Valentine's Activewear Wish List

Dear husband,

If you want to get me something for Valentines Day, here are a few ideas:

Werkshop leggings in heart prints

If I taught fitness, this is what I'd wear Feb. 14.


S'well water bottle in hearts

They have a whole Valentine's collection. I also like the pink bikini bottle.

I do need a new water bottle. I lost two in the last four months.

Carbon 38 also has a Valentine's Day edit full of hearts, red and SEXY activewear pieces.

Splits 59 also has some cute heart leggings.

And I could use a new purse (the handle broke), this pink Vera Bradley bag is lovely.

And I'm sure I'll see a few more Valentine's Day promos in my emails in the coming days.

Is there any activewear you want for Valentine's Day? Or just chocolate?

What I learned in my flying trapeze workshop

I took my last workshop class. It was six classes on Sunday or Wednesday night. I think my big takeaway is that I have so much more to learn.

I started learning my one-handed take-off. I started learning my swing. I'm still working on both. But a swing does usually take a while to learn. Everyone told me this.

I didn't learn as many tricks as I thought I would over the 6 classes, because I had to learn so many of the foundation skills. And because after the front end tricks—the tricks get harder. They're not one-class tricks anymore. And towards the end of the workshop, I worked on perfecting my two tricks for the end of workshop show, so I could throw them even when nervous.

I did catch both of my show tricks at class tonight ;) (Woot! Only person with two catches tonight. Bonus: Two catches for two tricks)

Backend Straddle. 

Seat roll. Wonky catch. I need to straighten out after coming off the bar. 

Also, I got to swing with Kaz on the bar. I didn't think he was serious when he said we were both going to swing on the bar. But we did, so I could feel/see what my swing should be. Forward, backward, forward, extend, etc. Once I got over the extreme embarrassment of it, it was actually helpful. But it took at least five minutes to stop being embarrassed. (I still need to be smoother, one fluid motion, maybe more relaxed than I am now.)

It starts off okay and then my timing gets off

It was my first class with a rain delay.  The weather has been gross all week. The forecast for today was rainy but I was confident it would clear up for the class. The morning started out cold and rainy and then cleared up and got up to 75 by the afternoon. So it was beautiful at the rig. But about 30 minutes into class, I hadn't even had my second swing, it started sprinkling gradually. And then it was a light rain. (My iPhone weather app said CLEAR even though the phone was wet. It's in an Otterbox so it's fine.) But it's looking like the weather might not be great for the show Sunday. The forecast is currently 100% chance of thunderstorms.

Since it was the last workshop class ever, I did end up buying a T-shirt. And then since it was $5, another T-shirt. So I can look legit when I go to other rigs.

Here's what I learned in the workshop:

1. I started working on my swing. So I learned most of this. (Still on forward, backward forward, not Seven, Hollow and Sweep)
2. I learned how to take off my safety lines. And I got a lot better at unhooking them and walking them to the board. (This got noticeably better!)
3. Trick: Backend straddle
4. Trick: Backend split
5. Started to learn trick: Straight jump
6. That I'm still a belt hold. I can work towards not being a belt hold, but for now, I am.
7. The importance on filing down your calluses so your hands don't rip. (I don't need grips yet, but do make sure to chalk your hands before your swings.)
8. That going to the trapeze rig once or twice a week really helps. It's amazing how fast your muscles forget a trick.
9. If you take a night class, wear white or neon to show up in videos.

I think I am better than when I started the workshop. The safety lines might be the biggest difference.

I'm very glad I got the opportunity to do this workshop and to take trapeze classes this fall. I love it.

Not making the team

Summer Leap workshop students

I have been absolutely pumped to do a flying trapeze workshop. I wanted to do the one this summer, but didn't really have the money. I watched it sell out in three minutes.

This time around—I found the money. I got a small raise. I justified that if I gave up my barre membership and took free classes, and stopped eating out—I could afford the workshop.

I checked for the workshop posting religiously. And it never came.

Finally, I emailed the owner—figuring they weren't having workshops. She said they were—they were just never posted. And they misread my email and thought I wasn't available.

I almost cried. I had been so excited about it. I was really looking forward to it.

I was on the interested-in-a-trapeze-workshop list. I responded to the survey—that I might be interested. I was waiting to see when the classes were and to see how my schedule was looking. I was waiting for the posting. It never came. They offered the next workshop to the people in the last workshops. And filled the few spaces with people who (like me) didn't get a spot last time either. I was never asked about the workshop this time—just a survey. Which I figured was gauging was whether they had interest for two or three workshops.

And I feel like I didn't make the trapeze team. I wasn't cool enough or good enough. Only the kids who are already awesome made the team. And I want to work on trapeze skills—and get to that level, but it's so hard to get my foot in the door.

How do you get into a workshop if they're only offered to existing workshop students? I understand being loyal to your paying clients, but what about new clients and growing your client base?

I didn't cry. I just felt like it for the rest of the day. I can always buy a 5 or 10-class series and do that. I asked to be on the list of the next workshop, which will probably be in the spring, which seems like an awfully long way off.