LyraUpsideDown

Daw, thanks! Contortion really makes hoop an order of magnitude more fun than it already is! The snake is awesome in its own right, and double awesome in concert with the back fold. It really gives you good purchase while still being in complete control (unlike pretzel). Your teacher wants you to deadlift into cheststand *first*? Wow, that seems... really difficult. Like learning handstand press-up before kicking up into one. We usually either roll or lower down from a forearm/handstand. How are you preparing for the deadlift? Rehearsal today was rough. Four hours with some pretty difficult material, conceptually and physically. We're doing a version of Ovid's Metamorphoses and it is... really dark. Also en pointe. Some pictures from Saturday's show:

I'm with you on rewards - my wants are either attainable, in which case I just go and get them, or require prerequisites that I don't yet have. What do you mean when you say 'deadlift' into chest stand? Wall-assisted back stretches from tonight! Make sure to warm up your back before doing them. <3 First do a snake against the wall. Piked hips, arched back, straight arms and legs pushing you into position. Then, relax and slide down the wall into a back fold. Bring in your feet and press your hands against the wall, straightening your arms and legs. The activation from the snake before should make this one feel really good! Third, put your hands on the ground, about 4-6" away from the wall (or more; mine are too close here). Use your legs to push over your hands to your chest goes into the wall, opening up your shoulders for a full bridge. Rinse and repeat as needed. I like to do it at least three times daily. It can also be done on your knees to bring the stretch into the lower and midback more.

Luckily no meltdown occurred; I just get edgy and distracted when negative thought spirals take hold. If I figure out the human condition, I'll definitely post it here. Thank you! I'm excited to watch my butt sloooooowly get closer to my head. Someday! Where are you on your backbends? I can film some of my favorite pre-pretzel exercises tonight, if you're interested. Here's an attempt at filling in some 'Step 2s'. I'm unsure about long-term goals, so I've made short-term 'milestones' to achieve for now. Trying a nice minimalist app to keep track of my non-standard training regimen. On boarding was nice as easy (no yak shaving!), will report back if it is a useful tool. What do you use for rewards? I'm pretty stumped there as well. Isn't being able to sit on my head its own reward, when I get there?

It is sort of the opposite of spotting in ballet. Because the only reference plane that matters is that of the hoop, instead of trying to hold the world steady I just give up and refocus on the objects that affect me. Closing your eyes or looking at your hands/ the apparatus can help with this!

Sigh, wishful thinking! San Francisco - our summers are colder than our winters, sometimes! I love the weather here too, especially compared to the northeastern US, where I'm from. Yesterday was Existential Crisis/ Imposter Syndrome day! Some pep talks from amazing friends that basically amounted to, 'there is no purpose to life, but you'll get over it' helped, as did a healthy dose of contortion endorphins. Circus training is going swimmingly. Yesterday's little crisis of faith + a long chat with my housemate + Mad's Underpants Gnome thought experiment has determined me to more concretely define step 3: Profit, and then write a reasonable series of step 2's to get there. Luckily, this matches with one of my challenge activities, so I'll hop on that today!

True, it would probably have to be a weekend day to avoid work and school... J'adore California.

Haha, what a fantastic article! I must admit that I too have an outrageous collection of underpants. If there is one thing I am already grateful to these boards for, it is as a low-risk place to post videos. I don't seem to be able to record myself for myself, so having an external excuse to do so is So. Very. Helpful. @torpedotor, my underpants say that messing around with alternate handstands (like the S-shape, scorpion, stag, etc.) is not great while trying to master the straight handstand. Better to work on parallel skills like an arm planche or flag, which will increase strength and stability without digging you into the hole I'm in. http://www.fedec.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/m6en.pdf ^Very useful underpants

Congratulations! Roll-ups are so epic! And thank you for sharing the hybrid perspective! Something to dig through tonight.

Thanks Kat and Mad! Do you think there would be interest in a google hangout hoop/aerial jam? I'm interested in comparing styles and notes with people outside my training bubble! Lucky me, going to the burn is (relatively) inexpensive when you live in norcal. No plane tickets or remote organization make it sooo much easier. Good luck with your savings! Saturday evening I performed (sickly) at a half-burnt-down train roundhouse that has been abandoned for decades. My housemate and I rigged up silks and hoop and did a few shows for a Berlin-style renegade. Only my housemates noted my low energy, so that's awesome! Media evidence hopefully to come. Sunday I kept sleeping off the cold, then lazed around at a park-party and hosted a dinner for my house and art-group. No real training (and ate way too much delicious food), but an excellent way to take a day off.

