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NEW!
Week of January 2, 2011
Coaching in the New Year
The manager at Ice Castle is in a tight spot. Everybody has either gone back to school or is out with an injury. So she called me in to sub, and I went. Since I am presently looking for a job and planning to move, I cannot make a long-term commitment, but I will sub for as long as it is practical.
I got on the ice about ten minutes before classes started. I have not skated since I bowed out to deal with my priorities in nursing school. I got on the ice like I never left and stroked around. A couple of spins made me dizzy, but it was fun. I did a spiral and every eye was on me. It felt pretty good. I was the only person on the ice and the only pro to call the kids out when it was time to start. I have not missed a beat, but I have been doing this for about five years or more now. I taught Basic 1 and 2. I played all of my favorite learning games with my students, and a good time was had by all. I even had a helper for Basic 1.
I had a blast. Now that I am not depending on coaching and trying to make a go of it, I could relax and enjoy it for what it is. I doubt I will continue to coach after I start working as a nurse because nurses' schedules are hectic and unpredictable. I expect to be on call and work different days/nights each week with rotating weekends. I cannot commit to a class schedule under those circumstances. However, I may stay active as a sub. It just depends on what my “real job” is like.
NEW!
Week of December 26, 2010
Over Splits
I spent the holiday week with my sister. Although we planned to do some skating, I decided against bringing my skates, and rentals are out of the question. An experienced skater could very easily get hurt using a pair of shabby rentals. I cannot afford another broken bone with a new career on the horizon. So why didn't I lug my skates to my sister's house? As every American traveler knows, the airlines now charge an additional fee to check luggage and ice skates cannot be carried on a plane. Even if I could carry my skates on, there would be no room in my luggage for clothing. Checking a suitcase would add another fifty dollars to the cost of a trip I already cannot afford, but decided to take for my mental health. As a long time skater, I have braved holiday crowds in the past and have rarely had a positive experience. Rinks are mobbed over the holidays. All of the kids who got skates for Christmas take to the ice with the rest of the family. And people who celebrate Christmas with a skate around the cold stuff turn the best of rinks into a mob scene. Long story short, I would be spending fifty bucks and waiting for my luggage, which always comes out last, for an afternoon of intolerably bad skating. The place would probably be too crowded for me to even give my sister a lesson, much less for me to skate properly, not that I am good practice right now.
So we went to the gym. After cardio and resistance, I moved on to my favorite part of the workout, flexibility training. My forward splits are a perfect 180 degrees, crotch flat on the floor, if you will excuse the expression. My box splits still have a few inches to go, though I have made progress. The next step in the forward split progression is over-splitting. Over-splits achieve an angle of greater than 180 degrees between the legs. This requires performing the split with the leading leg elevated on a mat. I stacked two thick gymnastics mats and did a forward split on the mat. While in the split position, I lifted my body with my hands and pushed myself off the mat, so my trailing leg was on the floor, and pelvis off the edge of the mat. For now, this experiment resulted in a full split suspended over the edge of the mat, kind of like a bridge between the mat and the floor. With additional stretching, eventually my leading leg with be held up by the mat while my trailing leg will be flat on the floor. I have never tried this before and have no idea how long it will take to achieve. Surprisingly, it did not hurt. I felt a good stretch, but no pain. This must mean my body is ready for the challenge.
Now that I am back home, I have to work off all of the eating and drinking we did. It was my pleasure to cook for my sister. I made the following delicacies: beef Wellington, seafood enchilada casserole, eggplant Parmesan, chicken Parmesan, and chicken mole. We ate like kings. Her buddy, who came over three times for dinner, was sorry to see me go. I also baked cookies. Thank God the holidays are over. One more week of this and I would be too fat to even think about doing the splits.
NEW!
Week of December 12, 2010
The Graduate
I officially finished nursing school this week. My last exam is over and I am only waiting for grades to be posted to be an official graduate. Then I will register to take the licensing exam. I have already started looking for a job. A new life is beginning for me. I am very excited. With only a couple of days of freedom from stress and study under my belt, I am feeling much better. This semester could have killed me. If I survived my clinical rotation with the professor from hell, which I did, I can live to be a hundred. When I decided to pursue this training, I had no idea what I was getting into. I already have a doctoral degree, and getting that was not easy, but nursing school is a different animal. It is difficult and stressful in a way I have not experienced before, maybe because so much more is on the line now. I was forty years old when I decided to become a nurse. As a doctoral student, I was in my twenties and was not bothered by living like a student. When you’re young, you are much more resilient and feel immortal. Your whole life is literally still ahead of you. A forty, about half of my life was still ahead of me, and maybe only twenty-five years of productive career time. As a twenty-something, I also did not have a mortgage, a second mortgage, and a marriage to distract me. I admire anyone who goes back to school as a mature adult. Many of my classmates had kids on top of the other obligations I mentioned. Some of them continued to work fulltime while studying for their RN. I don’t know how that’s possible, but people can do what they have to do if they want it badly enough.
So now that I’m free, will I go back to the rink as a coach and/or a skater? I have not answered this question yet. A couple of weeks ago, my supervisor called and asked me to come in to substitute for another pro who was sick. If I did not have a class that night, I probably would have gone. I actually called her a couple of days later to tell her I would be available to cover that other coach later in the week. She did not pick up the phone and I hung up on her voice mail. I have not called back. I need the money (God, do I need the money), but I am still on the fence. When I decide I am finished with something, I usually do not vacillate. Stick a fork in me, I am so done. That’s how I felt about coaching after bowing out this season. After my final exam, I needed a couple of days of peace. I did not want to run back to the ice rink to deal with all of the crap that goes on there.
