*GREAT NEWS* It's along time waiting but I am SO THRILLED to announce that I am in remission! The best news I've ever received from my doctor. My struggle was tough for for the past five years, but I am so happy and blessed that I can go on with my life and don't have to worry about medications, shots, no more weekly infusions and treatments..wahoo!!
As to figure skating and practice, so glad that I can skate now every Saturday, and yes I did change rinks. I now skate at Daytona Ice Arena and I love it!!
In January I was approached by the rink director and was asked if I was interested in teaching Learn to Skate and I was ecstatic and said YES!! This was my longtime goal and dream, my chance to share my skills and knowledge of the sport I dearly love.
So, I jumped at the opportunity and ran to my computer and made it my goal to take all the appropriate tests as well as "Safe Sport" requirements and passed with high marks!!
Yeah!!! It's official I am a Learn to Skate USA instructor!!! So proud of my self and happy for this opportunity.
The best satisfaction is watching students learn and improve week by week, their smiles when they pass their class. I love what I do, and don't ask for anything more but to teach and share my love of skating.
Age is just a number, goals and dreams do come true!!
So excited to be skating again!! This is my second week of skating and I have to say, I loved every minute, every stroke. Little by little I am getting back to basics and trying to remember the techniques learned. This time around I am going to focus on myself, enjoy the moment and everything else will come.
I worked on some spins and I have to say...not bad considering!! Jumps are getting there, small ones but happy I can jump and land no problem....it's the fear of falling lol!! When I get more confident with my jumps will post some videos....but they can definitely wait...no rush here.
Though it's going to be a long journey getting myself to comfortable level with skating. I have adopted Ashley Wanger's own perspective who took a 5 year long break from skating and just recently had her baby girl "Rosie." In her video she pointed out 1. To let go 2. No rules and 3. No expectations. "Just me and the ice" AW link to her video here. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxtXIp7pBoF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Happy to say that I went skating this past weekend...Yeah!! My daughter wanted me to skate with her since she had a lesson and it was our first time skating at Daytona Ice Arena. This rink is way closer to her home than our home rink Orlando Ice Den in Maitland, FL.
So excited!! I got my skates...dusted them off and was ready!! Our drive was not that bad, and not far from the beach and International Speedway.
My experience with this rink was a positive one. Everyone was very friendly and what I loved was the price for the free skate session (price was very reasonable). Also, we had the option to purchase a 15 min, 30 min, 45 min or 1 hour session, something Orlando Ice Den does not do. Daytona Ice Arena only has one sheet of ice which is perfectly fine. They do have an area where you can sit and watch the skaters and stay warm.
While we were putting on our skates, I noticed a few adult skaters which made me feel good because at least I was not the only adult on the ice. The rink was a standard size rink and ice was very smooth a bit chilly but that comes with the territory lol.
At first, I was a bit nervous stepping on the ice and had this mental fear of falling, but once I worked on my stroking and edges and warmed up...I got my confidence and worked on my silver moves in the field except for my back 3s. After a year away from the ice, I have to say my jumps (baby jumps) were pretty ok.
Had an amazing day!! I will definitely come back. Thank you Daytona Ice Arena for the warm welcome!!
It's been so long...more than a year has passed. My sincere apologies!!
2022 was somewhat a busy and crazy time for me and my family - I had to plan 2 weddings, both my daughters got married a month and a half apart. Planning started early May '22 and if tell you i had no time to skate. However, my health also, prevented me to skate as well, since I was getting weekly infusions to keep my autoimmune disease somewhat controlled
After the last wedding I took some time off to recoup. I did manage to skate in November '22 but failed to blog post here!! I will post a short video of my practice.
None the less, its over and here we are November 2023 and another year passed and haven't skated much due to financial reasons the economy and not to mention the gas is so expensive.
It's been a year of recollection and time to make hard choices when it comes to skating. No coaching, no skating, no competitions. What should I do? Should I just stop all together and give up on my dreams? or just skate for fun and the joy of it (no expectations).
