Darling Does it archive...

Nationally Qualified Npc Bikini Competitor / Artist / Designer / Model / Bellydancer / Fitness Enthusiast / Yogini / Dreamer / Wild Child / Assault Survivor / Rock 'n Roller / Gypsy Woman

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One of the many things I need to work on...controlled descent in straddle handstands and bringing my hands closer together. I would ideally like to hover the whole way down, instead of plopping my feet on the floor...I attempted to lower as slowly as possibly here and then I just got stuck lol #handstand #fitchick #acrobatics #straddlepresshandstand #crazysexyyoga #blackgirlyoga #yogaeverydamnday #strongissexy #bodyweighttraining #calisthenics #shoulderworkout #workout #practiceandalliscoming #splits #oversplit #overstraddle #contortionist

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Doing some much needed work on my shoulders tonight after work...the second exercise is crazy hard, for me anyway. I'm not nearly as straight as I should be, but it's a work in progress. Whenever I'm at work, I creep 👀 the boy's gymnastics team and just steal all their conditioning drills and add it to my vault. I'm learning a lot at this job 😆

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I haven't done silks in awhile. I'm always amazed how much easier it is to stretch splits and straddles in the air vs on the floor. #aerialist #gymnast #crazysexyyoga #aerialsilks #overstraddle #dancer #philly_igers #phillymodels #blackgirlyoga

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Work shenanigans ^_^ #crazysexyyoga #blackgirlyoga #yogaeverydamnday #yogaflow #acroyoga #handstand #gymnastics #acrobatics #yogalove #stretcheverydamnday #circuseverydamnday #handbalancing #contortion (at Upper Merion Dance & Gymnastics Center)

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I apologize for being Mia and not getting back to a few people. I haven't been feeling great so it's been awhile since I've posted, but last week was a nice break from things and I'm hoping I still have time to rehearse and crank out this choreography for shows at the end of the month. I had the chance to try a sensory deprivation float for the first time and I'm amazed how much better my neck and back feel after one float. I haven't done this stretch in awhile and my thoracic spine was feeling pretty happy, which is such a relief given how achy I've been feeling.

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I forgot to post this picture from the other day. My side splits are feeling so open and my middle back has been getting progressively more bendy. I'm thinking I should start training needles. I always thought it was pointless to do so because my front splits are so stubborn, but I'm curious to see what they would look like with my hips turned out. Hmmmm #dancer #crazysexyyoga #blackgirlyoga #yogaeverydamnday #yogaflow #splits #contortion #flexibility #acrobatics #aerialist #gymnast #bendy #blackyogis #circuseverydamnday #needlescale #philly_igers #phillymodels #fitchick

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Killing sometime at work. I don't know how I'm still functioning on such little sleep. Luckily today was just a very short training day. I'm so happy that I can practice here too, even if it's just for a few minutes..it does wonders.

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Some hip love. Just a few of the many mobility exercises I do for my hips prior to deep stretching. Hip circles, Leg swings, Plies, Side/Front Lunges with rotation, Internal External Rotation, Pigeon pose variation

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DC it's been real...real hot..It's probably frowned upon to do splits at the Lincoln Memorial, right..but really I just needed to sit down 😂 The sun is vicious. #lincolnmemorial #dc

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Working on my Vandamme muscles! 😅Someone asked me how I get perfectly straight straddles when inverted, this is one of the ways. If I'm already warmed up I'll do this with ankle weights. On a related note, who in Philly is up for going to open gym with me tonight for some stretching and Acro shenanigans? #philly_igers #phillyfit

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I hopped on the scale at the Dr's today and I'm weighing in at 143lbs! Hell yeah! I'm so happy to see more growth and shape... working out has really changed my whole perspective. There was a time when I weighed 120lbs and I was just happy to have a low number on the scale... those days are long gone. Building strength and muscle is my no.1 priority right now, seeing those numbers climb means I'm doing something right. 😊

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A few people asked me about my warm up for middle and side splits. Would anyone else be interested if I did a video tutorial on hip openers for these splits on You Tube? I

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1 month progress! I think that's pretty good for a month, yeah? I know I shouldn't hyper extend my elbows in the 2nd photo but they just do that naturally and putting the bend in my arms makes this pose so much harder to maintain, especially with the deeper bend in my back.

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I'm selling this gorgeous White/Cheetah print Unitard. It's only been worn once for this photo shoot at the beach. It's made from durable supplex so it's stretchy and strong, perfect for Crossfit, Hot Yoga, Aerial, Acro and Performances. You won't find anything like this here in the states. Trust me, I've tried 😉 Size Medium $99 obo Free Shipping!! 💌

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Recap: In February I subluxated my left hip, got hip capsulitis and iliopsoas bursitis and lost both front splits and middle splits. After the injury I regained my front split on the left side and not the right. (Previously my right was the side I could do splits on and not my left) I did all hip stabilization exercises as requested by my PT which brought back my middle splits and helped increase stability in the joint and I no longer have any pain with internal or external rotation. However, these exercises did nothing to help with the imbalance in my left and right iliopsoas and the medical professionals didn't seem to interested in helping me get to the bottom of why one side was slightly more flexible than the other haha so I kind of had to figure that out on my own. I mentioned awhile back that I discovered the imbalance is in my piriformis and I started training both sides individually 3-4×/wk and it's been a few weeks now and my lateral side stretch is now the same on both sides and my right front split has returned. (Mind you, I did not alter my stretching routine... if anything I might have done less stretching than usual) Now my hip flexor pain is gone. I still need to work on releasing some trouble spots but I'm pretty happy. 😊 I'll do a proper before and after of the lateral stretch while in a seated straddle this week.

[darlingdoesit-blog]

I almost have a booty! It's been awhile since I've done a progress photo. I'm happy despite this being a crazy month that I haven't lost too much. I'm looking forward to getting back into my routine and feeling like myself again.

[darlingdoesit-blog]

Cool shot from Crave Photography from my performance last week. I was so sad I couldn't wear the pants I made, but it was way too hot and they didn't really pass the bendy test. Trying to make costumes that are bellydance and contortion appropriate is tricky.