Training schedule of grass dancers

[Nakoda man]

I like to know what a training schedules a typical grass dancer normally attains to, See i know a limited few can sit do nothing, eat anything,..smoke up and still dance good,..BUT a majority of us airn't gifted athelets, so that means we have to try 10 times harder than the average gifted "supermen",...I know since i started dancing from day one its physically hard,.but to be human is to error and sometimes its hard to commit to a strict healthy diet OR even training at all when your on the road,....SOO what is your special techniuqe,..resistance training?,..endurance training?,..ahhhhhhh cardio?,...how many songs per practice,..i dunno whats your style ppl,..i know this topic hasn't been discuss yet,..i think,..anyways let the replies flow through like ur pretending to dance

[Plenty Fox]

May I offer a suggestion based on having been a physical medicine assistant for a number of years?

Without taking into consideration any special diet or brutal daily exercise regimen the one thing that will make it easier on your body and help you enjoy dancing instead of tallying up the aches and pains is your preparation before you dance. With the proper stretching, some crunches and curls while you are waiting for your section to start, you will lessen the possibility of injuring yourself. I hope this helps a little. Also, don't forget the gatorade and other electrolyte drinks. Best wishes.

[Nakoda man]

May I offer a suggestion based on having been a physical medicine assistant for a number of years?

Without taking into consideration any special diet or brutal daily exercise regimen the one thing that will make it easier on your body and help you enjoy dancing instead of tallying up the aches and pains is your preparation before you dance. With the proper stretching, some crunches and curls while you are waiting for your section to start, you will lessen the possibility of injuring yourself. I hope this helps a little. Also, don't forget the gatorade and other electrolyte drinks. Best wishes.

Oh i know thats just the lil brush strokes on the whole picture when painting on canvas, if you know what i mean,..and don't forget to sign the PAR-Q & YOU form before you make any comments! :large:

[buffalo69]

THis is what I did for years

When I was 13, I started practicing everyday, religiously. It is pretty crazy to think I used to do that. I did this until I was about 18. What I can tell you is that I watched videos and danced all day. I was either dancing or watching videos. But I would dance for hours at a time. I would wake up have breakfast, cereal or something, dance till about noon (I woke up about 9) Have lunch, a sandwich or pasta. Practice till about 3, watch videos for about 15 minutes, but I couldn't NOT dance to the music on the videos so I would dance with them. I used to imagine I was dancing with my heroes like Jonathon, Wade, Troy, Darryl, and Joe Sam. It was really inspirational to feel like I was dancing WITH those guys. I worked hard at dancing and I know it. I won 1st everywhere I danced, from October 1994 until September 1997(where I won second). I did learn a lot from some of my mentors throughout the years which I think is a HUGE part of all this. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!
Another thing I NEVER DID even as much as I won and wanted to was- I NEVER EVER EVER danced in mens when I was a teen. I was taught not to because if I went back to teens for a big pow wow or for some reason-the men I MAY beat at one or two pow wows will probably be my judges-and chances are won't pick me. Its just not good politics, it looks cocky and is just safer to stay in your own category. Always keep the respect of your fellow dancers! They can be your best friends or your worst enemies, especially when it comes to specials.
Stay humble! Thats my number one rule, someone compliments you just say thank you and shake there hand. People who already like you don't need any convincing about how good you are.
Thats it hope it helps

[sookout sh'nob]

I stretch and go running. I've acquired a few muscle and joint wounds over the years, so I try to stretch every day regardless of what Im doing.

I also stretch before and after running. Some days I can make it ten miles, others I struggle with two - it all depends on how well I slept and stretched.

Sometimes things happen to interfere with my running, so I will take a short walk instead - those medical pros say that any activity that lasts 20 min. has a pofound impact on your general health, so I at least try to do that much every day.

[moonshadow]

I can tell a difference in my son's dancing when he has not gotten enough rest the night before...and or has not eaten properly..he used to practice everyday...now he just piddles with moves and stuff a few times a week...I think it is important to practice though.

[Plenty Fox]

Oh i know thats just the lil brush strokes on the whole picture when painting on canvas, if you know what i mean,..and don't forget to sign the PAR-Q & YOU form before you make any comments! :large:

Please accept my apology for even bothering to ask if I could make a suggestion. I was sincerely trying to be helpful; I don't think it warranted the rudeness.

[Nakoda man]

Please accept my apology I was sincerely trying to be helpful.

Apology accepted my dear :bestwishe

[[email protected]]

Stretch Stretch Stretch....... Jog Jog Jog .....eat Properly

[jumpingbuffalo]

It's hard to give any advice, cause well, you already know. always find what works for you, hands down, everyone's different.

It's easy to tell the Grassdancers out there doing their "ROUTINE BITS" looking like programmed robotic dancers, not eeeeeven getting down on the song at hand.

But like yoda I'd say the best bit of advice for any indian is to "pray" sooo have fun and practice like 50 cent!

[oufeehc]

i started lifting weights and stuff, and this job that i had over the summer (construction) gave me muscles on my arms, then i realized that you dont really use your arms to grass dance. (im a little slow sometimes) now i focus on running and getting my stamina up. i mean dont go overboard or anything, but you have to "work through the pain!" *i sound like a football coach, huh?! haha.

[Nathan11]

I did what Buffalo 69 did..practice for hours non stop every single day and watch videos of other grass dancers for months. It really does help! I would have continued but sports (football and track) began taking a toll and my body was too exhausted for anymore physical stress so now i just practice whenever I have the time. Thats besides the point though, but like I said before a lot of practice does help..

[ABgrassdancer]

Well i like to dance the endurance special on the videos wen ever i have time and i sweat but also just practice dancing

[Gledanh Zhinga]

My grandson dances grass and is one of those active kids who's always in the mountians, camping, hunting, fishing, and taking part in home dances. He tells me he doesn't practice that much on the grass dancing. He seems not to wear out.

I have some age on me. I dance southern straight, but I've been doing a short form of Tai Chi Chuan for about 25 years. When the Hong Kong movies show Tai Chi, they usually show people slowly waving their arms. However, a lot of the form is done in bent leg positions with the weight shifting from one leg to the other. The arms can't move unless directed by the legs and/or waist. Tai chi is a leg strengthener.

When I was younger, I never got muscular charley horses, but now I will occasionally get them in one leg or the other, usually after the dance and sometimes in the middle of the night. Straightening the leg and bending the ankle, toes toward the calf, sometimes helps. A hot bath is good.