also skipped Monday night. I'm no longer feeling any pain or soreness. I just decided to hoop instead. I have a couple of hoop workshops coming up. I'm really trying to improve my skills with my 32" hoop. It's quite difficult coming from my 37". And that requires practice. Besides, this week is class week. I have class both Tuesday and Thursday. Someone ELSE is going to tell me what to train.

Tuesday's class was a bit of a downer. Yea, I'm grouped with the more advanced students. But the teacher kept asking what we wanted to work on to promote to intermediate. I'm nowhere near, still, promoting. Yes, I can do all my inversions, badly. They're not passable. These girls were virtually promoted. I wasn't. It's just easier to not want what you can't have. To realize I'll be forever stuck in this inbetween limbo of fundamentals and intermediate. Thank goodness for private track, or I'd be so bored only working on fundamentals moves.

But tofu hook was fun, super solid with just one hand. Just wish I'd remembered to point my toes...

Upside Down

New things! I love learning new things in my private lessons. Especially upside down things.

Straddle back balance transition into bird's nest. My teacher likes that I can do this slow and controlled.

And behold, shoulder stands! These are awesome. I thought they'd hurt. But my shoulders aren't bony, so they don't. Can't wait to play with these in practice. Not to mention, the cool transition to reverse lion at the end. That's fun!

Sad News

Saddest news ever! They're closing the satellite studio. I is sad panda. Everything will be uptown. Traffic, distance, big open space, lack of decent practice times. There's lots to like about uptown but also lots to dislike. I'll need to wait and see how the practice schedule lays out. Right now, there aren't a whole lot of evening times. And by evening, I mean after 7pm. That 5:45pm time they all like so much? Forget trying to drive into uptown at that time. Ain't happening.

Here are some videos of my mini sequences. It's a neat way to practice a bunch of moves at once while also working on stamina.

straddle, angel, dragonfly, reverse lion, transition to hip hang, front balance, transition to open delilah, release to single knee cinch, loud thudded dismount. oy.

profile straddle, arrow, pike arrow, tofu hook (awkward, needs work), vine climb rollover

straddle, gazelle, leg block, hip hang, transition to open delilah, pike, bird's nest, ankle hang, straddle dismount

Here's an attempt at momentum to ball with my grip outside the tabs.
It's supposedly harder there but easier at the same time. More room to fit through but a wider grip requires more lat engagement. It went well. I need to practice ball dismount to seated that way. I have tried before. I can't hold the lockoff, so my butt never makes it back to seated.
Followed by arch back, from my private lesson last week. This LOOKS easy to do. It's crazy hard. This is actually an improvement, ever so slight, over last week, but I cannot push the hoop out fully.

Ended session with some variations on front balance.

Idea

Quickie post re lyra. I had a FAB session today! Didn't take any video cuz this teen was in her first silks class, her father was there in the "waiting" room. And this studio is so small, the couch is just a couple feet from my lyra, so I kinda felt on display. Was he watching me every moment? Naaaa. But I do feel like he was watching me a bit. Along with his other teen daughter sitting with him. It just made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

But I had a genius idea how to structure my practices. Instead of just a long list of moves to practice...mount, do a move, dismount...I broke them up into 4-5 move mini sequences. Hit nearly the whole list of moves I'm working on lately. I felt so strong and fluid moving around the hoop. Now it's nap time...

Praise

Does it ever get old? I say no! I'm so far out of danger of ever getting a big head. Hearing little bits of praise is just lovely. My teacher told me I had strong legs and also pointed out I have a strong core. I'd heard this from my derby coach, too. I'm like, how can you tell someone has a strong core? I certainly can't tell if mine is strong. But it was nice to hear.

We worked on a gamut of difficult stuff mixed with some easier stuff. I'm getting better at crossing my legs in ball inversion (under the hoop). I learned ball basically from silks. So no "lyra feet" necessary. Now I'm having to retrain my body to cross my feet in order to fit under the hoop.

