3 months of lockdown...

Things I've noticed within my body

Pre-lockdown I hadn't really danced properly since I was 22. I would attend one off yoga or contemporary classes every now and then, but since lock down I have been able to commit much more to my practice. 

Pre-training I had noticed that:

  • My left leg has the tighter hamstring of both legs. To bend forward and stretch my hamstring in my right leg at the start of this process felt much more available to me, but yet I could only just about not reach my toes. (hence point below in availability of the hips opening)
  • Space wasn't that available in my hips - so to focus on exercises that opened my hips and stretched my hamstrings evenly were essential.
  • Strength is lacking in sit ups/push ups - need to improve strength in my arms/biceps.
  • During yoga, I felt the tension in my ankles to reach my feet down to the floor. I couldn't achieve this pre-lockdown.
After 3 months I feel:

  • Much more open in the hips which enables me to grab my toes and feel a release in my hips to bend forward, continuously battling the resistance to project my chest toward my toes. Over time and practice, this should become available enough to allow my back not to round, but to project straight to the floor.
  • After a few sessions of yoga, I am feeling stronger in my arms to pull me through from downward dog to plank and lowering my body down to the floor. Still an area of improvement as the more I do these postures, the more I tend to let my core go to the floor and 'give in', when I should be maintaining tension in my core. 
  • I can now pull my feet forward during downward dog, and even if only for  a few seconds before I feel too much strain in my ankles, place them on the floor. Still an area of improvement.
  • When first practising headstand, I felt that it was a lot of strain on my neck which suggests that I am tipping onto the wrong part of my skull, potentially too far back. I am able after a 3/4 sessions of yoga to half balance on my elbows but still need confidence and increase of strength to straighten my back fully and balance on my elbows and tip upside down to distribute weight correctly.
Quick insights from Asmara Cammock's Afro Fusion Contemporary Pro Class:



Asmara focused a lot around syncopation in the session ie: legs doing one thing/rhythm and the arms/head doing diff actions and on a diff rhythm, to which I felt rubbish at! I am completely rusty but you could tell that these exercises would challenge even the most experienced of pro dancers!

I have recorded an exercise above for my record to maybe try it again as a challenge to myself to master. 




This was a phrase that was taught at the end of the session. Asmara's inspiration behind this choreo is during lock down she wishes that she could share her love with everyone, hence the kind of 'beckoning' motion at the end of the piece. 

Quick observation of my technique: I could bend deeper into plie at beginning, but the opening of my hips over time should allow more room to sit deeper. Beginning is strong and turn is okay, although could improve on incorporating the undulation of the body while turning. I am happy with my progress of just being able to turn full circle without falling over at this point😂

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