Nov 9, 9:15

Another good, strong, class. I feel like I am finally getting past my emotional/mental block about switching studios.

I tried Janet's suggestion today for Awkward 2 - just going down and getting into the chair, and then worrying about getting up higher on my toes once I'm there. Totally didn't work the first set: I got down fairly low, but as I was bringing my heels up, my hips came up, too. Second set, I concentrated on *staying* down. This was better, but I think I need a teacher to tell me when I am in the chair. I think I may have gone down too low. I will ask the teacher tomorrow to watch that for me and tell me when/where to stop.

I have also figured out the arm thing with Spine Twist that I was experimenting with last week. I don't think that it was setting up the arms in the reverse order that was moving the stretch for me. I think putting my back arm down into the floor first just caused me to lift my chest more. I have now figured out where to twist from whether my arm is there or not. I think that in the past, when we lift in Spine Twist, I was lifting out of my head - kind of like there was a string coming out of the top of my head, and someone was standing next to me, pulling it straight up. Now, I am finding that if the lift is a bit more in my chest, I actually feel a stretch in my back.

My studio is doing a 5-classes-in-1-day challenge in about a month. Aidan, one of the teachers, is convinced I am going to do it. When students have been asking about it, he says "I am going to do it. Jennifer is, too." His message seems to be getting through though - I am considering it. I almost dread the fact that I would have to start the day with a 6:15 am class more than actually doing 5 in a row! I want to do another Monday double between now and then though, since I have only done a double once before. We shall see.