My sister-in-law took belly dancing classes back in the late seventies. I think she did it for awhile. She had the scarves and coins and things so she was pretty serious about it. I've been actively looking for a class since I started these adventures. I found one in P'burg but they wanted you to take 15 classes. No thanks. I'm not signing up for 15 classes until I know I like something. This class was advertised in the yoga studio newsletter and you could take one class for $15, or 8 for $75. Signing up for a series has it's benefits.
The instructor was Tahya, and she's been teaching in the Lehigh Valley for almost 50 years. Heck, it might even be the same instructor my SIL had.
After some introductory material we began by stretching. The stretches were a bit different than in yoga or exercise class. We stretched our feet, fingers, ankles, shoulders and hips. Then we started in on the movements. I think I was kind-of doing okay, but then she started combining things and I was gone. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Everything is very isometric so you don't really think you're working out, but you are. My fingers, ankles and shoulders all hurt. By the end of the class we were doing beginner dance moves. In many ways it reminded me of tai chi and qigong and even my nieces pole dancing studio.
I have to decide soon if I'm going back. The class minimum is 4, and we had 4 today. If I don't go back, no one else does. But I have reservations. Not that I'll get any better at it, I probably won't. But it's in west Allentown, at lunch time on a Friday. And it's winter. Eventually it will act that way. Do I want to commit to 8 weeks of driving in the snow? Plus I have nobody to go with. Always my best motivator. My roomie thought I was at a meeting today.
I'm listing excuses. Does that mean I really don't want to do it.
My brother David was one of my most loyal readers. For the past 18 months or so he has be oxygen dependent and could no longer move freely about to work or travel. The belly dancing sister-in-law is his wife. I was really looking forward to him read this post and him sending me a message. But that's not going to happen. He died yesterday. His son five weeks ago. If you are a believer, which I'm not, they are together again fishing, throwing boomerangs ,and smoking meat. I am thankful that he is no longer burdened with oxygen tanks and that he's no longer in pain. I miss him a lot and it's only day 2.
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