When you can't 'do', just 'be'...

Physio sessions are a strange animal.

I remember feeling very nervous when I had tiny needles inserted into the backs of my legs at various key points.  How acupuncture works was explained to me in full but I just can't be sure if this actually did anything for me to be honest.  It did make the area extremely tender and more sore for a good few days after the session! 

However,  a good sports massage each week right on the spot where I'd torn the muscle really did help.  At the time,  it was very painful, but in a good way.  You know the kind of pain like when a scab is sore and so itchy it makes you want to pick it??  The feeling when a gum is tender but chewing on something solid relieves it a little bit........Yeah.  Like that.

It seemed to loosen my muscle up and give it much more flexibility.  This really helped when doing healing exercises set by my physio.  After each session, she would tape up my leg......I'm not entirely sure what that was doing either... If anyone knows - feel free to educate me!  Something about support?

I was prodded and poked and taped up each time for 8/10 weeks (I lost count of exactly how many weeks I had away from ballet because it just seemed like forever).  After the arrogance of trusting my own instinct the first time I tore my calf, I listened to my physio and only returned once she'd given the go-ahead.

Whilst I was away from the barre, I quickly realised I was already becoming obsessed with my passion again because I couldn't stop thinking about absolutely everything ballet related!

I spent hours watching adult tutorials on youtube and tips on flexibility:

FYI - link here to Kathryn Morgan's channel which I stumbled across :-) - some great tips to improving extension, turnout and more!

I watched everything ballet-related that I could get my hands on.  Have you ever watched 'Breaking Pointe'?  It is a Ballet documentary following the lives of the dancers at the 'Ballet West' company in the USA.  I was hooked.  Anything that gives me a little insight to a company and allows me to become immersed in the illusiveness of day-to-day ballet life is exactly the kind of material that feeds my obsession.

I then went online and started shopping (a dangerous activity for me).  I ended up  getting way ahead of myself and bought gel pads for pointe shoes, leotards a plenty and a few dance tops.  Bearing in mind I am nowhere near the ankle strength or ability to even think about getting back on pointe.  

This is what I'm like you see.  Running before I can walk - especially with ballet as I expect my body to just revert to that of my 18 year old self, as I have mentioned in previous posts.  When you've been signed off your little twinkle toes for a while and you only have your brain for company, you have to entertain yourself somehow.

So I say go for it.  If your laid up  and you want to let your mind get carried away with itself because your feet can't - then why the heck not?  If it makes you less down about being away from the studio, then immerse yourself in videos, literature online shopping and beyond! :-)

"When you can't 'do', just 'be'"

xxx