Amelia

It looks like D. will not be able to make my trapeze show tomorrow (Friday) night. So if anyone would like a free ticket let me know.

There will be 3 student classes flying, plus the staff, and other things, balancing, silks, maybe static trapeze too. Should be lots of fun! Show starts at 8pm and should run until about 10. I think there will be food and drinks for sale. The tent is in downtown DC near the stadium and navy yard metro.

I haven't posted about trapeze in ages. I've lost count of classes. I did one IFW (intensive flying workshop, you meet once a week with the same class and same instructors and perform in a show) in the spring, didn't take classes while I was teaching my summer course, and just started a second IFW (the show is in Sept.).

Here is an overly simplified basic progression of learning trapeze:
-set tricks
-work on swing
-backend tricks (which incorporate the swing)

Set tricks and backend tricks are the same positions, but first you learn them in two positions (set tricks), and then you swing out and get into the final position in one movement (on the backend of the swing, hence the name). So you can do a set whip or a back-end whip, but the set whip is easier (or a set split and a back-end split, etc.).

I've learned some of the set tricks. Late last summer I got one back-end trick, but then I really lost that over winter break. In the spring I worked on swing, and did a set trick for the show. So I'm trying to get a strong enough swing to learn some backend tricks.

I started trapeze in part because I'm scared of heights and wanted to challenge myself. Jumping off the platform is still scary to me, and through this spring I would always loose a couple seconds of body awareness the moment I jumped off (people pulling lines for me would say that I always had a horrible look on my face the minute I jumped off the platform and they would have to remind themselves that that was normal for me and not that something was terribly wrong). This is a problem because you need to have your body tight from the moment you take off to have a good swing. A good swing starts with a good takeoff. (Last fall I also had an unassisted takeoff, meaning the person on the platform wasn't holding my belt, but this spring I was back to "light belt".)

A couple weeks ago I start this new IFW after the break and it feels like things are coming together. I'm still nervous, but no longer terrified taking off. I finally started being aware in those first couple of seconds, tensing my body, and sweeping back. This is HUGE for me. My mind would just freak out and to gain that awareness and control is AMAZING. So my takeoffs are much much stronger as is the beginning of my swing. (And I'm not scared leaning out from the platform holding the bar, even if I can't feel anyone holding my belt. It's like I finally trust my own body not to randomly let go. I'm still nervous, but it's so much better.)

For the last couple weeks I've been working on the second part of the swing, the "force out". This is when you're on the other end (away from the platform) and you put your feet up high, push your hips up, and extend your body upwards so that you're gaining, rather than loosing height.

In this video it's what he's doing at 5 seconds, and at 10 seconds.

This has been super hard for me, I just couldn't get my feet high enough and my body flat enough (all my energy was down rather than up). I was seriously starting to worry that I'm not strong enough to do a proper force-out. It takes a decent amount of core strength (and I always feel super out of shape in trapeze class compared to all the other people, but that's an issue for another day.)

Last class one of the instructors (Meghan) said that my timing was off. I was starting my force out way too early, like even before poles (the half way point, at the bottom of the swing). I needed to start it when I'm towards the end (the high point of the swing). Now, you basically do all movement at the ends of the swing when you're weightless. In between you want your body straight and tight to keep your power and momentum. So I adjusted the timing and voila! I got the freakin force out! OMG it's so much easier when the timing was correct! To quote Megan "you were working WAY too hard." It immediately felt different and so much better (you mean things are easier when you're not fighting gravity!?). And I'm getting higher (well, loosing less height). OMG awesome!

Then I tried a backend straddle, and although I had to work for it (instead of floating into it like you're supposed to, weightless, remember?), I got into position! It was so gratifying!

And before I even got that one of the other students (who's a DC Cowboy and super in shape and also super advanced for the amount of time he's been flying) complimented me on the smoothness of my swing and how nicely everything flows together :)

The last couple weeks I've been catching easy stuff, knee hangs, and a set hocks off (the trick I did in the spring show) and working in hands (when you do stuff while you're in the catcher's hands, the eventual goal is to return to the bar). That's been going really well. I'm good at keeping a correct tight body position, our transitions have been pretty smooth (Aaron is the catcher for this IFW), and I've been getting higher! So yay! Incremental progress weekly (which I will certainly take), and big progress this last week!