Ball to the top felt better, higher. I still have to massively catch my foot. But the negative ball tucks are helping. Just keep practicing.

Off Camera

I've had quite the rough week. No aerials. Saturday was so warm, I hooped outside. I felt amazing. I took video. Like, this is awesome, my skills are awesome, this video I get to watch will be awesome. And I'll post it to my blog.

I watched it. I didn't like what I saw.

Nope. Ugh. I was disgusted with both my skills and my body. It plagued me all week. So...until I can watch myself without thinking dark thoughts, I'll just stick to hooping off camera. It should matter most how it feels. Logically, I know this. The heart isn't always logical.

Momentum to Stag

Yes, I practiced lyra four days this week. It's still a bit much. I was super pooped today. But managed to be a bit productive.

I give you, momentum to stag. I learned this Tuesday. Worked on it again Thursday. Today, I got my foot through without touching the hoop. It's pretty exciting!

And I worked on negatives with ball to the top. Get into ball position, untuck just a bit like I'm starting to dismount back to seated, tuck back up. I figure this will be the best way to get my body to learn that tuck. grrrrrr

So Much Progress

Rockin' ankle hang. It barely hurts now, way below my personal pain threshold. At one point, I was starting to tell myself this might just be a move I wasn't meant for, that I had super sensitive feet. Not anymore!

Then another to the top move, front lion. It's getting less scary up there. I don't feel the need to use the low hoop as a crutch. Plus, this hoop doesn't swing out.

My favorite bit of class is hearing all the comments on my videos that I didn't hear while actually doing it. I look like a "beautiful mermaid...a beautiful lion mermaid." Too cute.

I'm seeing so much amazing progress in my skills just this year alone, it's overwhelming. My ball to the top may still not quite be showing improvement, but you know what? I don't care! (Well, I DO care, I plan to work on it diligently. I have a lot of hope that I'll get it eventually. I just don't have it yet.)

Ankle Hang

This blog knows I've been working hard at ankle hang. Last night was the first ever hold, no split second hold for a screengrab. I wish I held it longer, I could have. The pain was tolerable. But I think I was just stunned.

And also, world's most awkward ball inversion...might be improving. But still, hella awkward.
p.s. the girl behind the laugh in the video? she's just as cute as her laugh.

Tofu Hook

2018 has been the year of fabulous firsts. I'm gonna get spoiled. Eventually I'll hit another plateau. But right now, I'm just having a lot of fun with all these firsts.

First ever tofu hook. I've never been able to do it one-handed before. Until now.

And then I worked on this sequence. I built in a bit of rest after arrow. I need more stamina. And I flubbed ball to the top of the hoop a bit. I was tired. I had run through this sequence a couple times already off camera. I should work on sequencing more, to build stamina in the hoop.

Aerial Photo Shoot

Lessons learned:

• There's no rush. There will be plenty of time for all poses, even to re-shoot them if need be.
• Point those toes! There's one photo below with a lazy foot. It bothers me.
• I look amazing!

Multi-Lyra

A couple weeks ago, I had a multi-apparatus week (lyra, trapeze, silks). This week has been a multi-lyra week. Class on Tuesday. Private lesson on Thursday. And practice today.

Little warmup routine including skin the cats. Look how much better my straddle is! And timed single knee cinches, I'm trying not to allow myself to push off the floor when I need to bail. Just crunch up to grab the hoop. And skin the cats, wow that's some kinda shoulder workout!

Then I tried momentum to ball. Look at my profile straddle! That slight pause in position. Yayness!

And some beauties...

Polerskating

I would totally try pole dancing if I could do it on roller skates!

Momentum to Ball

Holy shit, you guys! I did momentum to BALL! This is a game changer. I had the slightest foot catch. I'm OK with that. I feel AHmazing!

