Average Lady Circus! @averageladycircus-blog - Tumblr Blog

More splits progress! Today my thigh touched the ground! Something I have been dreaming of for a long while now. This felt pretty awesome, I have to say. Now to get that hip down!

Splits progress

I applied to a grant!

Gimme money!

Haha, but seriously, it's not a fancy video or anything, I used Windows Movie Maker, but you never know! If I apply and I don't get anything I'm not any worse off than I was if I didn't apply at all. I think I could probably include harder things, but I can comfortably say that everything in this video I can consistently do. Well, with the exception of my splits, which look like splits but in reality (on the ground) are not really splits. But the air doesn't care. The air loves your splits either way. Thanks air.

So anyway, we'll see. It'll take weeks to hear back.

#circus #aerialacrobatics #aerialsilks #grantapplication #grant application #please can you fund me #trapeze #youtubevideo #choreography #averagelady

Backwards barrel rolls! I got a little mixed up on the first one, but then I did a few in a row! Super cool. Didn't expect this. I think the most I've done is like eight?

#circus #trapeze #dancetrapeze #fitness #aerialacrobatics #aerials #barrelrolls #yayme

Woop woop woop woop, easing into a Mexican hand stand! So fun, best day of the week.

#circus #handstand #flexibility #backbend #fitness

Handstand practice today at studio in essence! So much help and great instruction. I feel like I'm being challenged physically, but also mentally because sometimes that shit is scary. And that's okay! If it ain't scary it ain't worth it. Or maybe it is. But it's also nice to do things you thought you couldn't!

#handstands #handstand #training #upside down #circus #woopwoop #stretch

New Years Update

I haven't posted mainly because the circus things I have been doing have been more like, gruelling conditioning instead of pretty things to take pictures of. Circus things are still happening, just slightly less photogenic things. Working on floor technique and strength and flexibility, so hopefully (it's got to) it will translate into aerial training too. Also, more than anything I've been practicing like... Training with an open heart and mind. Pushing myself to take the help people offer in training. Being enthusiastic and hard working in class. Doing "a little bit more" than I feel like I can. Within safety limits, of course. I just know in the past I have been really happy to have mainly social classes, spending a lot of time playing or chatting, which is fine, but I don't think it's helpful if I really want to improve. Since it's in typical fashion to make New Years goals, I'll post some broad ones. Nothing too crazy, because I've been saying I'll get my splits for the last few years and that hasn't happened yet: 1. Take the necessary steps to learn to teach. This includes, asking for opportunities to learn in my every day life, and letting people know what my goals are instead of just hoping that they'll ask. Go to introduction to teaching aerials workshop in June! I already ordered the DVD so I'll have plenty of time to get prepared. 2. Improve flexibility in back bend and splits. It's okay if you don't get all the way there, but, let's strive for significant improvements! Train with the people that have the same style/ intentions as you. It helps. 3. Try swing dancing with Richie! Hopefully we're doing this next weekend. 4. FINALLY return to the falls that scare you!!! One and a half is the major one, but also double star fall. I sometimes tell this story about the first time I did one and a half, and how I let out the most terrifying involuntary scream. And every time I say that, I want the next sentence to be "and now I do it all the time!", and soon it will be :P That's probably fine for now. More than anything I just want to keep having an open and thankful heart and I think that I'll just improve naturally. Working on like, not letting my own self doubt hold me back.

#circus #personal #newyears #update #fitness goals #2014 goals #goals #personal goals

Revisiting this sequence from last Wednesday. Sooo happy that my arch before the drop is getting stronger,but I will say that Russian climb really doesn't do me any favours. It feels SO much easier but I think it looks worse. Also! My instructor gave me some advice afterwards about opening up through the chest and elongating my neck and gaze through all of the sequence, so that's something to work on!

Some practice. Not my best run through of this one, but that’s okay! Aerials is not a linear progression. A noticeable note of improvement: squaring the hips before the shifting of foot

#circus #aerials #aerialsilks #aerialist

Summer 2013 I think! Playing on the waterfront

#halifax #waterfront #backbend #handstand #bridge #wheel #yoga #play #flexibility #circus

Two of my favourite pictures from two summers ago! My partner refers to the second one as "the banana split", what a guy.

#aerial arts #aerial silks #aerials #silks #circus #splits #flexible #flexibility #mermaid #summer

I don't think I'll have any fun pictures this week. Not a lot of circus going on. On Monday I went to morning practice, and one of the performers/instructors there helped me with some crazy intense splits stretching, but I didn't really do a lot of tricks. Just climbed and stuff. I had a case of the soft hands, so I was not that great on silks.

But that stretching help/information was AMAZING.

Having someone help you stretch, especially someone whose not afraid to push you, is like.... the difference between a tv dinner and a fancy restaurant meal. So thankful. BUT ANYWAY, instead of fun current pictures, I'll post some old ones from the first showcase that I did maybe two years ago? It was Chicago themed and everyone was sassy. and our instructor was like 6 months pregnant and in fish nets, so that was adorable. She's great. OH BY THE WAY: My good friend Julia took these photos at the show. Here is her photography tumblr: http://juliarobinsonphoto.tumblr.com/

#trapeze #aerial arts #aerials #aerialist #performance #circus #chicago