Counting out Combos: A Stupid habit

[nora]

I'm just curious to know if any one else out there does this. I find that I'm always counting the 16, 32, or 64 beats of the workout combos I'm doing, as I'm doing them. It's like I need to check to make sure that everything is as it should be as far as the counts go... - and of course, it always is. Sometimes, an instructor will mess with my mind a bit, though. Rob Glick, for example will follow up a 32 count combo with a 16 count combo and mix things up. Mark Hendrick does this too. It's a way of analyzing the workout as I do it.

Does anyone else have any idea of what I'm talking about???

I'm not a compulsive person in any way, but I seem to have developed this habit.

[archiesgirl]

I sort of do that, but not quite as detailed as you; I mainly just count in 4-4 time. I find it really helpful when I'm doing step aerobics, because counting out the music helps me stay on track with the moves.

[klwgriffin]

Are you by any chance a musician?

[cmiyachi]

I do that quite a bit because I am an instructor. I have to count internally to myself when I'm teaching. The beats you are measuring I think are what's called "musical phrases". And for a class to be good, you should be teaching on the phrases. I know that the music make especially for instructors tries to have 32 beat phrases for teaching.

[susan p]

I count to eight a lot when I'm doing Andre or Christi. . .

Other than that I don't. I sometimes NEED to with Andre or Christi to end up on the right foot or in the right place, it helps me figure out where I am!!

But I've never counted out a whole combo.

I find that counting REALLY helps when you're learning choreography.

[Suzette]

I'll do that on combos that don't seem to match the music - like Tracie Long's cha cha routine in The Hare. Counting is the only way I can do it because the rhythm is off.

[Pepnchar]

Hi there
I think anyone with a musical or instructional background wants to count the phrases and make sure all the counts are on.

[Kyra]

I suspect I mentally look for the beat when doing cardio, 'cause I sure know when the routine's off, but I never count through the routines. I do have a musical background, but he only thing I consciously count is reps.

[nora]

I think I have to just stop doing this! It's addictive. Sometimes I get so caught up in counting lately, that I have to tell myself to stop and just enjoy the routine.

[amyzan]

...but thankfully I stop myself before I count the full combo most of the time. I never thought about it, but it may just be because of all those childhood music lessons. I started pretty young, maybe 5?

On the other hand, I also front grocery store shelves while shopping from time to time. Compulsive habits die hard, you know? :rolleyes: (I worked the natural foods industry for 8 years, and fronting was something we were all expected to do whenever on the clock and not "busy"...)

AND it makes me feel nuts when someone is ever so slightly off the beat. That's why I asked to return Christi's Terrific Trio DVD--I couldn't deal with the missing three seconds in HHHL where my DVD player doesn't read ahead. Bugged me too much--sad, isn't it?

Amy