Regaining confidence after an injury

[La_Bailarina]

I'm finally getting back into some semblance of shape after my 3rd and, hopefully, final hip surgery that has taken place over the course of the past 3 years. When I got hurt, I was just starting to take alot more risks and be more confident in my dancing--part of that is probably what led me to the injury but it was also something I had struggled to overcome for a while and I was finally making progress when I was hurt. Since then, I've been alot more cautious.

 

Needless to say, I'm looking to start trying to overcome that. It's the one thing that's been most commented on lately--that I need to get my attack back. I'm getting to be strong enough again so it's not a strength issue, at least not entirely. I'm sure it's primarily a fear thing but I'm not sure how I can break that down.

 

I can feel that I'm holding back; I can tell I'm hesitating before I do things--it feels horrible. I know I'm capable of more than what I'm giving now but there's something that's holding me back.

 

Thanks.

Megan

[Mel Johnson]

Proceed in an orderly and methodical manner to regain both strength and technique. You've had a lot of downtime as a consequence of injury, and it will take awhile. Attack is a thing best developed slowly. Courage!

[La_Bailarina]

Thanks.

 

In particular, is there anything in particular that I should be doing, when the time is right, to overcome the hesitation/fear I have about landing on my right leg? This is something I've really struggled with since the injury when I've been dancing in between surgeries--even though it has been pain free since surgery #2 (well it was until a couple months ago, but I wasn't dancing then...). Even when my left hip was really bad, I still preferred to land on it rather than landing on the right. I know the right is more than strong enough but I still have fear that I'm sure stems back to the injury--I landed on my right leg and it just gave out.

 

I know there aren't any shortcuts but are there any specific exercises or things I could be doing to help build up my confidence again?

[Mel Johnson]

Not a thing to do, but perhaps a way to think which might be helpful.

 

Think of your combinations as a thread. The thread should continue from beginning through middle and to the end without a knot. If you know that you have a tendency to "tie a knot" at a particular place, as in which foot to land on, consciously think of not tying that knot, and continue "from beginning, through the middle, and to the end". It's helped me more than a couple of times in sorting things out, even when recovering from injury.

[La_Bailarina]

Thanks again, that sounds really helpful and I will definitely be trying it in class tomorrow.

[La_Bailarina]

Lee,

I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean--can you elaborate a bit more because it sounds like it could be promising for me.

 

Right now I'm making some very slow progress with lots and lots of repetition--more along the lines of beating it into myself that I can in fact do it. The hesitation and much of the fear is still there though and that's really preventing me from working towards rebuilding my attack.

 

Megan

[dancemaven]

Sorry, leebick, this is the YD forum: no parents permitted. You will need to PM Major Mel, Victoria, vrsfanatic, or Clara 76 to go throught one of them if you think you have something to add to this discussion.