Sun’s out, birds are singing, trees are coming into bud! A happy sign of global warming as it’s February, but a wonderful natural reminder of regeneration.
I have emerged from the duvet from my last blog and have had the pleasure today of getting my ass back to class. Today I did a wonderful yoga session at Red Hot Yoga which I can say has really set me up for the day. I know, I know, I said I would sign up to a digital fitness course (which I may yet do), BUT I was reminded today that if I work my schedule I can go to a session with ACTUAL people. This comes with so many pros including the lovely chap next to me who reminded me not to leave my watch behind – I was very blissed out – especially with a bit of essential oil on my forehead.
[it's] challenging to get to class for ourselves even though we are often moving through our day with and for other people
To actually get to class there are a few elements that you have to juggle here that feel slightly more amplified being a Dance Mama – schedule (check), childcare (check), sleep/energy levels (check) and of course it brings up some of the postnatal body anxieties which this time I have tried to turn the volume down on. I’ve written before about returning to ballet after my daughter was born and squeezing oneself into spanx before class to try and tame the wild excess before getting my plie on.
Getting to the class at all is what should be commended as it really is not easy to get there on physical or emotional level. In Kitty Winter’s story I released last week she (like me and many Dance Mama’s) finds it challenging to get to class for ourselves even though we are often moving through our day with and for other people.
This time, I cared a lot less, hitched on my leggings and top and embraced my fuller-figure with a view that with regular practice all of the above will get easier. I think of the lovely La Mariposa passage in Dr Clarissa PInkola Estes book, ‘Women Who Run With The Wolves,’ celebrating a mature woman who dances in a butterfly costume in Monument Valley – a symbol of strength and transformation.
If you have the time, you may be lacking the confidence. After your body has been through so much and the demands on it are different, shifting your expectation is key
So where to find the time? Well, if you are short of it, there is Dance Mama’s online class programme which will give you a few shortcuts to workouts you can do in the comfort of your living room. To give you succour I have it on good authority from a Dance Award winner that they too, roll out the mat at home.
If you have the time, you may be lacking the confidence. After your body has been through so much and the demands on it are different, shifting your expectation is key – for this you need to do the work internally.
I do not buy into the idea that once you have given birth to children you are somehow beyond repair and it’s the end of the road. It takes courage and commitment to slowly and thoroughly navigate your new body, and La Mariposais a great reminder that our increased body wisdom is beautiful and powerful.
I’m a total personal development junkie and like to look outside dance (as it can be very insular at times), studying and listening to podcasts by people like Gabby Bernstein, Brene Brown and Brendon Burchard (all the B’s!) to give me courage and strength to tap into my own internal purpose and find the courage to act on it. If you’re having trouble with this, then I would highly recommend giving them a listen.
I do not buy into the idea that once you have given birth to children you are somehow beyond repair and it’s the end of the road. It takes courage and commitment to slowly and thoroughly navigate your new body, and La Mariposa is a great reminder that our increased body wisdom is beautiful and powerful.
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