[Epsilonte]

Hello there!  

 

Obligatory introduction: Hi, I'm Epsilonte, 33 years old, physiotherapist to be and part time pole teacher. 

 

Last challenge I focussed on the good things in life and I want to continue to do so (list from the last challenge:)

 

Spoiler

Feel good things are (non-exhaustive list, in no particular order):

• Sleeping enough (7-8 hours) or sleeping in (bonus if it's the day after a good workout. Nothings feels better than snuggling up in the morning when everything is sore.  ) 
• Feeling sore after a good workout. I don't always feel good during the workouts, but afterwards? Heaven. xD
• Taking a hot shower or bath while feeling sore after a good workout. I do really like feeling sore... xD 
• Doing fun stuff on the pole (and maybe posting something on my Instagram story about it)
• Going to the gym/pole study with friends - much more fun than doing it alone
• Spending quality time with my husband (sitting next to each other playing different games is also nice, but doesn't count for this)
• Cuddling my cats
• Doing my dailies in Guild Wars 2, and also: running around with the guild, best done on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (most often Friday and Saturday are good for this as well). But: only after 7 pm. (6pm on no-school-days and for the next week, I do still have free time right now after all.)
• Doing well in my exams at school... This one needs more (daily  ) preparation and is non-negotionable. Makes me feel really great though. And as long as I do one hour of studying (on top of classes - don't have that many in January), it's fine. 5 exams to go until the end of the semester.  
• Playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends
• Drinking a nice cup of tea or (decaf) coffee while doing my studying. Always gives me those nice and cozy dark academia vibes. 
• Eating food that is full of nice veggies and fruit and salad and makes me feel good.
• Dancing with my bellydancing friends - preferably live

 

But this time I want to make a proper challenge out of it and add some (semi-)daily things to the list.  

 

• Eat 3 (preferably 5, but let's start reasonable here xD) freggies a day 
• Eat 1 proper meal a day
• Do one little pole (or belly!) freestyle a day, just low flow bodywaves style to get back to flowing
• Practice my ayeshas (pole move) and handstands when I'm at the studio/gym (those two moves are very similar, I think they go well together and I want to improve with both, so let's focus on that for the next weeks. )
• Do 3 feel good things - this was last challenge and I want to keep it, see spoiler list above

 

Zero week will be chill and easy since I'm off school for that week (just work and dance and guildwars ❤️ ), starting week 1 when school resumes full force it will be... interesting. xD 

I also want to try using neat little emojis like @Alanna does because that looks so nice and pretty. We will see how long that wish will last.

 

[Alanna]

I cannot claim credit for the emoji strategy but I hope it works well for you! Look forward to following another fun challenge

[Mad Hatter]

5 hours ago, Epsilonte said:

Practice my ayeshas (pole move) and handstands when I'm at the studio/gym (those two moves are very similar

Really? That's so curious, to me ayeshas seem sooo much harder! They were never even in the cards for me, but even easier moves like butterfly feel vastly different than handstands to me.

[Epsilonte]

1 hour ago, Mad Hatter said:

Really? That's so curious, to me ayeshas seem sooo much harder! They were never even in the cards for me, but even easier moves like butterfly feel vastly different than handstands to me.

Interesting, it's exactly the other way around for me... xD I could do ayeshas (all kinds) just fine way back when I was stronger, but handstands? Nope, not without a wall or pole to hold onto... 

I guess they are only just half-similar, as one arm pushes (like with handstands) while the other pulls... But for me they always felt somehow linked.  Finding balance while upside down and stuff.  

 

2 hours ago, Alanna said:

I cannot claim credit for the emoji strategy but I hope it works well for you!

For me, you are the queen of emoji.  

[Mad Hatter]

50 minutes ago, Epsilonte said:

Interesting, it's exactly the other way around for me... xD I could do ayeshas (all kinds) just fine way back when I was stronger, but handstands? Nope, not without a wall or pole to hold onto... 

I guess they are only just half-similar, as one arm pushes (like with handstands) while the other pulls... But for me they always felt somehow linked.  Finding balance while upside down and stuff.  

Yeah I think it's the push-pull balance which feels so different, and also the fact that you're fighting the rotation around the pole. It's a lot more to think about! It's also much scarier.  

[deftona]

Following along again! 

