I loved it. I am already stiff and tomorrow I'm going to ache horribly but I really loved it. I'm so glad Hilarity suggested it and that I didn't let size-angst stop me.

The atmosphere was good - focused and gently friendly. As promised, there were all shapes, sizes and ages in attendance (but only one sex). My co-ordination is rubbish, I can remember legs OR arms and sometimes neither, and I'm very unfit - but I'm confident I can learn it and get better with practice. It's exactly the sort of activity/exercise I like and I've been feeling cheerfully tired since the end of the class.

I need to get a sports bra for all the jumping - the nursing bra only barely coped.

I have been inspired by hilarityallen to go to adult ballet classes. I did ballet (and tap) classes when young, but haven't done either for approximately 2 decades. And yet, when the idea was there in front of me, I thought "wow, I want to do that". I'm doing plenty of walking but nothing to really work muscles. jdc39 agreed to babysit, so there were no barriers. I think part of the pull is that ballet shares a lot with climbing - strength, flexibility, balance, precision. Between pregnancy, unfitness and childcare worries, I haven't climbed for two years; ballet at least will only take me away for a couple of hours, unlike the entire evening required to reach a half-decent climbing wall from Cambridge.

I then had some angst about the listed uniform (leotards and tights) as UK dancewear suppliers don't believe in sizes above 16. However, there are plentiful plus-size suppliers in the USA, and once I got over being scared by the "Liturgical Dancewear", I found quite a few options.

I emailed the teacher this morning, asking which of the sessions she would recommend, and also suggesting an alternative 'uniform' of leggings and snug tshirt due the size issue, to which she replied very promptly, said I could start on Monday, my suggested outfit would be fine and "Don't worry about your size. I have all shapes and sizes and ages." That helped a lot.

I admit to having to fight off a certain amount of body-image angst about doing ballet in figure-hugging clothes. Some of it I think is old chubby-schoolgirl, biggest-in-the-class feelings coming back from 20 years ago, and that will pass with time in the dancing context with the self-confidence I have now. I traipsed around town this afternoon to find and buy leggings and tshirt while Charles napped in the buggy, and flinched a little from well-lit shop mirrors highlighting all my pregnancy damage (skin as well as flab). But under clothes it's not so bad, and ballet can only help. And I'm old enough and tough enough and downright stubborn enough to Not Care what other people might think and focus on the dancing.

Hilarity and I start on Monday. I'm excited and a bit nervous.