In addition to that in my private lesson, we worked on gazelle to the top (no pictures). I let go with one hand. I wasn't ready to fully let go. Having one hand still on the straps, it still made the prettiest of shapes looking at myself in the mirror. Hopefully on Saturday, I'll get some nice video. And we worked on skin the cats. Keeping the pike position all the way to the floor with control. It's super intense, and I'm gonna be super sore. I hope to also get more video of this on Saturday.

Best private lesson ever! I say that a lot. But they really are. If I could rank this one a 6, I would...

Night of Firsts

Happy Mardi Gras! I went to lyra class. Terrible of me to say, but it's nice not being among the worst in class anymore. I get grouped up with the best. There were two official intermediate students in class.

Lots of firsts last night. Got to try "baby" skin the cats. This is difficult to describe. Imagine hanging upside down in pike position and bringing your feet to the floor. So you end up in a sort of reverse shoulder hold. I'm super sore today in my shoulders, probably because of that.

I'm also bruised all along my inner thighs. From vine climb. I had that flexibility breakthrough on Saturday. Last night, we took it a step further and did a kind of roll over the hoop. Gotta watch out for your lady bits here. Yowzas!

Yet another first, gazelle to the top. The double tabbed hoop swings like crazy. Just look! It swings in both directions. I don't yet know how to stop/minimize that happening.

Crescent Moon

Flexibility breakthrough, for me. I've never been able to hook my foot over the hoop before in this position. It always felt so awkward. I'm excited for this progress.

In action, with some lean out on the high hoop for the first time. It's a bit terrifying way up there. One of the terrifying bits is getting my hands from inside the tabs to outside, as double tab hoops tend to sway out. So I just started with hands outside the tab. Got into position and came down, no dramatic arm releases. Yet.

Lyra Straddle Conditioning

Some of these I already work on, but some of these are new ideas for me to incorporate. This gal is just delightful.

First up, general conditioning on lyra:

Next, conditioning for straddle:

Trapeze, part deux

Took my second class. This is an interesting apparatus. But I don't love it. It's like a weird lyra. And when I'm waiting for my turn up on it, I'm wistfully gazing over at the lyra section, wishing I could be over there. I think I'll just stick to my lyra classes and some silks for conditioning.

My unconventional size

Hooray for unconventional! Represent a new paradigm of athleticism. Can I get an amen?

Whatever your size or weight might be, don’t let that sabotage your goals and dreams. If I quit every time I realized that my body seemed unconventional to what I wanted to achieve, I wouldn’t be where I am. Don’t think it doesn’t cross my mind...but I remember what is conventional and what isn’t is made up by the messages around us. If I allow those messages to end my aspirations then I’ve given up my power, bought in and become a participant in the machine that kills many dreams. We must go against the grain, set new precedence and tell a new story. My size won’t be my demise and stringent ideals won’t stop me from representing a new paradigm of athleticism. I hope you will join me in this movement. Tag your sweaty, “unconventional” kick ass images with #bigfitgirlmovement —we are in charge of our lives, no one else. . PS: you can still use the code FLASH to our next Unleashed program and get $30 OFF (link in bio) . Gloves by @societynine / top by @underarmourwomen / pants by @nikewomen #plussize

A post shared by Louise Green (@louisegreen_bigfitgirl) on Feb 6, 2018 at 10:31am PST

Silks Straddle Conditioning

Since I'm allowed to work with the silks during lyra practice time for straddle and ball, I think I might incorporate some of these into my practice. The straddle on silks is much like profile straddle on lyra.

Lyra in the Sun

ahhh, lyra in the sun

Single Foot Lock Sequence

What's this? Flamingo Arabesque no longer hurts? Well, technically it hurts, but it's way below my threshold now. The data could be called pain.

I give you, the entire single foot lock series. Supported bridge into unsupported bridge into flamingo arabesque into starfish into knee hang. I can't wait until I master single foot locks from the air; I'll be able to do this whole sequence much higher.

