Tribe.net. Local Connections Kylie http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#82957489-f1ab-43b9-9685-3eb0208ddc88 2009-09-08T22:18:33Z 2009-09-08T22:18:33Z

Yessss!! got it!! Thanks for this one!

Kylie 2009-09-08T22:18:33Z Soleil http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#fe73d2ad-636f-4cc0-b369-58509c4eddb6 2009-09-07T14:17:46Z 2009-09-07T14:17:46Z

All of these suggestions are very helpful, thank you ladies!

Soleil 2009-09-07T14:17:46Z Imigula http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#d0fea3d6-c63b-444c-bb34-0de6e16495a9 2009-09-07T13:57:55Z 2009-09-07T13:57:55Z

Joan, I know you don't live near the ocean, but you do vacation from time to time. Next time you have the opportunity, go into the ocean and let the waves move your body. Your body will naturally do a bodywave as the wave comes in and then goes back out. In the meantime, you might try to imagine you are in the ocean?

Imigula 2009-09-07T13:57:55Z Just Joyce http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#58db3fa0-b7c9-478b-a9a5-b43c6467ca26 2009-08-01T00:33:29Z 2009-08-01T00:33:29Z

You are taking good notes Brighton! I do teach the body wave exactly as she describes; we start with breaking down the upper part into three sections "out" "lift up" and "lean back" to get everyone used to knowing where those points are, but the movement definitely gets softer and smaller as we smoth it out and do continuous body waves (and I mention this constantly "smaller and controlled is far more beautiful that out of control like the "worm" of the late 80s"). Oh, and I promise I do not try to exhibit said worm :)

Just Joyce 2009-08-01T00:33:29Z Sharrie http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#5445005c-1aac-4bef-a722-997cfef5ea7a 2009-07-08T08:10:07Z 2009-07-08T08:10:07Z

Here is a suggestion for a visual. I discovered this when sitting at my computer late one night, I caught myself in the reflection of the window doing a huge yawn, the type you do when no one is watching. I repeated this with a body wave, and felt like a penny had dropped. I've given this hot tip to new girls struggling with this move and it really helps them get it......much to my teachers disapproval. What do you think??

Sharrie 2009-07-08T08:10:07Z "Shay" http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#1c8a244a-1048-4fe9-a72e-eec301e039c4 2009-07-07T23:15:58Z 2009-07-07T23:15:58Z

Tooooootally. I remember when I first started watching FC do body waves and torso rotations, and I tried to make these big, deep movements. It was when I grew my dance and my perception of the movement that I realized it wasn't such a big move after all--it just has such intense control and articulation, it *looks* like a bigger move than it is. So, too, with so many ATS moves. Building strength and control is the way to gain real POWER with it! I tell my students now it is all "smoke and mirrors" and try to help them see the illusion of size of movement that comes with control of movement....

"Shay" 2009-07-07T23:15:58Z Sunshine http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#86319d09-5571-4b77-81e0-f66582615987 2009-07-07T22:33:02Z 2009-07-07T22:33:02Z

I like this drill. I'm decent with the wave, but I tend to go forward instead of up. Thanks!

Sunshine 2009-07-07T22:33:02Z Joan http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#7605744e-5deb-4722-b75b-c01f02be632e 2009-07-07T20:05:07Z 2009-07-07T20:05:07Z

Thank you ladies. Very good information and visuals for me to try out and to work with. Joan

Joan 2009-07-07T20:05:07Z Sandi http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#b37d4f8a-51a0-419e-9d29-051b6cfc473d 2009-07-07T19:04:46Z 2009-07-07T19:04:46Z

Just be aware that the Belly Roll is not part of the movement. The support given by the abdominals to allow you to roll the spine is a different thing from standing in place and using the abdominals to create a roll in the belly. The effects should be showing up in different areas. One in the whole of the torso, the other in the belly area only. Just like there is no undulation during a Belly Roll, there is no Belly Roll in the Bodywave. But, PF, I see what you are saying with trying to get in touch with the abdominal contraction sequence by using that as an exercise to find certain muscles. I just wanted to make the above clear on the movement itself. Carry on...

Sandi 2009-07-07T19:04:46Z Sandi http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#6054cb06-7c1c-4854-b732-52fdb66dd129 2009-07-07T18:56:19Z 2009-07-07T18:56:19Z

Carrie's right. I usually say this movement is between the neck and the knees. Your head should stay in place, as should your feet. Shoulders are resting in their positions (no forced shoulder movements). So, the movement will only be as big as you are mobile within the middle area with the coordinated contractions of the mid-back and abdominal muscles. It does not need to be a big movement. The beauty of it is in the undulation and continuous flow. The variations are what bring more depth.

Sandi 2009-07-07T18:56:19Z Pacifica Funkster http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#34d923c7-a033-4197-b942-c9ffdb3da4a8 2009-07-07T18:24:06Z 2009-07-07T18:24:06Z

Try initiating a top-to-bottom belly roll as the undulation hits the top of the abs and goes through the pelvis. You might get a better feel for the pelvis tuck aspect.