[Gemma]

I somehow missed that you also have a bellydancing practice! I know very little about pole, but long ago and far away I spent a delightful three years training and performing with a bellydance troupe, and it brought me much joy. 

So lovely that you are intentionally focusing on good feels. 

[Mad Hatter]

5 minutes ago, Gemma said:

I somehow missed that you also have a bellydancing practice! I know very little about pole, but long ago and far away I spent a delightful three years training and performing with a bellydance troupe, and it brought me much joy. 

That's so cool!

[Epsilonte]

4 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

Yeah I think it's the push-pull balance which feels so different,

Bellybutton up it feels different, but for the legs it's quite similar I think.  I'll try to feel myself (that sounds wrong) tomorrow, when I'll try both of those things again.  

 

3 hours ago, deftona said:

Following along again!

Welcome! ❤️ 

 

3 hours ago, Gemma said:

I somehow missed that you also have a bellydancing practice! I know very little about pole, but long ago and far away I spent a delightful three years training and performing with a bellydance troupe, and it brought me much joy. 

That is very cool!! What kind of bellydancing did you do? (And why did you stop?)

For me it's not classical oriental style bellydancing but a good mix of improvisational dance languages (one ATS dialect, some ITS and then there is tribal fusion which is a whole other thing alltogether.  ). I just call it "bellydancing" since that is easier.  

 

 

 

Days 1 and 2! Already wrote about day 1 in the last challenge, but I'll include it here for emoji's sake.

 

🍊🍏⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ Freggies

🍕🍛⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ Meal

💃💃⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ Dance

🤸‍♀️⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ Handstand/Ayesha

❤️🧡⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ Feeling Good

 

Looking good so far.  After working for a bit in the morning I had another couch+book session, which was very nice. Then I went to take the cats to the vet for a check up, they are fine and fat kitty even got a tiny bit lighter, yay. xD Played guildwars all evening and had a lot of fun there (I have a tiny reputation going on in the guild of "always being happy" which is kinda nice. And quite true, I AM always happy when I get to play, so... ). Meal was rice with frozen veggies because nobody wanted to go to the store to get something fresh (but it's fine, still counts as veggies ).  Even had a second meal later consisting of... Pizza. xD I want to eat more real things and less pizza (ok "want" is the wrong word here... "should" fits a bit better), but we will see how well that holds up when school starts again next week. 

Dance was just one short song, waving along because anything more would mean vacuuming the floor and I didn't want to (also didn't want to distress the poor cats even more with the vacuum after we just came back from the vet). 

 

Tomorrow it will be a challenge to find good things, I think... My day starts with a dentists appointment, and afterwards I want to do my taxes... But I bet I'll feel a lot better after I did these two things and then there is always pole class in the evening.

 

[Gemma]

1 hour ago, Epsilonte said:

 

 

That is very cool!! What kind of bellydancing did you do? (And why did you stop?)

For me it's not classical oriental style bellydancing but a good mix of improvisational dance languages (one ATS dialect, some ITS and then there is tribal fusion which is a whole other thing alltogether.  ). I just call it "bellydancing" since that is easier.  

 

It was largely American Cabaret, with some Egyptian and Turkish traditional movements thrown in. We mostly performed at state fairs and other big local gatherings. 

I stopped because the military moved me away from Oklahoma City to a much smaller town, and I have now landed in a smaller town yet - the only dance classes within an hour of my home now are ballet (mostly for kids) and some very minimal ballroom. Oh, and Carolina Shag. Lotsa Carolina Shag. 

[Epsilonte]

10 hours ago, Gemma said:

It was largely American Cabaret, with some Egyptian and Turkish traditional movements thrown in. We mostly performed at state fairs and other big local gatherings. 

I stopped because the military moved me away from Oklahoma City to a much smaller town, and I have now landed in a smaller town yet - the only dance classes within an hour of my home now are ballet (mostly for kids) and some very minimal ballroom. Oh, and Carolina Shag. Lotsa Carolina Shag. 

Oooh that sounds lovely!!

 

Hmmm that's the downside of living in a smaller town. Have you tried online classes? I know it's not the same as dancing with a group of people in the same room, but still better than nothing? A lot of teachers started doing online (or hybrid) stuff when the big C hit, so there should be plenty of classes to choose from. And there is always https://daturaonline.com/ ^^

[Epsilonte]

Today was much better than anticipated!

