Idiot did it again....another question....

[RonP]

I took the step up to advanced WW (intu-flow) this weekend. Couldn't get my nervous system to do both arms on front and back of body at same time. So I wanted to do it, now. So I took on music. It worked. Now here's the tiny little problem. Then the brilliant Homer Simpson in me took over. I started dancing with my intu-flow and a little flow-fit. Way beyond infinite mambo anythings with my hips. Doing full spinal circles...hips way in opposing direction. Up and down elbow circles beyond sophisticated. And kept working on this all weekend. Yup... Idiot me kept going basically all weekend. Got down right funky! Had a ton of fun. Kooky and childlike playing.
Yes, after three days of this my lower back got a little sore.
So tonight brilliant me decided to look at my Free to Move Book. It says in there not to do too much of this. Doh!
So what can I do too much of in dancing?
I kept remembering the Russian saying: Movement is life, and life is movement, and the celebration of life is dancing. So how can I celebrate? Just quit being an idiot?
I would seriously like to know what I can get away with?
BTW: My neighbors now know I'm completely bonkers.

[Coach Billew]

Ron,

As you learned, the danger in dancing with your mobility is that it is easy to get caught up in the dancing and not listen to the signals your body is giving you. On the other hand it obviously does help you get out of your head and free your movement. As someone with a dance and theatre background, I have done it myself, and even had clients do it on occasion when their backgrounds suggested it would help them.

I think the primary key to doing it safely is to carefully choose the tempo of the music. Something that is fun, but allows you to go slowly enough to be mindful of your movement. Also you want to stay in the three to five rep range with each joint so rather than going completely free form give yourself the challenge of following the pattern of movement laid out in the video, but with the addition of music because the order is also important.

On a final note as fun as this is remember that the music is operating as a crutch to short circuit your own distractability or overthinking. Ultimately you will want to take it away so that you are able to more fully develop your proprioception. If you want I can suggest some fun and challenging attention switching exercises that might help with this process when you are ready.

[RonP]

Thank you Coach Billew...
I would appreciate hearing about those exercises. I must admit I'm not having any problem doing that movement anymore. It just took something to get me to quit thinking ( like you noted). The beat definitely helped. Was a nice 1/4 tempo. I'm facing the sad fact I can't keep doing this much of this kind of dancing. Even considering dance classes. It is fun.
It did do me alot of good. I need to be spending more time playing like a child.
The full circles of the spine I've been doing. Have fun with all the hip movement. I promise Coach Sonnon that I did not do hip rotations in front of a window. I did them in front of a full size sliding glass door. :)

[lorenzodamarith]

three days of this

hello,

ronp... whoa... it's a wonder you can still type! good to see someone having fun with this stuff, though!

thanks

[RonP]

hello,
... good to see someone having fun with this stuff

Hi Lorenzo.

Coach Sonnon is so right that we need to spend some time playing like a child.

Sometime when I'm in So. Cal. Maybe we can teach some valley girls the rmax powered Lambada? :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AfTl5Vg73A&feature=related

[lorenzodamarith]

Sometime when I'm in So. Cal. Maybe we can teach some valley girls the rmax powered Lambada? :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AfTl5Vg73A&feature=related

hello,

ronp... best idea ever...

thanks

[Coach Billew]

Ron,

One example of a basic attention switching exercise that will enhance your ability to focus on your mobility while gradually eliminating distractions, is to play your music while doing your session, and then also set up a round timer for 15 second intervals or alternatively set up a clock or stop watch where you can see it, and then every 15 seconds throughout your routine, actively switch your attention from between the music and your own internal experience of the movement. When you switch to the movement focus try to focus on experiencing and recognizing sensations rather than analysis. You can analyze your movement and progress after your session.

I find this sort of thing interesting, and it can be a useful and fun exercise to experience, have fun with it, and let me know how it goes.