I have already read a novel and done a whole lot of nothing, which includes laundry and grocery shopping. I’ve spent hours shooting the breeze with friends on the telephone. I’ve surfed the Internet without guilt. I’ve listened to music and gone to the gym. I’ve watched TV for the first time in weeks. No, I’m not ready to go back to the rink as a coach; however, I have given some thought, but no action, to going back as a skater.
NEW!
Thanksgiving Weekend 2010
More Splits
Getting to the gym has been difficult. I went for two weeks of classes and hospital rotations with only one day off. I crashed on that day. When I am busy and stressed, I cannot worry about going to the gym on top of all my non-negotiable commitments. However, I got a break for Thanksgiving weekend and went to the gym twice.
My work out routine has not changed much over the last couple of years. The only major changes include substituting the elliptical machine for the stationary bike because elliptical burns more calories per hour. I can burn approximately 10 calories per minute and it provides a great lower body workout. I have also given up on exercise classes because I cannot always fit them into my schedule. I like Pilates, but the timing does not work for me right now. Instead, I use the resistance machines. I spend about an hour-and-a-half between cardio and resistance training then proceed to stretching, which is probably my favorite part of my workout.
The gym has a stretching cage, a contraption designed to place the individual in ideal positions to stretch every muscle group. It is set up in an area reserved for floor work with mats and mirrors. By the time I get around to stretching, my muscles are all very warm, which is a prerequisite for a good stretch. Never stretch cold! My advice to anyone who wants to build their flexibility is to warm up with at least twenty to thirty minutes of cardio. You should feel the stretch but not to the point of pain. If you can't feel some strain, you are not pushing yourself and, therefore, not improving your flexibility. Flexibility is a long term commitment. Results are seen over a period of weeks and months. However, during one session, you should be able to stretch farther by the end of the workout than at the beginning. From a longer term perspective, your starting point changes. For example, if you start today unable to touch your toes at the beginning of your stretch, over the course of weeks of training, you should be able to start your session with your finger tips on your toes and push yourself to placing your hands on the floor. Of course, everyone is different, but a progression over time should develop.
I am at the point where my front splits are all the way to the floor on both legs. I would like to start working on over-splitting (greater than 180 degrees). I have been practicing a modified hurdler stretch into front splits. This has been mastered. I recently began sliding from a standing position into a full split. I am proud to say I have also achieved this and no longer need to support my weight with my hands. I can raise my arms to the sides and overhead in the final pose. Another challenge I have taken on is pivoting from a front split to a box split. My box splits are not there yet. Box splits involve facing forward with the legs split to the sides. It is a more difficult position to achieve. I am still about five to six inches off the floor in the box split.
To improve my box splits, I am using several exercises including the following:
1. Sitting in a wide V position and placing the chest on the mat.
2. Pushing the hips forward to achieve a wider V position while seated.
3. Standing V position with legs as far apart as possible and chest on the mat.
4. Slide to box split while supporting body weight with the forearms.
5. Pivot from box split to forward split.
Once I get involved in skating for myself again, I can incorporate my flexibility into spirals and maybe even learn a split jump.
My manager was unable to find another coach to take over my night classes. Unless I wanted to be a complete jerk and burn my bridges, I had to teach these classes until the end of the set, which amounted to another four weeks. I expected to do two more weeks, as two weeks is customary notice for leaving any job situation. Since I have worked at this rink for over three years, I want to be able to ask my manager for a letter of recommendation if required as I enter my health care career next year. This meant I had to miss review classes that would contribute to success on exams a considerable sacrifice. I hated to miss those classes but felt that I had no choice. In the long run, sticking it out was the best decision.
Parents were sorry to see me go, but I explained my situation honestly and passed out business cards inviting them to call if they wanted private instruction for their children. No one has called which does not surprise me. This is a freestyle group class. I have taught this class for over a year. Students who are still in this class take it because private instruction is not an option for them right now. I have enjoyed teaching these kids and have formed positive relationships with them and their parents. However, I have had to set priorities. I will be leaving coaching for a new career. Although, I could use the income from coaching a couple hours a week, business is not good and I have had to weigh the cost versus benefits. With more commitments on the horizon, including some that are not optional, I cannot commit to teaching this class until I have finished my training.
I have not been vocal with the other coaches about my decision to leave. I have mixed feelings about leaving coaching. I know there is no reliable future for me as a skating coach. I cannot earn a leaving in this profession and have chosen another career that will provide the security and salary I need. Still, I love skating and feel I have a lot to offer beginning skaters. I have enjoyed coaching for the last few years and have had positive experiences at this rink. I get along well with my coworkers. One of the pros gave me a big hug at the end of the evening. My boss wants me to stay in touch and let her know what I'm doing in case I can come back after graduation. I told her to keep me on the sub list for now. I don't know what will happen after I take my final exam next month. I will be looking for a job, and skating classes will be canceled over the holidays anyway. However, I like to keep my options open. I can always use a few extra bucks until I land a permanent job.
When I drove away from the rink, I wondered if that had been my last night as a skating coach. If it was, I have a had a good run. I got the fantasy out of my system and am ready to settle into a real life, at least a career that is reasonable and appropriate for me, for which I am qualified and not dependent on a childhood resume I never had the opportunity to build. With five years of experience, there will always be a job for me teaching low level group classes at one rink or another if I ever get the urge. However, that is about the extent of it.
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