She was working on her butterfly, which motivated me to challenge myself too and attempt an extended butterfly. And also, with Irene there, I had someone to spot me/take me to the hospital if I busted my ass, so that was an extra incentive. (Spoiler alert: I did indeed bust my ass, and it’s on video. See below).
Here’s where my butterfly was at last I checked
…not the most squared thing in the world, which came back to haunt me in extended.
(I have a feeling my shoulders should be the same height for this to be correct.)
So I tried and failed a few different ways, and I’d love to get some poler feedback on technique here. (drop it below!)
On my first few failed attempts, I did my usual butterfly (top leg on the pole from ankle to knee pit, upper body turned out for opposition), but when I straightened my leg and slipped out to my ankle I lost the tension and… well… yeah.
Then I tried an (ugly) version where I hooked my knee first, which WORKED. I think it’s because the hook forced me into a straighter, more squared butterfly where my weight ended up directly overhead (instead of at an angle). With my weight pulling straight back when I stretched out into the extended version, my ankle locked in with the tension on my Achilles, which felt great, and shockingly, SECURE. (Before I was feeling the pull more on the side of my ankle, which felt (and obviously was) much less safe).
So I guess now I need to go back to the drawing board on my plain o’le butterfly and learn how to square it off WITHOUT the knee hook (because it really is ugly).
Aside from that we also working on cupids, and some cute Dirdy Birdy transitions that Irene brought clips of (and a notebook of moves with instructions because the girl is on her game. Seriously, I felt like such a slacker).
Don’t you hate when something that looks simple and easy takes more strength than going upside down?
(That thwacking sound is me hitting my knee, ps).
Irene of course did this beautifully, with much more an arch in the upturned, planky position. Which leads me to believe that hoopers have WAY more shoulder flexibility than the rest of us, and I should get on that.
Here’s DB working the trick: (or click this link to start at 2:03 in case the embed doesn’t take you there!)
What are you guys working on?! Any exciting new bruises?
I followed BeSpun’s Flow Challenge*** on a whim (you guys all know my obsession with Leigh Ann) and it’s been TORTURING ME.
I’ve been home for a wedding and thus away from my pole while these gorgeous flow videos are going up and I WANT TO TRY ALL THE FLOWS RIGHT NOW AHHHHH.
(***Important note: “BeSpun” autocorrects as “Pubes” on an iPad. The more you know.)
Anyway, check them out–if not to submit to the video battle, then at least to get a little inspiration or a new combo to play with. Of course because they are from Leigh Ann’s studio they are SeXXXy OMGZ, and I am totally okay with that.
Are we loving these moves? Hating them? I just hope they look as good without shoes because lol nope @ the shoes.
And here’s what I’VE been up to: some flying, some weddinging, and some holding a baby-while-playing-dominoes. The usual.
Elegance.She was helping me add.
And speaking of flow and being at home, I got yet another Netflix DVD from a queue I clearly made two years ago called “Strip to It: Core Moves and Fantasies.”
The point of the DVD is obviously to teach you a few moves to put together and “perform” for a significant other, but, shhhh, the off label use: a terrific crash course in filler moves for pole!
If you’re one of those people who does TRICKS TRICKS TRICKS in class but has trouble smoothing things out in a routine, these are some super cute basics to mix in. Obviously, the DVD is called “Strip to It” so the choreo is on the sexy side, but you can definitely dial it down to flirty, or even add a gymnastics edge to make it more your speed. I mean, basics are basics, am I right? And the best part: you don’t need a pole or even a whole lot of space to practice these at home.
The description for the class (at my favorite pole studio) said that “Acro” was great conditioning for pole, and would smooth out transitions and floor work. Perfect, right?
It was also a Level 1 class, so I was like, “Mkay, I’m not going to know what I’m doing, but I’m a fit person, I can handle this!”
LOL WRONG.
SO WRONG.
Here’s the thing: I have tools for approaching most forms of dance or exercise. I know a few things about body alignment and positioning, posture, and safety (using core to protect the back, keeping shoulders retracted, tucking the chin to protect neck and head while inverted).
But some stuff, I have no way of approaching. It disorients me. I have no idea what “right” feels like, or looks like, and it’s so jarring and unfamiliar and dangerous-feeling that I’m just totally petrified by it.
There is one category that singularly encapsulates these types of movements that terrify me, and they can be contained by one word: Gymnastics.
Let me throw out a few other words and phrases to define my terror:
-All my weight on my hands? But that’s what feet are for.
-You want me to fling myself through the air with my head being the closest thing to the ground. oh…kay. On purpose????
-I don’t want to put all my weight on my head, even if I can use my hands. That’s how breaking necks happens, yes?
-I can’t jump over my own leg. What? How? I don’t… what?
Here is a sampling of the exercises we were instructed to do–in groups of two/three, while the rest of the class watched, for extra enjoyment.
-Go into a handstand. Come down. Do a pushup. Pike your hands to your feet. Repeat across the room.
-Lean backwards into a bridge on one hand. Sweep the other hand around and down and lift a leg into a split. Sweep out of the bridge on the other hand. Roll over into a plank position and do a pushup. Pike to standing. Repeat across the room.
-Some kind of new fangled cartwheel that you do a fancy turn out of. (I was so tired and frustrated at this point I couldn’t see straight, so I don’t remember the finer points).
About 30 minutes into the longest hour and a half of my life, one of the acrobats in my class (because really, none of these people doing handstands like LOLthisiseasy could be called “level one students”) noticed I seemed… off. I thought I was doing a good job of covering how close to stress tears I was, but I guess trying to hide my quivering lower lip by taking a sip of water and then dumping my water down myself (because my lip wouldn’t stop quivering) was probably less than subtle.
