![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Edit: I'm glad nobody commented on this yet, because I forgot what I most meant to say: what I hate about gymnastics is the incessant thudding and pounding. Probably half of this is because I'm bad at working with velocity and momentum, but the other half is that I really don't like the shock waves rippling through my skeleton. It's not that I'm getting old either - I've always preferred for my exercise to not hurt me on a regular basis. I'm weird that way.
Gymnastics tonight: front handsprings down a wedge ("the cheese"), and working on tick-tocks. Mostly, that meant I was falling from a handstand to a bridge but with my feet landing on panel mats, then awkwardly walking it in and trying to kick back over my hands -- like the end of a back walkover. I got all the way down to 2 mats thick, which is a lot better than ever before -- and rather close to zero -- and if I'm motivated, this is also something I could do at the regular gym with the help of an aerobics step. I stopped doing these last week after feeling a most fascinating stretchy/crackly feeling through my sternum and front ribs, but everything seems all right again now. Must have been something loosening up.
There is now a place I can get to when I stand on my hands -- er, which is to say I now sense "on my hands" as being a place I can be, that has area, rather than just a point I pass through on my way over. When I'm kicking or pushing up, what I'm thinking these days is put yourself there!. According to the teacher, who I'll call Moses, I should be thinking something more like squeeze your butt to avoid piking!, but hey, one thing at a time.
I walked for about five miles in the lovely temperate air yesterday. Today I made a new friend. Tomorrow?
Gymnastics tonight: front handsprings down a wedge ("the cheese"), and working on tick-tocks. Mostly, that meant I was falling from a handstand to a bridge but with my feet landing on panel mats, then awkwardly walking it in and trying to kick back over my hands -- like the end of a back walkover. I got all the way down to 2 mats thick, which is a lot better than ever before -- and rather close to zero -- and if I'm motivated, this is also something I could do at the regular gym with the help of an aerobics step. I stopped doing these last week after feeling a most fascinating stretchy/crackly feeling through my sternum and front ribs, but everything seems all right again now. Must have been something loosening up.
There is now a place I can get to when I stand on my hands -- er, which is to say I now sense "on my hands" as being a place I can be, that has area, rather than just a point I pass through on my way over. When I'm kicking or pushing up, what I'm thinking these days is put yourself there!. According to the teacher, who I'll call Moses, I should be thinking something more like squeeze your butt to avoid piking!, but hey, one thing at a time.
I walked for about five miles in the lovely temperate air yesterday. Today I made a new friend. Tomorrow?
no subject
Date: 2007-03-15 12:56 pm (UTC)So you got that going for you. Which is nice.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-16 11:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-15 12:59 pm (UTC)I should add that I'm an obsessive "cracker." Every joint imaginable. Nasty habit, that.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-16 11:35 am (UTC)Ha! Maybe I wouldn't enjoy that beer with you -- this is one of the few things that really bothers me. We'll have to go somewhere loud so I can't hear it.
I'm actually really happy to hear of the sternum thing. I'd never felt anything there before, so wasn't sure if I was coming apart or something. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-03-16 05:03 am (UTC)i just don't get it! any ideas, hints?
in other news, i figured out how to do a backwards roll into a handstand! :)
no subject
Date: 2007-03-16 11:31 am (UTC)handsprings -- forward ones, I assume? well, speaking as someone who still can't do them on the floor either, for real... it REALLY helps to do them on a trampoline, and/or with a harness bearing part of your weight, or on an incline (this last might be feasible without gymnastics equipment. find yourself a grassy hill and fling yourself down it!)
tips on the things I always have to keep in mind:
* big lungey step going in - think FORWARD momentum and be going forward as much as you can
* put hands down securely, then kick the back leg up HARD
* keep your head back and keep staring at your hands for as long as possible. this actually helps you get back on your feet.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-17 11:54 pm (UTC)thanks.