Thighmaster

Not so much yoga... more pilates for the thighs.

It's a good thing I was wearing sweats. Jeans are like straight jackets for dancers, I would imagine. And my neck is just as inflexible. If I can do that side-to-side head/neck thing by the end of the semester, I will be satisfied. I will also be satisfied (or rather, surprised) if I don't get a charlie horse during class for the duration of the course. I was a little worried about that when Sravya was teaching how to keep the bottom of our feet away from the audience--I pointed my feet and I swear I was a smidge of an extension away from a seized up samapada. (Note: bananas.)

It felt good to break a sweat, to stretch out my fingers after sitting at a desk with hands curled around pages and pencils. I feel like when I'm in my small room or doing homework or whatever, my whole body is in a state of contraction, conservative. I like how dancing makes extensions, extends the body. It makes me so much more aware of myself and my surroundings in a way. I think it would be even more helpful to dance in front of a long mirror instead of inside a black box.

I'll admit I was a little hesitant about the prayers before dancing, but only after Sravya pointed it out. And then I thought, this is just another form of meditation of focusing the mind along with the body. Like it's telling your body to get ready to focus and to respect the art and movement. I wonder what the translation is?