One of the Great Frustrations of early silk work is getting a clean, consistent ankle wrap for splits, etc. There are two common methods of getting those elusive wraps: eggbeater (legs alternate) and butterfly (legs wrap at the same time). Both methods use a common technique: the rond de jambe – a fancy ballet term that means “round of the leg”. No rond de jambe? Enjoy your le poo ankle wraps.
Rond de jambe – a full half circle with the leg. Imagine a clock face: you’re working from 6:00 (behind you) to 12:00 (in front of you), hitting every number in between.
Tips & Tricks for Wrap-tastic Ankles
- In the air, you would first choose a bent arm or straight arm hang (whichever you can maintain with good form).
- BUT, we’re not in the air right now – we’re at home!
- Grab a sheet or two, a few long scarves, whatever you’ve got at home. Tie one end to a pull-up bar. No pull-up bar? Knot one end, place it above a door, and close the door. Do not even think about putting weight on whatever you’ve just MacGuyvered.
- Stand nice & straight. Carry your leg out to the side (turn out through this whole endeavor). Bend your knee like a little froggie, bring your foot through the center, and extend that leg behind you until it’s straight. Lift it! Maintaining that height, carry your leg around and do it again.
- You’re successful when you have two clean wraps on the ankle.
What Can Go Wrong?
- You go too quickly. You’re not hanging by your arms, so you may as well take the time to make sure the fabric is well positioned!
- You’re trying to kick it around. You might get lucky, but crappy technique doesn’t work 90% of the time. Lift. Carry. Extend.
- Your cutting your rond de jambe short. If your fabric keeps winding up under your foot on the 2nd wrap, this likely why. Make sure your leg goes all the way back to the 6, and aaaaaaaaalll the way forward to the 12. If you stop at 1 or 2:00, your wrap will be messy.
Now is a fantastic time to get these clean and ready for your return to the air! Have a good time, and make good choices!!!!! Love and pull-ups, Laura
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