Zip-Lining and Dancing

on Sunday i ventured to a zip-lining trail in Delaware with my family. i will describe with short phrases....

exhilarating
ADRENALINE
shaky
30 ft. above ground
do not look down
stay attached
strength
jump through the hoops
balance
screaming
Tarzan jumps
climbing rope
trees
rough landing
extreme sport
small steps
water
ladders

it was such a beneficial experience for all of us to do together. we were all able to bond over how different of an activity this was, the scare factor, and how we all pulled through and finished the course!

what surprised me the most, as a mover, was how foreign it felt to step onto unstable and/or shaky objects. Examples: standing on platforms in swaying trees, jumping from one swinging platform to another, or placing my foot through swinging metal hoops (while holding on for dear life). my muscles seemed to have no idea how to handle this sort of challenge, my legs felt useless, shaky and jello-like. although exhausting and scary, this challenge was so good, so outside of the box, for my body.

it was just another reminder to me about how comfortable we often get by DOING THE SAME. everyday, we step, and we know it will be solid ground. shocking my body by doing the opposite was so thrilling. we all know in order to be fit, we must shock the body; keep changing workouts, adding new challenges, etc. as dancers, the more we make ourselves uncomfortable, the more strength, confidence, and dynamics we gain. but as human beings, we need change, to grow, to be reminded, and most importantly so that we do not become complacent. that is when time, energy, ideas, and so much potential is unconsciously tossed to the wayside.

so, although i will definitely be zip-lining again, there are so so many different ways to throw a zig-zag in a daily routine. find them and insert them! into your dance, into your life :)

- kathleen