I want to talk about how to get more out of your "time" with Mercedes during this challenge. Because I know it can be hard to squeeze in flamenco activities right now as many of us are busy with family, holiday stuff, and what not.

But before I get to that, a brief snippet from today ~

I decided to take the challenge on the road today while hiking with the family.

So Margot and I listened to Mercedes as we walked.

As it turns out many of her reminders were just as helpful to hiking as to flamenco,

'Respira, despacio, pompi dentro...'

Take 'pompi dentro' for instance:

Making a point not to let your bottom stick out forces you to engage your core which is most helpful in maintaining stability on the rocky and sometimes slippery trail.

So that one came in very handy on our three hour hilly hike.

In fact, as Margot and I walked and talked we noticed how many of these phrases and words were beneficial reminders not just when dancing flamenco and hiking but when doing so many things in life.

Like respira,

Breathe.

I plan to listen often during the rest of the challenge while going about my daily activities.

Which leads me to ...

How to maximize your 'time' with any teacher you like learning from:

It's a little thing, and it's easy.

It may seem trite.

But I promise you, doing this regularly will transfer to class, practice, performance...

Training ourselves to hear and put into practice important reminders we've heard from teachers while engaging in any daily activity can help us with our dancing. Hearing these reminders in our minds whenever and wherever can help make the doing of them a part of our default setting when we're dancing. Which means after awhile we won't need so many reminders.

So listen to him or her during certain daily activities,

Like walking.

Walking from the refrigerator to the stove, around the block, up the stairs, in the grocery store, wherever.

Try it,

And please let me know how it goes in the comments.

Missed any of the challenge?

No problem, you can catch up here:

The Dance as if You Were in Class with Mercedes Holiday Challenge

The Dance as if You Were in Class with Mercedes Holiday Challenge - The Warm-up

Day 1 of the Dance as if You Were in Class with Mercedes Holiday Challenge

Day 2 of the Dance as if You Were in Class with Mercedes Holiday Challenge