I came to class in a bad mood and with a negative attitude and I let it ruin my class. Right before class I was rushing to do some errands, and that involved waiting in line at Kaiser's pharmacy. Ugh!!! I HATE lines. It took me an entire hour to get that done. I just had enough time to rush home and grab my things for class. I drove like a mad woman to Redwood City. I wasn't about to miss another class. I can't even remember the last time I danced, it seems like forever...which definitely explains why I was so rusty. Attitude twirl? What's that? Hook ankle hook dammit!
In general it felt pretty good to be practicing again. It's just that twirling is my weakness and the Pretty Pole dance routine is basically made up of the Attitude, Betty Pin-up Chair and Basic twirls. What was kind of neat was that Christina taught us how to add a twist the the chair twirl. In addition to opening your thoracic (chest), you lean your rib cage to the side and bend your head too. It looks really pretty if your hair is down and makes you go around the pole faster...if you did it right you get dizzy.
Another highlight from today's class was that I wore my new black platforms and I LOVE them! My new FAVORITE pair!!! They're sooo hot and easy to dance in. I just don't want to do the moves in them because I know that they'll get scratched and messed up!! Stupid Carol twirl also messed up my pedicure I just got yesterday too! Bah! Maybe I should start wearing socks to class. Haha!
Even though this series is supposed to consist of only 5 classes, Christina is adding one on for free! Yippee! Which means that next Monday she will be filming us dancing to songs. I strongly do not want to be filmed since I don't want to look like a fool. But if I did, I would dance to "Hey Daddy" by Usher. I wish my pole would get here already!!!
Sooo at the end of class I took the opportunity to practice my Caterpillar inversion. For some crazy reason, the sheer difficulty of it makes me want to do it. And I know I can if I just practice. It's crazy how your body automatically gets used to movement after repeating it several times. I was actually surprised how easy it was to push my ass up. What I'm really afraid of doing is doing a Reverse Caterpillar because that means I would have to release my knees and push up my legs so that I'm totally vertically on the pole (however short that may be). But I will do it! And when my pole comes I'm going to master that move even if it kills me!
So another thing to complain about...I keep getting bruises. I don't want to climb because I get bruises so easily. There has to be some way I can climb without bruising...but on a happy note, my shoes make it easy to climb in. I love that sticky sound on the pole, that means I have to do less work!
Showing posts with label Christina Kish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christina Kish. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Pretty Pole: Day Three
Gah! I have so many bruises! I really want to get in more pole time but I also want to give myself a break before tomorrow (especially my bruises!). For tonight my options are (a) stay in and watch Inglorious Basterds...maybe stop by Union Square to pick up some PINK...maybe. I said MAYBE DAMMIT! I'm not a shop-a-holic...which reminds me I need to buy my platinum gold heels now so I can wear them to Vegas (b) go to Pretty Pole and get in more practice...maybe an advil afterward. Now I know why my back won't arch anymore! I demand a back massage after this performance!
_____________________________________________________________________________
Ok so I did go to class! But can someone tell me why I decided to work on my caterpillar inversion after class when I'm the most tired???? I almost fell on my face! Luckily the back of my right hand caught my fall...I think I was trying to snake down and then all of a sudden I let go. I was actually very close to the ground already so the fall wasn't bad...I think it looked worse and sounded worse than it actually felt. Gah!
I'm going to just chill and watch Inglourious Basterds now....
_____________________________________________________________________________
Ok so I did go to class! But can someone tell me why I decided to work on my caterpillar inversion after class when I'm the most tired???? I almost fell on my face! Luckily the back of my right hand caught my fall...I think I was trying to snake down and then all of a sudden I let go. I was actually very close to the ground already so the fall wasn't bad...I think it looked worse and sounded worse than it actually felt. Gah!
I'm going to just chill and watch Inglourious Basterds now....
