At the last session, the instructor told me I could be a pro if I keep at it. That was definitely motivating.
♥ Bambi
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Another belly-dancing video...
Been taking a belly-dancing class since last month. Five sessions in so far. And yet within that time-frame, I have learned so much about arm and foot work, and working the torso more. I am in love with Egyptian belly-dancing!
At the last session, the instructor told me I could be a pro if I keep at it. That was definitely motivating.
At the last session, the instructor told me I could be a pro if I keep at it. That was definitely motivating.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Can do a Chest-Stand... at last! (Video)
Months of hard work and determination have finally paid off! My back flexibility has given way enough for a chest stand. Man lands on moon. Chest lands on floor! And I am just thrilled :D!
This basically opens up a whole branch of others things I could attempt and learn, once the chest stand becomes a common stretch in my repertoire. It will not be smooth sailing; but if I have learned anything from all of this, it is that if I keep putting in time and effort into something, it will eventually happen.
This basically opens up a whole branch of others things I could attempt and learn, once the chest stand becomes a common stretch in my repertoire. It will not be smooth sailing; but if I have learned anything from all of this, it is that if I keep putting in time and effort into something, it will eventually happen.
♥ Bambi
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Leg over head stretching video.
From yesterday's afternoon workout. Although the chest stand is my main goal, I am also working on other forms, such as oversplits.
And there is nothing like a comfty book read right after a workout. (Pictured: Human knot pose)
♥ Bambi
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Stretching only requires Time.
When it comes to stretching, you never abandon the basics. You build on them. There is no finish line that lets you know whether or not you have mastered something. There is always room for improvement. There is always that extra inch you can squeeze in (and boy do us us ladies know this)! So, essentially, the only main difference between a beginner and someone doing more advanced techniques is the *time* that has been put into stretching. If you would have asked me to do a back bend exactly a year ago, I would have just laid on the floor flat as a board. I have been training for ~9 months now, and I am still stretching all that has been accumulated since Day 1.
Such as the Cobra pose (pictured) to loosen up the back muscles. For me, this along with a few others I mentioned before is awesome for gaining flexibility in the lower back. It is a basic yoga pose, but an essential one, especially for those starting and those with back pain. There is not one session that I do without it. Basic stretches like the Cobra made something seemingly difficult like the back bend possible; and they are now helping in reaching my next goal: the chest stand.
My hamstrings stretching was not always this linear. It took *time* to get to where it is now. Flexibility does not happen overnight, so do not become discouraged if you find yourself incapable of pulling something you see in a picture or a video. Results can come in days, weeks and even months, depending on the pose and difficulty. And like I mentioned in the beginning, there is always room for growth for any pose.
The only true "hard" part is setting aside at least 15 minutes a day for stretching.
Such as the Cobra pose (pictured) to loosen up the back muscles. For me, this along with a few others I mentioned before is awesome for gaining flexibility in the lower back. It is a basic yoga pose, but an essential one, especially for those starting and those with back pain. There is not one session that I do without it. Basic stretches like the Cobra made something seemingly difficult like the back bend possible; and they are now helping in reaching my next goal: the chest stand.
My hamstrings stretching was not always this linear. It took *time* to get to where it is now. Flexibility does not happen overnight, so do not become discouraged if you find yourself incapable of pulling something you see in a picture or a video. Results can come in days, weeks and even months, depending on the pose and difficulty. And like I mentioned in the beginning, there is always room for growth for any pose.
The only true "hard" part is setting aside at least 15 minutes a day for stretching.
♥ Bambi
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
When you do not have a training partner...
... you improvise.
By tumbling against walls.
By getting into awkward "eek!-back-spasm!-how-am-I-going-to-get-out-of-this?!" situations on a weekly basis. (Pictured: Yoga Scorpion pose)
But I would not have it any other way.
Yes, having someone around with similar interests to help motivate and push me would probably not be so bad. And yes, I have lost count of the amount of times I thought "screw-this-I'm-having-ice-cream-LOTS-N-LOTS-of-it" when I was not getting the results I wanted. BUT through the thick of it, I have learned some valuable personal perseverance and self-discipline, that go beyond these workouts and these pink walls. Standing on my own two feet (or having my feet in the air :D), and not having to rely on someone as a crutch is a wonderful thing.
By tumbling against walls.
