Twist Confusion

Thanks to a coach who made me change my backwards twist direction when I was 27, I now twist two different directions: to the left on front twisting skill and to the right on backwards twisting skills. I could get by with this during my years as an adult gymnast because it felt very obvious when I was twisting a front skill vs a back skill (with the exception of a half-in, half out which I had to stop doing). However, now that I am spending all my time on the trampoline I am getting more confused. For example, when I do half twist to back drop should I twist left or right? It seems that I like to twist to the right out of a seat drop but when I do stomach drop, half twist I am twisting to the left (see pictures below).

I guess I could say that any twisting done from a stomach drop would be considered a front twisting skill and I should go the left (and vice versa for back drop, twist). But what if I try to connect front drop, half twist, back drop, half twist? Will I then twist back the way that I came?

All efforts that I've made to pick one direction only and twist that way have not worked out. I always feel more comfortable going to left on front skills and to the right on back skills. I guess I'm just going to be twisting two different ways and that's okay as long as I stay away from the more confusing skills (like half-in, half out).

More pictures

Here's a picture of me on the bar. No, my head is not really that close to the ceiling (the zoom lens makes it appear closer). But obviously, I'm not doing any cast handstands on this bar. It's great for kips, back hip circles, pull ups, etc.



Here's a few exercises on the reformer. I'm still chalky from bars. Chalk really has a way of getting everywhere.



This picture (below) really stretches. It doesn't look like it should but I do feel it quite a bit in the hip flexor.

More front drop practice

These are from the digital video camera (thus the low resolution). One of the drills I do for body tightness is being bounced on my stomach (below) and repetitive stomach drops on my own (bottom picture). My stomach drops have improved a lot recently, so I think it's time to start thinking about a front Kaboom (if I can do this without any pain??). I'll start with really low Kabooms first.

I have been slowed down by illness and a strained hand, so I haven't anything done really exciting. But I got a new digital camera so we took some pictures of my Balanced Body Allegro.

Painful Overpronating

I've always had over-pronation in my feet. I've also had a lot of terrible pain in my Achilles', knees and hips. All the doctors and physical therapists have commented about the over pronation problems. I really can't walk far at all, even with orthotics in my shoes.

So I decided to take a picture so I could see this for myself. My reaction is "ouch, I didn't realize my feet looked that bad".



Compare my Achilles (above) to my husband's (below). His Achilles' tendons look so straight.



No wonder the doctors and PT's are always surprised when they see my feet and ankles.

First workout of 2008!

For this morning's workout I focused on trampoline basics. Tonight I'll do more advanced skills.

R2D2

This is a picture of me with the R2D2 I got for Christmas. R2D2 is voice activated and responds to commands. He's a lot of fun to play with.

Playing with my food....

What goes with a chocolate house? A chocolate trampoline of course!



I purchased the chocolate house as a decoration (it's too pretty to eat). But I felt it needed something unique so I made the chocolate trampoline (yeah, I know the trampoline is bigger than the house).