Training - How is it going?

[QPO]

As this is generic is does not have to relate to ballroom.... I once heard a radio article discuss the way we train/learn to play a musical instrument and she told the story of children whos family could not afford to buy or hire instruments so they would only have access during a lesson at school. she encouraged those children that when they are home to visualize themselves playing see the fingering of they keys, think the timing etc. She found that those children when they picked up the instrument next in class did just as well as those that practiced.

On this basis I often do it also.  Visualize myself having to do a step or going through the routine.... I have found it helpful

[emeralddancer]

visualizing is good.

also I try to find things in the everyday in which to incorporate steps OR actively take moments (like someone takes a cigarette break) and do concentrated steps, especially in slow motion.

so like I am working on my posture and I go up and down the stairs. What this has done if I am in proper position (ie: head up, shoulders down, you know all the blocks aligned) is forcing me to work on balance. (you would be surprised that if you are in dance position many find it difficult to go up or down the steps .... we are so use to looking down or holding onto something.

or when I go to sit in a chair ... I do this again in a proper dancers position with the body blocks aligned and in slow motion sit. It is amazing what it does to build the core and really work those muscles. Sometimes I will hold it right before sitting. Balance. Also when getting up I concentrate on using the core muscles to work to get me up verses "pushing" myself up with the arms or leaning forward.

When walking in open spaces, I have resorted to doing chassis, or locks, or even heel turn.  (I am sure if people are around they think I am crazy but ... meh)

I try to do it in slow motion because I am trying to build control, balance, my core (AND not to "anticipate" and go ahead of my pro, bad habit) and shaping, ALSO in slow motion so I can feel what muscles are working and how, and how it corresponds into the action I am trying to execute. (THESE are my left brain analytical thinking moments ...but that is ok)

[elisedance]

fantastic em - its all dance time.... and yes, who cares what other people think...

[QPO]

I would love to have some coaching about personal control. When I get tired I just loose control over my own body. for Instance I will try to do a spin turn and then over balance and fall into the man...other times I am fine. I try to remember to be low but I am sure that I have come up....grrr not happy....back to the drawing board.

[SwingWaltz]

Last lesson felt like boot camp! LoL
Or the TV show "Biggest Loser" 

[Medira]

I would love to have some coaching about personal control. When I get tired I just loose control over my own body. for Instance I will try to do a spin turn and then over balance and fall into the man...other times I am fine. I try to remember to be low but I am sure that I have come up....grrr not happy....back to the drawing board.

How often have you precticed spin turns on your own without a partner there?  I found that when I started to learn how to do them, I was so focused on the partner and having him there, that I was relying on him to get me to where I needed to be.  Obviously, that wasn't what we wanted.  So, I started to do them on my own, without anybody attached, to figure out where I needed to be so that I could get there without anybody else there.  Once I had that set for me, the gentleman came back into the picture and while yes, there is a bit of adjustment that needs to happen to accomodate the other person's movement, I now knew how it felt to be able to do the move for myself, on my own balance, without having to rely on somebody else to get me there.

[QPO]

Yes that is something I do but not often enough. dancing in my own space without relying on him.....Back to the drawing board

[QPO]

perhaps that is why pilates is good for?

[elisedance]

maybe yoga more so, in particular the standing poses  - getting in control of your own ballance...

[QPO]

Now to find the time to do so....

[Lioness]

I need to take a couple of weeks off of classes to relax and destress. I am getting so frustrated with coach, and also at mum who wont take us to other studios because she thinks that the sun shines out of this one's nether regions.

[elisedance]

You are not going to convince her.  How about getting an established dancer to talk to her - preferably someone with a title?  But the secret is do not mention it, even if she knows that you were involved.  You have to give her the room to believe that changing coaches was her idea all along .

This goes under the general catagory of 'keep your eyes on the prize'.  BTW one of the best tools in leadershp of any kind ...

[QPO]

I need to take a couple of weeks off of classes to relax and destress. I am getting so frustrated with coach, and also at mum who wont take us to other studios because she thinks that the sun shines out of this one's nether regions.

I will have to try and speak with your mother...Pehaps she will listen to me. In a casual way of course.

[QPO]

Our training is going well and others are seeing improvements, still have a long way to do in relation to styling and heads. We are trying to keep lower, but we are breaking down the training sessions into peices and putting them together when we do the social dancing after the class. Happy with the progress

[Lioness]

I need to take a couple of weeks off of classes to relax and destress. I am getting so frustrated with coach, and also at mum who wont take us to other studios because she thinks that the sun shines out of this one's nether regions.

I will have to try and speak with your mother...Pehaps she will listen to me. In a casual way of course.

I'm not sure it will, but it's worth a try. Thanks.
She's just stuck on te idea that I don't have any more free time, when I do.