How coordinated are you? Is it easy for you to learn steps, routines?

[prolesunited]

I would say I'm coordinated as I'm quite athletic and haven't maimed myself yet doing things like cycling and inline skating.

But, when it comes to doing things like learning a dance routine or aerobics, I suck out loud. I got a kickboxing DVD to change up my routine and I could hardly follow it. I know I should be more patient, but I really don't imagine myself getting much better as this is not the first time I've tried this type of activity.

So, is it something that comes naturally for some or am I too impatient? Are there any tricks to getting it?

[Nikia]

1. It takes me longer than most

For some reason, it takes me a while to translate visual into movement. I learn movement by moving, not by watching.
For the same reason, I hate directions that show pictures without words.

[prolesunited]

3. I am not visually oriented either

I have trouble with maps or anything spatial, like assembly directions.

I just kept moving, but I know I looked like an idiot. I would *never* humiliate myself by taking a class. In fact, I just now started taking a yoga class after working on it for about six months on my own. (Yes, I'm a little anal and Type A.)

[miss_american_pie]

2. I'm not sure how to answer that

I started dance classes when I was three, so I pick choreography up quickly.

How advanced is your DVD? A lot of those don't explain things very well for beginners.

[prolesunited]

6. It was aimed at beginners

All the moves were broken down and it went slow, but then when it went up to tempo, I got lost in a jumble of arms and legs and then it was all over. I was OK slow, but could not match the movements with the music or instructor at all.

I think part of it is my own mental block of believing I can't learn it.

[miss_american_pie]

7. You're probably correct about that

If you can get it at a slower tempo, you're body is capable of it. If you keep at it long enough it'll get stored in your muscle memory.

[prolesunited]

11. My body is capable

and I took martial arts in college. It's just stringing it all together.

I'll work on it some more, but it was just so frustrating.

[eyesroll]

4. I'm a clod in all respects.

I can stay upright on my bike, but that's about it.

I can memorize steps but it's tough for me to get my body to actually do it -- "left left right right left" comes pretty naturally in my head, but my feet can't follow.

[LeftyMom]

5. I can't dance. No matter how long I practice

Apparently my brain took the space that's supposed to govern that stuff and filled it up with Star trek trivia or something. :shrug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. I am NOT coordinated at all.....

It takes me a long time to learn how to do anything physical......

Once I learn it, though, then I'm OK......

But getting there is NOT half the fun, dammit!

:cry:

[Fleshdancer]

9. I catch on pretty fast to choreography

I don't know why, I just always have. :shrug:

[prolesunited]

10. I envy you

I think it must be like musical ability -- some just have a knack, others are capable through diligence and people like me just have to will their way through it.

[Fleshdancer]

12. after thinking about it a little more....

I know that I can't just watch and do. When learning steps of any kind (kickboxing, step aerobics, ballroom dance, etc) I have a running dialog in my head the entire time. When I watch a routine demonstrated, I mentally list every step and repeat saying it so that when it's time to move, I follow that dialog instead of the instructor. From there, the only time I look at the instructor doing the steps is when I want to tweak my technique or when new steps are being introduced.

[prolesunited]

14. Thanks

I'll try to focus more on what I'm doing than the instructor.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

13. I'm a clod on my feet in general--clumsy as all-get-out.

I've never given ballroom dancing a serious try--it is something I should like to do, but I'm not sure I could stand on both feet long enough to do it. :D

However--I'm very good, very natural with hand-eye coordination, especially as it relates to musical instruments (piano, clarinet, sax). My muscle memory in my hands is pretty durn good, if I may say so myself. I guess I just need to work on, um, everything else.

:D

;)

[kiraboo]

15. I used to be very good at such things until age thirty,

when my rheumatoid arthritis made its appearance. Since then I've longed to dance, run, whatever. Can't. So enjoy, coordinated or not!

[SeattleGirl]

16. I can pick up dance steps/routines farily easily.

However, I can't walk to save my life. I have been known to trip on air! :rofl:

[u4ic]

17. Depends...

Dance - I'm terribly unco-ordinated, and always have been. I took various forms of dance, and was moderately ok at belly dancing and ballet (very beginner for the latter). Jazz - terrible.

Some sports, like badminton and dressage/jumping (ie horse riding), excellent. I have good hand-eye co-ordination, and excellent reflexes.

[AlCzervik]

18. not at all, i made the mistake a few months back of attempting to use

some 5 pound weights while i was walking on the treadmill, i couldn't manage both tasks at the same time so one of the weights went flying out of my hand and broke a lamp and the other one landed on my foot.

[prolesunited]

20. Am I bad because that made me chuckle?

I hope it wasn't an expensive lamp or that you really hurt your tow.

You could always get those types of wrist weights that you attach with velcro.

[AlCzervik]

21. it made me laugh too, no the lamp wasn't expensive and my toe was

fine. I ended switching to heavy hands becasue they actually go around your knuckles but there are still times i forget i have them on and hit something with them.

[Skittles]

19. not bad

I do a lot of step videos although I do have to practice on some of the more trickier routines

[supernova]

22. Not physically athletic at all

Growing up with a heart condition, I just wasn't athletic at all. I tire more easily than most. Though I do enjoy some things.

While I'm not really clumsy, it can take me more than a few tries to learn a new dance step or a new areobics routine. It can be enjoyable if I'm allowed to learn at my own pace. A lot of group things, such as sports, that's not possible. You are more or less required to fit in with the group and keep up.

I don't really enjoy playing sports because 1) I usually tire mid-way to 3/4 through the game. 2) I'm physically slower than others.

OTOH, things that require spatial ability and balance, I'm fairly good at. I liked the jungle gym, the balance beam. I like hiking and canoeing, too.