I think the conversation went something like this:
Her: “Are you okay?”
Me: *blubbers unintelligibly*
And then she went to go get the teacher to help me. Which was very nice, but a new form of torture altogether–the clumsy idiot receiving special instruction from the teacher while froggy jumping next to flawless handstands is not a fun role to play.
I got through class, but, here’s the sad thing: I kind of want to learn these skills! I just don’t ever want to back to this class ever again though. Someone tell me–if people are doing perfect handstands in a level one class with no special help, where exactly are you supposed to start?
And does anyone else have a full body aversion to going upside down NOT on a pole? It just feels so open and terrifying to me. My body literally won’t let me do it.
How do you leaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarn.
(Please tell me).
In other news, the universe is fair after all, because I my first ballet class at my gym (re: NOT a dance studio) and I was by far the most coordinated person in there. Which duh, it was a bunch on non-dancers. But it was really healing for my ego. Updates on my rond de jambes to come!!
Let’s talk about finding studios. I have a patented bullshit scale for myself that you might find helpful! First, a soundtrack for this post:
(Chris Brown is NOT having any of your bullshit in that album art.)
Second: let’s go over kinds of bullshit you might encounter when trying to find a studio to suit all your poling needs:
1. Yoga Bullshit
This is not a standard I apply just to pole studios, but to bellydance ones as well: there should not be a fuck-ton of yoga in classes for OTHER THINGS.
Yes, stretching, warms ups–important and appreciated. But if we have to stand around with our hands clasped in prayer position or focus on our breaths for more than half a second, I’m going to get irritable. And 20 minutes out of an hour class dedicated to sun salutations instead of spins or omis? No.
No.
2. Cancellation Bullshit
Now by this I don’t mean cancellation policies that apply to you–those are fair, and, as a teacher, I know they’re necessary. I also understand, as a teacher, that classes get cancelled if they don’t fill up, because that teacher needs to be paid.
But when I’m a student, it’s really annoying to plan my day around a class that may or may not happen. More often than not, a pattern in cancellations will make me skittish and seek other, more predictable studios. (I feel bad about this, but, it is what it is).
3. Lack of Class Structure Bullshit
I have a pole at home. If I wanted to pay 25/hr for what’s essentially an open pole class, I would not have hauled ass out into the snow.
4. Environmental Bullshit
Poles too close together. Cattle call classes of 3 girls to a pole. Lack of basic necessities like alcohol or cloths. For how much these classes cost, this type of bullshit is most definitely Deal Breaking Bullshit (DBB).
5. Mean Teacher or Staff Bullshit
I don’t know about you guys, but, if I have to go through a rude front desk person to buy more classes, I will kind of put it off until–OH LOOK, this other studio has a sale… aaaaaand, I’m gone. Same with teacher that make you feel shitty. Again, I’d just stay at home and tell myself I suck. Way cheaper!
Aside form this criteria, I also have more subjective, judgement-call type bullshit categories like 60% of a class dedicated to booty work (nothing wrong with booty work, but if I came to learn new pole stuff, I’m gonna be disappointed), or, general scariness of other students (if it’s laundry day and I only have a ratty tank top to wear to class, and the girls are the shade-throwing type, I might skip it).
These are factors that are very important to me. I’m pretty open to new styles, teaching methods, etc, so long as a studio has as little DBB as possible.
If you’re in the process of choosing your “home studio” so to speak, know that they kind of fall into the following categories, and that to get a full experience that fits your goals with pole, you might need to combine a few (I totally do this).
I realize I’m sort of repeating myself from a previous post on types of pole studios, but I believe a year of class hopping has helped me refine my categories. Here’s how I think they should be sorted now:
1. The Sensual, Mirror-less studio
I think this is a cool idea and would probably try it as a side dish to my regular training. I can see its usefulness in building artistic stuff, or if you’re dancing for fun and not with a goal of performing. I know a lot of people rave about these places. Downside: I hear rumors of extensive freedancing in class (AHHHHHHHHH), and weird intimacy exercises like making eye contact with class members during dances (no nope bye CANNOT DO IT SORRY). I also feel like I’d fall into bad habits by doing what “feels right” instead of checking the mirror… as in, my choppers would not get any less lopsided and my right side would be SUPER STRONG.
2. The Booty Studio
These places are a lot of fun. You’ll probably get a lot of flexibility work in and learn some rad raunchy moves to incorporate into your routines, a la Michelle Shimmy. Downside: If you’re like me, you could get a little uncomfortable with all the head to the ground, butt in the air work. Bonus: there will probably be cool lighting and maybe champagne, and it’s a very fun place to visit with friends. Also, the teachers are usually a riot and very approachable.
3. The Pole-astics Studio
This place is flat out just not as much of a playground as the above studios, but, it’s where I usually put in most of my class time. You’ll probably be forced to do all kinds of awful things like conditioning exercises, doing moves on Your Evil Bad Side, or combining moves. You may be a little scared of your instructor, and you might also be tempted to skip class at the end of a long work day. BUT, here’s your reward: you will see a lot of progress.
How would you guys describe your studio? Do you have a couple you alternate between?
I definitely have a “home” studio I go to because it’s close to my literal home and full of familiar faces, but have a “serious” studio for cancellation-proof training. Is this weird? I also really miss some of the hot floorwork I used to get out of the more stripper oriented classes, so, I definitely think there’s a place for all kinds of pole dancing in our training.
The Spin Diaries: Your Guide to Everything Pole and Aerial 