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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 :)
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 :)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Pretty Pole Dance: Day Two
I don't want to be one of those people who cry, whine and bitch, but I do and I think I did or at least to myself on the way home after practice tonight. Thirty minutes into tonight's practice I was thinking about how hungry I was and how much I really just wanted to take a nice long break. I always think it will be cute to leave my hair down during practice so I can flip it, but half way into practice when my hair gets sweaty I don't think it was such a bright idea any more. Hold on! Now I know why Christina's hair is cut short! Brilliant!
Ok, so I wanted to share my boring good news with all of you!!! Tonight I inverted! But I didn't invert into a Crucifix, I V-ed out my legs into a Chopper!!!!! Yay! I know this is a small feat to accomplish, but I don't utilize my abs enough and I finally forced myself into it tonight. The coffee and Mighty Grip powder might've also helped...BTW I'm going to get me some of that Mighty Grip. My hands always get sweaty half way into practice and then the pole becomes a slip 'n slide. Soooo dangerous!
Like in our first day of the 5-week Pretty series taught by Christina and Ellen, we went over the twirls, climbs and inversions first before we pieced them all together at the end. We reviewed the Attitude Twirl, Chair Twirl & Pin-up Chair Twirl variation, Carol Twirl(walking left and twirl to the ground), Inverted Thigh Hold (AKA Tammy) and Skater pose from a climb.
This is me doing an Inverted Thigh Hold...please ignore the silly smile! Ont he bright side, my inverted smile didn't up as a frown!
It helps to squeeze that thigh for dear life, because if you don't it feels like you're going to end up face first into that floor.
Since I'm not great with choreography, I ended up watching Christina piece together all the moves at the end of the class. Half the time I didn't even know what I was doing, but it was fun! Haha.
Ok, so I wanted to share my boring good news with all of you!!! Tonight I inverted! But I didn't invert into a Crucifix, I V-ed out my legs into a Chopper!!!!! Yay! I know this is a small feat to accomplish, but I don't utilize my abs enough and I finally forced myself into it tonight. The coffee and Mighty Grip powder might've also helped...BTW I'm going to get me some of that Mighty Grip. My hands always get sweaty half way into practice and then the pole becomes a slip 'n slide. Soooo dangerous!
Like in our first day of the 5-week Pretty series taught by Christina and Ellen, we went over the twirls, climbs and inversions first before we pieced them all together at the end. We reviewed the Attitude Twirl, Chair Twirl & Pin-up Chair Twirl variation, Carol Twirl(walking left and twirl to the ground), Inverted Thigh Hold (AKA Tammy) and Skater pose from a climb.
This is me doing an Inverted Thigh Hold...please ignore the silly smile! Ont he bright side, my inverted smile didn't up as a frown!
It helps to squeeze that thigh for dear life, because if you don't it feels like you're going to end up face first into that floor.
Since I'm not great with choreography, I ended up watching Christina piece together all the moves at the end of the class. Half the time I didn't even know what I was doing, but it was fun! Haha.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Pole Class: Day Nine
Lately I have not been good with keeping up with my pole class posts. Where does all my time go? I feel like I never have time go do anything now. Ok well that's enough whining for now...
Last night Christina Kish taught Poletential's Tuesday Flirty Tricks class and I for some reason I was really nervous since I was comfortable with Cat teaching the class. Christina and Cat actually take turns instructing the class, but Christina was away for 2 weeks. Another reason why I was nervous was because another dancer warned me that Christina always made her students sweat in class. Turns out that there was nothing to be worried about at all! I had such a blast last night. Christina has an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm for pole dancing, and especially a great sense of humor about it too. I love to laugh and I couldn't help giggling all night at the things that she would say.
If you're considering taking a pole class, this class is great for all dancers regardless of your skill level. If you're advanced, they will give you more complex tricks. If you're a beginner, they'll work with you one-on-one. And you should always know how to transition in and out of your moves! My favorite one that Christina taught last night was called "drama." It might not exactly be it's technical name, but that's the name Christina gave it!!
