Have you ever looked at one object too long or said a word too many times in a row? Does it start to distort after awhile? Say "parallel" ten times. Does it start to sound weird? Like syllables, then letters, then sounds running into sounds like a unwieldy chain reaction?
I'm probably getting too deep here, but the most disturbing thing about my hour long barre class was looking at myself close up in the mirror for an hour without anyone blocking the view. In fact, the primary job of a new Barre practitioner (other than overextending and feeling foolish and old) is to stare at oneself and critique form.
To be clear, this wasn't Barre per se, but an exercise program that has been trademarked and franchised much like Jazzercise in the 80's or whatever there was before Jazzercise. The Dailey Method boasts:
"The Dailey Method combines ballet barre work, core conditioning, and muscle strengthening through yoga, pilates, and orthopedic exercise. Unlike other group classes, The Dailey Method ignites awareness through hands-on training and education. Our intrinsic focus on alignment and strength results in better posture, better movement, and a better you"
Ballet and a better me? Yes please! I was expecting a ton of plies and I thought that I might like it as it might get me in touch with my little ballerina. The ballerina that never was. The ballerina in a shot-putter's body. The ballerina hidden in the fat rat costume. Sigh. Ready for a better me!
Overall, this is not a plie class AT ALL. They play contemporary music (that was just ok, kind of hokey.) You workout in a small room with a ballet bar and all the equipment you need (which is nice bonus.) You and 10-15 other women do the toughest body weight exercises you can imagine in front of a mirror.
I was admittedly distracted. I had a headache and a million things on my mind. I thought the rug was ugly. I focused too much on $10 nubby socks I had to buy (you don't need nubbies because of the ugly carpet. I got suckered, but they say DON'T TUCK on the sole, so it's cool.)
Trying to shrug off my personal issues, I turned and faced the mirror. After about five minutes of staring at the mirror and watching the alignment of my hips, I started to wonder if that woman was me. I also realized that I look weird when I am straining my neck. It's awfully good that I am not in a position to strain my neck in front of the mirror often.
The exercises were difficult to say the least. I spent several minutes of my hour just calling it quits while the other gals pressed on with red faces. I spent another several minutes with the instructors hands on my hips, shoulders, legs, and head correcting everything.
And I started wondering- how does the instructor know? Really? This is a method that was concocted by one woman... how does the original creator know? Turns out shes a Kienesologist, so that lends cred to the correct position. Also, when the instructor corrected me, it felt harder, so there's that. They focus on micromovements. Micromovements?
I couldn't find much on micromovements, but I can tell you my soreness was different today. I don't know how to explain it, but my "muscles under muscles" feel sore.... sore in a good way. I think the Dailey Method would be a great way to gain posture, balance, flexibility, and work muscles you're not used to- just like they say they would.
The instructor was kind. The women taking the class were not. I can see why. Doing that multiple times a week would make me bitchy too. It was hard work.
I'd give this a NO F'ING way, but I think it's because it was so difficult. I might try a different barre (no trademark) and see how I feel about it. Maybe something where I can turn off the mirror intensity. PS: The inner ballerina was not satisfied. She hardly did one plie, no pirouttes!
Attention Barre trainers... if you're going to make the girls go through all this pain, at least give them a pirouette at the end!
This is definitely not a knock on the Dailey Method. Just as of today, it's not for me. I know I would start making excuses immediately after signing up for a year long membership. Or if I continued with Class Pass, this is one I'd be cancelling constantly. It's tough. I'm a marshmallow. What can I say?
Off to find some ballet shoes so I can pretend more convincingly. Maybe a rat costume might help.
I'm probably getting too deep here, but the most disturbing thing about my hour long barre class was looking at myself close up in the mirror for an hour without anyone blocking the view. In fact, the primary job of a new Barre practitioner (other than overextending and feeling foolish and old) is to stare at oneself and critique form.
"The Dailey Method combines ballet barre work, core conditioning, and muscle strengthening through yoga, pilates, and orthopedic exercise. Unlike other group classes, The Dailey Method ignites awareness through hands-on training and education. Our intrinsic focus on alignment and strength results in better posture, better movement, and a better you"
Ballet and a better me? Yes please! I was expecting a ton of plies and I thought that I might like it as it might get me in touch with my little ballerina. The ballerina that never was. The ballerina in a shot-putter's body. The ballerina hidden in the fat rat costume. Sigh. Ready for a better me!
Overall, this is not a plie class AT ALL. They play contemporary music (that was just ok, kind of hokey.) You workout in a small room with a ballet bar and all the equipment you need (which is nice bonus.) You and 10-15 other women do the toughest body weight exercises you can imagine in front of a mirror.
I was admittedly distracted. I had a headache and a million things on my mind. I thought the rug was ugly. I focused too much on $10 nubby socks I had to buy (you don't need nubbies because of the ugly carpet. I got suckered, but they say DON'T TUCK on the sole, so it's cool.)
Trying to shrug off my personal issues, I turned and faced the mirror. After about five minutes of staring at the mirror and watching the alignment of my hips, I started to wonder if that woman was me. I also realized that I look weird when I am straining my neck. It's awfully good that I am not in a position to strain my neck in front of the mirror often.
The exercises were difficult to say the least. I spent several minutes of my hour just calling it quits while the other gals pressed on with red faces. I spent another several minutes with the instructors hands on my hips, shoulders, legs, and head correcting everything.
And I started wondering- how does the instructor know? Really? This is a method that was concocted by one woman... how does the original creator know? Turns out shes a Kienesologist, so that lends cred to the correct position. Also, when the instructor corrected me, it felt harder, so there's that. They focus on micromovements. Micromovements?
I couldn't find much on micromovements, but I can tell you my soreness was different today. I don't know how to explain it, but my "muscles under muscles" feel sore.... sore in a good way. I think the Dailey Method would be a great way to gain posture, balance, flexibility, and work muscles you're not used to- just like they say they would.
The instructor was kind. The women taking the class were not. I can see why. Doing that multiple times a week would make me bitchy too. It was hard work.
I'd give this a NO F'ING way, but I think it's because it was so difficult. I might try a different barre (no trademark) and see how I feel about it. Maybe something where I can turn off the mirror intensity. PS: The inner ballerina was not satisfied. She hardly did one plie, no pirouttes!
Attention Barre trainers... if you're going to make the girls go through all this pain, at least give them a pirouette at the end!
This is definitely not a knock on the Dailey Method. Just as of today, it's not for me. I know I would start making excuses immediately after signing up for a year long membership. Or if I continued with Class Pass, this is one I'd be cancelling constantly. It's tough. I'm a marshmallow. What can I say?
Off to find some ballet shoes so I can pretend more convincingly. Maybe a rat costume might help.
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