There are no "Hips" in "Blackfeet"

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So yeah, it's the New Year and all that, and while I don't make resolutions per say, I do find it generally necessary to recommit myself to exercise after six weeks of excessive stuffing of my face over the holidays. Since the clinic where I work has purchased a staff membership at the fitness center right down the street, I don't have a whole lot of excuses this winter. While I was at it, I decided to try something new. It's called Zumba, and when done correctly, it looks like this:



Note that I said "when done correctly". Because here's the thing: I wasn't a cheerleader, or a twirler, or even one of the popular girls who got asked to dance a lot. Plus I grew up out here on the reservation where dancing looks like this:



As you can see, Zumba is all about something called 'power hips', while Native American dancing is all about the feet, which makes sense especially for us being Blackfeet and all. Toss in my complete inability to mirror the movements of a dance instructor and I'm telling you, it ain't pretty.

So far, though, the injuries have been minor. A couple of dislocated ribs and a sprained muffin top on my part from doing that shimmy thing. And a busted gut on the part of my classmate from watching me try.

PS: Yes, I know the second video takes a while to get to the dancing, but that is 'my' Chief Mountain at the opening, from a slightly more northerly angle than our view here at the ranch. 

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