I'm not particularly good at trapeze (especially compared to some of the younger, more athletic, people who take it, and those with gymnastic backgrounds), but it is so gratifying to make progress (even halting, two steps forward, one step back progress). Just another reason why flying is incredible and I highly recommend it :)

My mom is in town this weekend! *hearts* I picked her up from the airport on Friday.

Today D. went downtown to run the DC Challenge and get a haircut. Mom and I went to the nursery and bought roses for the front yard, and lilac bushes (purple and white), and hydrangeas for the backyard. Then we dug holes, planted things, and I mowed the front yard. I got sunburnt.

Tonight was my trapeze show! I didn't do the trick I had hoped to get to at the beginning of this IFW (8 week trapeze class), but the show was tons of fun. I did my trick, made my catch, and had a great time! False eyelashes stayed on, always a plus. Tired now.

I think we're going to try to see the Georgia O'Keeffe show at the Phillips tomorrow. :)

Then I'm dancing in flash mob at Dupont Circle. Local people interested can come by at 1pm (or a couple minutes before). The performance features the DC Cowboys. It's ABBA and should be awesome.

I had my first trapeze class of the season yesterday!!! It was pouring rain in DC and we still had class because of the brand new tent! I am a huge fan of the tent (no sunburn! real bathrooms!). It's an IFW (intensive flying workshop), so class with the same people once a week for 8 weeks, culminating in on a show on May 1st.

I just tried to calm down and get back into things. Worked on swing (need to keep my toes forward more). Tried to get back to unassisted takeoff, but ended up with light belt. Hopefully next class I'll be back to unassisted. For catching just went with a knee-hang, missed the first one (timing issues, Mike's first day at the DC location), and got the 2nd. But I didn't grab his wrists back (what a weird thing to forget!). It's coming back, just a lot of things to remember at once.

Today I'm sore, but not horribly so. A little in my upper back and core. The worst are the little stabilizing muscles on the sides of my torso. And my hands are raw (can't wait for the callouses to come back).

Yay trapeze! I really wanted to go back today, but I have too much work to do. I did go to the gym though (and did shoulder work which was fine, yay).

As always, if you'd like to go to trapeze I'd love to go with you. They also have rigs in NYC, Boston, and LA. I'm just saying :)

Class 24, tried to catch back-end, hocks-style, heels off. First catch grabbed at and clawed the catcher (sorry, Lizzie). Second I was too low.

Class 25 with Neil. Called tall flyer timing, but I'm not for this trick so that didn't work. But caught the second time!!! So I'm regular timing (at peak for the catcher, whatever that means). I should be all set for the show on Friday.

Class 26 tried to catch with Brian. Made the trick missed the catches, both on timing. Half second delay when I snap up for the catch.

I have a trick for the show! I'm doing a hocks-style heels off, and I'm not going to link to any pictures so you can come see me :p

The show is Friday Oct 2nd rain date Oct. 9th. It will be the two IFW classes and some staff (I'm super excited to see the staff fly). Info will at some point be posted here.

This is a very easy trick, about on par with a knee-hang, but it looks different than a knee hang so I'm happy. After weeks of working on my swing it was very gratifying to get a trick on my first try. I worked on it Wed. and almost caught it with Scout (timing was off, the trick was fine). I caught it once on Sat. (2nd time timing was also off just enough to miss). These three classes I've been working on a back-end hocks-style heels off (so the same trick, just back end). I haven't made a back-end trick yet, but I am so close! Today I finally got the timing (I was cutting my sweep short) and my hips were almost all the way up. I'm just not fully committing to driving my hips all the way. I also keep looking at the bar instead of putting my head back which will help me rotate. I came ridiculously close maybe 4 times today. We even tried off the first riser (to give me more time) and I just couldn't lock in the position. So close!

Then I went shopping for a costume for the trapeze show. They said we could wear whatever we wanted as long as it matched the colors of the staff leotards: emerald green, silver, and white. Note the lack of black, they said a little black was okay, but no all black bottoms (which is what I and almost all the other women wear to class).

On recommendation I went to American Apparel to look for sparkly stuff. This is not a store that is at all in line with my body type, aesthetics, or style (I don't wear leggings when I'm not exercising). I also felt old. But I have no idea where else to shop for sparkly stuff. I'm at the very edge of their sizing so the sparkly silver leggings in the largest size they had wouldn't fit, but the shiny green ones did (but they looked hideous).

