Strengthening Exercises

I’ve grown impatient waiting for my ankle to heal. (I know, hard to imagine, right?) I really just want to get back to dancing, but I know that my ankle is not strong enough yet. In fact, both of my ankles have been giving me problems as of late: my left one, of course, has the stress fracture, and my right ankle is sore from having to bear all my weight for the last month. So, both of my ankles need some strengthening before I get back to dance.

Being me, I have decided to get a head start on this strengthening process, and I have developed an exercise routine aimed at making my ankles (and feet!) more durable.

1)      Roll through each foot for two minutes, progressing from flexed to pointed and back to flexed again

2)      Point each foot and hold tight for two minutes, release slowly

3)      Trace the alphabet with each ankle, drawing the characters first forwards then backwards

4)      Balance on one foot in parallel position with your eyes closed, then do the same but turned out (this is actually a lot harder than it sounds, and it is great for building up balance as well)

5)      Three pliés and one grand-plié in first position, repeat five times

6)      Twenty relevés in first position

So far this routine seems to be helping quite a bit. My ankles feel a lot looser (in a good way).

Of course, I have also been sure to take my multivitamins and get plenty of calcium. After all, good nutrition builds bones and muscles! My recently acquired bone stimulator has been great help, as well. With all of these exercises, nutrients, and contraptions, I’ll hopefully be back to dancing in no time!

Now, on a completely different note, I am thinking about getting a tattoo on my forearm, just below the elbow. I want my dance tartan (Dress Green Drummond of Perth), as well as some text.

Dress Green Drummond of Perth

I am still debating what exactly I want the tattoo to say. I have a couple of ideas. One: I am thinking about Is féidir, which is a Gaeilge response meaning “is able”. It would signify my response to both “An féidir leat damhsa? / Can you dance?” and “Ní féidir leat damhsa / You can’t dance”. Obviously, this text idea is caught up with my recent experiencing in the Irish dance world.

Two: I may have the tattoo read Sé do bheatha ‘bhaile, meaning “You are welcome home” (literally, “Tis your life homewards”). Aside from being a nice saying, this is also the name of one of my favorite Irish songs. There are two versions of the song: one commemorating Bonnie Prince Charlie’s role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745-6; the second, adapted by Patrick Pearse, relating the exploits of Gráinne Mhaol. In either case, as the title suggests, the song is about returning to one’s homeland and so, as a tattoo, would symbolize my “returning” home to Highland dance.

Óró, Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile as done by Paul Brady for TG4

By far my favorite rendition of the song