Capoeira

Here we are a month out, and silly me, I was worried I'd have nothing to write about before I actually stepped onto the plane...but, fortunately, that was before I remembered that I had purchased a Groupon deal for five capoeira classes, about a month or so ago.

Yes. *That* capoeira.

Something you should probably know about me is that, even after seven years in LA, I don't "do" fitness classes. I used to enjoy yoga in college, but never picked it up again here, mostly due to a fear of---at six feet tall and a size 8---being the "fat" clumsy chick in an LA yoga studio full of women whose profession is to look awesome. My profession is to sit on my ass for eight hours and draw, so not much besides my right wrist is really doing anything. 

I do run fairly consistently, and even finished my first half-marathon in November of last year. I went to a Krav Maga class with my roommate once and enjoyed the class (apparently, hitting things really hard comes naturally to me), but not so much the pushy salesmanship that followed. So, I decided that fitness classes were not for me. I know there are benefits to having a structured class with a trained professional checking your form, and coaching you, and motivating you past that point where your muscles say "um...no". But I'm usually broke, I'm usually slightly overweight, and I just do not belong in LA gyms or fitness classes. 

But capoeira was different, because, you know...Brazil!

It was an impulsive purchase, based on a recommendation from my Portuguese tutor that I might like it. I procrastinated on going to my first class, mostly due to a running injury after the half-marathon that took weeks to properly rest and heal. Then it was the holidays, and the first week back at work, and I put it off a little more. But then I realized that I have exactly a month left before I am going to stretch my little Brazilian biquini to within an inch of its life. Maybe adding a different workout to my weekly routine won't hurt, and, hey, I did pay for it already.

I woke up early yesterday, slammed into some yoga pants and headed on down to Capoeira Brasil for what turned out to be a fantastic way to start a weekend. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, and that I didn't even injure myself (apparently they don't let you kick at each other on the first day...boa idéia). All of the instructors were super friendly and encouraging, and as badly as I was butchering the moves, there was a very deliberate, energetic rhythm to the whole thing that I liked. I liked hearing people practicing music in the studio while we were training. I can see myself keeping up with it after the trip, if budget allows. 

Of course, I am hurting all over today, and I think if I tried to practice my ginga again right now I'd topple right over. So, we can add capoeira to my ever-expanding list of Brazilian things which are so much fun, but always come back to bite you in the ass the next day. Just like cachaça, and carioca men.