Improve my flexibility

I’ve stretched the last few nights in a row, including backbends. I think I should start doing some stretches before getting on the ice…never have I been so nonchalant about warming up prior to practicing a sport! I guess I have a complex that if anyone sees me stretching and then sees me skate, they’ll think I’m not good or advanced enough to even bother warming up, that I must have an inflated sense of my own skills. I’m so jealous when I see girls practicing jumps and spins off-ice and I desperately want to, but how can I justify this when I can’t even do a bunny hop or a waltz jump yet? It just looks so cool, and they seem so focused and athletic and graceful…I long to be good enough, to be able to take skating that seriously.

Some light strength training and hamstring and hip flexor/quad stretches from 7 -7:30 am. Also did some splits last night. Really have to be more consistent here, if I want to see results.

Ok, so the immediate goals are:

—Be able to do a good off-ice spiral and/or Bielman
—Be able to do forward splits on both sides and a straddle split

I’m already pretty flexible, but I want to be even more limber so that I can improve some of my figure skating moves, like the spiral.

Went to yoga today…I think I’m very weak! I really need to spend more time on strength training. I like the deep stretching, but I definitely prefer pilates to yoga. I feel like yoga can screw me up if my form’s not right but the teacher never corrects…I just don’t think my wrists and ankles are supposed to hurt so much from holding the positions…maybe that will improve if I keep going. Also maybe my form will improve as I get stronger, and then I can concentrate more on breathing and less on coordinating. Warrior positions are so difficult to hold!

I think I’ll take a few ballet classes as well when I get back to school.