PlatinumAni - Try bringing the upper part of your torso (above your natural waist) more in front of the pole. You won't have to grasp with your armpit and you arms will have more range of motion. I think it is pretty to grasp the hands behind your back if you feel they look awkward too :) Hope that makes sense/helps

amy - You aren't dropping your back leg, so your torso is vertical and the front of your hip isn't pressing into the pole. Watch this vid: http://aerialamy.com/blog/2011/09/2...

tarah - lol, i also have that chicken arm problem! it's what the arm does by itself when you're not paying attention to it!

Paunobs - I agree with Amy, have a look at her video you will get it:)

trickivix - I agree with Amy - you need to drop you back leg so that it's practically horizontal and your torso is vertical. For the gemini, you should try tilting your hips towards the pole slightly so that the front of your hip is on the pole (don't do this for scorpio). This would give you better grip across the torso. About the chicken wing... although the back of your arm is a point of contact, it's really the back of your top leg and your waist/hip that is holding you up. If you can hold most of your weight with those points, you won't feel like you need to clench with your arm and allow you to drop your arms a bit :)

AerialGypsy - Okay, for some reason I thought I read that you WEREN'T supposed to turn your hip towards the pole. Silly me. I'll try tilting my hip to the pole tonight and see if that helps me drop my leg. I will also try keeping my upper body a little past the pole. For the scorpio, your hips stay square though???

pegasusaerialfitness - I was taught to extend my outside leg beyond the pole on the invert up and catch the pole ("crotch to pole")..Instead of trying catch it by scooting your leg up the pole on the invert. Also allow your inside leg to lower into a "horizontal" position with the floor. that will help lift your torso up and allow you to put the pole into your waist, lean back and grip with armpit. I also have to pull myself up a little (after I grab behind knee pit) to put the pole into my waist better. I really try pulling or pointing my lower leg on the pole down towards the floor to get a good secure grip.

trickivix - It's just a slight twist. Like in pegasus's profile pic, you'll see her hips aren't parallel to the ground, it has a slight tilt toward the pole. Same as on amy's blog. I find I won't have enough grip behind the back of my leg until I tilt in.

MaliciousMynx - I was taught by Bel from TG to jam that foot (that's hooked on the pole) down pointing towards the ground as much as possible to help get a better grip (and it looks prettier) which helps extend the other leg horizontally. It will then help tilt the hips and the waist/side will help secure it thus making the arm clenching on the pole less awkward and uncomfortable. I don't know if that makes sense but it sounds good in my head lol.

trickivix - Oh, forgot to say - yes, in scorpio your hips stay square. Instead of the front of your hip against the pole, the pole will be touching the side of your body.

pegasusaerialfitness - PS...you have beautiful lines. You have great "hand posture too" just let gravity help level you out into the position.

pegasusaerialfitness - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1xL...

here's a link to my Youtube channel...this is Not a tutorial. I think it's better to show how we grow and evolve. Pole fitness has been a real challenge for me, that's why I love it:)