Drama is the transitional move you do before you go into a forward twirl with your inside knee hooked around the pole (it gives you momentum!). If you're going to hook your right knee around the pole, you grab the pole with your right hand and gracefully lift up your inside knee while simultaneously reaching out your left arm. Then with your right (inside) knee up you swing it around the pole and use your left (outside) arm to bracket the pole as you spin.
The Fire Kick (could be a different name?) is another transitional move we learned. This is for when you land squatted after a twirl. Holding onto the pole with both hands (outside arm above), you pull yourself off the ground while holding your knees together to spin around the pole. Christina also taught a variation where you swing your outside leg out for momentum.
Alternatively, if you land on your knees from doing a backward hook Christina taught us this move where you lean all the way back and then gracefully come back up pelvis first.
We did so many moves I can't really remember them all. I do remember her mentioning something called a boomerang. For this move, you use one hand to grip the pole as high as you can and use your other hand (thumb pointed down) to grip the bottom. Using your core muscles you lift yourself out with your legs in a semi-split pose. You can walk into this pose, but no spinning! Squeeze those gluts and abs people!!
Another one we did was the plank...I kept slipping so I never got to free one hand without feeling like I would fall. We did the move differently from this picture. We actually had one hand (thumb pointed upwards) on the bottom instead of gripping the pole on top.
The one move that Christina wanted us to take away with us was the snake move. This helps you get out of your inversion. From the inversion you go into a hand stand and use your inside arm to twist yourself out...kind of difficult to explain.
Last night Christina Kish taught Poletential's Tuesday Flirty Tricks class and I for some reason I was really nervous since I was comfortable with Cat teaching the class. Christina and Cat actually take turns instructing the class, but Christina was away for 2 weeks. Another reason why I was nervous was because another dancer warned me that Christina always made her students sweat in class. Turns out that there was nothing to be worried about at all! I had such a blast last night. Christina has an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm for pole dancing, and especially a great sense of humor about it too. I love to laugh and I couldn't help giggling all night at the things that she would say.
If you're considering taking a pole class, this class is great for all dancers regardless of your skill level. If you're advanced, they will give you more complex tricks. If you're a beginner, they'll work with you one-on-one. And you should always know how to transition in and out of your moves! My favorite one that Christina taught last night was called "drama." It might not exactly be it's technical name, but that's the name Christina gave it!!
Drama is the transitional move you do before you go into a forward twirl with your inside knee hooked around the pole (it gives you momentum!). If you're going to hook your right knee around the pole, you grab the pole with your right hand and gracefully lift up your inside knee while simultaneously reaching out your left arm. Then with your right (inside) knee up you swing it around the pole and use your left (outside) arm to bracket the pole as you spin.
The Fire Kick (could be a different name?) is another transitional move we learned. This is for when you land squatted after a twirl. Holding onto the pole with both hands (outside arm above), you pull yourself off the ground while holding your knees together to spin around the pole. Christina also taught a variation where you swing your outside leg out for momentum.
Alternatively, if you land on your knees from doing a backward hook Christina taught us this move where you lean all the way back and then gracefully come back up pelvis first.
We did so many moves I can't really remember them all. I do remember her mentioning something called a boomerang. For this move, you use one hand to grip the pole as high as you can and use your other hand (thumb pointed down) to grip the bottom. Using your core muscles you lift yourself out with your legs in a semi-split pose. You can walk into this pose, but no spinning! Squeeze those gluts and abs people!!
Another one we did was the plank...I kept slipping so I never got to free one hand without feeling like I would fall. We did the move differently from this picture. We actually had one hand (thumb pointed upwards) on the bottom instead of gripping the pole on top.
The one move that Christina wanted us to take away with us was the snake move. This helps you get out of your inversion. From the inversion you go into a hand stand and use your inside arm to twist yourself out...kind of difficult to explain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
