Splish Splash

I just took my first bath in months.
No, it's not what you're thinking. See, I'm a morning shower type. I take a soaking bath for pretty much only one reason: to try and relax the knots in my legs. For, as forecast, I am really sore this evening.

Last night I woke up in the wee hours to the sensation of my leg muscles tightening up. They didn't cramp, but it didn't bode well either. This morning I left the house late and then had to squeeze by a minor car wreck, so I had no time to stretch before class. I was amazed that class hadn't already started when I walked in.

Only 14 students, which caused the instructor to wonder in dismay, "what happened to our Saturday morning regulars?" Only one of our semi-star types showed up, and he danced like he was a hurtin' puppy (I asked later: he was). The result was that we didn't move as fast as she would like, forcing her to cut back on what we did. Frankly, I think this is a good thing because more of the class will learn more at this pace.

Today's pianist stuck to "square rhythms" (as our instructor puts it), making it easier to keep time. I felt like I understood the combinations pretty well, though I kept wanting to do the piqué turns the wrong way (en dehor instead of en dedans). My balance was better than Tuesday. During last Sunday's class I realized that I'd gotten sloppy with my spotting during turns, and that was one of the reasons I was having trouble getting all the way around. When I had time to think about it I tried to do better today.

There's a 30 minute break between the end of my class and the start of the Stretch class. This is because the more advanced adult classes are staggered vs the beginner adult and kids classes, and the instructor for the Stretch class teaches the Adult Advanced class just before it. Not Adult Advanced Beginner. No, this is the Adult Advanced class. It was mesmerizing to watch them as I waited. I can't decide if I'm inspired or depressed. As I told one friend, that's the class I want to be in, and it'll be a race between my improving skill level and the limitations imposed by my increasing age.

Anyway, it was a bad idea to stand around for 30 minutes, as all my muscles started tightening up again. By the time the Stretch class started I felt like I was starting over. I really shouldn't look around at how those around me are doing, because I'll never be a flexy-bendy type. But I did and I tried and I think I over-stretched things. Again. Thus the hot soaking bath.

Tomorrow I have my other Beginner II class. The instructor for tomorrow's class also teaches the Advanced Beginner classes on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings. I may ask her how much more difficult they are than the Saturday morning Beginner II. If I could take class Sat/Sun mornings and Tue/Thu evenings it might really help.