the cartwheel resolution
In gym class as a child, I could never do a cartwheel. Somersault, sure! but cartwheel? Nahhh. I couldn't be bothered. I did my little "round-offs" and that was that, I never pushed myself to try. and once i got to be a teenager/adult, I assumed I missed the cartwheel boat and was therefore too old to train myself to do that sort of thing.
Somehow, it's become very important to me to get over it and finally just be able to DO it. You might say I've become a little obsessed. It was my new year's resolution this year to train myself to do a real cartwheel. On new year's on the beach, I practiced and practiced, and the only results were a headache and a lot of sand stuck in places it should never go. I just couldn't get it, I couldn't even imagine it.
Recently, I've been practicing in dance class, very gradually. Pachi seems to realize it's a personal mission for me, and that I seem to be battling a mental block against making my body comprehend the simple mechanics of the movement. Well, she's been giving us all cartwheel-practice-exercises, and you know what? I think I'm starting to get it! Last night was the first time I felt something click, I felt my body doing something right, like things were aligned properly in my arms and torso, and I wasn't hurried or rushed. Now if I just stretch my legs up, I'll get it. Why is it so hard for me? I dunno. But I know I CAN do it. There's no reason why I can't, even though I'm not longer young and bouncy and made of cartilage. I'll do it yet, dammit. And I promise I won't break myself trying. Before the year is out, I swear, I will be doing full joyous cartwheels on a beach or grassy patch somewhere.
Somehow, it's become very important to me to get over it and finally just be able to DO it. You might say I've become a little obsessed. It was my new year's resolution this year to train myself to do a real cartwheel. On new year's on the beach, I practiced and practiced, and the only results were a headache and a lot of sand stuck in places it should never go. I just couldn't get it, I couldn't even imagine it.
Recently, I've been practicing in dance class, very gradually. Pachi seems to realize it's a personal mission for me, and that I seem to be battling a mental block against making my body comprehend the simple mechanics of the movement. Well, she's been giving us all cartwheel-practice-exercises, and you know what? I think I'm starting to get it! Last night was the first time I felt something click, I felt my body doing something right, like things were aligned properly in my arms and torso, and I wasn't hurried or rushed. Now if I just stretch my legs up, I'll get it. Why is it so hard for me? I dunno. But I know I CAN do it. There's no reason why I can't, even though I'm not longer young and bouncy and made of cartilage. I'll do it yet, dammit. And I promise I won't break myself trying. Before the year is out, I swear, I will be doing full joyous cartwheels on a beach or grassy patch somewhere.