By getting into awkward "eek!-back-spasm!-how-am-I-going-to-get-out-of-this?!" situations on a weekly basis. (Pictured: Yoga Scorpion pose)
But I would not have it any other way.
Yes, having someone around with similar interests to help motivate and push me would probably not be so bad. And yes, I have lost count of the amount of times I thought "screw-this-I'm-having-ice-cream-LOTS-N-LOTS-of-it" when I was not getting the results I wanted. BUT through the thick of it, I have learned some valuable personal perseverance and self-discipline, that go beyond these workouts and these pink walls. Standing on my own two feet (or having my feet in the air :D), and not having to rely on someone as a crutch is a wonderful thing.
♥ Bambi
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Monday, August 1, 2016
What is Bambi up to now? Belly-dancing (video)!
So I took the day off today due to waking up with a swollen eyelid yesterday (lol :/ FML), which has not completely disappeared just yet. I went on a hiking trail in the mountains the day before, but I am not sure if that had anything to do with it. So here I am home and blogging. Originally I was not planning to share this other love of mine, but I figure why not.
I am self-taught in most of my hobbies. I seem to enjoy exploring things for myself, whether it be contortionism, yoga, belly dancing... the list goes on. I have taken aerobics and dancing classes before, but there is just something about learning things in solitude. I like the quiet and the personal space. I like learning and cherishing moments, silly and profound ones, at my own pace. This makes me more liable to mistakes... but I think that, in a morbid way, is part of the fun.
The dancing is far from perfect. And as with every thing else, I am working on it... and enjoying it at my own pace! Finally figured out how to record for longer periods too!
I am self-taught in most of my hobbies. I seem to enjoy exploring things for myself, whether it be contortionism, yoga, belly dancing... the list goes on. I have taken aerobics and dancing classes before, but there is just something about learning things in solitude. I like the quiet and the personal space. I like learning and cherishing moments, silly and profound ones, at my own pace. This makes me more liable to mistakes... but I think that, in a morbid way, is part of the fun.
The dancing is far from perfect. And as with every thing else, I am working on it... and enjoying it at my own pace! Finally figured out how to record for longer periods too!
♥ Bambi
Monday, July 25, 2016
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Splits video & flexibility updates.
The past week was brutal. Not in the sense of having endured soul-sucking, back-breaking intense workout sessions, but in the sense of mental fatigue and feeling like an extra on "The Walking Dead". I did not get enough sleep on some nights, and on nights where I did, I still woke up feeling less than 100%. SO it may not have much to do with the amount of sleep, but the quality of sleep I have been getting... Will have to look into this.
Chest-stand: I have been slowly inching my way down towards the floor mat. Since my last update, I have reduced the distance between my chest and the floor by 2"! Still have about 10" to go. Can it be done by the end of Summer (September) as I planned?!!! I flipping hope so!
Flexibility: I have not lost any flexibility, despite the zombie-week of poor stretching sessions. But I also did not gain any either LOL! In regards to a few stretching poses, I think I have gone as far as I could with them, such as the front split. It would be awesome to have my, uh, lowest region COMPLETELY flat with the ground, but that is not going to happen any time soon with these thighs lol. And after much extensive research (yes, googling), it would not be anatomically possible to do at a "healthy" weight.
This pretty much sums up last week for me, with all its awkwardness and confusion:
By the way, love this movie! And if you know what it is, I will love you too :p.
Chest-stand: I have been slowly inching my way down towards the floor mat. Since my last update, I have reduced the distance between my chest and the floor by 2"! Still have about 10" to go. Can it be done by the end of Summer (September) as I planned?!!! I flipping hope so!
Flexibility: I have not lost any flexibility, despite the zombie-week of poor stretching sessions. But I also did not gain any either LOL! In regards to a few stretching poses, I think I have gone as far as I could with them, such as the front split. It would be awesome to have my, uh, lowest region COMPLETELY flat with the ground, but that is not going to happen any time soon with these thighs lol. And after much extensive research (yes, googling), it would not be anatomically possible to do at a "healthy" weight.
♥ Bambi
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
4th of July shenanigans!
Hey everyone.
Hope you had a pleasant 4th! And if it was not a holiday for you, hope it was still a good Monday!
I spent the whole day out at the beach, the park, then back to the beach, from noon till 10. Silly me did not think about waking up early on a HOLIDAY to do some exercises beforehand, so I ended up improvising. On the bright side, I finally got to work on my nonexistent tan... one month into Summer, ha!
