Whitney Cummings

Just watched HBO's Whitney Cummings Special...comedy for the modern woman...and truthfully, the modern man.  The time is ripe for her comedy.

I've never seen 2 Broke Girls (a show she writes), and I probably won't.  But, her comedy special was pretty hilarious.

Muscle Memory

Ballet Body:  If you took ballet as a kid, you've got it in you.

Remember ballet class as a kid?  Your muscles do… The memories sleep within your tissues, your cells. They'll wake up again if you roust them.  And yes, that body you had when you were in ballet can be yours again.  Hello!  It's right inside of you - for real!  If you’re willing to humble yourself and be patient with your body, returning to the ballet barre will have a positive impact on the life of any "old" dancer. It has for me.  And you don't need an actual barre. If you've got a counter, sidle up.  I did it and it's changing my body and my mind  …

Standing next to the counter in my kitchen a few months ago, I felt the urge to grande plie. I lined my body up, tightened my buttocks,  held my stomach tight, and turned out my feet to a natural position. Body conscious, keeping my knees over my toes, I began my decent.  Two regular plies first, then the grande. 

My ballet legs were weak. My ballet butt was weak.  My knees sounded like crusty rubber bands - cracking, popping, and audibly stretching - all the way down, to the deep, grande plie.   Rising was, to my chagrin, a huge effort.  To bolster my strength, I tightened my butt, engaged my feet,  my thighs and my torso.   I made it up, but my ego was still on my new laminate floor.   I was horrified and physical condition, or lack thereof.  How could I have gotten so out of shape?

I'm not a total slug.  That said, after years of dabbling in yoga and pilates, saying I practice either with much regimented focus would be a stretch.  I installed a barre in the living room of my last house and made somewhat regular visits, but we hadn't lived there for 3 years.   How could my ballet muscles have atrophied to such an extent?!  The horror!  My poor neglected body.  I have no recollection of barre work inspiring pain and shaky legs in my memories of the 12 years of ballet classes as a youth.  The floor work following the barre work following the barre often pushed us to weakness, but never the barre work.    

Reflecting on my 18 year old body and the exhausting workouts we put them thru at the dance studio, I was in awe of the condition I was in 26 years ago -  and the condition I was in that day - then all my mom-body had been thru during that time.  Thinking of the impact of muscle memory, and how fortunate I am to have had the opportunity to study ballet under a strict instructor, I understood that I'd been trained in creating and maintaining the muscular elements of my body in a way that could only make me feel better.  Lifted abs, strong back, long, strong legs, perky, but ladylike butt.  I had those back in the day, and really, the only thing I did regularly was dance.  I loved dance.

Piecing together a list of barre exercises and appropriate music from the internet, I created a regular 1/2 hour ballet barre workout.  I roll up the kitchen rug, stand next to the counter and do the barre exercises at least 3 times a week.   While I'm no doctor, I dare say, since re-introducing ballet to my life, on physiological and cellular level, changes are happening and that feels good.

In the beginning of the journey, my body reminded me of so many memories. Painful ones.  Ballet is so centered and whole, intricate and connected, every weakness unveiled.  

Left foot muscles ached when pointing my toe.   Why was it so much weaker than my right foot? I recalled running in the rain and stumbling in a pot hole back in 1987.  Iced and elevated it until the following night where I danced on it, on pointe.  It was set and placed in a cast that Monday.  6 weeks later, I was back in the studio dancing on it.  That poor foot and ankle. 

Right side hip flexors and everything connected were so very tight.  Scar tissue from surgeries as a kid affected my body of today! Years ago after having some surgeries, I sat in observation at ballet for a month or so after returning from the hospital.  Getting back on the barre, my damaged fascia was regularly strengthened and stretched.  After years of abandoning these exercises, that fascia had sort of turned rigid.  Because of that scar tissue, and the tension it's caused, my ballet practice is hyper conscious in regard to pointing that right foot properly.   The leg literally shakes at times, but the technique is what's important and it took 12 years of practice to get as strong as I was when I was 18.  These things take time.   

The muscles below my cesarean scar made themselves known.

Each day when I take my position at the counter in the dining room,  the practice is different.  The exercises are the same (pretty much), but my body performs a little differently each time.  Having patience in yourself is key.  This is humbling to get back into.  But well worth it, on so many levels. I've suffered from hip pain for years.  It's gone.  I stand straighter.  Stronger.

Lots of living to do.   The ballet practice warms my muscles, aligns all my systems, opens the pathways of my brain and always, always always sends a surge of positivity through my soul.  I still sometimes pop and crack with the grande plies, but progress is happening and I’m listening to my body, growing my daily practice accordingly.  I feel healing from deep within my cells. 

30 minutes a day, next to a tall chair or counter inside your own space.  That strong, tone ballet body of years gone by will eventually re-merge.  And  all you need is a pair of shoes. $20 investment in a better you. You can find them on Amazon. 

As a youth, I never thought "oh these grand battements are really toning my core!"  But they were...in fact, all of the barre work was aligning and strengthening  the musculoskeletal body fantastically.  If you studied ballet as a kid, no matter how old you are or how many years it's been, you've got the muscle memory in you!  Transform your kitchen bar into a ballet barre for half an hour each day.  You'll be happy.

Here are a couple sites to get you started...

Use this combo of barre exercises to help you structure your workout.  Repeat each piece of music in order to work the left and right sides equally.

Need a reminder of some of those French words from way back, but can't recall the proper movements?  Here you go.  Click the video below for a whole list of videos that help.

When you get your "ballet legs" back, along with your center and control, you might incorporate some of these moves.  Depending on where you are starting, it might take weeks until you feel like diverting from whatever you end up doing for a routine barre workout, but be patient.  Changes are happening deep beneath the surface of your body. Trust that and give yourself the 30 minutes a day:

Goals!  Try some of these combos.  Your brain and body will be beautifully blown! 

Here are some more reminders for you...old video, but the movements are timeless... and yes, your body can move like this again... get on the stick!  I mean, the barre!  (or your kitchen counter).   There are some good links for barre music here as well. 

Even tho your hip might ache or your knee hurts or your back is bothering you or you have a neck injury, summon your muscle memories and work with yourself gently.  Tighten that butt, engag everything, and change will happen!  Baby, you've still got it!