My birthday is coming up in a few days and I really want to take some time for myself and just go and skate for the fun of it and enjoy the ice like good old days
Hello, hope everyone is doing well? Finally back!!
It's been a while since my last post. Haven't skated much these past few months because of health issues and from the 3rd booster shot really did a number on me. Also, finally recovered from a horrible chest cold and sinus infection, however, I am fully recovered and ready to get back to my old routine with skating and lessons...yippy!! Also, really miss my skating peeps too!!
Happy to say that this month of March has been a great month for me and skating. Loving my new blades from John Wilson Coronation Ace. Took a while to get use to them, they're just amazing!!
Last weeks lesson went great! My coach is very pleased with my Silver MIF progress, the only thing I have to work are the power pull and back inside 3 turns, they are a challenge for me and I know it will take some time, it's ok, there is no rush. I like working on my MIF its a great warm up when I start my practice session.
SPINS: are coming along nicely, since I hate spins, and they are my nemesis. I did jump for joy because skated my sit spin and it was nice and low, I couldn't believe my eyes!! Coach was so happy too. Getting my backspin and forward scratch spin with somewhat foot crossed - which is a huge accomplishment for me, because I couldn't do it for the life of me...its like I have a mental block for some reason.
JUMPS: they are finally looking decent and with some height and getting more control of my arms. Coach got me doing flip jumps last week, haven't done them since 2 to 3 years ago. I am optimistic and will work hard to getting this jump to where I left off.
Though I am not the skater I use to be, I have no expectations when it comes to skating now, and I just skate for me and the joy I get out of it!!
Since my last post, I was looking forward to getting my first lesson of the year and unfortunately, I suffered a back injury non-skating related. I was doing laundry and a t-shirt fell on the floor and went to pick it up and boom - snap my back went out. I was in tears from the pain!! I said, "this cannot be happening to me right now"
I tried everything to ease the pain but to no avail. To make matters worse, I couldn't take any Ibuprofen or Advil etc. due to the medication I am currently taking for autoimmune disease. I called my acupuncture doctor and to my surprise he retired, great!! Had to call around to find a reputable acupuncturist and I did, gave her a call and stated treatment right away!! Long story short, couple of weeks treatment and was back to my normal self.
So I decided to skate, and I was just stroking and skating some back edges and all of a sudden had an odd, awkward fall, it was like my knees went the opposite direction when I fell, it was like a plop and sat on the ice, it didn't even hurt at the moment but by the time I got home my left knee was hurting. Had it checked out and so happens I strained my MCL, had to wear a knee brace, get some therapy, light exercise. A few weeks passed and now feeling much better.
Update: Yesterday was my second lesson with my coach and it was a good lesson.
I am experiencing a lack of confidence in my skating. Coach said to give it time, its the result of being away from the ice for a longtime...it's normal and I am not alone, many skaters are experiencing the same thing. Well, guess time will tell, patience...it will come back. Praying!!
PS: I purchased new blades Yea!!! John Wilson "Coronation Ace" now to work on getting use to them, which is a very scary feeling.
Over the weekend I had the chance to think about what I want to do with skating moving forward. I would love to start taking lessons again but I ask myself, what is my goal? Do I just want to skate for recreation or other reasons?
A lovely and talented ice dance skater suggested, if I would be open to switching from free skate to ice dance. Wow, I didn't even think of that!! This really opened my mind to the possibilities, something to think about considering my health issues, it will be easier on my body and avoid injury, don't get me wrong, you will fall with ice dance too. There is no ways about it.
It's funny, because when I first started skating, my lessons consisted of ISI Dance. I skated up to the dutch waltz and soon after my coach switch me to freestyle.
The only issue with ice dance, is that I will have to start new, possibly test and maybe compete. Should I go with ISI or USFSA? Do I want to put myself through the stress and anxiety? Decisions, decisions. I would love to hear your suggestions.
Let me sign off with a good note: I skated this weekend and I had a great time, also met new friends, it's always nice to meet new friends!! Well, we will see what happens in the future!! Keeping positive, healthy and fight for remission.
