Is there any hope for an inflexible older beginner?

[MariaAZ]

I'm a really new newbie, only four classes into my belly dance class and I'm getting very frustrated. After reading through this forum to see if others are having the same problem, I think I discovered what the problem is; I'm incredibly inflexible AND unable to isolate my ribcage from my hips.

If I do a shoulder shimmy, almost regardless of how slow it is, I can't keep my hips still. Same thing with rib cage slides (I don't know if that's the proper term). I tried doing them sitting down and although I know it's possible to do those moves without moving my hips, but the minute I stand up there they go. I look like I'm doing the twist. At least it's still a dance, just not the one I'm trying to do. I read on one thread about teaching beginners that this isn't uncommon in older students and it rather sounded like a daunting problem to overcome.

And then there is doing more than one thing at a time, like arms and hips and moving. For some reason, my mind is set on the idea that this is going to be impossible.

Although I'm taking class primarily for fun and fitness, I really DO want to be able to belly dance but I'm beginning to think I might not have the coordination to do this. I'd sure love to hear that there is some hope for me, and perhaps some tips on what I can do to improve flexibility and an ability to separate movement of hips, torso and shoulders.

 

[Marya]

Heavens, you are hard on yourself. I have seen teenagers with the same problems and yoga adepts that did everything backwards. 4 lessons is barely enough to start getting acquainted with all your body parts, let alone start isolating.

give it a year then decide.

Marya

 

[teela]

There is plenty of hope for an inflexible older beginner, its just a matter of doing it one step at a time. You have a start with four lessons but don't get discouraged because you might not be doing it as quickly as you think you should. After several years of lessons, there are several moves I have trouble with certain moves but I keep working on them.<grins> Do what you can and just keep working on it.

 

[Greek Bonfire]

Yes, there is hope! Only four weeks? See where you are at in four months! There is something about anything good can't be rushed. Just practice a lot but it does take time.

 

[AndreaSTL]

Cut yourself some slack, sister! There's no way to learn everything in 4-6 hours. If you did that we would all have to hate you! Seriously though, you are being way too harsh. Would you expect to dance with the Joffrey after the same amount of ballet lessons? Would you expect to paint the Sistine Chapel after four art classes? Hell no! A good dancer can make it look effortless, but it really isn't. Learning this dance is truly a journey. Some parts will be very easy for you and some you will struggle with. The most important thing is that you enjoy the process, even if it isn't a cake walk. Each time you practice you will gain flexibility, strength, and stamina. You'll get there!

 

[~Diana~]

What do you consider as older beginner? We have ladies in beginners classes who are over 50. Does not matter what age, everyone has the same problems because your body is not used to using those muscles, has not achieved flexibility, etc. Yes, being over 30,40, 50 probably will take longer to achieve flexibility but that is because most people lose flexibility naturally. A teenager is less flexible than a child or baby. However it is not impossible to create more flexibility with lots of practice and dedication.

I didn't even achieve any sort of flexibility until well after a year and so of taking classes weekly and practicing at lot on my own. Everyone is different but we would never expect anyone (no matter age) who only has taken 4 classes to be as flexible as someone who has been doing this dance for years. Shesh even now after dancing for over 4 years I'm still having problem areas.

Don't create a standard in your mind by comparing yourself to professional dancers, your teacher, other students, etc. They all will develop at different rates and times. Doing so will only turn you off the dance and create thoughts in your mind that you already stated you have.

 

[MariaAZ]

Thanks for the input and encouragement, it really means a lot These classes have pointed out exactly HOW uncoordinated and stiff I am, and I'm that student in class who just doesn't seem to get any of the moves. It's a three month class and my intentions are to complete it because it's so darned fun and the teacher is very supportive, but I'm hoping at some point in time I'll start moving a bit more gracefully.

 

[Darshiva]

When you're doing the moves while you're standing, imagine yourself doing them perfectly. There are studies that show that imagining yourself doing something is as good as physically doing it when it comes to practice, so when your body gets tired or refuses to co-operate, imagine it doing the right thing.

The other thing is to continue to practice the upper body moves when you're sitting down. It is extremely difficult for most people to get the upper body moving in isolation to the lower body and immobilising the lover body while you're practicing your upper body moves helps to train your body to get the moves right.

Keep at it, you're probably doing a lot better than you think you are.

 

[patiencepie]

I was really inflexable too and I, by chance, started taking yoga around the same time I started belly dance and found they complement each other real well. I had bad posture too and the combination of the two classes has helped so much and I feel great. At a few months I was frustrated too, I take a REAL long time to catch on to things (hard headed!) but I knew there was something about it I loved and it took about a year and a half before I could feel and see real results. Try some yoga if you can. And keep at it for the fun and the music for your own enjoyment. Keep going! Your probably actually doing great!

 

[MariaAZ]

I'm actually feeling much better, thanks to everyone! I realized I didn't answer a question; I'm almost 48 and have never been very physically adept. I will definitely continue practicing my upper body movements while seated. Moving the hips in isolation doesn't seem nearly as challenging, at least as far as slides go.

Well, it's off to class. Thanks again to everyone

 

[Gia al Qamar]

The ONLY 'inflexibility' you need concern yourself with is between your ears...not your hips and top!
I tell my students that they've taken the first step on a long journey...and given themselves a most WONDERFUL gift in coming to class. The 2nd gift you need to give yourself is the gift of patience. NOTHING will thwart your success faster than the pressure you're putting on yourself already.
Chillax. Breathe. Be inflexible, be uncoordinated, be a baby dancer...in a matter of weeks, you'll be AMAZED at the things your body can do!!!

