Ocean Breathing? (More like super loud breathing!)

First time we learned the ocean breathing I was truly amused. It was loud and not as relaxing as I thought it would be. The first time we did it I was mostly focused in how the class unison breathing sounded like and the fact that I could not regulate my breaths AT ALL! Maybe because of my smoking history, but I would run out of breath and feel that I was going to die! How do people find it relaxing? How do people hold their inhales/exhales for so long or so short?! It all baffled me.

All of this, until one day, I used it to sleep. I have bad sleeping problems. I was on sleeping medications a year ago and I thought it was unnatural for me to take a pill that was worth a lot money every day 15 minutes before bed to actually be able to sleep. So, I got off them as soon as it just took me an hour or so to fall asleep (instead of 4 or 5 and greeting the sun every morning). Ever since then I’ve used apps in my phone to get me to sleep, when I use those it takes me like 30 minutes, which is normal. Without it, whether it’s a nap or a goodnight sleep, it usually takes me an hour or longer to fall asleep.

One day, I tried, without the app, just the ocean breathing. Guess what? I was asleep so fast that I have no idea how long it took me! It was a great feeling and since then every time I have troubles, I use it. I mean, it’s no miracle, sometimes it still takes me an hour, but it feels better and feels like rest. I would rather have an hour trying to fall asleep while resting than an hour trying to fall asleep bored out of my mind.

Now that I’ve added working out to my lifestyle, I’ve also added ocean breathing during them. Because I have asthma (because of smoking), I have a very bad set of lungs. I run out of breath in no time while working out. Ocean breathing has helped me get the lungs going. Even while doing jumping jacks or abs, it definitely helps.

I’m very glad that I’ve learned all of these concepts and have been able to put them to use in multiple aspects of my life.

LIVE. LOVE. DANCE. (Redefining Goals)

It's almost the end of March. Spring break has come and gone, after 9 weeks of class, what's going through my mind? 

At this point of the semester, I'm trying to get as much as I can out of all of my classes. My goals for each of them have been redefined to conform new perspective and different focuses. I'm starting to look into what the summer might bring for me and how I might need to work towards that.

Dance Physiology has become very important for my summer plans. Apart from traveling to Spain with my family and my mom getting re-married, this summer, I plan on getting breast reduction surgery. Not for looks, dance or life, but for my well-being. At this point of my life, dance physiology class has provided me with a fresh perspective of conditioning and a reachable goal for health and fitness.

Conditioning/training classes on Thursdays have helped me expand my horizons of body conditioning and toning. As of today, I know that I'm not overweight or fat, however, I can work to have better core strength. Since I have no clue as of how my body is going to look after surgery, I've started on a very strict workout routine. I don't know when I'm going to be able to workout post-surgery, so I've made a plan that involves me, working out until surgery and see how it goes afterwards. 

This is what the “theory” classes on Tuesdays have helped me with. I’ve learned that while dancing is a good activity and definitely a workout, it is not necessarily a well-rounded workout. Recently, I’ve started working out with my roommate who is a runner. Our body capacities are almost completely opposite. I have flexibility and strength in my legs while she has stamina and core support, which makes abs and push-ups a lot easier on her.

This class has definitely made me see what my strengths and weaknesses are and not in a bad way. In no way, do I feel less of a dancer by admitting that I need to work on my core strength and stamina. If anything, this realization makes me a better dancer. Now I have something concrete to work on and focus. Most importantly, I have the appropriate tools to do it.