Ojos Asi (Eyes Like Yours)

The atmosphere in the gym is changing. With the compulsory teams nearing the end of their season, the focus is showing a subtle shift toward preparing the optional gymnasts who will have their first meet in January.

We recently lost a team girl to another gym who agreed to let her compete at a higher level. So now our optional group is only two girls. And although they are advancing well with their Level 8 skills, our coaches have a strong philosophy of "competing where you can perform", so for the four meets of this season, the girls will compete as Level 7s. But we know next year they will enter as strongly competitive Level 8s. It's all good.

Jillian has an awesome new floor routine. The music is Eyes Like Yours by Shakira. The dance is a bit Middle Eastern, reminding me of the arm motion of the belly dancer. Some new and fun additions to this routine are a front handspring shushanova, a switch leap-side leap-front somersault to the floor, and the ending is a superb dying scene.

Skills that Jillian is currently working on include a full twising layout, which she can now land on the floor......a front tumblinb series, FHS, FLO, FLO or she can substitute front saltos for one or both of the layouts. She is doing double back drills on the bungee which will translate into double back bar dismount. And her clear hip to handstand on the strap bar is lovely. There is more I'm sure, but I rarely get to see any of this. I only make it in for the last five minutes of practice. I'll be blown away when I finally get to see her at competition I'm sure!

Mentally, all is well. Her health has been excellent so she hasn't missed any practices. She deals well with small fears so none have become big fears. She wants her skills to come and she wants to do well. It is obvious that she is training this sport for herself, because she loves it, and for no other reason. Gym life is good.

****Today we went to see the Cirque du Solleil show, Varekai. WOW! Even I want to learn to tumble now! It must be so awesome to watch and already know you have some of the same skills. Jillian still maintains that she wants to join Cirque. Wish I knew how to help her. Wish I knew where to begin.

I'm adding some recent photos from a beam and floor practice. Included are poses from Jillian's routine.