I also am not body smart. When my husband was trying to teach me how to dig out weeds with a shovel by jumping on it with both feet, I just couldn't figure out how to do it, and he got impatient. I had to tell him that although he is out of shape, he is naturally athletic, and I am not. He used to play all kinds of sports and run and bicycle etc. I am the one who was always going in the wrong direction in aerobic dance class, and couldn't catch or throw well in gym class and always got yelled at. And I love dancing, but if a dance has specific steps, I end up getting all tangled up. It just takes me longer to figure out how to do things. And I did eventually learn how to jump on the shovel, and I enjoy it - it feels like a real accomplishment.

I'm working with a personal trainer, and we've run up against this issue a few times, like when he wanted me to jump up on a step and then do a squat. It took me quite a while to figure out how to jump up, and then after I learned to do it facing forward, I went through the same challenge learning to jump sideways. Then last week he wanted me to do this twisting motion with a weighted ball and then throw the ball, and I was all tied in knots. I think I am going to suggest next week that we do it without actually throwing the ball, because figuring out the twist and then when to let go of the ball is too much for me at once.

What I've done when working with the trainer is to break the exercise into baby steps. Now where have I heard that before? And I've learned to have patience with myself and ask to be shown something as many times as I need to until I get it. If I keep at it, I can usually achieve some level of basic competence (like at least being able to stay on my feet on ice skates) even if I'm not very graceful.

I would love to see the judo. Mostly what has been shown on prime time is swimming and gymnastics, which I have been enjoying. I guess the judo and other more specialized sports are probably being shown during the day.
Allison

: I have just watched the Judo on the
: Olympics and shed a tear because
: it was so emotional. ( semi final
: Gemma for any curious Brits )

: Ive never really watched any olympic
: sport before - and its not because
: they are in London.... although
: that may be a small contributor
: Its because I'm not cross
: about sport anymore.

: Used to really bring my hackles up.
: But I am finding RR magic working
: slowly on me!

: Last night we had YLD chat and we
: were talking about movement. So
: interesting. I mentioned I have a
: bit of a low body smart thing ( I
: do admire those who are
: body-smart!) but I never do know
: where my feet are in relation to
: the rest of me and I am a bit
: unco-ordinated ( to say the least
: my family will say LOL) I am not
: very spatially aware.

: But it was really good to share
: because there are others who have
: similar concerns and I am not
: alone With that chat ( and
: the conversations chat of monday
: too ) I am getting more insights
: and ideas. I have a bit of a plan
: now about what I am doing.

: And the knowledge that my radiant
: friends who are body smart
: have already helped me so much on
: my way....thats a big thing as I'm
: really understood. Having met
: several very body smart people who
: have done their very best for me
: but it was hard to get me to
: listen. Theres a very different
: language of the body that I am not
: fluent in without a translator.

: Chi walking is good for me, and I
: have some toe exercises and leg
: stretches that really help me to
: sort out my spatial issues.

: Chat and posts here have led to some
: thoughts about sleeping properly
: and making sure thats part of the
: foundation to build my movement on

: Massaging my feet also is a self care
: thing that i have discovered- and
: neglected- and now rediscovered.

: Quite how this is all meandering
: round to me actually enjoying he
: Olympics is one of those radiant
: things I am a bit surprised about
: but also pleased. My daughter is
: going to call me for the final so
: we can watch it together. And I am
: going to carry on stepping gently
: into movement.