January 7, 2014

Would You Rather: Running Edition

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Sure, I might not be doing any actual running yet (nor have I for about the past 10 weeks)–but this seemed like a cute link up to participate in to help me get back to being excited about running! Cori’s original link-up is here.

#1. Would you rather run in a thunderstorm or a snowstorm? 

Definitely a snowstorm. Snow is so pretty. Plus running in a thunderstorm seems…dangerous.

#2. Would you rather breathe through your nose or breathe through your mouth?

Thanks to being so allergy prone, I’m a total mouth breather. Trying to get better with my breathing in general, though.

#3. Would you rather do 100 squats or 100 crunches? [Now take a break and go do them. ;)]

100 squats definitely. Trying to work more on core strength though, so maybe I should pick the 100 crunches.

#4. Would you rather have a baked good for dessert or an extra serving of your favorite entree?

I’m a total sucker for baked goods. I’m currently working on perfecting my chocolate souffles. It’s a work in progress.

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#5. Would you rather run on a treadmill for an hour or run around the same street block for an hour?

Same street block. There’s nothing I hate more than dreadmills. Plus, I slam down on them more with my feet, making them pretty bad for my legs.

#6. Would you rather have a headache during a run or a side stitch?

A side stitch. I’ve been dealing with pretty bad headaches as of lately, and I cannot manage to workout with one of them, so side stitch it is.

#7. Would you rather have a rest day on a work day or a day off?

Tough decision. Sometimes a workout is just what I need to clear my head after a workday, but sometimes it’s just nice to relax. So I’d say rest day on a workday.

#8. Would you rather be a race director or a race volunteer?

I think I’d want to volunteer first to learn some of the ropes before I’d become a volunteer.

#9. Would you rather spend your money on running gadgets [HRM, GPS watch, Headphones] or running shoes?

Running gadgets and clothing, definitely.

#10. Would you rather run in a relay or do the run portion of a distance triathlon?

I’d rather do a relay with multiple runs than run the run portion of a triathlon.

Would you participate in a “Would you rather” post about ballet? 

Filed Under: Blog, Running Tagged With: , , , , 4 Comments
January 6, 2014

Studios, Studio Reviews and Profiles in 2014

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Just a quick reminder–I’m always on the lookout for new people to profile for the Beginner Ballerina Profile series as well as new studios and studio reviews to add to the studio guide!

I’m also interested in profiling other bloggers (running, fitness, and health) so don’t be afraid to sign up (using the ABP Profile link) too!

Please use the following forms to do so:

Studio Directory Recommendations

Studio Reviews

Adult Ballerina Project Profiles

Filed Under: Ballet Tagged With: , , , , Leave a Comment
January 5, 2014

Six Weeks and Counting: Injury Update and 2014 Goals

It’s been about six weeks since I went and I had an MRI done on my legs and discovered that in fact, had stress fractures. It really sucked, but it was nice to finally have an explanation for the pain I had experienced. For the next two weeks I plan on gradually adding back some of my PT exercises before attempting to gradually get back into the swing of things.

Even though it’s been relatively tough to not be at ballet or running, the holidays have certainly helped a bunch and I’ve kept busy with crocheting, coding, etc. I’m also working on yet another new website design using TwentyFourteen which is pretty cool (and more news-site, less blog which is a look I want to go for).

Rather than set resolutions (because everyone eventually just forgets those in a few weeks anyway), I’ve decided to set a few 2014 goals:

  • Read more often, borrow from our local library more. I don’t read often enough and it’s something I really miss. Any and all book suggestions welcome!
  • Learn more coding. The more and more I learn more coding, the more I think it’s something I’m potentially interested in going back to school for. Hoping to successfully complete Harvard’s Introduction to Computer Programming class this year with HQ. I’ll probably make the two of us blog about it.
  • Grow out my bangs. Seems kind of silly, but I always end up getting fed up with them and cutting them again. I’d like to be able to put my hair up into a bun without having to use a billion clips and bobby pins.
  • Get back into ballet. Fairly straight forward, but it’s going to take some work for me to not just jump back into it and instead start off with one class a week before moving to 2-3 classes a week. Baby steps.
  • Complete Couch25K Properly. Last time I skipped some levels and jumped around, so my aim this time is to actually follow all the steps to gradually get into running. Someone yell at me if I fail at this or jump too fast into ballet, too.
  • Blog and write more often. I’m hoping to write and blog more often, as well as read more blogs and get more involved in the blogging universe. I recently became a Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador, so I’m hoping that will help push me in the right direction, too.

What are your 2014 goals? What books should I add to my reading list? What are your favorite blogs right now?