The salesgirl (emphasis girl) was very sweet and helpful. She found these brillant green and black leggings. I carry my weight in my butt and upper thighs so shiny in that area was just not going to work. I realize it's a trapeze show, so some amount of tight, silly, sparkly, and shiny is to be expected. I also have a sense of humor and am prepared to "work" whatever ridiculous thing I wear, but there is ugly and there is horribly unflattering. I don't mind showing off my body, but the cute version, not the "my legs are moldy sausages" version.

So I'm wearing green and black leggings and a silver lame bodysuit. I swear it was the most flattering choice (of the very, very limited options). I don't think there is a bodysuit that doesn't make me look hippy, but if there's a time to wear silver lame, I think the drag club trapeze show is it. To be clear: I look ridiculous, but not bad, if that makes sense.

My problem is boobs. The thing is *low* cut. Fine if I'm standing up (although there is no support, so it could be more flattering), but I'm going to be hanging upside down. I have no idea what to wear under it. The salesgirl brought me some "bra" tops, and pointed out a bandeau type bathingsuit top, but nothing she could offer provided any support and most of it (triangle bikini, really?) didn't even have adequate coverage.

Any suggestions? It's a halter top with a plunging back. Just throw a white tanktop on under there, straps be damned? Go with my regular (enell, ugly) sports bra? Use a lot of clothing tape on my nipples and pray for the best? If I were going to do this more than once I might consider sewing some netting into the thing, but for one trick I don't think it's worth the effort (and I don't have a sewing machine or the skill to do that).

Free free to come to the show to see some trapeze and point and laugh at my costume.

Life lesson of the day: Sometimes body acceptance lessons come in shiny packages.

Oh I'm behind on trapeze updates. Mostly I've been attending my IFW (intensive flying workshop) which means I have class the same day each week with the same people. It's a good way to get to know people better and to make more targeted progress.

I am still working on swing. It is a slow process. Sometimes I will get one part and then move on, but then have to go back and fix something else.

The purpose of the swing is to gain height. So you swing, do a trick, get caught, then have enough height and power to return to the bar, and then back to the board. I am a long way away from that point, but that's why you work on swing.

When done right swing should look easy and like it doesn't take a lot of effort. It takes every muscle in your body and is very tiring. I've been catching knee-hangs at the end of class because I'm tired out (on the plus side it's an excellent core workout).

Right now I'm losing height, but eventually I should maintain and then gain (fingers crossed). The calls for swing are: sweep [back], forward, force-out, hollow, sweep [back], seven [when you "stand up" at the board and your body looks like a 7, I have a hard time keeping my hips forward on this so my 7 looks like a backward C].

my swing in progress (this is basic swing: back, forward, flat, forward, back, seven) I only started with force out later in that class.

a swing with basic calls, but she's doing a force-out, not flat
a swing without calls, look how high she gets!

the physics of the trapeze swing

( Things I am working on (and who reminds me of what): )

( Small areas where I am making improvement (mostly on independence): )

Went trapezing today with insptr_penguin and evil lurker. They were fantastic! Both caught both of their catches. Some video here.

I worked on my swing and caught set split again. Jonathan gave me some good tips (keep everything tight!). I still can't get my right leg straight for set split, but everything else is solid. Everett moved my hand position on the board and with that and keeping my shoulders back my takeoff is feeling smoother.

Friday I continued to work on pullover shoot. The pullover is coming along, but I need my shoot to be more vertical and more bouncy or zoomy or something. Brian suggested that next class I start working on my swing as well as the trick.

I threw set split to the catcher. First one worked, the second we were a little off for the timing. I did get someone to tape for me. It isn't my most beautiful attempt (could arch my back and straighten my leg more), but I caught it! Also note this is my first time leaving the board one-handed assisted for a catch. (As opposed to putting both hands on the bar before I jump, assisted means they're still holding my belt.)

Today had a good time at bookgroup hosted by the lovely treewishes :)

Warmed up with a set split that didn't happen. Learned was introduced to pullover shoot. Had three tries and made it up on the second one (woot!, I really didn't see how I was going to make it over the bar). Now once I was there I had no idea how to pump and shoot because I never expected to make it up there *facepalm*. Went back to set split for catching, missed the 1st due to coming around with my hands again, but made the 2nd and Scout said it was very smooth. :) I asked someone to video with my camera, but she did a test and then I ran out of memory card space. *facepalm again* Will try again next week.