Give me some sugar baby!

[dancerjodi]

I finally checked out Rachel Brice's video last night http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000621452/103-2293313-2510222?v=glance&n=130 (I know I know, bad me - I've had it since it was released and I had only watched the performance). Though I did the 45 minute workout and it definitely was good for stretching and working muscles that don't often (for me) get worked, It was a generally low key workout. I never cease to be impressed by her muscle control and isolations. Some of the moves seemed awkward, but I'm confident that over time I can get more control and get them. She is so snakelike, its very cool! I'll have dance class tonight and will figure out something a bit more intense for Wednesday's workout.

After having dinner we caught up with some things on our cable box (Rollergirls, That 70's Show, Good Eats), including the Alton Brown episode on sugar. It was truly inspirational, and we made our way to the kitchen to find whipped cream and chocolate sauce for dessert, heh! After class tonight Brian and I will play with sugar some more, and check out the lower fat chocolate fondue recipe that I found in last month's http://www.self.com/ . Of course, the recipe serves 8, and I'm sure Brian and I will end up having more than our share but who knows, maybe we'll be good. We're not big celebrators of Valentine's Day, but I wanted to do something fun (and won't feel so bad doing it after an almost 3 hour long dance class).

Cut for your pleasure, "Ultimate Low-Fat Chocolate Fondue"

Heat 1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips in a medium saucepan over low heat.
Add 1/3 cup nonfat evaporated milk. Stir until smooth, then add 1/3 cup skim milk.
Blend in 3/4 cup powdered sugar and stir continuously until smooth.
Transfer to a fondue pot (or use a bowl if you don't have one).
Serve with 3 cups sliced strawberries and 3 cups sliced bananas.
Serves eight. 252 calories per serving.
[ via Self magazine, Feb. 2006 ]

Comments

[maraskywalker.livejournal.com]

Rollergirls is such a guilty pleasure. Whenever I'm up late enough I watch it. This makes me sad since when I first saw the commercials for it I said "what a stupid idea. who would watch that??" And here I am...

Rollergirls

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Rollergirls is such a guilty pleasure. Whenever I'm up late enough I watch it. This makes me sad since when I first saw the commercials for it
I said "what a stupid idea. who would watch that??" And here I am..."

I loved rollerskating when I was a kid, so I'm excited its coming back again. Its nice also seeing how these women can beat each other so much on the track, but still be friends outside. Some of them, I could really see myself hanging around with (while others seem a bit full of themselves). Still, its kind of like a trainwreck, you just can't stop watching! :)

[tisana.livejournal.com]

I recently got Rachel's video (well, watched it recently, at least) and was surprised to find that some of the yoga stretches were a bit much for me right now (I've done them before, I'm just out of shape). I too am impressed with her muscle control. Very inspiring, that.

[alonewiththemoon]

I think the challenge in that DVD is more a matter of perfecting the movements than doing a lot of exertion--it's almost more of a mental challenge than a purely physical one.

You reminded me that we own a fondue pot. Hmmm...

[alonewiththemoon]

oh, though I will say it bugs the heck out of me that in the 45 minute workout you're expected to go from the forward bend right to savasana--personally I need some twisting or at least cat and cow (in fact I usually save that for after the forward bend) to release any tension built up from the forward bend before I can lie flat on my back. But maybe I'm just old ;-)

Rachel Brice's DVD

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"oh, though I will say it bugs the heck out of me that in the 45 minute workout you're expected to go from the forward bend right to savasana--personally I need some twisting or at least cat and cow (in fact I usually save that for after the forward bend) to release any tension built up from the forward bend before I can lie flat on my back. But maybe I'm just old ;-)"

I did notice that there were some quick changes in between sections. Like "ooh, I guess I should be on the floor on a mat again" or "woah, she just stood up out of nowhere". I think some slower transition between moves may be good.

I've done enough yoga to recognize poses and have experience with them, but not enough to know what things are called. I guess the same holds true for bellydance (though, it doesn't help that people call things differently). There was one hip move toward the end of that video that was really odd and I don't think I've seen before. It wasn't quite a figure 8, though it was similar. Its the only move I had a lot of difficulty with - any idea what I'm talking about? I'd like to try and work on it (outside of her video).

Re: Rachel Brice's DVD

[alonewiththemoon]

I'm trying to think what hip movements she does besides the lifts and drops--was it an omi? Although maybe that's not what she calls it (what you said about not helping...). I follow a couple of other instructors in calling it an internal hip rotation, some people call it an African hip circle. That's an uneven horizontal hip circle created by two movements. One movement is alternating the hips up and and down, and the other is tucking the pelvis in and letting it drop back a little past neutral. The two movements are integrated together to create a circle that tips back and forth in all directions, like a plate rolling on a table. That isn't exactly the way she breaks it down, but that was a helpful way for me to get it.

That's the only other hip movement I can remember off the top of my head from the DVD...

Re: Rachel Brice's DVD

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"That's the only other hip movement I can remember off the top of my head from the DVD..."

That's it! Thanks :) Given that most lessons I've had were from The Goddess Dancing, they teach things in terms of directions (horizontal, vertical, saggital) and shapes (circles, crescents, figure 8's, undulations). This movement seems to cross these planes in the same move, so it was a new one for me! :)

[arianasilver.livejournal.com]

I'll try out that fondue recipe. Now that I've made it once...well its kind of addicting. At least I'm getting a serving of fruit, I guess :)