For those of you that read my blog (I know there’s at least one of you) you may be wondering whats happened to me for the last few months as theres been a complete lack of posting on my part.

Well, since the summer I’ve had a few health issues, which basically left me with ongoing anaemia, completely without energy and a total lack of mojo. The docs have finally worked out what’s wong with me (hopefully), and whilst it hasn’t been fixed yet, it’s not as serious as it could have been and should be sorted with an operation of some sort in the next month or so (fingers crossed).

In the meantime I’ve been dosing up on some seriously strong iron tablets (which for those who really need to know (Algernond) leave you with a very funny coloured poo indeed) and have spent most of my time in hobbit world either sleeping or reading and trying not to move too far.

I’ve had to stop doing my pole dance and trapeze classes for a little while but as the iron tablets are finally starting to kick in I’ve managed to start back on my other passion in life - jewellery making - and start building up some stock for my Xmas shows which has been fun as I’ve never used polymer clay before and came up with some nice results - now if only I could manage to get them into my rather empty ETSY shop and my totally barren Folksy shop, I might even get a few sales

So the energy levels are improving, I’m finally getting my mojo back, and it’s time to start training again - but verrrrrrrrry slowwwwly (see next post) - otherwise I will never complete my next big challenge (arghhhh).

Again - took it fairly easy due to low energy levels - but still achieved a lot. Getting much better at sit pull ups (Sian - I did yours for you), and almost masterd front balance on my own. Managed to get my feet to touch the ropes, but couldn’t quite pull myself up and over - i went away feeling like I’d aachieved something though.

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 09/03/2008
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 1:30:00.00

Took the class at my own pace though as still not all that well and don’t have the strength or energy to work myself too hard.

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 09/02/2008
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 2:00:00.00

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 09/01/2008
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 1:30:00.00

Good class - although having the time off and then joining the other school means I can only do half what I could do before. Need to build the strength back up again.

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 08/26/2008
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 2:00:00.00

Seeing as the advance lessons are on a Friday night, I decided to join the intermediates class, knowing that I would be able to do a lot of the moves already, but figured it would be fine for concentrating on technique, and using it as a strength builder for my regular Tues class, which I enjoy too much to give up.

As this is the first time it’s been run by this school at my gym, the courses weren’t full so the beginners and intermediates got combined and the teacher had to spend her time between the two groups (not sure this really works - but hey ho).

My initial thoughts when I walked into the gym studio were, that the ceiling is too low, so climbing and hanging upside down isn’t gonna happen.

As the class started, I realised just how much I now know, and had forgotten how much you are yet to learn when you are a new intermediate. You still can’t climb, and have never been upside down (And probably won’t be for at least a few more weeks) - and was concerned that I was going to get bored pretty quickly.

We covered one handed firemen spins, chair (Carousel) into a reverse chair, angel, straight legged angels, eagle, a back spin and sitting up the pole - oh and body rolls.

For a couple of these moves, you need the lower arm to be straight - something that has always caused me pain. I found out that I was holding my hand slightly wrong and by adjusting it just a little, it made the grip so much easier and I lost the pain - which was great. Otherwise the moves were fairly easy and not especially taxing. Whenever I tried practising a few harder moves I wasn’t exactly told off, but I did feel like a naughty school girl.

I did work hard at getting the moves right though, which can only be a good thing and strangely enough I do ache all over today, and lets not talk about the friction burn on my wrist…

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 08/11/2008
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 1:30:00.00

First up was the X. Where you stand on the bar and, with the ropes behind you, get them to cross into an X-shape, before sliding out backwards with the bum resting over the x-shape of the bars. Manged to get the ropes to cross, but it was extremely difficult to get shoulders through to lean backwards - will work on that next week.

Next - were two drop moves. Sit into birds nest, and star on the bar into hocks.

Sit into birds nest is literally sitting on the bar, hands either side. Take legs into a v-shape, and roll backwards until legs are in the air wrapped around ropes and head is below so in the birds nest position. I was last to try this. Got into position, and then completely bottled it - I was too scared to roll backwards.

Next up, star on the bar - couldn’t get my back in the right position and was sliding out of the star, so didn’t attempt to drop into hocks.

Up next was front balance into forward rolls. From the front balance position, you basically have to play chicken with yourself. Roll forward, keep legs straight for as long as possible. At the very last minute, bring your knees in, place hands behind things and continue to do a forwards roll around the bar - not once, but twice - rolling off on the second forward roll.

I got into front balance positon, but then welched out - yep big old bowl of yellow custard.

Finished with figure head, which looked lovely, but i suffered calf cramps getting into hocks position - so didn’t even try it (I’m sure I could have done this one).

My excuse was that the weather has made my ankles swell over the last couple of days (it has, they are huge) and I was suffering cramps in both my calves by this point - so I just laid out on a crash mat and gave up.

But part of it was the same old problem that I have from week to week of not getting over my fears and just going for it. Not sure how to work on this one, but it’s gotta give.

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 07/23/2008
• Time: 18:30:00
• Total Time: 2:00:00.00