Monday, March 3, 2014

Happy Feet


I really wish I could dance.

I was just watching the news today and saw a couple demonstrating the tango. Oh my gosh, watching them move...I only wish I was that sure footed.

I can run, pretty quick at that, but my feet only move in one direction--forward.

It is funny how much coordination I lack. Becky, my trainer, has been teaching me a variety of crossfit moves. Several of them involve a hip thrust forward as you lift the weight up your body. Then a jump, or a burst of power, as you hoist the weight to your shoulders. One of them we've been working is the "clean" technique. I've just been using a bar without weights because I can't seem to get it right. Every time I see her, she has to re-demonstrate the entire sequence for me. She breaks it down. I feel stupid and uncoordinated. Becky is very encouraging and doesn't laugh at me. At least not where I can see it.

Full disclamer: This is NOT me. But this is a great picture of that hip thrust I was talking about! She's got some momentum going...that baby is going up!

But I bet if I was a good dancer, I would feel more comfortable in my body and be able to move through that sequence much more easily. Like that woman in the picture above.

I'd probably be able to navigate a lot of things more easily! Like hopping the curb from the parking lot into Target. Face meet bike rack...but that's a story for another blog post...

I've never been great at dancing. In kindergarden, I took dance class, and my mom took me out after I just couldn't seem to get it. An awkward, gawky preteen, my mom enrolled me in dance class again, not sure why--maybe to help me with my utter lack of coordination. After several lessons, the instructor took my mom aside and told her that perhaps dancing wasn't my thing. Funny thing, I was fine with quitting.

Even at our wedding, my husband and I did our slow dance rocking from side to side.

As I got older and more comfortable in my skin, I found that I could "move" to the beat and so dancing in large groups became more fun for me. But throw in a floor dance like the electric slide and I was in trouble. After my friends reviewed the steps with me, I still couldn't get it. They'd be going one way and me the other. After a couple of drinks, nobody cared and it was pretty funny. But still.


Thank goodness I can run. Forward, one step in front of the other.


Are you a good dancer? Do you think good coordination is essential to being a good runner?

6 comments :

  1. I did a lot of dance for figure skating purposes. That said, the Caveman and I swayed at our wedding as well, even after trying a couple of dance lessons that turned out futile. I guess I could say I can dance on my own but not with someone?? And no I don't think coordination is terribly essential to running.

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    1. Thank goodness for that! Altho I do trip and fall more often than I'd like to admit!

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  2. I image you to be a great dancer. This surprises me. However, I don't think that the two have anything in common. I am a great dancer (danced most my life) but am not the runner I should be. You are a great writer, Wendy and I love reading your blogs. :)

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    1. You are a great runner, Karen! Running is hard work. Dancing is a whole other thing....Thanks for the kind words about my writing. I love to write. It is a great outlet for me!

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  3. I am not a dancer at all but I think I have some rhythm. I think some coordination is needed for running otherwise you'd trip over your own feet with every step!

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