I took my first burlesque class tonight. A few observations for now, and I'll write up more later:

1) This shit is HARD. You think it's all ass swivelin' and attitude, and it is, it is not simple. And if you are like me, which is to say rhythmically challenged, you might very well feel like you did when you decided to take ballet at age 7, because your friends did, and learned your first lesson in "Not Everyone Is Good At Everything" and went off and discovered what you *were* good at.

2) But it's super fun, too. The class is really laid back and all the girls are incredibly easy going and friendly. Plus the instructor, Michelle "Toots" L'Amour (*CAREFUL WHEN CLICKING THE LINK. The Boy did not make his post exactly work-friendly*.), is so sweet and encouraging that it's a comfortable environment to let yourself go ahead and feel a little sexy. I mean, SEX-AY.

(Some of you may remember Michelle from her performance on "America's Got Talent?" I never saw it but apparently it was legendary.)

3) It's a workout. Probably not as sweat-inducing, if at all, but I was working the shit out of my butt, hips, waist, thighs and shoulders. As Michelle mentioned in class, all of the sexy hip swinging and sashaying was a lot more fun that reptitive squats.

4) It isn't for the timid. That isn't to say you need to be an exhibitionist, but it was really hard to concentrate on the moves and learning while having to stare back at my big butt, hips and belly, all wrapped in tight yoga pants and a tank. You can't exactly wear loose clothing to a class like this and it's tough to suck it up and keep moving after catching the most unflattering glances at yourself in the mirror. Tyra ain't lying - that side view ain't pretty.

A lot of the girls wore gauchos in class, and you have to understand how much hatred I have for The Gaucho Pant. In this instance, however, I could totally understand why they gaucho works. They actually serve a PRACTICAL purpose. In addition to be a little more forgiving - seriously, seeing my flabby gut in cotton/spandex blend and then accentuated by my tanktop in the same material was more than I could handle. Had I really let myself go that much?

The answer? Sadly? Yes. Then again, I've always, always felt this way about my most troubled area and short of getting a tummy tuck, which I'm considering someday, it's always going to be the spot I'm insane about.

Anyway, I may invest in a pair should I stick with the class after my free passes. I need to not be faced head on with such unsexy thinking in a class where, to succeed, you need to feel like tits on toast.

5) I'm going back. I have two more passes and I don't think I'm going to use them for bellydance. I'm sure it would be cool, but I have passes for bellydancing at other studios around town. None for burlesque.

I have to tell you that I did feel empowered and sexy and excited. I liked an excuse to feel, despite my insecurities about my gut, like a woman and use all of those curves I have. It really did work in your favor to have ass, hips and thighs. I felt as though I'd found The Great Equalizer in the form of that class.

Tonight I've got another two-mile run ahead of me, plus strength training. With all of the lower body work I managed to do at the class, I may just focus on my upper body tonight. While technically Friday is a rest day, and my day off, I've got nothing to do but cleaning and bill paying so I'm going to take one of my passes and head over to the David Barton Gym to take a class they call "Shredded," which both scares me stupid and makes me hungry for a big bowl of fiber-y goodness.

The class will no doubt kill me as it's a combination of cardio and weight training, and it's at the most fancy gym in town, which means it will kill me AND remind me of how poor I am. Which is OK. I can deal with that. As long as they let me hang out in their spa room/locker room afterwards.

The most important thing to note is that for the first time in months, I haven't skipped a workout all week. I've been working my butt off since Sunday morning. I feel pretty good about that.

Posted by Erin at 11:00 PM | filed under: Random

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