Bend With Mel – Online Zoom Classes

Posted on by Melanie

UPDATE – The final day of online classes will be Friday, May 29. Time for a little break! Stay tuned as I will post about potential summer programming soon!

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The time has come! I will now be offering online classes through Zoom! I have been missing teaching and connecting with my students in real-time and I know many of them are missing it too. Let’s get online and get to work! The first classes will be Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

My online classes are completely free and open to anyone. I am designing these classes with my acro students in mind but anyone interested is welcome to join. These classes are best suited for those with acro, dance, gymnastics, or similar relevant experience. Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of the page before participating. 

If you are interested in joining please send me an email (melanie_282@hotmail.com) and I will give you the meeting room number and password. The meeting room number and password will remain the same for all classes. I will run these classes online until it is safe to return to in-person classes. I hope to virtually see you there!

For both classes participants will need:

  • Yoga mat, towel, or blanket
  • Chair
  • 2 weights (1-2 lbs each, 2 cans or full water bottles will work if you don’t have weights)
  • 2 yoga blocks if you have
  • Wall space (approx 2 feet wide and 6+ feet high)

TUESDAYS: 

Cardio & Conditioning 

11 & under – 4:00-4:45 pm

12 & up – 5:00-5:45 pm

This class will be a full body workout designed to maintain and improve stamina and strength. We will not do any acro “tricks” in this class, but rather do acro-focused conditioning and build the strength needed to support acrobatic work. 

FRIDAYS:

Flexibility & Balance

11 & under – 4:00-5:00 pm

12 & up – 5:15-6:15 pm

The first part of this class (likely 30-40 minutes) will be spent on flexibility. The remainder of the time will be spent on acro balances such as handstands, headstands, forearm stands, leg grabs, etc. Non-acro dancers are welcome to join this class and do the flexibility portion only and leave the meeting for the balance portion, or participate in balances as much as they are comfortable.

*PLEASE NOTE – Good Friday (Friday, April 10) there will be no class. I will do classes Thursday, April 9th instead at the same scheduled times.

DISCLAIMER: 

You are participating at your own risk. I, Melanie Botelho-Urbanski, am not liable for any injury or damages you or your property may sustain while participating in one of my online classes. I will give you the best coaching I possibly can remotely but you will need to do your part to ensure your safety. When working online I can’t always see all angles and catch all corrections. Participants need to listen carefully to instructions and always focus on using their best technique. You can participate with your camera off but I will not be able to give you corrections if you choose to do so.

Please note that the ages are given only as a guideline. The 12 & up class will be more advanced whereas the 11 & under classes will be more basic. Adults are welcome too. Please use your judgement in selecting the best class for yourself or your participant. Students are welcome to make or ask for modifications or sit-out exercises as needed. Students must listen to their bodies and understand when they are pushing too hard or trying things they are not ready for. In these classes we likely will not be learning new skills but maintaining and perfecting the skills we have, doing variations of those skills, and finding ways to weave skills together.