Twirly Turns 16!

Last year, I posted about Twirly Girls being sold (in the middle of a pandemic no less), and reminisced about the previous ten years of being a Twirly Girl.  As of last month, California is open for business again, and Grace and Rosanne couldn't let July pass without throwing a Sweet 16 party for the Twirly Tribe.  I think it has been over two years since I have stepped foot in the studio.  I had a self-diagnosed SLAP tear to my right shoulder.  It happened in pole, but I also think certain poses in yoga helped contribute to it not healing (I never went to the doctor as I figured they would only offer exercises or surgery, and I could look up the exercises myself).  

Earlier this year, I posted about a loss of mobility.  Weight gain.  Age.  Depression (covid-related).  Time.  Scars.  Exhaustion.  Pain.  Sometimes just pure laziness.  These are some of the things getting in the way of my being "in shape."  I successfully rehabbed a self-diagnosed LCL strain to my right knee last year, only to fall in May on my left knee (causing me to think it was actually broken), which led to another hyperextension (swelling and major pain in the LCL/IT band area) of the right knee in June. This led to about three months of very gentle yoga (nothing on the knees, so mostly seated poses).  I noticed my SLAP tear pain went away.  However, last week, I visited Twirly and did all of two pole sits, along with returning to "real" yoga.  Guess what -- that SLAP tear burn is back in my shoulder.  Between shoulder and knee issues, my commitment to staying off the pole is renewed.  I look fondly back on my pole days, but am definitely having to leave that in the rear view mirror.  The Twirling Viking Warrior has officially, and fully, retired.  

It was, however, awesome to be in the studio, seeing people I haven't seen in a year or two.  The remodel is beautiful.  It looks like a completely different space, while still feeling familiar like home.  I am so happy that Twirly will live on.  I took my 6 year old nephew and 2 year old niece with me -- and told them we were going to circus school.  They had a blast.  In fact, my nephew told me he loved it more than me but not to be upset because it was just different.  We explained to Tyler that people who climbed to the top of the pole got to put their dollars on the wall.  He got to work figuring out how to climb.  When he got to the top, he put his dollar with mine.  The Twirly torch has been passed.  

Thanks for the stroll down Memory Lane, Grace and Rosanne!  The studio is gorgeous!