Hope you had a pleasant 4th! And if it was not a holiday for you, hope it was still a good Monday!
I spent the whole day out at the beach, the park, then back to the beach, from noon till 10. Silly me did not think about waking up early on a HOLIDAY to do some exercises beforehand, so I ended up improvising. On the bright side, I finally got to work on my nonexistent tan... one month into Summer, ha!
I brought along some work-out clothes and hula hoops last minute. Managed to do some cardio running and hula-hooping, with some basic stretches, but no serious exercises at all. Would be uncomfortable doing them around family and friends, let alone in a public area with strangers around! (... which is a little ironic, since I have no problem sharing them with thousands of anonymous people online apparently LOL.)
So, if you ever see a twenty-something girl awkwardly doing hula-hoops out in the open somewhere...
♥ Bambi
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Chest-stand update and progress pictures!
Currently stuck at the elbows. Can I has more upper back flexibility right away, please?! I am determined to get this done before the end of Summer...
And is any one getting tired of seeing pink leotards yet lol?
The Splits
♥ Bambi
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
My stretching routine.
I have been getting asked what I do for my stretches, so I figure I will explain it in detail here, as opposed to trying to explain it individually.
First off, I am no expert. What I do know is from what I have read, learned, and experienced first-hand. We are all individuals with different fitness goals and different starting flexibility, so you may find other stretching techniques to be more appropriate for you. It all comes down to what your body feels comfortably doing, i.e. stretching should never be painful!
There are a handful of different "kinds" of stretching, but the main two are static and dynamic stretching. I do both, with static being the most prominent in my routine. There are people who believe that it is better to do dynamic only, and they may be right... for some people. My focus is on increasing my flexibility substantially, and static stretching is better suited for that. If you are looking to just maintain your flexibility or to increase it enough for a full range-of-motion in your exercises, just dynamic stretching should be fine. It all goes back to what I said before: different things work for different people.
A significant difference between static and dynamic stretching is when to do them. You can do dynamic stretches as a warm-up or before a work-out. Static stretches, on the other hand, should be done only after a warm-up or a work-out. Put them all together and this is how a simple stretching routine would look: dynamic stretching, warm-up/work-out, static/dynamic stretching.
- A few minutes of dynamic stretching (back, chest stretches and small lunges) to prevent stiffness in the warm-ups.
- 30 minutes of warm-ups (running, jogging and, yes, hula hooping :p) to warm up the core. Body temperature plays a HUGE role when it comes to stretching and flexibility. There is a reason why there is such a thing as "hot yoga", where people practice in rooms of 100+ degree heat. Higher body temp = more loosened muscles = more stretching. So with that in mind, do some serious stretching indoors if it is a cold day out!
- 1.5-2 hours of static stretching (40 min for splits, 40 min for back bends and 40 min for handstand/forearm-stand/conditioning). The emphasis of these stretches is on back flexibility, which is what I am getting asked about most. Obviously the general person is not going to need to stretch for this long lol, but the more time you put into it, the more flexibility you will maintain and gain. In general though, 10-15 min of simple static stretching should be fine.
First off, I am no expert. What I do know is from what I have read, learned, and experienced first-hand. We are all individuals with different fitness goals and different starting flexibility, so you may find other stretching techniques to be more appropriate for you. It all comes down to what your body feels comfortably doing, i.e. stretching should never be painful!
There are a handful of different "kinds" of stretching, but the main two are static and dynamic stretching. I do both, with static being the most prominent in my routine. There are people who believe that it is better to do dynamic only, and they may be right... for some people. My focus is on increasing my flexibility substantially, and static stretching is better suited for that. If you are looking to just maintain your flexibility or to increase it enough for a full range-of-motion in your exercises, just dynamic stretching should be fine. It all goes back to what I said before: different things work for different people.
A significant difference between static and dynamic stretching is when to do them. You can do dynamic stretches as a warm-up or before a work-out. Static stretches, on the other hand, should be done only after a warm-up or a work-out. Put them all together and this is how a simple stretching routine would look: dynamic stretching, warm-up/work-out, static/dynamic stretching.
What I do:
- A few minutes of dynamic stretching (back, chest stretches and small lunges) to prevent stiffness in the warm-ups.
