The Christmas break from dancing may only be a few weeks, but it always feels like alot longer!  Perhaps in the Summer (which is a longer break), days are busier entertaining the kids, working and generally just trying to get out and about so the time passes quite quickly enjoying the sunny days whilst they last.  In December, the weather is miserable, so staying home in the evenings and at the weekend is a viable option…as is watching lots of films accompanied by lots of snacks!!  The return to dance class after this down-time really feels like a hard task!  Mentally…completely ready and raring to go…get me on that dance floor!    My body on the other hand is asking what the hell I think I’m doing!

Tuesday night was the return to evening dance class at DanceRite.  Next Sunday is the first regional medalist competition of the year and one of my dances that I have is Foxtrot.  When the music for Foxtrot started and I took hold with my Dance Teacher…this is when my body reminded me I have not needed to stretch up and out for over a month!  My last lesson was on 3rd December and class was the following Tuesday.  At this point I went down with Bronchitis and wasn’t well enough to attend my lesson on 10th December 😦 😦 😦

Essentially since 10th December, no dancing, no Zumba, not much dog walking in the cold air, plenty of rest, plenty of snacking and then Christmas happened…food, drink, staying indoors watching films…you get the gist!  The only stretching my body had done was to reach the Tia Maria tumbler glasses from the cupboard!!

Fast forward to January and I have started with a mini workout routine at home which I have been good with, started back at Zumba last week…yeah…not enough to prepare to be in a ballroom frame dancing with my teacher who is quite a bit taller than me…with heels!  (Mine not his…just incase you were wondering!)

Muscles of course warm up over the duration of the class and I was quite surprised during the Latin section of the class that I was able to keep up with quite a fast paced Cha Cha Cha and not get out of breath!

It’s so easy when there’s a break, to fall into the trap of resting too much…not that I had much choice this time around with my cough and cold as it’s more comfortable to slouch my shoulders and curl up on the sofa, not moving for a few hours at a time!  Without the cold…would I have been any better or more disciplined?  Hmmm…probably not!  I would have been eating and drinking and lazing around because that’s what is needed over Christmas!!  Everybody does it!!

All of the above said, I am so glad dancing is back on…even more so given there is a dance competition next weekend!  It will be my first competition in the over 35 category, which yes ok, I think maybe I’ve made a big deal out of, but as I was approaching 35, dancing against an age group from 16 – 35 years old…..it’s a heck of a difference!  I cannot move like a 16, 17, 18 or even 25 year old!  I’m not suggesting for one minute that it will just be a walk in the park in the next age range, but for me, it’s a more even playing field!!  I’m not the only one though!   A friend of mine who is 49, can’t wait to get into the Over 50’s category for the same reason!  haha!

So I have private lessons this weekend, class again on Tuesday, then more private lessons next Saturday ahead of Sunday’s competition.  Quickstep, Foxtrot, Samba and Cha Cha Cha to prepare …. along with dresses, jewellery, making sure I have enough hairpins, hairnet, hairspray, makeup and prepping my skin for my spray tan….just a few things!

A few followers have asked me about dancing and if I have any videos.  I may start to upload my competition videos to my youtube channel (Let me know your thoughts on that!) so I will keep you updated on that, but for now, here is a video from my Dance School of one of last year’s competitions….so for those of you asking…and indeed for anyone else interested, have a look at this…this is what my competitions are like….(around 1minute in is me!!)  Click the link below to have a peek!

Here’s to the start of the 2017 dance year!  Bring it on!

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments box below or on my facebook page. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook…links below xx

Facebook……….Twitter……….Instagram