The dentist managed to patch my tooth up one more time so that I can postpone the expensive new tooth until I actually work fulltime and make money again in two years. xD Plus it didn't hurt at all since this tooth already has a root canal... ^^(and it held for almost 20 years now, so I really can't complain). Yay. xD 

After coming home, I played some guildwars (strike one for the feel good list) since some of my guildies were already online (before lunch xD seldom happens) and it was fun.  After that I finally did my taxes and got them done in mere minutes (I think it took me less than half an hour) and it wasn't half as bad. Might even get some money back, if the calculator is correct. (not enough for that new tooth though, sad story. xD) As a little treat for doing the taxes I did something I haven't done in quite a while: paint my nails. I was one of those people that always have painted nails and long nails and I have about a gazillion different nail polishes... Then I started PT school. No more nails. No more polish (would be fine in most classes, but I want to look put together and  professional during exams and since we have about one exam a week... well... xD). Sad times. Now I'm wearing a very pretty deep dark blue and enjoy it every time I look at my hands.

Then I signed up for a new pole class for March (strike 2 on the feel good list  ), might be a bit much with everything March has going on, but we will see. It's only four weeks, I can manage that.

After that I spent the rest of the afternoon reading on the couch again (strike 3. ), and finished my book. That neverending story wasn't so neverending after all.  (We are reading it in my book club because two of us - one being me - never read it as kids... xD)

The evening was spent in the pole studio. ❤️ (Strike 4 :D) I even stayed for a bit afterwards with my fellow teachers to do some ayeshas and handstands. Handstands actually worked better today because my arms were already tired from pulling, but pushing was fine. 

Lunch was lentis and dumplings, snacks were an apple, an orange and a banana (second banana in the pole studio), plus a little dinner right now after pole consisting of bread, butter, paprika and carrots. Damn I didn't even notice that I didn't eat any chocolate today... xD 

 

Short version:

 

🍊🍏🍌 ⬜⬜⬜⬜ Freggies

 🍕🍛🥘⬜⬜⬜⬜ Meal

💃💃💃 ⬜⬜⬜⬜ Dance

🤸‍♀️⬜🤸‍♀️ ⬜⬜⬜⬜ Handstand/Ayesha

❤️🧡💛 ⬜⬜⬜⬜ Feeling Good

[WhiteGhost]

I have no idea what Ayeshas are but as someone working on my own push/pull shiny, I am with you in spirit on this 

[deftona]

8 hours ago, Epsilonte said:

plus a little dinner right now after pole consisting of bread, butter, paprika and carrots.

 

This is a strange dinner - was it a carrot and paprika sandwich? lol

 

It sounds like you had a great day with lots of feelgood things! 

[Epsilonte]

59 minutes ago, deftona said:

This is a strange dinner - was it a carrot and paprika sandwich? lol

Just some bread with butter and the veggies on the side.  I'm waaay to lazy to cut them up for putting on the bread... (especially at 11pm xD)

[deftona]

14 minutes ago, Epsilonte said:

Just some bread with butter and the veggies on the side.  I'm waaay to lazy to cut them up for putting on the bread... (especially at 11pm xD)

 

Oh was it carrot and peppers? I thought you meant this!

 

[Epsilonte]

5 minutes ago, deftona said:

Oh was it carrot and peppers?

Yes!! Aaah sorry, that got lost in translation there.

[Gemma]

17 hours ago, Epsilonte said:

Today was much better than anticipated!

 

 

Brava!!!

Also, you have inspired me to dedicated some time to a pretty manicure this weekend. Nail colors make me happy, and I tend to forget that whenever I stop painting them for a time. 

[Epsilonte]

18 hours ago, Gemma said:

Also, you have inspired me to dedicated some time to a pretty manicure this weekend. Nail colors make me happy, and I tend to forget that whenever I stop painting them for a time. 

That makes me happy! What color(s?) will you choose?

 

Yesterday:

Was kinda boring, but fine. xD Worked a bunch, played a bit, chilled a bit, went to class. I am not used to do two consecutive days of two classes each anymore. xD I was so dead afterwards. But a good kind of dead.  And again I trained for a bit after class with a friend and it was a ton of fun.  I'm soooo motivated to pole right now, I love it. The one class on Monday I do as a student really helps with motivation.  Also did a bunch of short silly dances while waiting for my students to arrive, so that totally counts as freestyling.  

