Project Flexible week 1 – progress!

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flexibility, flexibility challenge, front splits fast, improving flexibility, program, progress, project flexible, training update

Week 1 was the week full of surprises. Exactly a week ago I started the Front Splits Fast program from The Ballet Blog, but I didn’t expect to see any results so fast. The main reason is that I didn’t have the time to do the full program before today. I have done the head and neck section every day, but not anything else.

So today was self-assessment time. I do these (or plan to) once a week, so that I know what I need to focus on for the next week. The main part is the tests from the program, which is a forward reach test (you sit with your feet flexed and back straight, and reach forward to your toes) and a straight leg raise test, where you lie on your back and raise one leg, and see how far you can get it.

For the forward reach test, I had 10 cm (!) improvement. Just from the head & neck section and consciously relaxing my muscles now and then. I’d say that’s a pretty massive improvement considering I didn’t even stretch the hamstrings before today.

The straight leg raise was more disappointing, as the right leg wouldn’t go past 90 degrees, and the left not even that. It wasn’t because of the hamstrings, though, but because my hip flexors and and quads in the other leg are so tight. The amount of hours I’m in front of a computer every day surely has nothing to do with that whatsoever 😛

Anyway, I am a big fan of the program so far. I have gone through the individual parts of it now (the videos for each section, with explanations). Next time, hopefully on Tuesday, I’ll do the video that’s the whole program to music. I think.

For being a front splits program, what I liked the most is the amount of time it uses on other muscle groups. The head and neck, the upper and lower back, spinal mobility, the feet… I really like that. It works on every single one of my problem areas.

Anyway, that was just a short update. In just a moment I’m heading to the fitness centre to try my first step class, and the following strength class. Not overly enthusiastic, but I never am, immediately before the class. That’s when I’m regretting the whole decision, because going into a strange class is scary. And yet it always goes well, strangely enough…

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Training update+neck issues

Tags

fitness, flexibility, neck, schedule, stretching, update, workout, zumba

Well, hello! Last Saturday I mentioned my Project Flexible, where I’ll work towards becoming more flexible for two months, partially via the Front Splits Fast program that I purchased from The Ballet Blog. I haven’t really done it yet, except that I have done the neck section every day. For one thing, I never realised how much impact a stiff neck has on the rest of the body, and secondly, wow, my neck is bad. I try to relax the muscles as often as I can, but they’re so used to being tense all the time. This will take lots of time and effort, but: it’s time well spent.

As for a training update, I’ve tried new things! At least newish. I didn’t work out during the weekend at all, except some walking, but I noticed that I really needed to just relax after being so busy. I did some stretching, nothing more, and it was just what I needed.

On Monday, I had only a half day at work, so I grabbed a quick lunch at Subway and then went to my fitness centre. I did roughly 90 minutes, I think. 10 minutes’ warm-up on the treadmill, then my strength program, and then the stair thingy. There’s a popular hike here in Bergen called Stoltzen, and it is simply 908 steps. So I like to use the stair machine after my strength training just to work myself up to that – I’ve hiked there, but with a lot of breaks, so I’m seeing how many steps I can do before I need to stop. I’m at 300 now, which isn’t a lot, but an improvement nonetheless.

Yesterday I tried Zumba for the second time, but it was a new teacher and the first time the regular zumba gang was there, apparently (last time was a last-minute substitute for another class whose instructor had fallen ill), and there were hardly any people there. Besides, I only went that time because I had an appointment with that instructor before the class, and since he wasn’t there, the receptionist talked me into trying zumba instead. This time was the first time I planned it in advance (and had enough time to get cold feet). But I did it, I went, and I had fun. It’s pretty far out of my comfort zone, to put it very mildly, but I’ve somehow become a really uptight, constricted person, and this is just what I need to force myself back out of that. I’m used to dancing, of course, but zumba and Irish dancing couldn’t be more different!

Today I had debated trying yoga, but I wasn’t sure if I dared (or had enough time after work). Turns out I forgot to bring workout clothes this morning, so I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I won’t be able to get home and back again before the class starts. I don’t know how this happened, but I really like the workout classes, and I have to remind myself that I cannot work out every day. Not that much, anyway.

Plans for the rest of the week:

Of course I have plans. Tomorrow there’s one hour of dancing (usually there’s three, but summer classes and limited availability of somewhere to train and all that), and maybe I’ll do my strength program again afterwards since it’s so short. Or the full stretching program.

On Saturday and/or Sunday I thought I’d go to a few classes, except there aren’t many offered, so we’ll see. If not I’ll do my strength program again. There’s a beginner’s step class on Sunday that I might try, though. I could of course do something at home, but I really want to spend as much time at the fitness centre as I can now in the beginning, so that my irrational fears won’t stop me from going later on. Besides, it’s nice. I like the fact that I have become a person who trains at a fitness centre. That I dared, even if my friend, who also goes there, only went with me once. It’s not nearly as scary as I thought (but not nearly as un-scary as everyone said either).

Aaaanyway. Saturday is the day I’ll measure my flexibility progress, so I’ll check back in then and tell you whether I’m progressing or not. Until then!