 

[MariaAZ]

Gia, you are absolutely right! I LOVE the "inflexibility between the ears", it's so true and just the kick I need.

 

[Yame]

The ONLY 'inflexibility' you need concern yourself with is between your ears...not your hips and top!

Sooo true! Beautifully said, Gia!

 

[Shanazel]

Nobody kicks like Gia.

My oldest student was in her seventies. There is an absolutely delightful dancer in Cheyenne who started dancing in her sixties and is still raks-ing it as far as I know.
I will be 56 next month and things don't work like they used to, but I make the best of what's left. Enjoy yourself, Maria.

 

[Zorba]

Definitely you're too hard on yourself...

I've been doing this for 10 years now, and I'm still learning things all the time. I was so darn stiff when I started that it wasn't even funny. I couldn't even do a rib cage slide without my hips going along for the ride. Shoulder shimmies? Fuhgetaboutit! The muscle on one side was non-existent!

It took me FIVE YEARS to be able to do a decent standing shimmy...

Hang in there, girl!

 

[LadyLoba]

48 is nowhere NEAR an age I would consider an "older" dancer....I thought you were going to say you started after age 85 or something. And I think having trouble isolating at first is completely normal.

One thing I did when I just couldn't do upper body isolations was to sit down and practice them...that way I couldn't go moving my hips. I did my regular practice, then sat down and did snake arms, shoulder shimmies, chest circles, etc.

 

[goddessyasaman]

I'm a really new newbie, only four classes into my belly dance class and I'm getting very frustrated. After reading through this forum to see if others are having the same problem, I think I discovered what the problem is; I'm incredibly inflexible AND unable to isolate my ribcage from my hips.

If I do a shoulder shimmy, almost regardless of how slow it is, I can't keep my hips still. Same thing with rib cage slides (I don't know if that's the proper term). I tried doing them sitting down and although I know it's possible to do those moves without moving my hips, but the minute I stand up there they go. I look like I'm doing the twist. At least it's still a dance, just not the one I'm trying to do. I read on one thread about teaching beginners that this isn't uncommon in older students and it rather sounded like a daunting problem to overcome.

And then there is doing more than one thing at a time, like arms and hips and moving. For some reason, my mind is set on the idea that this is going to be impossible.

Although I'm taking class primarily for fun and fitness, I really DO want to be able to belly dance but I'm beginning to think I might not have the coordination to do this. I'd sure love to hear that there is some hope for me, and perhaps some tips on what I can do to improve flexibility and an ability to separate movement of hips, torso and shoulders.

Please do not give up, You will get better, In takes time and some are faster then others, My mother started taking the Belly dance class I was teaching and I teach her at home she was very stiff at first a not very flexible, but as she kept at it she got better. so keep it up

I can give you some pointers on the the shoulder shimmy that helped my students and the rib cage slide, let me know, I would be glade to send you an email on that

Either way Dance on:clap:

 

[MariaAZ]

I've found that sitting has really helped me. I concentrate on feeling the muscles (I believe they are the obliques) when I do the slide and try to repeat that when I'm standing. Seems to be working :yay:

 

[walladah]

Well, i stopped on your phrase

"have never been very physically adept"

and then i read Gia's comment.

You know, to the (inner or external) voice which says "you are not physically adept" (it usually goes with a "logical" explanations, like "you are too old, too tall, too short, too thin, too fat, too long-legged, too long-armed, too dyslectic, too sitting lifestyle, too many childbirths, too socially high to use your body for anything else apart form standing still")

we usually have three options:

a) we reply "yes, yes, i know, i will try my best and it would be a pleasure just to try, i am not aspiring to any results and i know that i will never become the dancer i would like to be, but i am happy to enjoy the music and the jinggling coins"
b) we reply "yes, yes, i know, but i will try to prove you wrong, prove you wrong, prove you wrong" (and spend our time having that voice as our judge that nevers is happy with our dance)
c) we reply "i did not ask for your opinion on my physical adeptness, i asked whether i can register now at class, whether this coin belt looks nice on me, and whether this will be fun". In case we cannot waste so much time answering nicely, we can reply something like "@$%#^% you" and anything that might be against this forum's policy.

welcome to oriental dance planet!

 

[MariaAZ]

Being not very graceful most of my life hasn't actually been anything that has caused me much grief. I don't identify myself as being that way, it's just a tiny aspect of my life that I know I CAN do something about.

Although I walk a lot, it's been years since I've taken part in anything that could be considered physical fitness. As a kid, I prefered spending time delving into books in the library to anything the PE teacher could come up with, and I have to day that attitude is still with me. I've tried the gym thing and aerobics class stuff but it all seemed more like WORK and not FUN.

Then I discovered belly dancing (my first exposure was actually several years ago but it took me this long to finally give it a go.) Being that I work from home and most of my human contact is via telephone and Internet, I was looking for something with a social element (the classes) but something I could pursue on my own. Belly dance seems to fit the bill, with the added plus that it's GREAT exercise. Even when I'm practicing the few moves I'm familiar with, it doesn't feel like I'm doing something that is improving my fitness (and confidence) level.

Early on I realized that belly dancing is something I want to develop some proficiency in. This is new for me because none of the physical fitness-type activities I've tried ever left me feeling that way.

And that is why I'm so happy to have found such a supportive group of people!