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ways of thinking about injury

topic posted Tue, June 26, 2007 - 6:37 PM by  offlineChelsea
I'm curious. And hopeful.

I recently suffered a pretty bad back injury that's knocked me out of dancing (and most non-hobbling movement) for three weeks, and probably will continue to for another two months. It's depressing and frustrating -- I'd just started to feel like I was making progress, and WHAM, I can barely move....there goes all my muscle tone, all of the dance goals I'd been setting for myself & our troupe, the musicality I'd been trying to build, the gradual intuition that had fiiiiiinally been building for how the moves flow into each other to truly DANCE to the music rather than flail or drill.

This tribe has always been wonderful for fresh perspectives, positive, sacred ways of looking at dance. Does anyone out there have any similar ideas for dance-injuries, even when they're keeping you from dancing entirely?
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Chelsea
online Chelsea
North Carolina
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  • Laura
    Laura
    offline 23

    Re: ways of thinking about injury

    Wed, June 27, 2007 - 1:05 PM
    Hi Chelsea,
    I'm so sorry to hear about your back! My suggestion would be to zill. Zill Zill Zill! Lay in bed or sit in a comfy chair and work on your rhythm identification and zill to your favorite music. Also, just try to do what you can. Can you do arm patterns with zills while sitting or standing? Watch dance videos and choreograph something in your mind. I know that when I am rehearsing intensely, I usually dance in my mind to prepare. Lay in bed and go through every move mentally, envisioning your troupe around you. If you are a tribal dancer, envision multiple combinations of moves you can do when leading. I guarantee that this visualization exercise will help you when you reenter the dance scene. Also, visualizing yourself dancing and healthy may help you heal faster. As you start to heal, maybe lay in bed or in the bath and practice belly rolls with just your abs. Good luck and fast healing!
    Laura
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  • palika
    palika
    offline 200

    Re: ways of thinking about injury

    Wed, June 27, 2007 - 6:17 PM
    Sorry for your injury Chelsea, but you don't have to lose anything that you've gained. The most powerful learning tool is in your mind. There has been tons of research on the process of visualization and physical performance and learning. By closing your eyes and visually and mentally going through the movements - that is see yourself doing them, the repetitions, the arms, the posture, the pelvis, you can do an entire class for 1.5 hours through visualization. Do this about 3x per week and when you're ready to slowly move again - pow wow!!! you'll be amazed at what you can do.

    Performers and pro atheletes are taught to do this regularly and the research shows there is very little difference between actually doing the practice and doing the practice in your mind. I teach this aid in beginning classes through advanced for learning choreography and the students that do it, are usually further ahead in skills than those who do not.

    If you keep it alive in your mind, your "intuition" re body/mind/spirit will stay intact and may in fact actually improve. So start going to mental class. I suggest when you go to bed at night do a minimum of 15 minutes.
    Blessings and happy healing - try comfrey tea and nettles to aid your back.
    palika
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