I think we’ve hit the sweet spot. It’s just about three weeks in and already I’m tighter, more toned. And while I thought this was just happening in my stomach, I’m wrong. Others can see my shape changing in my hips and back and legs, too.
Not bad for a few weeks of work. Pretty impressive, really.
What’s even more amazing is how Danae has figured out how to trigger my weak points. On Thursday she noticed that I sort of hunch the top of my right hip up toward my rib cage. The muscles in my lower back and side there aren’t as strong. Meanwhile, the left side is completely over compensating. Which led me to mention how suddenly I fatigue much more on the right side while rollerblading. I think that made Danae happy.
“That’s because those muscles are finally firing,” she said. And she right. I skate for less than 30 minutes and my hip flexors and lower back on the right side are straining. Just a few weeks ago I could have skated for an hour and not felt worn out. Now that those muscles—especially the iliopsoas and the tensor fascia latae, I believe—are activated and working again it is as if they haven’t been used in ages, despite the fact I’ve been working out and exercising regularly.
When Danae realizes all this she really puts me through the paces, including moving me to mat exercises. Truth is, even though it has been nearly two years since my periacetabuler osteotomy, I still often have to lift my thigh up with my hands to, say, get in the car after sitting in the passenger seat.
I at once like and loathe the mat. I like it because it’s something new. And it definitely feels like a challenge. I loathe (loathe, loathe!) it because when I’m on the floor like this Danae has me doing exercises as simple (it seems) as leg rotations. Holding one leg in the air I draw circles. Sounds easy, but the truth is I actually grunt during this. I mean, I grunt like a tennis player on a serve, only louder and for longer.
Still, I can tell I’m getting stronger. My stomach is actually flatter and more toned, and other significant people in my life say they can see the difference in my legs and hips too.
Question is, am I taller yet? And can I do that handstand?