Encounters with the Art of Posing

These past two weeks have been a whirl wind. But, they have been a great couple of weeks! I took a little reprieve in the mountains when my mom came out for a two week visit. We spent three days in the mountains of Granby, CO! Beautiful! We made time for a massage and a visit to the Hot Sulphur Springs.  My mom was fantastically patient with my meal schedule of eating every two hours and she even did cardio with me every morning. Her support was amazing!

I did the best I could to balance training, dieting, posing practice and working the second week of mom's visit (week 3 until contest). It was a very full week (if only there was a time machine.) During week three my main focus was to prepare my posing routine. Again, I have to give my mom a HUGE thank you for all the feedback during my choreography development. As my videographer and music "DJ" she did a fantastic job! Hahah! I'm still polishing it up but I think it will be a good routine for the night of the show.

Dee and I during our posing practice. 

The art of posing has been a particularly challenging area for me. As many of my family and friends know I'm more of a tom-boy walker than a lady-like walker. LOL! I was not given the gift of grace when it comes to walking in a shoe higher than an inch. Ha! What can I say, I'm a sneaker and comfy shoe girl. My coach, Delia McNeil, has been the biggest blessing in her guidance on how to "walk" in those crazy heels which is required for the Figure Competition. Fortunately, in the Physique Competition (which i'm also competing in) does not have to be done on crazy stilt shoes. Thank Gawd!!!LOL!

Also, I have to give a gigantic thank you to my friend, Ken Merrit. First for his encouragement and support from the very beginning. In fact, if it were not for Ken I would not have jumped on this band wagon to do a competition so soon. We met at the gym and he is one of those people that makes your gym experience uplifting.

Ken and I at posing practice.

Ken always tells me to express my face. We caught
him at an expressive moment! Ha!

Here are a few shots from practicing the Physique Competitor mandatory poses. Dee would say, "Stand taller. Relax Your hand. Smile! Bend your knee, straighten your arm. Breathe!!!" It's harder than it looks.

 

 


 Now, I practice the required quarter turns for the Figure Competition. I admit, the heels add a nice touch.... just don't make me walk in them! Ha!

 

My coaches, try as they might, did a number of "loosening" me up tricks to get me to walk more "naturally". By then end they said, "wear the shoes all the time and practice, PRACTICE, PRACTICE."

Two weeks to go...