week 1

The first week of warmups was interesting for me, the warmups were easy to do, but the pain was there. Doing these warmups for the first time it was okay for me. It was quick and I enjoyed it even though I did feel some pain. I knew from this week that the warmup I want to improve on is getting my hands onto the floor with my legs straight.

After getting introduced to the warmups, Eloise made us all get into a shoulder stand; which is something I've done growing up just at home as a kid, never knowing it could actually be so challenging. You'd think getting onto your shoulders with your legs in the air would be easy, but really it is more complicated then that.

Eloise told me that for my first attempt at a shoulder stand, it was good. Moving my head and keeping my legs STRAIGHT up was my problem and is something I need to improve on. So I took that into consideration for the next week.

Progress

Warm Ups/Skills

week 2

little circles

This week things felt more painful and I guess that means progress right?.

Warmups hurt more and I kept giving up, especially when doing the arm exercises, 'Little Circles exercise' I call it. I really need to make sure I fight the pain, because giving up will not help. I think that to not let the pain stop me, I should do thesde warm ups more often, at home would help.

As for the shoulder stand, I have definetely improved. Making my legs straight when they are in the air, it happened. Aslo keeping my head/neck still and not trying to break my kneck, that also happened and I was very pleased, although trying to control my legs TOGETHER was an issue. Moving my legs in sync and not breaking them apart is very hard for me, as the pain defeats me, but it's something i'm going to work on more and even try to do it at home.

Stretching arms out to the side, straight elbows, pointed finger, small tight circles, up and down.

This helped me gain strength and muscle in my arms.

It does hurt.

No pain, No gain.

week 3

rising on haunches

This week things were really getting tough. Warmups as usual was tough and getting much harder for me, some harder than others, a few I was very confident with, getting onto our haunches, ;'tip toes', and rising up and down very slowly were one of my strengths and so was the hip/ lowser body excersises, moving them side to side, in a circle, alphabet; they were also some i enjoyed.

Eloise made us plank and I am still suprised to how well I did. I did not know i could plank for a long amount of time, I didn't know I could plank at all. We planked for 30 seconds and it may seem short, but when planking it feels like a lifetime.

I realised that when the weeks go by, the warups drag more and take longer as I am starting to get bored and enjoy it less.

Rising on haunches help strengthen muscles in your bum and shins. it helps you gain balance and control.

week 4

planking

During this weeks physical theatre, Eloise made things tough for us. Warm ups again got more painful, especially planking.

Elosie got us to plank for 3 lots of 30 seconds

- a normal plank for 30 seconds

- swapping legs, 15 seconds each leg.

- and a full 30 seconds of constant swapping.

I was very pleased with myself as I completed all of the planks without giving up.

My shoulder stand also improved, I got more into rising my legs up and down together although I did seperate them a couple of times without control. The pain dd get to me.

After the shoulder stand I did feel a stabbing pain in my back and was in pain for the rest of the lesson, so I need to make sure I'm more careful next week to see what caused the pain.

Planking is really good for core strengthening, and for good reason: it works – in large part because it engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously.

Itcan help us

- Give us a toned belly

- Reduce back pain

- Increase flexibility

- Improve your mood

- Improve your balance and posture

week 5

This final week the warmups were quite quick and we didn't do any shoulder stands as we focused on our public space performance.

Although i did notice a bit more strength in me.

I'm happy that I've seen an improvement in my shoulder stands and warmups, although I still got a long way to improve and gain back my flexability.

I should keep doing these warmups and exercises at home so that i can help myself get to where i want to be with my fitness.