May 31, 2013

Beginner Ballerina Profile: Carolyn Johnson

This week’s profile is of Carolyn Johnson, who started ballet at the age of 50 for the first time after it was recommended to her to help improve her skating, which is pretty amazing. Check it out!

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me6When did you start doing ballet as an adult? 

Age 50.

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

No.

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult? 

Won two Adult Figure Skating Competitions at my home rink – ballet was recommended to improve my skating as well as posture and balance.

Where do you take classes? 

New Braunfels, TX

What is your favorite part about ballet? 

Just started classes, but really enjoy the working out of my legs, core and learning control and balance.

What is your least favorite part?

Stares from other adults in the lobby who probably think I’m crazy for starting lessons at 50  😉

Who/What is your ballet inspiration?

Finis Jung

What motivates you to keep dancing?

Just started, but now is the time to embrace life and your passions.  I don’t plan on stopping

Do you take any other dance classes?

No

What are your hobbies outside of ballet?

Figure Skating and Ice Dance.

What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started? 

Put on blinder’s for your critics and enroll today.  Find an instructor that loves ballet so much he/she could teach it to an elephant.

Anything else you’d like to add? 

Thank you for this project!

 

Filed Under: Adult Ballerinas, Ballerina Profiles, Ballet, Interviews Tagged With: , , , , , 5 Comments
May 29, 2013

June Challenges (#RWRunStreak Alternative)

Life always likes to get in the way of my monthly challenges. See: College graduations, job interviews, and a back muscle strain/pull. But, here I am again, trying to plan one for June. Unlike the other challenges I’ve planned, this one is just going to include my personal goals for developing my overall fitness.

I’m finding myself desperately wishing I could handle Runner World’s #RWRunStreak, where the goal is to run at least a mile a day between Memorial Day and Fourth of July. No matter how badly I want to do it, I know I shouldn’t attempt it because of how injury-prone I am. So instead, my #RWRunStreak alternative is:

  • Have a decent run at least three days a week (by setting a goal of at least 30 minutes a day, instead of a distance goal, so I don’t push myself too hard)
  • Complete 3 days worth of Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred a week
  • Attend at least 2 ballet classes a week (there are 3 offered at my studio)
  • Stretch everyday for at least 10 minutes (baby steps, since previous goals have just led me to give up).
  • Have a dedicated rest day.

I’ve planned my goals at like this so I can try to get in better general shape and fit in some sort of cross-training in now that I’m gym-less (not that I really ever did much at the gym either). I might try to squeeze in some swimming as well, since I (probably) still have access to the school’s pool.

What are your June goals? Are you attempting #RWRunStreak?

Filed Under: Ballet, Blog, Outside Class Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments
May 27, 2013

FlipBelt Review + Giveaway

FlipBelt provided by FlipBelt free of charge in exchange for a review. I was not paid for my review.  The opinions contained in this review are mine and based on my experience, and do not reflect the opinions of FlipBelt or anyone else.

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Last week when I arrived back to college, I got a cool little package in the mail, my FlipBelt! I was super excited to try it out–I can’t stand using the armband I got (my iPhone + Otterbox just feels so damn heavy).

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But as you probably know, last week was a terrible week weather-wise. It rained most days in Philly and on the one nice day, I  had a job interview that involved a fair bit of travel, so I opted to lay around for the rest of the day.

Finally, Thursday I got a chance to try it out on the track at my university, but only for a mile or so because a huge group of people came on to the track for practice (I’m a slow runner and I felt like I was going to get trampled). Since I had ballet that evening (and it felt like it was starting to rain), I decided to call it quits. But, I LOVED using the FlipBelt. It didn’t slide, and with my phone slid to right in front of me (versus off to the side) it didn’t feel awkward and I could barely tell it was there. My headphones didn’t annoy me because there wasn’t too much slack like with my armband. My keys didn’t bother me either. My Otterbox makes it a bit heavy and tough to get into the FlipBelt, but once it’s in there it’s not moving.

I took to my neighborhood again to test it out for a bit of a longer run and it worked just as well. My only issue with it this time was because of the material the FlipBelt is made out of (an athletic one) and my athletic (and for some reason extra slippery) leggings, it slid a little in the beginning of my run. Once I got it to a good place on my hips (I ordered a medium so I could wear it on my hips versus my waist) it didn’t bother me at all–and stayed perfectly in place on my shorts on Sunday’s 5k run as well.

Want to try one out for yourself? Enter “ABP” at checkout until 6/27 for 10% off or enter to win one from FlipBelt here!

