I have bad news. We’ve lost Gym Buddy Allison. To “the robot.” And yes, it’s just like it sounds.
Monday night in Hip Hop Hustle, we were all poppin’ and lockin’ and then Allison heard a pop and felt a lock… in her lower back. It was instantaneous, girlfriend went from crunk to cripple in the space of one 80’s-throwback move.
We’re not sure exactly why or how it happened. We did the action hero workout that morning and there was some back-intensive moves (deadlifts, bent over rows, picking up a towel really slowly in case Gym Hottie was around) but nothing we haven’t done a million times before. And yet it’s hard to believe that strong girl Allison could be felled by one bad dance move.
I went and checked up on her today and not only can she not lay down, sit up or walk she also has this funny s-shape to her torso now. She’s a human leaning tower of Pisa. On muscle relaxers. Wheee!
My Daddy is So Proud of Me
The best part of all of this is that we happen to have it captured on video. Turbo/Hustler Jennie (oh, she SO needs a personalized t-shirt) decided to videotape the awesomeness that is a bunch of Minnesota soccer moms – and one dad! – hip hopping like high school kids. Well, like high school kids that know how babies are made and what expensive little time-suckers they are when they pop out and are therefore understandably reluctant to act it out in a public venue. We’re a pretty tame bunch but Jennie manages to get our inner Beyonce out somehow.
So we taped the first show:
I ought to let you play Where’s Waldo and figure out which one I am but since I know you are busy folk, I’ll give you a hint. “DON’T DO IT!” That’s right – that’s my neon pink & white butt. Pretty much the only time I’m visible on camera is when we’re doing the booty shake. What can I say? I just wanna be like Leslie! Anyhow, notice Allison, in the green shorts & black tank (the only one of us other than Jennie that can wear a baseball cap tipped sideways without looking like she is in the community theater presentation of Step It Up) standing upright and dancing her little heart out.
Now check her out in the second show:
She can’t bend. Nor can she stand up straight. It makes me hurt just looking at her. (Sorry for the iffy quality of the videos – I don’t think Turbo Jennie blanked our faces out on purpose. Although maybe she was just trying to protect us from ourselves.) Still though, gotta give her props for gutting it out ’till the end.
Seriously, that’s how fun Hip Hop Hustle is! You throw your back out and you still want to dance. It’s the only workout I don’t usually wear my heart rate monitor for – I’m just having too much fun to worry about the burn:) I don’t care if I am the least sexy person on the planet, dancing makes me feel like a rock star. SUCH a rush!
So you will understand why in the end we were all grinning (although you will note that Allison there on the right is not quite standing and a little hunched over to one side):
PS> Whatever my post is tomorrow, I swear it will not include a picture of me. Especially a picture of me in an ill-advised hat.
I
still
need
an
allison
(or a charlotte!)
M.
You know that looks FUN! (Not the back injury part though).
However, I can’t remember more than three things in a row, so I suspect I’d spend all my time looking around at what other people were doing and always trailing several moves behind.
But tempting, tempting…
Looks like you guys were having a blast.
All you need now is a Wham! shirt!
I’m totally with Crabby on this one. I was never very good with choreography, so I’m afraid that class is out.
Oh, and I once dislocated my knee while dancing.
You Go Charlotte! I’m sorry about Allison’s back. 🙁 I have an aerobic tape I do in my living room. My husband calls it my booty jams (it’s cardio cabaret by Yoga Booty Ballet). It took me forever to learn all the moves, but I love it! Everyone on the video just kinda bounces back-and-forth between the moves, but I jump around like a kid with too much fundip and it’s great! I haven’t ventured out in public to try a class though…but it looks like fun!
I love it! I could so never picture you taking a hip hop class because you look so ballerina like in your profile photo. Shake it Charlotte LOL! I am very reluctant to take those types of classes because while I have some rhythm, I am just not comfortable dancing in public (without some liquid courage!). I’d feel all of these ridiculous self-generated expectations…like because I’m a black girl that means I should really be able to dance, right? Very silly, I know!