Like you say, Mad! Having a straight (hollow body) handstand is more versatile for later progressions in handbalancing and acrobatics, plus all the other reasons. Also, it galls me that this 'feels' straight and isn't. I don't like my senses lying to me. And... extensive underpants collection? Probably autocorrect'd, but it made me laugh. Thanks Elastigirl! Wish I had your super power. How is your progression going?

Above my level too, by far. Her contortion work is also way impressive!

Sorry for the weather mehs For inspiration/self-teaching, I've been watching Haley Viloria's technical demo on hoop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGNJwW4z--c 1. She is ridiculously good and an awesome inspiration 2. Because it is a tech demo, the vocabulary is densely packed and stripped of most filler/flair (easier to see and learn from) Not the same as having a great teacher, of course, but I like it for self-training.

Must... stop... arching... back... (and staggering) Handstand video!

My favorite rip salve is Hand-E Balm. Ridiculous name, I know, but it totally saved my skin. Looking forward to seeing your bar-work!

Let me know if you get to Burning Man! I'll probably be going this year again. Getting over a nasty 24 hour bug, but I couldn't stay on the ground today. Nothing special, just jamming on the hoop: Some silly hoop tricks

So awesome, congratulations! <3

You're gif skills are masterful... allow me to counter with: motivating red panda!

Thanks Mad! There is some - the latest large weird art I worked on is the AMCP. Split calendar into commitments (places I will be at the certain time), training (also committed, but easier to see in a different color), and various social calendars for my house, art group, facebook events, and misc. invitations. All but the first two can be hidden by default, making life somewhat less distracting. Training schedule is (now, officially): Daily - Casual stretching, some form of sweating (yoga, plyometrics, running...) Monday - Contortion/handbalancing (two hours), play on hoop Tuesday - Flight Club (jam in warehome), focus on hoop and pointe Wednesday - Contortion/handbalancing (two hours), play on hoop Thursday - Aerial hoop conditioning, ballet/pointe Friday - Contortion/handbalancing Saturday - Stretch, miscellaneous active fun Sunday - Rest, foam roll, solicit massages from friends and lovers I may switch in an acrobatics/conditioning class and/or a dance class, but this is a good start! Filling in HabitRPG with these now...

Two weeks until the next challenge? Challenge accepted! MAIN QUEST To neatly pack my mental baggage for the next challenge period... Strip my calendar and HabitRPG of low-priority activities. Replace them with my current schedule of training [including blocked off times to train at home] and add to fill holes in practice. Ensure there is one day of recovery.Define goals in aerial hoop, contortion, and dance. Write daily homework to approach each of these goals (and if not already doing, start), brainstorm positive reinforcement reward systemsTake daily notes (even if minimal) in order to get into the habit of checking in with the world. Take pictures/video to illustrate SIDE QUESTS Life: Take photos - I require more pictorial evidence for alibis, progress tracking, promotion, and pleasureStudies: Continue studying ambitious rigging standards for weird, life-supporting art projectsFitness: Self-care - daily foam rolling, monthly massage/PT appts, hot packs MOTIVATION Haley Viloria, Sabrina Aganier, Bunny Holmes, Seanna Sharpe, Mike Estee, Karl Gillick Be the freak you wish to see in the circus

Thanks Sarah, Mad! I do think I'd make a good assassin... Darling Hatter, is there a challenge involving aerial hoop, contortion, or handbalancing that I could piggyback/apprentice on for the two weeks until the next challenge?

Hi crew! My name is Lyra, and I'm trying to find a little structure for the huge pile of things I do. In particular, I want to automate my good habits so that when a particular project consumes me, the rest of my Good Things continue at maintenance mode/autopilot instead of being dropped. I don't really know RPGs (except HabitRPG, which I do with my housemate), and the last time I was active on forums was during highschool... So I'm not sure how to attack this. Halp? Stats: 24 San Francisco, CA, United States 5'1" 135 lbs 16% BF I'm an aerialist (mostly hoop), amateur contortionist/handbalancer, and casual traceur. I habitually do other sports like rock climbing, hiking, and martial arts as part of my social life. I'd like to lose weight, including muscle mass from my pole vaulting legs. I've been using plyometrics for this, and they've been working to some degree. Other goals are increased flexibility, stamina, and grace. I'd like to be Mrs. Emma Peel, when I grow up. I live in a wonderful warehome with aerial and acrobatic equipment, so bodyweight exercises are my favorite. Pleasure to make your acquaintance! Lyra