Couple more highlights from the evening. My knees to chest during warmups are more like the advanced knees to armpits. I'm even getting a slight tuck upward. So during ball flows, I attempted to get a higher shoulder lock off (combo mini pullup with mini jump) and let my feet dangle. I had to swing a bit for momentum but got up into ball that way, without using the floor.

And now, my week has been Lyra on Monday, Trapeze on Tuesday, Silks on Thursday.

Cameo

Cameo! This was last Thursday, I'm in the back on lyra while this person is on trapeze. I love a little stealth cameo that I wasn't expecting. And yes, I'm totally stalking this girl. I know her. I don't think she knows me. Weird? yea, probably. But she's the one with the public insta.

Shin splits! Yes they do hurt ☺ but its too fun to resist! . . . #trapezeaerialist #trapeze #itsatrap #trapqueen #queencity #aerialbeauty #AerialCLT #aerialantics #aerialistsofig #charlottenc #circuseverydamnday

A post shared by Katie Vanscoy (@katievanscoy) on Jan 25, 2018 at 7:28pm PST

Personal Space

Handy new use for my hoop!

Trapeze

So...lyra class last night was FULL! I've never seen that happen. It's January. There are resolutioners about at nearly every gym. But I was all set to do some kind of aerials. Should I go to lyra practice again, two days in a row? Should I go to silks class? Oh wait, I've been wanting to try trapeze. I think the universe is telling me it's a good day to try.

The teacher says this is the scariest move. She teaches it on the first class and then makes it part of the warmup, to diminish the fear. Smart. But it is a little scary. I refused to let go with both hands.


I tried ball. I couldn't flex my feet to get under, so I had similar awkwardness to ball on lyra. Check that dismount, though. I bring my feet to the outside of the bar and hold that tuck for a moment.

Opposite

Funny how opposites attract. If Saturday's practice was one of the worst ever, Monday's was one of the best. Everything was just clicking and going well. I'd give this one a 5.

I did some work to the top. I don't like ball to the top nor do I like using my usual momentum up into arrow to the top way up here because the hoop swings too much. Not yet, anyway.

Worked on ball. It's easier on a super high hoop. But it's coming along with the medium height hoop. I'm still super awkward trying to fit. I think it's because my ankles aren't crossing properly in time. My shins are super bruised.

More timed single knee cinches. I'm counting in my head, one-one thousand, two...by 10, I'm done and need floor assist to get back in.

I stood up! Way up high! I'm trying to baby steps into sail. I'm not ready for sail that high. I've only ever done it in the low hoop. But if I can get comfortable with the view up there, trust I won't fall, maybe one day, I'll turn around in the straps.

Break Battle

I've met both these ladies...they're awesome!

#breakbattle with the best 👑 @rachael_lust ❤️ 🔈sound on 🔈 Getting to know Rachael was one of my favorite parts of @hawaiihoopretreats ❤️ I have so much love and respect for this incredible woman! Counting the days until we see each other again at both @spinsanityflowdown and @hawaiihoopretreats 2019 🌈🤙👯 #youcanhoopwithus #doyouevenhoopbro #hoopfriends #britneyhandbeyoncehand #indepthhoopretreat #hoopers

A post shared by Morgan Jenkins (@missmojangles) on Jan 29, 2018 at 10:42am PST

Oops

Yesterday was full of bad emotions, melancholy, catastrophic thinking. And I think I know why. Unfortunately, due to uncontrollable circumstances (i.e., I'm an idiot), I only got in two runs this past week. I have learned, painfully, that I need at least three. Four might only be needed during shark week. Five is not necessary. But three is the minimum.

So...I did a run today. And some hooping, shoulder breaks/paddles drills. And some L-sits with my pullup bar. Take that, depression!

How was practice?

Gonna start ranking my lyra sessions, on an emotional scale.

