Help with gemini

Jenn1989 started this discussion · 5/24/2014

I've been pole dancing for a few months and I'm starting to get a few intermediate level tricks under my belt such as inverted crucifix, inverted v, cross-leg release etc. I've been working on the outside leg hang (gemini) for a couple weeks now and I feel like I must be doing something incorrectly because my knee refuses to grip. I have my top hooked leg pointed down as much as I can, my lower leg hanging down, and the pole pressed across my hip, but it still feels like the pose is not secure at all and if I let go I'll fall right off. Does anyone have any tips that helped you learn this move? Is the hooked leg holding on by squeezing the pit of the knee, or is it more so the skin that holds you on? I've watched lots of videos but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong :)

14 replies

AllysonKendal · 5/24/2014
I'm by no means an expert, and I just started trying this move seriously yesterday... I had some success... I posted a pic in my Pole Progress album( https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_photo/537f9aa7-65b8-4d88-a0c4-20d10a9aa0eb ), but I'm still way more vertical then I would like... and my knee pit grip in that pic wasn't great... but what I found is a MUST is removing my inside arm first... that way you can establish contact in your armpit before removing the outside arm. Veena has some great tips in her lessons about doing it from the floor too. Hope that helps some.
Meg Smith · 5/24/2014
Yep when i was learning this move armpit grip played a BIG part in it (maybe more so in my head but it worked none the less) In fact AllysonKendal said everything i was going to say :-) even down to suggesting SV lessons (if you have not already got them)
Jenn1989 · 5/24/2014
This is helpful actually because I hadn't tried removing that inside arm first, I think I may have been taking the opposite one off. I will definitely try that, thank you :)
AllysonKendal · 5/24/2014
Let us know how it goes. I'm dying to get back on the pole and try to perfect it... I just really need a rest day :/
Jenn1989 · 5/24/2014
Yep, after 2 days in a row of practising this and superman I need a couple rest days too, hehe. I'll let you know how it goes :)
kesarini · 5/24/2014
For me the trick was understanding the push and pull. I was just trying to hold on very tight with my knee earlier and it wasn't working. Then I started thinking about it as pulling from the knee grip and pushing from the waist/hip and it worked! Good luck.
EtherealAnnie · 5/24/2014
If the knee grip is your issue, one key thing I found is that you have to try to point your foot toward your opposite hip as much as you can and squeeze hard with your knee. Arching you back and extending the inside leg helps lock it in too.
BagLady · 5/24/2014
Thanks for posting this, I'm workin on the same (I just posted a video with a bunch of Gemini practice & people have offered really good advice in the comments...not sure how to share it again here...) Practicing from the floor is helping me, as are the lunge stretches suggested under the Gemini lesson. I also find it much easier to get into it from scorpio. Does anyone find that you have to sort of hook your knee down onto the pole (after inverting) Not sure how to explain that really....like your hooking your knee down rather than wrapping it around?
AllysonKendal · 5/24/2014
Bag Lady, I really need practice before giving more advise but here I go anyway :P (Well it's not advise as much as it is a comment...) Conceptually, it makes sense that it's easier from Scorpio. Having your hips high and tight to the pole helps get you the right position with the outside leg. I learned this from the floor, but it was harder to "get it" up on the pole, but I never tried from Scorpio! Makes sense, and I'll give it a try. Im so anxious to pole again and get it right! I had to call it quits because my inverts started getting sloppy and my arms felt very weak. I knew I'd get hurt if I continued... And today I'm pretty sore and bruised. I'm rubbing myself down in tiger balm and I'm getting ready to go tomorrow!
x falcon 3 0 x · 5/24/2014
When I practice this move on my opposite side, there's one thing that I don't do that makes me just spin toward the pole and fall off, well, not literally. I don't open my chest as easily so that it's square to the pole. I have to really think about it to make it happen. Could that be the case versus the knee issue? I really get my knee into the pit.
Jenn1989 · 5/25/2014
Thanks for all the replies, very helpful advice. I'm thinking that maybe it is more to do with my arms or chest, so I 'll try to focus more on those areas next time I'm practising :)
Kristina Rose · 5/25/2014
I never thought that I woild get the gemini for a while but when I video poled, I got it right away! It helps if you can show someone what you are doing and they can coach you into doing it correct. I havent lost it since ive learned it. Switching from a gemini into a scorpio is hard for me because for some reason my right thigh is so sensitive going into it, I was hurting so bad haha good luck! Sounds like we are at the same stage in poling :)
Sunny88 · 5/25/2014
I found by dropping the back leg and engaging the muscles while dropping it , it will help to secure your lock in this move. The more distance you create between the two hooked leg and the back leg it helps to increase your arch and the push pull as Kesarini mentioned. It also helps you to push against the hip of the unhooked leg, the one that is contacting the pole. Hope this helps.
Jenn1989 · 5/26/2014
Yay!!! I got it! Here I am struggling a bit, and then finally got the pose :) Thanks for all the help!