Pacifica Funkster 2009-07-07T18:24:06Z Carrie http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#f4084793-89c7-473a-8c04-f03da4e418cc 2009-07-07T18:05:57Z 2009-07-07T18:05:57Z

The ladies have great advice... I'd like to add.... Keep it small. Don't try and exaggerate the movement to make it look like FC. The smaller and more isolated you keep it, the more strenght you will build and it will have the 'appearance' of a movement that is much bigger. Cheers! Carrie

Carrie 2009-07-07T18:05:57Z Colette http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#47740c5f-8320-4d5a-ae4c-79e09c5d21a9 2009-07-07T17:49:22Z 2009-07-07T17:49:22Z

doing body wave while facing the wall helps train the chest to lift up and back vs. forward-up-back.....can't go forward if the wall is right there.

Colette 2009-07-07T17:49:22Z Leigh Anne http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#dc7d884f-f872-4c32-af80-19d818b427e7 2009-07-07T17:39:23Z 2009-07-07T17:39:23Z

One image that has worked for me is the idea of the abdomen as a kind of balloon or ball that inflates and stretches into an oblong shape at the top of the body wave, ending back in a ball shape as the body wave is completed. I like the idea of thinking of my abdomen as expanding rather than my back curving - this helps me keep my hips more stationary. Also, I've found that the openness of my chest really affects my ability to do this move. On days when my chest is not as open and my shoulders are too tight and overengaged, everything below it seems to be less open as well, causing my butt/hips to pull up instead of down. Hope that helps.

Leigh Anne 2009-07-07T17:39:23Z Kazoo http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#ecefd722-12bd-4490-9270-3b778e93c696 2009-07-07T14:19:02Z 2009-07-07T14:19:02Z

Try turning around to face the wall to practice so that your chest is touching it and everything below that is almost touching it. Think about peeling away as you do the body wave; as your chest is lifting and moving back y keep your lower abs engaged so your pelvis will just touch the wall, and as your chest comes back to center your pelvis will be the last thing to move away from the wall to your start position. I found this exercise worked better for me and some of my students, by actually touching the wall with my torso I could feel which muscles had to be activated.

Kazoo 2009-07-07T14:19:02Z Joan http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#7e075898-5dd5-45ae-b9ee-57db35b5554b 2009-07-03T18:06:16Z 2009-07-03T18:06:16Z

Great visual. Will give it a try. Thanks to all who replied with great tips. I am expecting success! jms

Joan 2009-07-03T18:06:16Z principessa crankypants http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#dfb898da-0ee3-4af9-b2a2-7866cd671ddf 2009-07-02T07:25:01Z 2009-07-02T07:25:01Z

make sure that you are keeping your knees soft. If you are locking them, chances are, you'll contract your lower back, which is the opposite of what you want. Also, be conscious of your lower body posture in general. contracting the lower abs will keep you from contracting your lower back.

principessa crankypants 2009-07-02T07:25:01Z Jaki http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#3a6839f0-98ac-4246-a4e2-d650972d08ba 2009-07-01T21:04:50Z 2009-07-01T21:04:50Z

The way I learned the body wave, is that it's not so much a chest forward motion as it is a chest lift. Think of it more as the chest lifting up as the very first part of the movement. Then moving back and rolling down through the hips. Perhaps focusing on the chest going forward may lead to things like "chin leading" and/or having the rear-end sticking out backwards to compensate for the chest motion forward. The chest lift may help to avoid both of them. :)

Jaki 2009-07-01T21:04:50Z Brighton http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#3089e791-65c2-4b4a-aa1d-ddb815890a9a 2009-07-01T18:48:38Z 2009-07-01T18:48:38Z

Joan, I had the same problem. I was focusing too much on the upper half. My newest instructor (Hi Joyce!) describes it like this: After you bring the chest forward, up, and lean back for the top half, then you engage the abdomen in "steps". Think about contracting the top of your abdomen, then the middle, then the bottom which should result in the tuck/release look for the bottom half. Kind of like the motion your body naturally makes when you're about to sit down on a chair. I agree with the previous post too, don't forget soft knees! Now if I could just stop leading with my chin...

Brighton 2009-07-01T18:48:38Z Joan http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#c00e7c73-9a34-4093-b32a-78f8277b615a 2009-07-01T15:16:28Z 2009-07-01T15:16:28Z

Thanks for your response. The issue I am having is after I scoop forward with my chest and bring the wave up over and down my back, my butt/hips want to swing back and not tuck forward. I am a very visual person and was hoping for a visual to help me complete the move. I have tried standing against a wall and curving my back against it for the upper half of the move and that seems to work, it is the bottom have that I can't seem to get. Thanks. Joan

Joan 2009-07-01T15:16:28Z principessa crankypants http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#599096bb-797c-44da-b32c-6420ca2e3c58 2009-06-30T22:10:37Z 2009-06-30T22:10:37Z

What is the problem you're having with it? Number one thing I'd say is make sure you are keeping your knees soft, so the movement can roll down through your hips.

principessa crankypants 2009-06-30T22:10:37Z Joan http://ATS.tribe.net/thread/a2a013dd-d6ea-4f51-8036-054aa9a97b33#1d001c09-b1b7-48d6-8a44-0bb3fc431879 2009-06-30T15:15:59Z 2009-06-30T15:15:59Z

I seem to have difficulty with the lower half of the body wave. Are there some tips and visuals that someone can provide to help me over this hump. I have been dancing for almost one year and I am still stuck on this. Thanks! Joan

Joan 2009-06-30T15:15:59Z