Hayley Izzard

 9/10/13 - Focused a lot this lesson on trying to keep my core engaged. My thighs were hurting after running, and the bridge stretches we did especially helped with counter stretching my thighs to take the tension and tightness out of them. I did struggle to keep the core engaged. It has been quite a while away from doing Pilates so all the disciplines will have to be re-learnt, as it were. Jayne had to remind me a few times and when she did, I did really feel that connection. I also noticed that, from the previous acknowledgement of my arms being tense, I did struggle to keep my arms from tensing, have to consciously be made aware of them, but when I am aware, I can relax them. Bridge stretch: www.fitbie.com Tip: Try to keep stomach lifted and off the mat. Helps engage core. 

This Body, Space, Image score from the book by Miranda Tufnell and Chris Crickmay, was a score we worked with while waiting to work with our choreographers from last year. Compositionally, it allowed us to develop our skills working as a group, with bodies in space moving. This is the score we worked with: Do the same thing - example, one person walking, two people walking. Set up a relaxed activity in harmony with the first - example, run across their path Set up similar rhythmic counterpoint - example, walk, turn Set up a contrasting activity (that makes the first more visible) - example, stand still Help what is going on - example, copy/mirror Obstruct a persons activity with a contrary one - example, make them change action Change the environment within which someone is working - example, turn the light off, stamp Exist in another time or dimension - example, 'slow motion'. Below is our discussion we had and some things I noticed: We then explo...

8/10/13 - Boxstep routine:  Boxstep routine travelling across the floor, with the idea of keeping the knees low and trying not to let that height extend upward, which is what my partner noticed I was doing when split in pairs. I noticed that I would start off low and then gradually, over time, without even realising, I would rise up and up as the routine went on. Tip: Work through the feet - heel to toe - can be flat footed at times.  15/10/13 - The lesson this week felt like a transformation for me. The release exercise of touching the clavicle and finding the shoulder bone, to find the spaces inbetween the joint has really highlighted how much tension are in my arms, really opened up my moving when released. This session I feel has really made a massive impact on how my body will perform in future, as I felt so much more fluidity when moving, my moving was soft and loose. Tip:   Ella's feedback for me was when holding my arms out in second, feel the spaces ...