1. Worst ever. Want to quit altogether. Nothing, and I mean nothing, went well.
2. Bad session, not much went well, but can acknowledge that it's just one bad practice.
3. Neither good nor bad, just a workout.
4. Good session, lots went well, feeling decent about my skills.
5. Best session ever! I ♥ Lyra!

Today...was a 1. I'd give it a zero, if I could.

Lyra Class

So...I just didn't feel like going to silks last night. Instead, I thought, hey, I'll go to lyra class. There's a relatively new teacher at the uptown studio. I know her, I've been in practice time with her, but never taken a class with her. I may have anxiety at the idea of taking silks with any other teacher besides the one I currently take with. But lyra? I kinda like that I've taken classes with all the lyra teachers they've had. There have been three. This is the fourth. (and she was awesome!)

And I'm so glad I went! Seriously, I know I'm not supposed to compare. But my skills have dramatically improved since summer, when I sort of realized that classes were bad for my mental health. And I wasn't the worst! (That sounds terrible of me. But when you're constantly the worst, it's distracting. When I'm not the worst, I can buckle down and focus on my shit.)

Class was no picnic, either. I'm hella sore today. Even my elbows are a little achy. I've been doing a lot of pullup bar work at home. I think I might skip today. I wouldn't want to risk an overuse injury. I've never had achy elbows before. (It's achy in the pit, not in the knob, so it definitely just feels like muscle soreness.)

Toward the end of class, I had been paired with a former silks teacher, ergo, she's super strong. Since our sheets were pretty much marked off, the teacher gave us a sequence to work on. It was long, too. I wish I'd held each position longer, but I was just trying to remember what came next. It was nice having a fellow student's support. Even in single hip hang, which is my personal favorite, she hates it. When it was her turn, she's hanging here, looks over at me, and says, I do it for you. Then the face. The face of, wow this hurts. Yea, single hip hang can really hurt. I've done it so much, I feel nothing anymore. I don't have to grit through the pain because there is none. Anymore. I should stress anymore. Because it used to really fucking hurt.

hashtagtruth

Breathtaking

le sigh....

On Top

My private lesson went awesome. Did all the hard things. Even got to show my teacher my ball inversion. I was actually able to cross my ankles and look less awkward pushing through. Even still, I was tucked for awhile getting my legs through, and my teacher commented that I was up there awhile. It's tough to hold that tucked position whilst shoving my legs through the tiny space.

We worked on clock splits and inverted prow splits, without knee cinch. I can't do the splits. So my top leg can't straighten. I felt awkward. But the angle from the video looks nice. She also showed me lean out. Not an exciting name. But it's pretty.

Sound of Silence

Holy shit. Chills. I got literal chills. This is quite possibly the best cover ever made. And I just adore this pair.

Ball!

I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?

I'll choose. First, the bad news. That kids' dance troupe was occupying way too much of the atrium space. I bailed on hooping today.

The good news? The greatest news. I did a ball inversion (under)! Like sorta proper. Not catching my foot. Except I don't fit so well in the space. It was a little awkward trying to figure out how to fit through, but I did it! (and really banged up the top of my left foot in the process...it's bruised and tender.)

Do the Thing

I do love me some caviar. Wish me luck, y'all. I'm heading to the atrium tomorrow for more hooping in public! It's really the only way to get over my fear. oy

Tribe

I've met many friendlies at my aerial studio. Friendlies is a word I came up with in therapy. The English language doesn't seem to have a word for someone who's not quite a friend but not quite an acquaintance, either. I meet a lot of people who are friendly with me. And a lot of pain in my life has come because I assumed they were friends.

I hear a lot of folks at my studio refer to the people as their tribe. Thus far, I haven't felt that. There is no tribe for me. But maybe one day. So far, no one has been able to handle even my lightest dark moments. They immediately shut me down with something pollyanna positive. It's typical of most humans. Most people cannot handle the dark. I live in it. So I know they couldn't really handle my truth.