Look Christy, I Ate My Veggies.

Monday Night:

Oh My Gawd - I'm starting to wonder what I've gotten myself into. I was expecting it to be a workout, but wow... WOW. I thought hot yoga was hot and sweaty. It was nothing compared to this. I have consumed the super motrin and waiting to find out what bits will hurt first. It will either be my shoulders, lower back or my calves... time will tell.

Christy just left for one of the night classes. I opted out and chose to take this time to let everything sink in - including the ibuprofen - as this is my first week long. I also have a bit of homework to do but am uncertain if I have the energy to make it over to the desk to retrieve my notes. Will it as I may, the notes refuse to come to me. Damn you notes! I am trying to finish some food- salad, cheese, rice crackers- so I might have enough energy to reach my notes and have a shower. Day one checked off.... it will be an early night if my energy doesn't pick up some.

It is quite the experience, this workshop, and I'm intrigued as to how I will handle it. Rumour has it by day 3 most are reduced to tears, when it is expected that we hit the wall - at least for the first timers. But I doubt it will be the death of me, I can take it. Tonight my brain stopped working, body feeling shell shocked. My body is going to ache tomorrow, but by noon I'll be all loosened up again.

My small window of clarity is starting to fade and I'm going to call it a night so I can be all rested to tackle day two of my self-discovery/defeat… whatever my journey may be.

Day two:

Today started a little slow. I felt hung over - maybe from the cheese?? But after moving a bit I was doing well. There was a farmers market next to the studio today and we had some fresh tamales with homemade guacamole and salsa for lunch. So good!

I'm happy to report no crying today. Although when Suhaila was talking about her legacy I felt a twinge. We're taking a quick break before the 6:30 class. I feel like I can handle more today. My head is in a better place. Yay for optional 90 minute night classes!!

Oh, and I was wrong... It was my hips that felt a little used and abused today.

I made it through the first evening class but opted out of the 2nd class as I still require usage of my legs for 3 more days. Christy is taking one for the team and stayed for the advanced class. I'm sitting in a little sushi place writing this as I wait for her.

What do you mean there is an exam? I’m actually contemplating the Level 1 certification exam on Friday.

Day three:

My day started with me dragging my ass out of bed. I was so tired and still half asleep by the time we found coffee by the studio. I've been feeling a little hung over in the mornings - I'm probably not drinking enough water. This morning's level 3 warm up was retarded and hard and by lunch time even the more senior students looked like I felt. Then again, today was scheduled to be the "crying" day. I made it through just fine. I understand why people cry though. By day 3 you are so physically exhausted and frustrated with the disconnect between your brain and your body that it could overwhelm you to the point of tears. I just accepted the fact that I wasn't the only one struggling and just went with it. Because of the mental/physical/emotional toil on everyone the afternoon of day 3 is dedicated to fun time with the Suhaila's 84 year old mother, Jamila.

We spent an hour chatting and listening to her. She was so funny. She comes in and tells it like it is- explaining that she is old and tired of answering the same questions about how and why...etc. and if we want to know, read her bio. Then she turns to us and tells us to ask how many times she was married and who was better in bed. Then we spent 2 hours with our finger cymbals making pretty sounds with our fancy steps. Jamila was amazing. As much fun as it was everyone was burnt out by 4pm. We opted out of the optional night classes and after a quick change headed into the city to wander around. Checked out some cool stores, bought some old books and ate crepes for supper. I wish I had more time here to just wander around... next time I'll have to schedule that in. I'm off to bed now, another early morning and I'm hoping for enough energy to hit one of the night classes tomorrow.

Day four:

If any day was going to be a crying day it would be today. I woke up feeling pretty good, but my bubble was instantly burst part way into this morning's session. My brain "gets it" - the music, the down beat, the patterns, the isolated muscles - but the disconnect between my body and the messages I am sending it is getting a little frustrating. That and I've discovered if you repeat the same movement enough times eventually you can't tell if you are still doing it. I did so many hip twists that I couldn't feel my hips or that they were actually twisting, which brought me back to wondering if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing which distracted me from what my feet were supposed to be doing... and downward spiral commenced. Now, this is a multi-level course and they were focusing on Level 2/3 combinations today - I'm not yet Level 1 certified - but still! I should be able to say "Hip, twist please" and said hip would respond. But no.

This continued into the evening as Christy was trying to drill me for the certification exam. Yeah, that’s not going to happen. She says “half time” I do “quarter time” and repeat back “double time”. Then again it was around 11pm Thursday night when we were doing this and my neurons had stopped firing sometime on Wednesday.

Post workshop:

I've been spending the weekend decompressing from all that has happened. Trying to find the words to explain it has been interesting. The most profound feeling is accomplishment - I survived. I pushed myself all week and made it without crying or breaking or complaining - except the bottoms of my feel still hurt - not that I was expecting to break. I was open to whatever came my way and ate my vegetables whether I liked them or not. The second feeling is of a deep cleansing satisfaction. Pushing every muscle to the point of exhaustion felt good. It was like my body was craving it and now it is sated.  Physically I feel stronger, more flexible ready for another round. There is another one at the end of July that I am tempted to take.... I'll have to see how the timing works out with that. On top of all the physical components it was inspiring to hear Suhaila talk of her passion for the dance and her family's legacy she is carrying on and why she is doing it. That is one thing I would not have really understood without having been there at "the Mothership" as she calls it. Her studio is her home and her heart and it was apparent in her words and her dedication.