Pole Class: Day 18

There are some things I will do and some things I won't do. The things I will do are things that my body has a physical advantage over, like climbs and inversions. What always gets me are the twirls. I blame this on my short legs. I also do have a fear of falling off the pole because of my sweaty hands.

This Total Pole class would be the first class I take after my brief 2-week hiatus. I think we started off with a transitional move, which consisted of a hand twirl into a stationary heart beat and a transition out. That was easy enough, although I can't say that I looked the most graceful. Of course we move onto our twirl, the part of the class that I dread the most!! We did the Reverse Grab which happens to be my favorite twirl of all twirls. All I can do is literally stand back and watch my class mates complete this trick while I watch. Sad huh?

After that we did our climb. This time Amber taught us a climb with a more foot emphasis versus the usual upper body grab and pull. I hated this one. The spot right on top of my foot is so weak and bruises so easily that it's painful for me to put too much pressure there. It would've been easier if I was wearing some sort of show, but I tend not to bring shoes to class anymore.

After this climb, Amber taught us how to do the Ballerina. I don't think I'll ever look comfortable doing this move. I should actually ban this pose from my repertoire to save myself the embarrassment. If you're great at contorting your body, this is the move for you! Actually if you're tall and slender this move is for you! Can you imagine a little midget like me doing this one? Not enough body to twist around the pole!

Lastly, we ended with an inversion which was the Caterpillar. We did it both ways. Since I'm pretty comfortable with going down the pole, I really wanted to concentrate on the Caterpillar as a climbing technique. I think it takes a lot of control and strength to do this one so it's definitely one of the ones that I push myself to learn. Too bad I can only really practice this one in the studio with the sky-high poles! You can only go so far with a portable pole at home!

Pole Class: Day Seventeen

With the exception of finding bloody fingernails and a belly button after class, I though today's class went very well. At today's Total Pole, Amber taught us the Corkscrew twirl, Yogini and Caterpillar. For most of us in the class, these were tricks that we've worked on before (which isn't a bad thing!).

I had so much fun in class, partly because I was trying and actually getting the tricks down. I secretly love the Caterpillar and Reverse Caterpillar. I know it isn't the sexiest pole trick you can whip out, but it's definitely one of the more interesting and difficult ones just because of the whole defying gravity part.

I can't wait to get and install my own pole! Then I can practice every day!

Pole Class: Day Sixteen

So I went one day without pole and I started to feel weird...I think it was very similar to what someone experiencing withdrawal would feel like. At this point, I'm about ready to purchase my Titanium Gold X-Pole (w/spinning capability baby!). So X-pole or bust!!

After watching Mina and Estee Tuesday night, I became determined to learn more advanced moves and to work more on my Caterpillar. I couldn't think of a better class to go to then Tricked Out. It was my second Tricked Out class and I forgot how I always see people in that class that I don't recognize.

Tonight Ellen taught the class. For twirls we learned the Reverse Grip. For inversions we learned the Caterpillar, Reverse Caterpillar, Scorpio and Allegra.

When done right the Reverse Grip is the most beautiful twirl/spin I think you can do. To get into you could start with a chair, and as you let go of your bracket arm your hips swing in front of the pole and you can easily place your bracket arm back onto the pole.

After Jenyne's workshop, I swear that the Caterpillar became about 5X easier for me. She's all about conditioning and her conditioning exercise for the Caterpillar truly works. It's like doing push-ups on the pole. I just need to get the Reverse Caterpillar down. Ellen taught it with the forearm grip, but I learned the elbow grip from Jenyne and I like that one way better. I like the elbow grip better because my palms get really sweaty holding myself in Caterpillar position, so to minimize the sweat on the pole for me the better. At this point in class, I truly wished I could go home and just practice this one all night.

I swear the Scorpio should be easy for me, but I keep making it more difficult than it really is.

So the Allegra inversion was a new one for me tonight. When you invert you hook your inside leg so your knee is bent (for me this is the right leg) around the pole. You take your right hand and wrap it around the front of your leg so that it's gripping the nook between your bent knee and the pole. From here you extend your body to face outward and grip the pole on the bottom with your left hand. I couldn't do this part. After that you extend your left leg and right leg. Point those toes! When you're in the position correctly, your legs are off the pole and straight. Good luck!

TwirlGirl had a great idea to get into Cross-Knee Release together on the pole. This is my favorite pose from a climb...because I can do it! Haha.

Pole Class: Day Fourteen

I'm just going to come out and say it. I SUCK at twirls. They are my ultimate weakness...that and donuts, chocolate cake, strawberry milkshakes, scones and an ice cold glass of whole milk. Since we're on the topic of what I'm really bad at I might as well mention that yesterday I tore skin off the bottom of my right hand because my grip was too hard and I was starting to hold my hand higher. It just got worse today! Boooo! Plus I think my right foot is swollen and it looks ugly...

Ok soooo tonight's class was Flirty Tricks taught by Christina. I really enjoy going to this class because we often go over tricks I've first learned in Total Pole that I need to go over. BUT TONIGHT WAS SPECIAL!!! Christina actually taught some twirls that look really good that I've never tried before. Brand new material to learn!!?!?! Yess!!

One of the twirls that Christina taught us tonight was a Toe Twirl. It's really cute because you can lightly drag your toes along the floor as you spin around the pole. To do this move you simply step with your inside foot, swing your outside leg around and then lift both legs backwards (make sure your legs are straight!). You hold onto the pole with your strong hand and bracket with your other hand to make a triangle. We added on another twirl to the Toe Twirl that I didn't really care for...especially since I kept doing it wrong. Haha.

Next we learned the Switch Twirl, which Christina explained to us was a 1/2 Fireman and a 1/2 Fireman?? We learned the Fireman Twirl first. The Fireman Twirl looks like both your knees are bent and squishing against the pole while you are seated...so kind of like a fireman twirling down a pole. To do the Switch Twirl you step with your inside foot, swing out your outside leg while you bracket with your other hand, your inside leg should bend at the knee first while your outside leg is kept straight. I can't really remember the next step clearly so I probably shouldn't write anything down...

After that we learned a Carousel Twirl. This is different from the first two because your bracket thumb will be facing downward. Again you step with your inside foot and swing your outside foot to give you momentum. Bring both your feet backward so that they touch and arch your back as you swing around the pole. Thank goodness that was the last twirl we learned! You can actually add on a Heartbeat onto the end of this twirl...



For the climbs we learned a Carousel Drop. From a climb, with both of your arms in L position you let go of your legs. You must have the pole up against your breast and belly for this move. You can slide down from this position, but as you slide down your arms must fall at the same time with you.

Another climb pose we learned was the Piping Seat. From a climb, You bring out both your legs to the front. You can twist them at the ankle or if you're feeling comfortable enough you can have them out straight just remember to squeeze squeeze squeeze!!! Then you bring you grab onto the back of your thighs/legs and bend forward. You can also bring your body to the front of the pole and grab your thighs as well.

Lastly for our inversion, Christina taught us the Caterpillar. This was the third time the Caterpillar was brought up in a drop-in class for me, and each time I thought it was the most painful move to learn. Until I can learn to squeeze harder with my knees instead with my feet, then I will always get massive foot bruises from this one. I'll get it down one day, just not tonight :)