Ashley's Blog, Part 3: Intro to Bruises
Week 2: Intro to Bruises
By Ashley
Class two of aerial silks, record breaking rainstorm in the TriCity area, still recovering from last week, but sure, why not, let’s see how things go! Little did I know how many bruises I would find the next day.
Week two feels less intimidating as I kind of know what I am getting into. Still doesn’t change the fact that I still feel overwhelmed entering the studio knowing I will be learning something new and quite possibly going into the air (as I mentioned in blog one, I am terrified of heights and kinda like my feet on the floor at all times!)
As the class starts, Kristen mentioned that we are now leaving the knot behind (but I really liked my knot) and starting to learn climbing (eeek!). Ok so, just to caveat before we get into the climbing details, I named my silk Ruby. She is named after a character in a book I recently read. She is totally awesome and a bada** who doesn’t let anyone down. Here’s hoping my silk does the same for me!
So on to climbing. We start with the basic climb wrap, which is taking the silk, strategically wrapping around your foot and then pulling yourself up to step on top of the silk with your other foot (definitely not as easy as it sounds.) I was able to get 2 inches off the ground! Honestly, I was so excited! I really didn’t think I could get up at all!! I struggled a little bit with hand grip, but I just keep telling myself this too will come in time.
After learning the basic climb wrap, we moved on to the foot lock (similar to the knot, but actually around your foot for support and can be moved as you go higher in the air. Unlike the knot, which feels safe and secure near the ground). Now I feel like this I can handle. I have been watching my kids do this for over two years, so maybe something has stuck. And yes, I was able to do the foot lock. Success!! Pulling myself up into it however, man oh man, my feet were not impressed. Little did I know that I would have bruises on my feet by the next day. That’s not to say it was painful, but uncomfortable is the better word here.
Now I mentioned bruises at the beginning, and the fact that foot locks were uncomfortable and my feet are bruised, but also working on side leans (we learned this last week in the knot and this week were working on them in the foot lock) places the silk on your inner thigh which is supporting your weight with your other leg. Let me tell you, the bruises are beautiful, lol.
With anything physical, especially learning something new and your body adjusting, scrapes and bruises happen, as well as sore muscles and your body wondering what the heck you are doing. Finding those small successes though, and feeling like I can actually do something amazing: worth every bruise and ache!
Stay tuned next week and we will see how I am improving and how high I am getting!
- Ashley