Taking it's toll.....

I had my private lesson this evening- my last lesson before the two weeks of greed and gluttony that is the Christmas period! I was really looking forward to it, I love my private lesson, as I have said before, getting the one-to-one attention is really amazing.

However, I started to feel a bit queasy and mildly faint so I had to have a short time out half way through..... I was so annoyed with myself, but it was the last remnants of my blasted cold that was rearing its ugly head! I used to faint a reasonable amount as a teen so am well rehearsed at feeling a faint coming on! :-)

Anyway... we focused on camels and backwards camels (that's not the real name, I don't know the proper name..)- you know when roll the belly and the hips back into your body- the other way around to the camel... I love working these muscles and I think these 'moves' look particularly ace, so I like to practice them, although I'm sure there will be a little bit of a muscle ache tomorrow! I am managing to get lower and lower whilst doing these 'moves', we also concentrated on leaning back a little bit more- a recipe for some inelegant wobbling on my part!

I am going to practice these 'moves' over the Christmas holiday because I think my lack of fitness and muscle strength are really holding me back at the moment so hopefully repetition will help me regain some proper strength- plus I love the feeling of having good core power- makes things much easier (even walking down the stairs of a moving bus in London town!) and you just feel a bit more indestructible when dancing and in life!

Anyway, I am away to pack my things for the return to the parents for Christmas.....I am of course packing my jingle-jangle belt to help me practice :-)

Bellydance on the tely!

I was watching Sunday morning TV (!) and in an episode of the American 'How to Look Good Naked' (which I didn't really think was as good as Gok!) they had the lady featured in the show take a bellydance class with Jillina from Bellydance Superstars! Very cool. The lady had had two children and was uncomfortable with her belly, and they had her take the class to gain confidence in herself, her belly and her femininity.

Although it was only a short bit of the programme, I thought it was worth mentioning!

I'm back!

I have had the most awful couple of months- swine flu, normal cold and essay madness!! This has all resulted in me neglecting you all- I apologise.

So, I am now (almost) healthy and back dancing and I have to say, getting back into shape is going to take a while! Oh my days, I had a private lesson last Tuesday and the class today and I am suffering, but it is totally worth it, love the feeling of being fit and feeling like you can dance really well and you will try anything because you feel so good. I am therefore, holding on to this thought whilst undergoing the struggle back to fitness!

Today's lesson was good, less in the class than usual because of the Christmas period, but when there's less people you get a chance to check yourself out properly in the mirror, although sometimes I find this uncomfortable (does anyone else feel weird checking themselves out?), it is important if you want to improve!! We did more advanced dances which was a challenge for me, but I love seeing what is possible if you work hard enough. Two little ones came to the class with their auntie (who is a regular) today, I think they were 9-ish and 11-ish- they were amazing, totally working it and moving like they'd been belly dancing their entire (admittedly, very short) lives. I love it!

We practiced travelling today as well, I think many belly dancers I see don't seem to use the space they are given very well, and I love swishing and spinning around so this is totally up my street! We focused mainly on the grapevine with spins in a line going around the studio, following out amazing dancing queen of a teacher- I could do this all day! I really, really love leaning into the corners and really using the core to control your body, balance and the belly. You can really feel it working away! Yes, I am weird, and I like feeling the work-out burn.

I am looking forward to practicing over the Christmas period, if I can stop eating all the goodies long enough! I have one more private lesson on Tuesday before I head to my parents for Christmas....I will be keeping you up to date more regularly from now on, I promise!