Lessons 3 & 4

I have been distracted with studying for my up coming remedial massage exam and intensive practical this weekend and haven't made the time to blog, sorry.

This Saturday I had my third lesson, and once again I came early to attend the sculpt and stretch class beforehand. I am finding the conditioning part of the stretch class (while inwardly I hate it and outwardly I fake serene... poorly), is really effective. Karla really likes us to do the 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. routine. Starting with five minutes of a set group of movements, then four minutes, and so on working our way down to the last one minute - the best one minute in my opinion because I know it's nearly over.

Each time I feel I'm getting fitter, even though I'm only doing this twice a week it seems to be really effective. The stretching part though is where I've found extraordinary results. Each session just builds on itself and the changes in my classmates flexibility and in my own is just wonderful. I find the key for me is to just relax into the stretches. I think it's natural when you're in a group of people you don't know to be muscularly tight and poised, but taking that deep breath and focusing on relaxing the muscles gives such a better result.

In the course class I was mentally all over the place today. I hadn't reviewed the choreography from the week before which is a nice way of saying I had bugger all recall. Could not for the life of me recall the new choreography we'd learned. I know I wasn't alone, but I found it particularly frustrating because that's one of my strengths, well that's what I think is one of my strengths. Then the new choreography was added and I just fell into a bigger muddle.

There was plenty of going over of the movements and plenty of run throughs, but my brain just seemed to block any attempts at me committing it to memory. I guess there will days like this so have to suck it up and cope. I left the class feeling good physically, but also mentally smacking myself up the head.

As I was saying earlier I have an intensive massage therapy weekend coming up. This means I can't attend my usual Saturday's lesson. As luck would have it the usually fully booked Tuesday night class had some ladies unable to make it. I hurriedly snapped up a spot and did lesson four last night with a group of ladies I didn't know at all. Renee was our instructor and the class had a bit of a different feel to it compared to the Saturday class.

I think Saturdays, because it's morning, everyone is quite bright eyed and raring to go. There seems to be more noise. Tuesdays was just as active but maybe because it 's more towards the end of the day it was certainly quieter to a degree.

The lesson focussed heaps on the dance choreography, which I really needed after last Saturdays bungle, and upcoming tricks we'd need to do further into the level one dance. There was a lot of going over and practice, practice, practice. I did so much pole climbing that towards the end I couldn't hook my shin on the pole anymore, the small bit of flesh on the shin bone was screaming. I tried and on both sides but just couldn't do it for the wonderful pain it caused. I was quite excited by this and how super tender it felt, maybe, just maybe I'll get my first bruise?

Jolie, one of the pole studio's instructors in training was observing the class last night. Afterwards we were just chit chatting and she was telling me about her plans to become qualified and what was involved. Without seeking it (yes, I can be a bit of a compliment whore) Jolie said some incredibly encouraging things to me about my movements. Without knowing it she changed the whole outlook of my day.

I will make the confession to you now that when I study I binge on sugary junk. It's a sick association that I have but it is something I've always done.

Sugary poison, yeah, I know.

When I was younger my body coped, now it acts like I've poisoned it: shakes, headaches, nausea, even depression of sorts okay more like a foul mood. After finishing off half a caramel and nut tart and half a can of whipped cream in a can, and then trying to cram all this information into my head, well I felt revolting. I knew I had to hit the pole, knew being active would make me feel better. And it did. But it was Jolie's words that had me bounding out of the gym walking on air. I came home chatty and chirpy, full of joy and an ego the size of my house. I showered and hit the books for three hours. This morning I can remember every single thing I shoved into my brain after class last night, I love you Jolie :)

See, poling and a few kind words can have such a ripple effect on what's going on in your life.

Now, if I'd only bruise!

Bruise... dammit!