Happy New Year!
Since many of us have taken a
holiday break, I thought the first post of 2015 ought to be about getting back
into the swing of things dance-wise. Sure, many dancers work during the holidays- and I am one of them- but
still, all that un-structured downtime, studio holiday closures and…well, yeah…
all those sweet treats we’ve indulged in do take their toll! You show up for class,
rehearsal or a show and mentally, you’re rarin’ to go, but the next day you
feel like you’ve been run over by a truck. Why? It’s because you’re a dancer living in a body that- even if it’s only been a few days- has
gotten used to sitting at a table swathed in a cozy fleece onsie munching on leftovers and drinking booze!
Of course, this doesn’t only
apply to the holidays… you could be getting over an injury, illness, or maybe
you’ve had a surgery- or a child! In any case, bouncing back after being
sidelined for a while ( even a little while) might not be as easy as you thought it was going to be.
Here are some ideas that might make the
transition a little easier for you.
Go Easy At
First
By that, I mean cut yourself some slack… but I
don’t mean slacking off! Acknowledge the fact that you haven’t trained for a
while and take things slowly. Whether you’ve been gone for a few days or a
few weeks or months, ease back into dancing. Your brain thinks it can do what you were capable of, and your muscle memory
probably does too- but your physical body might not exactly be down with that
concept…yet. Test the waters a little; you
definitely don’t want to be so gung-ho that you injure yourself in the process
of trying to prove yourself.
If you’ve been out because of
an injury, make sure you’ve followed your doctor’s orders to the letter. If you were prescribed physical therapy, make
sure you’ve completed your course before
you even think of returning to class or performing.
Any medical restrictions
that have been placed on your dancing due to injury are there for a reason, and
that reason is to insure you are healthy enough to continue your dance practice!
Prepare Yourself Physically…And Emotionally
Be sure to warm up
completely- this should be your regular M.O. anyway, but many of us just kinda
skip over this process, because it seems so tedious.
It’s not.
Warming up is integral to being a healthy dancer, as
is cooling down- especially after you’ve taken a break! Maybe you need a longer warm up than you did previously. If so, go with it. Remember, even a scant few days out of the game
can make a big difference, so do some light cardio before stretching- your
tight tendons and lazy, underworked muscles will thank you profusely!
Emotional preparation is in
order right now too. That means accepting your situation- no guilt, no shame,
no little inner voice cutting you down cause you can't shimmy or turn, gained
a few pounds or don’t have the stamina to last as long as you did before you took some time off. Now’s the time to be your own cheerleader, not
your worst critic! You want to motivate- not denigrate- yourself back to work.
Remind yourself that it can often be
frustrating as you return to peak condition, so be gentle on yourself emotionally. Whose the meanest boss in the world? You are.
Fire that slave driver and have your own personal Human Resource Department
hire a compassionate coach who can see your potential and help you get back
into fighting shape in a positive way, ok?
Work Hard…But Work Safe
When you return to your “regularly scheduled
program”, do the absolute best that you can, but do it safely. It’s always better to
err on the side of caution than push your boundaries a little too far.
Remind yourself that this situation will change soon. Allow your body to re-familiarize itself with your dance
practice. Remember, our muscles don’t
listen to reason. If you over-do it, the only way they know how to protest is
by shutting down…going into spasm, or (yikes) getting strained or torn. Let them know whose boss, but baby them! Soon,
they’ll once again be your obedient servants.
Last but definitely not least, remind yourself
that your situation is temporary, it will
pass…and you’ll be back to where you were sooner than you thought you’d be!
#
Back by popular demand!
The outrageous “One Zill Up” tee
features a universally understood
symbol…driving the point home with a
finger cymbal!
The black
short-sleeved shirts are 100% soft ring-spun cotton jersey , with a slim fit
for a feminine silhouette and a tear-away tag.
Available in women’s MEDIUM, LARGE & X-LARGE.
$20.00 plus postage & handling here:
…And while you’re
at it, get your signed copy of The Belly Dance Handbook: A Companion For The
Serious Dancer
 |
| Photo and graphics by Maharet Hughes |
Posts
