Help with the Allegra
2010Raven started this discussion ·
I'm having the worst time getting my top leg straight. Any tips?
38 replies
Sign in or create a free account to reply.
2010Raven started this discussion ·
I'm having the worst time getting my top leg straight. Any tips?
Sign in or create a free account to reply.
Charley ·
How is your flexibility? I am not very good at this move because my back flexibility is not there not to mention leg flexibility. I am not saying that's your issue but that's mine with it - it doesn't look good on me at all. Aside from that try getting into it from flatline scorpio. I found the closer I could get my torso to my hooked leg the easier it was to extend it.
My flexibility is pretty good when it comes to doing the splits. I'll have to regain some of the flexibility of my back. It just seems that if one can do the ballerina, the allegra shouldn't be a problem. I can even grab my opposite ankle while attempting the allegra. Hopefully I'm not pressing my upper leg too hard against the pole.
I had this, then I gained more flexibility and strength and now I don't have it! I don't know what's going on, I just can't get a lock... all that holds me up now when I am in position is my hand and I can't hold all my weight on just that for long. What are the other contact points? One of the times I tried it recently my hand slipped and I plumetted onto on my ass and jarred my tailbone, so confidence in this move is also low now 🙁 Keep forgetting to ask my instructor to work on it with me. What other ways can you get into it besides flatline scorpio?
I'm with you. Had no confidence to try it, so I waited to be instructed on this one on a mat. I was taught that the easiest way is from a chopper. Get a comfy thigh grip and hold with the outside hand while inverted, reach the top hand around and get it solid then arch way way back, really really arch and drop the back leg. When I was doing it right, the thigh burn was unreal. I was working on it more today. It's just excruciating to me. As bad as yogini was at first for me. But from a chopper is definitely the easiest way IMO. I was also shown from Scorpio but she said there's an innate awkwardness to that way that makes it a little harder and I found that to be true. Tbh Im just tickled to finally be in a position to talk about this move! Woohoo haha!
Jenn ·
I can get into this move easy enough, the problem is holding it! Once I let go with that leg, I can only hold for a few secs before my hand grip starts to slip. Someone had mentioned to me that it is incredibly painful because the thigh "rolls" inward against the pole, but I haven't felt that happen yet, so maybe I am not arching enough. Does it become more secure the further you arch your back?
Yeah, when I first tried it I did it from Scorpio before I had my Scorpio lines perfected and the leg burn was amazing. I got the most giant bruise ever. Now that my Scorpio lines have changed and my back and hamstrings are much more flexy (and my thighs are less fat) there is very little pressure on my leg, I just sink. I'm thinking of trying it from a hiphold V (but my grip for that is weird too, I hold it only on the inside of one thigh, there is no hip contact at all...another thing I've been meaning to talk to my instructor about). Should get off my butt and break out the couch cushions and practice... Thankyou 🙂
Dont forget to turn your body to the side, your torso needs to be facing outwards, rather than upwards, in order to get the lines you need. Notice if you finish your allegra in a scorpio, your lines in your scorpio are often better than normal? its because of the turn of your hips to be facing AWAY from the pole, rather than up. Its just that this will hurt like a biatch on your hip and side of your torso in contact with the pole. You're not going to be able to grab the pole and hold it if your body is facing up, (that's like a weird one handed chopper), its the contact points along your torso and inner thigh on the top leg that help distribute the weight. Hope that helps! 🥂
jleigh ·
It took me over a month to get this one without feeling like my hand grip was slipping or letting go because of the pain. Definately having your body turned away from the pole as others mentioned helps. Eventually the pain went away after repetition like it did for me when i was learning the scorpio and superman. Just keep practicing.
try getting into it from an apprentice. if your right side is to the pole, apprentice up, bring the left knee a little through the hole, squeeze the pole with your thighs (think a tucked ball squeezing the pole). bring the right hand up (bottom hand) to grab behind the right knee. you should roll right into position as you try to straighten the legs. had a workshop with jenyne recently, she taught this intro and it is sooo much easier than the scorpio intro. i find my body falls into position, rather than having to think about rolling into position. good luck!