FlipBelt provided by FlipBelt free of charge in exchange for a review. I was not paid for my review.  The opinions contained in this review are mine and based on my experience, and do not reflect the opinions of FlipBelt or anyone else.

Filed Under: Etc., Outside Class, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , 14 Comments
May 24, 2013

Beginner Ballerina Profile: Remedial Ballerina

Pink Check out this week’s profile of one of my favorite fellow ballerina bloggers, Remedial Ballerina !

When did you start doing ballet as an adult?

I started taking class in August of 2012.  

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

Many!  I started taking ballet at age 3, all the way through age 18.  I dabbled in tap and jazz, but ballet was always my favorite.  

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?

I was stuck in a rut for a long time.  I gave birth to my daughter, and everything changed in my life.  I put on some weight, my old slight dancer figure was no more, and it really bothered on me.  I tried running, biking, swimming, zumba and weight lifting.  I was interested in all of those things for awhile, but nothing ever stuck.  I needed a way to shape up, increase my strength and give me some release from the daily grind.

Oddly enough (and embarrassing to admit!) I started watching the show Dance Moms, which reminded me how much I loved to dance growing up.  I spent all of my childhood learning ballet, it was a natural transition.  At the age of 26, I decided to take the plunge and join an adult ballet class.  Since the semester started I’ve never missed a class.  I’m actually panicking now trying to locate a studio that offers summer adult classes!  

Where do you take classes?

I take classes at a lovely little studio in the Milwaukee area.  

What is your favorite part about ballet?

My favorite thing about ballet is that everyone is there for the same reason, to improve themselves in some way.  I always felt judged at the gym, never welcome.  Ballet is amazing because everyone is so engrossed in their own technique, nobody has time to watch you make stupid mistakes.  Even better, EVERYONE makes at least one stupid mistake each class, looks ridiculous doing a certain move, etc.  Ballet is non-judging and an amazing way to forget about everything else in your life.

What is your least favorite part?

My least favorite part about ballet is that I gave up dancing, and now I’m playing an intense game of catch-up.

Who/What is your ballet inspiration?

I dont have a favorite dancer, but I’m inspired by my own progress.  It’s been 8 months back at it, and my body has changed dramatically.  I have more to work on, and I see my own improvement week after week.  It’s unlike any other fitness program, sport, or hobby I’ve ever tried. 

What motivates you to keep dancing?

I’ve lost 22 lbs since I re-started ballet in August 2012.  I know that doesn’t sound like that much, but I’ve gone down 2 pant sizes, I’m significantly more toned and only getting healthier every day.  The quest to be healthy and strong is what drives me to pursue dance again. 

Do you take any other dance classes?

I do!  I’m taking lyrical and pointe in addition to technique class. 

What are your hobbies outside of ballet?

I’m motivated by and pretty good at most creative projects I try out.  My favorite hobby aside from ballet is art quilting and fabric collage.  I really enjoy making intricate fabric collages out of tiny pieces of fabric.  Aside from that, I love reading, writing, and playing various instruments

What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?

DIVE IN!  Don’t worry about trying to lose weight before you join a ballet class.  You’ll melt it off during class.  Ballet is hard, but very physically and mentally gratifying.

One last thing– ALWAYS wear a leotard.  Even if you think you’re not in shape to wear a leotard, ballet involves lots of bending/spinning/jumping, and you’ll want the leotard to keep your midsection covered! 

Anything else you’d like to add?

Ballet has literally changed my life.  It sounds cheesy, but I think it will change yours too.  Try it out!

Black Swan

Filed Under: Adult Ballerinas, Ballerina Profiles, Interviews Tagged With: , , , 3 Comments
May 23, 2013

Post-Graduate Life

I spent last weekend at home relaxing and getting a few freelance stories done. I also got some running in as well in my new running shoes. It was nice to finally feel like I had some time to myself.

I got back to Philly late afternoon Monday and I had planned to go to ballet–but my left leg really started to ache again (out of nowhere) and I decided it was best to stay home, even though I really wanted to go. I kept having a nagging pain in it while I was working all day Tuesday, and knew I’d have to put off running for a little while longer.

Yesterday, I got a different brand of Kinesio Tape in the mail that I had ordered (KT and I occasionally don’t get along–plus I ordered tape that wasn’t precut so I could cut it to the length I wanted). My leg seems to be doing better today. My boyfriend and I were supposed to get some running in this morning–but neither of us really moved from bed (and I wasn’t sure what time the track opened at my college since everything is on reduced summer hours). But, I’ll be trekking to ballet tonight in the lovely thunderstorms they’re expecting after over a week off.

 

Filed Under: Ballet, Blog, Etc. Tagged With: , , , Leave a Comment