Filed Under: Ballet, Blog, Running Tagged With: , , , , , , , 3 Comments
January 3, 2014

Beginner Ballerina Profile: Helen Mao

HMao2This week’s profile is of Helen Mao, who has been studying ballet for the past three years in addition to take other ballet classes (and tap classes) in the past. Helen will also be writing guest posts for ABP in the future, so be on the look out for those!

When did you start doing ballet as an adult? 

Five years ago, I returned to ballet was when I turned 40. Since then I have been trying to take class consistently, at least twice a week. In college I studied 2 years of ballet in the school’s gym with fine instructors; I also took 1 year of class at a high school where I was teaching when I was 24 years old.

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

I studied for 1 year when I was in elementary school. I remember wanting to continue ballet after that year but the school’s location was not convenient. In middle and high school, I figure skated and took basic ballet classes in skating camps but nothing serious. In college, I ice danced and ballroom danced, but always missed ballet. Nonetheless, I always felt that ballet was “the real thing” in terms of discipline, flexibility and technique.

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult? 

I was thrilled to take an adult tap dancing class when I was 39 years old; I had tapped for 1 year in graduate school and loved it. A tap classmate told me she was taking an adult ballet class near my house. Coincidentally, another friend of mine was in this same adult ballet class. I called the teacher, who was so inviting, went to my first class and was hooked. I now take at another school that offers more technique classes per week.
Where do you take classes?

For the past 3 years, I have been taking technique classes at least twice a week when I can at Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring, MD. Also, this past summer I started adult pointe at Joy of Motion in DC but the class’s timing and location were difficult for me. Now I am in a weekly teenage/adult beginner pointe class at The Ballet Academy in Beltsville, MD.

What is your favorite part about ballet? 

I love all parts of ballet class — barre and center — but my favorite part of ballet is executing (correctly, without relying on following others — my bad habit) a technically interesting and fun combination that covers a lot of studio floor space. I can enjoy the exercise and music while forgetting about everyday stressors/obligations for 90 minutes.

What is your least favorite part? 

My least favorite part is one area that I should work on more: flexibility and stretching exercises. I am embarrassingly not flexible, despite my previous activities. On a good day I can straddle a little beyond 90 degrees; forget splits! Barre stretches feel good but I am NOT one of those people who can pull her foot above her head; I am lucky when my foot is higher than my waist. My cambre back looks like I still standing up straight. My grand plie and demi plie in first position look sadly similar. My fondues/developpes are comfortable at 45 degrees but become a strain nearing 90 degrees.

Who/What is your ballet inspiration?

I am inspired by ballerinas I’ve seen (mostly through videos of European and American companies) with excellent technique, strength and grace who also are expressive actors. I’ve also been inspired by my teachers as well as other adult ballet dancers whose bodies and spirits make them seem eternally youthful. Finally, I have been truly inspired meeting other adult dancers as well as reading adult ballet dancers’ blogs in continuing to strive and improve myself at any age.

Filed Under: Adult Ballerinas, Ballet, Interviews Tagged With: , , , 3 Comments
December 23, 2013

Guest Post: Jealousy & Ballet

beachI adore my intermediate adult ballet class.  Days before I’m already daydreaming about the music and the rush I know I’ll experience from feeling my body struggle to provide the physical strength and mental concentration dance demands.

When we get a newcomer, a pattern usually emerges.  Things don’t flow for a while.  It takes them time to coordinate mind and body again.  Maybe it was because I had a knee injury and was away for a few months that it came as such a shock to me.  I mean, I should have been glad just to return to class, and I was, but it’s so tough to see what you so desperately want, right in front of you.  And newcomer really did pick the barre space right in front of me.

In the weeks I was gone, it all clicked for her.   I had to admit — she looked amazing.  My rational mind said she probably worked very hard to look like that, but, in reality, it was much easier to think, “Why can’t I look like that?”  Anger and disappointment soon followed — I was jealous!  Jealous and disappointed in myself for feeling so.   Weeks passed and although I’d lost some ground from my injury, I focused on things I hadn’t lost.   One day after class, this newcomer, whose name is Stacey, shared that she had been an apprentice with a modern dance company for a few years.   I admit — it was music to my ears.

Ballet is about pushing yourself.  Personally, it’s also about surprising myself.  Divine little moments where things go surprisingly right.   The beautiful realization that my joy, perseverance and fulfillment come from these magical moments.   That’s so powerful and I’d be a fool to let someone else’s beautiful lines or turnout take that away.

Filed Under: Ballet Tagged With: , , , 3 Comments