I finally got this last night 🥂 It's not perfect but I did get that leg straight and was able to hold my back foot for a bit. Did it twice. I was surprised when I got it the 1st time and didn't have a camera out. I'm so excited! I got into it from an invert, scorpio then dropped my scorpio leg as if I was going into a hip hold. From the semi-hip hold (if that makes any sense) It's easier to reach behind and grab the pole and extend. In the hip hold you have that much needed contact with your torso (like polegrrrl said) so that for me made it easier to reach around. Also I made sure to keep the extended leg in the crook of my elbow which allowed me to really get a good grip on the pole. It does hurt like huueellll on top of that thigh and I've got the bruise to prove it but nailing the move was so worth it. Turning your body out and tilting back in a sense relieves some of the weight you have bearing down on that arm that's holding your extended leg which most people have a problem with. It usually brings you down when you try to take it off the pole lol and very quick as I found out. Good Luck ladies!!
EvaRut ·
This looks like an easy way to get into the allegra. Check it out, starts at 3:08 🙂 Going to try it out tonight. Need this move! 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veJLrVEZ7O0
Jenn ·
This looks like an easy way to get into the allegra. Check it out, starts at 3:08 🙂 Going to try it out tonight. Need this move! 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veJLrVEZ7O0 That's usually how i get into it on (but static mode), but can't hold long because my hand grip slips. Gonna try it from the apprentice and see how it goes.
Starsky ·
Ok I'm glad I found this. I'm working on my allegra and I was starting to think maybe my arms weren't long enough(I'm 5'2 with a prayer so being too small for things isen't new to me)😀 I was going into gemini then half jade and for the life of me I just couldn't get my arm to reach and grab the pole. After reading this I'm not twisting my hips to face away from the pole. Now my brain gets that but my body is rebelling. At what point do your turn your hips away. Half jade then turn and grab? Stupid question but I'm struggling with why can't figure this one out.
Veena ·
I show two methods of entering the Allegra. Scorpio and Half or full hip hold. If your shorter the Hip hold method my work better for you. https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/f7c4b070-b91e-11df-856f-001b214581be
Starsky ·
Thanks Veena, I was actually following your lesson on it and found I the second to be a bit easier for me but I'm just getting lost on the hip turn. When I'm in half jade with knee to my chest do I somehow turn my right hip at that point? Probably a very silly question but I've been struggling with it all day so I'm obcessing about it now lol
Veena ·
No Wait to turn once your hand is over the top leg and gripping the pole...then...turn the torso away from the pole. Drop the hip of the free leg down towards the floor. Make sure you have tucked in the leg really close and brought the upper body up when reaching for the pole.
Starsky ·
🙁I was hoping you weren't going to say that. I'm having trouble getting my hand to reach the pole when I have my knee to my chest. When I tried it the first way I was able to get it bc my torso was lifted but my scorpio isen't that secure all the time so I wanted to get the half jade way. Hmmm maybe my torso isen't high enough? So much for finding that plan for world peace tonight lol
Veena ·
You could try taking a pic or vid so you can see if your lifting the torso up high enough. You'll get it!!
Starsky ·
Thanks Veena! That's a good idea I never thought of that😀
CatsEyes ·
Hey Veeners, I've got some trouble with my Allegra because I can't straighten my leg. I don't think it's a matter of flexibility because I've my lateral splits on both sides and I can even reach and catch the feet of my free leg when doing the allegra but still, not able to straighten that other leg, I just feel completely stuck there. Could it be that my hand on the pole is too high or too low ?
Veena ·
Yeah, Catseyes, play around with hand placement and also check your torso placement, I have found the more I can reach my back around the pole the more extension I get. So opening up from the hips is important. 🙂
Dont know if this would help anyone, but Im working now on making my Allegra better. I get into it from a flatline scorpio, that gets my body into position to have the inner thigh grip. I reach around and under the bend leg and I grab the pole with my thumb pointing down (not up like normal). I find that allows me to not feel so much like Im going to fall off the pole. I just need to be more flexible to be able to reach behind the pole and grab that leg with my lower arm. In due time.
And thigh placement! I find it easier to extend when the pole is in the middle of my thigh and closer to the groin than the knee. And easier to grab when my back wraps the pole behind it and outer hip drops lower.
CatsEyes ·
Thanks ! I'll try that. I'm also getting into it from a butterfly/flatline scorpio combo, I find it easier that way to be into the proper position.
Kira ·
I saw somewhere in a tutorial that instead of focusing on unhooking your leg and then straightening it towards yourself, focus on just really pointing the hooked foot and the tension from the extension will naturally take your foot off the pole. Once you are confident/comfortable with pointing your foot you can work on lowering the leg. I hope that makes sense :) it worked for me as I always just tried to unhook my leg straight away and in the process unhook my whole body :P