- 30 minutes of warm-ups (running, jogging and, yes, hula hooping :p) to warm up the core. Body temperature plays a HUGE role when it comes to stretching and flexibility. There is a reason why there is such a thing as "hot yoga", where people practice in rooms of 100+ degree heat. Higher body temp = more loosened muscles = more stretching. So with that in mind, do some serious stretching indoors if it is a cold day out!
- 1.5-2 hours of static stretching (40 min for splits, 40 min for back bends and 40 min for handstand/forearm-stand/conditioning). The emphasis of these stretches is on back flexibility, which is what I am getting asked about most. Obviously the general person is not going to need to stretch for this long lol, but the more time you put into it, the more flexibility you will maintain and gain. In general though, 10-15 min of simple static stretching should be fine.
For back flexibility, the best ways to increase it are:
The Cobra Pose
The Bow Pose
And the Bridge Pose
- I stretch every day. The general person can get by doing it maybe 3 times a week, although I would say that you should do it every day that you work out! It is good for your muscles. And you have to stretch on a regular basis to maintain whatever flexibility you gain. There have been a few times where I did not stretch for 3-4 days or even a whole week, and you bet I lost some flexibility in just that short span of time! Just like any other aspect of fitness, good flexibility requires commitment.
One other thing that can affect stretching and flexibility is eating food high in potassium (my favorite being bananas). They will help prevent muscle cramping.
So... I think that about sums it up. Hope this answered some questions and won some people over to do stretching exercises!
♥ Bambi
Friday, June 24, 2016
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Some videos from before.
My camera records only 30 seconds at a time, so they are really short clips, and you can see me sort of rushing through the poses to try to fit them into the time frame.
These are from a while ago.
The first is of me doing a back-bend against the wall. By constricting myself against it, it will help make my bridge be "tighter" and more compact. And please ignore all my funky body spasms! LOL :/ Normally I am MUCH smoother in my transitions, but again, I tried to fit it all into 30 seconds.
This is of me doing a back-bend / bridge without the support of a wall. Obviously, it could be better. As my back flexibility increases, the better it should look.
These are from a while ago.
The first is of me doing a back-bend against the wall. By constricting myself against it, it will help make my bridge be "tighter" and more compact. And please ignore all my funky body spasms! LOL :/ Normally I am MUCH smoother in my transitions, but again, I tried to fit it all into 30 seconds.
This is of me doing a back-bend / bridge without the support of a wall. Obviously, it could be better. As my back flexibility increases, the better it should look.
♥ Bambi
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Back-bend progress.
Hey everyone.
I am going to use this a photo blog as I progress along in gaining more flexibility. Strength training is not my primary fitness goal as it is with many of you, however, I am testing out some exercises to strengthen my core and back. It will be a little added diversity beyond just doing crunches and ball exercises.
Some background: Although I have been a "flexible" person for most of my life, I have actually started contortion training only just late last Fall (~6 months ago). It is a late start, (especially when you compare it to people who have been training since they were 6!!!) and the chances of getting to do this on stage is much slimmer... but you know what? I love it. I love reaping the benefits from the progress I have made, and I want to see how far I can push myself and excel in. But it really comes down to this: it is never too late to try something!
So... I feel I have made some good progress in the past month. The momentum has definitely picked up considerably compared to the slow start of the first few months! As of now, I can do a back bend / bridge, comfortably, from standing posture, although there is room for improvement to make it tighter and more graceful.
And now some stretching poses, with a few unflattering ones...
I am going to use this a photo blog as I progress along in gaining more flexibility. Strength training is not my primary fitness goal as it is with many of you, however, I am testing out some exercises to strengthen my core and back. It will be a little added diversity beyond just doing crunches and ball exercises.
Some background: Although I have been a "flexible" person for most of my life, I have actually started contortion training only just late last Fall (~6 months ago). It is a late start, (especially when you compare it to people who have been training since they were 6!!!) and the chances of getting to do this on stage is much slimmer... but you know what? I love it. I love reaping the benefits from the progress I have made, and I want to see how far I can push myself and excel in. But it really comes down to this: it is never too late to try something!
So... I feel I have made some good progress in the past month. The momentum has definitely picked up considerably compared to the slow start of the first few months! As of now, I can do a back bend / bridge, comfortably, from standing posture, although there is room for improvement to make it tighter and more graceful.
And now some stretching poses, with a few unflattering ones...
♥ Bambi
Monday, June 6, 2016
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
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