So freakin great! Wish I were there poppin-n-lockin too! Get well Allison!
Allison I am so sorry about your back! OUCH!!! I really hope you feel better soon!
That class looks so fun! I’m such a chicken to dance in public – I have no rhythm but I want some desperately!
You guys are good!
Here’s to a speedy recovery for Allison – hopefully it’s just a little strain…
Aw poor Allison!
Your pictures are so adorable. Especially with the hat!
i am so jealous, that looks awesome! of course, i would be the out of sync moron in the back row causing everyone else to fall, but it still would be fun!
how does everyone know the moves so well? did you learn that in one day?
(can you tell the only dancing i do is to the wiggles?)
OK, I want to come over and play with you guys!
Poor Allison! Lower-back stuff is random and PAINFUL! You can throw your back out just by standing up. Or sitting down. Or turning your head. Or roboting, apparently. Sometimes it’s an alignment thing. I’m sure Dr.J could explain it MUCH more eloquently than I could.
(OK, a 6 year-old is more eloquent than I am, but you know what I mean. Dr.J is, well, a doctor. And he talks gooder than me.)
You all are so sweet…thanks for all your concerns! You have no idea how dumb I feel when I explain that I hurt my back in hip hop class, I feel so old!! Im feeling a lot better today though and I’m just dying to get back with my gym buddies again!
that looks fun – char, you can DANCE, girl! Total booty shot at 0:40 seconds! In white pants, natch. I love your shirt – I have an excellent but sad Frankie Goes To Hollywood story when you get a chance. BTW I will never forgive myself for not buying a shirt in Forever 21 that said, in garish gold foil letters, “This is why i;m HOT.”
Oh my gosh, I so want to join that class! It looks like a blast! All of you look like you’re having so much fun. 🙂 Makes me miss those jazz dance classes I took when I was younger!
I hope Allison is feeling much much better!
I’m sorry about your back Alison- maybe you should tell people you hurt it rock climbing. 🙂 I agree with everyone- that class looks fun I want to move back to MN again just for you girls, the Y and Turbo-Jenny.
Hope Allison gets better soon. You all look like you had so much fun! And that picture is so adorable 😉
Now, that looks like a routine I could find entertaining. But how long does it take you to learn the moves?
ah, you’ve managed to remind me that I ought to get my Turbo Jam DVD out one of these days…
Disclaimer: Throwing out your back in Hip Hop Hustle is RARE!! If anyone ever wants to pop in and try this class let me know. I have guest passes to share and the lights are usually off while we are dancing to let everyone truly hop out of their box! We worked on that routine for about a month!! Charlotte and Allison are very dedicated poppers and lockers!!
Turbo Jennie
Allison, please feel better. Heat! Ice! Heat! Ice!
And please don’t feel bad about the back throw.
I live in NYC and in misguided moments of hubris have been known to take Hip Hop class with the Broadway dancers.
Some of the stuff they do, you could not only throw your back out, you could be carried out in traction if ur doin it rong.
Gena, one can dislocate one’s knee while dancing even if one is a member of a modern dance troupe. I will not share how I know that at this time.
Charlotte, since you seem to be a fan of all things 80s, I’m sure you will understand if I tell you that I’m sure Morris would classify you as “one of the sexy people”.
oh. my. gosh.
I’m in love with this post. (but so sorry allison got hurt! ouch.) And also a little sad that I can’t just be a substitute hip-hoppin gym buddy until she’s recovered. If we lived in the same state I would be there in a HEARTBEAT.
I don’t know whether to laugh because I really feel like you are my long lost twin (uh…the smarter and cuter one, lol), or cry because you live in MN.
I wasn’t reading your blog when you first posted this, so I had to comment now. That looks so fun!! And I am totally jealous of your Frankie shirt.
Why aren’t there any fun moms where I live? 🙁