Trampoline Class

Growing up, our neighbors had a trampoline, and my little sister and I used to jump on it almost every day.

We mastered the basics and fearlessly attempted new tricks. Then, in middle school, I sustained an injury to my knee from a trampoline incident... I did a front flip off a mini-tramp onto the grass and overextended my leg, cracking the growth plate in my knee. The doctor said it was a possibility that one of my legs would grow longer than the other. For about a year, I wore a bulky brace on my leg that limited the extension of my leg and bending of the knee. (Oh – for the record – my legs are normal!).

It's fair to say that since that time, my trampoline days have been limited (save for a few stints during high school cheerleading/gymnastics classes). So I don't know why, but when I signed up for a trampoline class here in New York City, I just assumed I'd be able to do all the tricks. Muscle memory or something.

So yesterday I strolled into the TSNY tent – with my mom in tow – all ready to rock the trampoline. I've been dealing with soreness all week (if you follow me on Twitter, you've read my groaning about a Bikram Yoga challenge – I'll post about it next week), but I was excited about doing an acrobatic activity.

We started with the basics – you know, jumping, pikes, tucks, seat drops – and the instructor corrected my body alignment as needed. But when we moved onto back drops, I began to get nervous because I'm that girl that screws these tricks up and lands on her neck. So I botched a few of these, and did a few okay ones, but felt uncomfortable with my movements the whole time.

It wasn't until we got into backflips and twists that I was more at ease with my rotation, speed and body movement. My form was terrible, but hey, I didn't fall on my face. So that was a plus.

It was a fun one-hour cardio class, but I left the tent feeling a lot of the same defeated emotions I experienced from my aerial silks class. In reality, I'm physically weaker than I think I am. My fear of failure (and frustration with myself) can cripple my chance at success. I don't mind hard work (actually, I really like it), but maybe I expect quick rewards for my effort. Also, I'm feeling old. Um, my husband even said to me at dinner tonight, "If our life was a week, we're already at Wednesday." So, I'm going to embrace the weekend, people.

Find out the story behind my personal challenge list here and read blog posts about completed challenges.

Comments

[jen]

oh my gosh! Wednesday! That's so sad...I'm right there with you, girlfriend. For some reason, I just can't wrap my head around being in my thirties.

The trampoline class looks like fun, although I too would probably fall on my neck. I did that at project graduation when I graduated from high school. I was on this bouncy thing that had a bungee cord around your hips. You'd run as far out as you could, and then jump and it would pull you back. Yeah, I landed on my neck...hasn't been the same since..I swear!

Can't wait to see what you do next!

[Leslee]

i definitely want to do the trampoline class. but i bet i will come away feeling a little disappointed because, ahem, i was a trampoline master back in the day.