 

🍊🍏🍌 🍏⬜⬜⬜ Freggies

 🍕🍛🥘🍛⬜⬜⬜ Meal

💃💃💃 💃⬜⬜⬜ Dance

🤸‍♀️⬜🤸‍♀️ 🤸‍♀️⬜⬜⬜ Handstand/Ayesha

❤️🧡💛 💚⬜⬜⬜ Feeling Good

 

[Gemma]

1 hour ago, Epsilonte said:

That makes me happy! What color(s?) will you choose?

 

Always a great question, I have quite a drawerful. The OPI color "Vampsterdam" is a sparkly, very dark purple - that feels right for this time of year  

[Alanna]

You are killing zero week! And with very spiffy tracking emojis . I like the handstand/cartwheel one! 

[Epsilonte]

10 hours ago, Gemma said:

Always a great question, I have quite a drawerful. The OPI color "Vampsterdam" is a sparkly, very dark purple - that feels right for this time of year  

Oooooh nice! I'm also wearing OPI right now, "Yoga-ta get this blue" (I love nail polish names. xD my favourite is Essie - Jamaica me crazy. xD). 

Purple is always a great choice.  

 

3 hours ago, Alanna said:

You are killing zero week! And with very spiffy tracking emojis . I like the handstand/cartwheel one! 

Thank you!! Might have gone a bit over board with them, but I like it colorful.

 

 

 

Killing it with the handstands this week.  

Today was a really nice day. I slept in (sorely needed as my everything was hurting from the last two days - but I like it that way, laying in bed feeling sore IS a feel good thing after all  ), then I got up, played some guildwars while watching trash tv (my guilty pleasure... Germany's Next Topmodel. It's so bad and gets worse with every year but I still can't stop watching it...). Then we visitied my SIL, had a great lunch and us girls did some poledancing afterwards (she got a pole for christmas... She took a few classes years ago and wanted to refresh her memory. I'm happy to help )  while hubby played with his nephew and niece. Very nice afternoon.

Came home to play more guildwars and eat pizza and tons of fruit. No ayeshas today, but I did do some handstand after pole.  If I see an empty wall, I HAVE to handstand.  

 

 

🍊🍏🍌 🍏🍎⬜⬜ Freggies

 🍕🍛🥘🍛🍕⬜⬜ Meal

💃💃💃 💃⬜⬜⬜ Dance

🤸‍♀️⬜🤸‍♀️ 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️⬜⬜ Handstand/Ayesha

❤️🧡💛 💚💙⬜⬜ Feeling Good

[Mad Hatter]

20 hours ago, Epsilonte said:

Killing it with the handstands this week.  

 

HECK YEAH!

[Epsilonte]

Quick update! 

 

Saturday: Gym, Pizza, Guildwars. ❤️ And a short break from playing for cleaning the flat. I had soooooo much fun in WvW yesterday, it was surreal. We had a tiny guild group going on trolling everyone.  Played until almost 2am (oops), but I've been so good with sleep lately, that one day off doesn't do anything bad.  Gym session was also great and we finished it off with some handstands.

 

Sunday: cooking (ALL the veggies ), then a bit of guildwars, then we played DnD and had a blast. And we finished early enough for me to join guild raid. I almost feel a bit bad that I have been playing so much lately, but: tomorrow the real life starts again, so I won't be able to play much anyways... 

 

🍊🍏🍌 🍏🍎🫑 🥦Freggies

 🍕🍛🥘🍛🍕🥘🍳 Meal

💃💃💃 💃⬜⬜⬜ Dance

🤸‍♀️⬜🤸‍♀️ 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️⬜ Handstand/Ayesha

❤️🧡💛 💚💙 💜💗Feeling Good

 

Not too bad for zero week.  Need to work on the daily dance, but the rest is looking good.

Also I had: 1 gym session, 4 pole sessions (incl teaching), 1 bellydancing session. Felt great!! ❤️ 

Also: all those fruits and veggies already pay off, I only ate one bar of chocolate all week. Usually it's more like one or two per day... xD 

[Mad Hatter]

8 hours ago, Epsilonte said:

I almost feel a bit bad that I have been playing so much lately,

Don't! If it makes you feel good, and you don't neglect other areas of your life (like friends or dance) there's absolutely no reason to feel guilty! Enjoyyyy!

 

I looove how colourful your tracker is, it's so pretty!