Helping hitting that mysterious sweet spot in an Ayesha...?

FlyingFireBird started this discussion · 9/4/2013

I've been poling for a little over 2 yrs now and keep hearing from fellow dancers about a sweet spot in the ayesha (any grip) where the dancer feels like she can hold it forever. I can't seem to find this magical spot though. Ayeshas have always been a battle keep from turning away from the pole. I'm fairly strong (can do the twisted grip bridge lift into a handspring with a fair amount of control, can deadlift a brass monkey, etc.), and have been working my Ayeshas for a long time now, but with little to no progress. It's frustrating and discouraging to say the least. Have any of you experienced this? Did you eventually find the "sweet spot," if so what made it click? Are are any of you battling it like me? Any tips or exercises you would recommend to overcome? For those of you still battling what do you do to keep from getting discouraged?

22 replies

chemgoddess1 · 9/4/2013
http://aerialamy.com/blog/2012/05/24/from-the-archives-elbow-grip-ayesha/ The biggest thing that made it "click" for me was to bring my arms closer together and in essence it pushed my body further away form the pole. When my body is close I fall into the pole because my legs are heavy. I will also add that I cannot do forearm grip on this move nor have I found a sweet spot for split grip.
Lyme Lyte · 9/5/2013
I worked on the SG for at least six months....be I tried getting into it close to 2,000 times....never could get it, finally stopped trying.
tacha666 · 9/5/2013
After I got my extended butterfly, I wanted to learn ayesha (sg) but was so scared of letting go with the legs. Yesterday I had the chance to practise with a more experienced poler and she left her hands on my hips which really helped me mentally! (you can see a pic in my garden gallery btw) But I couldn't hold it for long and after reading Amy's blog I realise I didn't really round my back. So will try this next time. Thanks for Rüstung!
tacha666 · 9/5/2013
After I got my extended butterfly, I wanted to learn ayesha (sg) but was so scared of letting go with the legs. Yesterday I had the chance to practise with a more experienced poler and she left her hands on my hips which really helped me mentally! (you can see a pic in my garden gallery btw) But I couldn't hold it for long and after reading Amy's blog I realise I didn't really round my back. So will try this next time. Thanks for Rüstung!
tacha666 · 9/5/2013
Rüstung = sharing! Lol. Also sorry about the double post. Stupid phone.
IrishOrla · 9/5/2013
I feel your pain lol I got My Extended butterfly almost 5 months after poling and ever since, I thought the aysha would be easy..... No it's not. It's the most horrible move iv ever tried haha. In my opinion it's balancing your hips which is the hard part, I haven't got It yet either but someday I will 😡
IrishOrla · 9/5/2013
Oh and Iv been poling just over 18 months. Damn split grip!
Krista Bocko · 9/5/2013
my biggest tips: elbowstands and handstands!! lots and lots of them. yeah, so not only do you need to find that 'sweet spot', if you can't find your balance it doesn't matter. ;) GL!!!
korinne · 9/6/2013
I agree with Sparrow. I have my students practice headstands/tripods to learn their inverted core balance and how to regain balance if you start to lose it. Once you're comfy with that, ayesha feels so much better!
FlyingFireBird · 9/6/2013
Thanks for the advice and the support. It's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling to find this "sweet spot." I'll keep working it, practicing my handstands, headstands, and forearmstands, and try moving my hands a little closer together.
chemgoddess1 · 9/6/2013
I am one of the backwards ones who can straight edge until the cows come home but once I fold the body in half I have balance issues. And as I stated before, it is because I have really long legs and a really short torso.
yogabeachbabe · 9/6/2013
Split grip is the hardest Ayesha--at least for me! Try working with Elbow Grip to start off with. Once Elbow Grip becomes "easy", you will still have to work hard in SG, but it will be a matter of strength and not about finding your balance.
tacha666 · 9/7/2013
I can't caterpillar right now due to my broken leg (no squeezing the pole with my legs), so split grip seems to be the only option (I don't want to use tg). But I think for me it's more about balance and fear than strength, so I guess I just need to work on that. I'll add some hand- and elbowstands to my training. Thanks for the tipps!
Beckypolegirl · 9/7/2013
I am the same chem I can straight edge easily but struggle with balance in a aysha. I have very long legs compared to my body length so maybe thats my problem too
iAries · 9/7/2013
For some reason my SG Ayesha isn't as solid as my TG Ayesha. I feel more steady in TG and can "sink" into it more and control it more. My EG is hit or miss :(
chemgoddess1 · 9/7/2013
iAries, the TG being more stable is because the arm is twisted to a point where it cannot move any farther so it does not take a lot of strength or technique to hold it. In a regular split grip you really need to have the mechanics of the push pull going on plus bicep strength. This is also the reason that twisted grip stuff is so dangerous....one small slip and your shoulder is DONE.
bugsy monroe · 9/8/2013
The tip which made the difference for me with elbow grip ayesha was to sit really deep back into the caterpillar climb, until you can feel your calves against your thighs, before bracing the elbow and releasing the legs. though this is tougher and feels more precarious initially, you are then in a much more stable and balanced position from which to release your legs, with your hips already at the necessary distance from the pole. if you struggle to sit back this far, an alternative is to take the arm position and then gently release the grip between the shins, allowing the knees to slide to just above the elbow, before releasing the legs from the pole. hope that helps!
iAries · 9/8/2013
Good tip Bugsy, I think all 3 grips are equally difficult in their own ways depending on the person. I wouldn't consider any pole move relying solely on upper body and core "easy". I do like to go into my straight edge from an SG Ayesha though I also think the TG has prettier lines than a SG when I do them
Koidragon · 9/9/2013
I personally prefer (as I feel stronger in) EG ayesha, and I am not really keen on doing TG at all as I have tendonitis and don't want to exacerbate it when I don't need to (but agree the lines of it are lovely). I tend to stay away from all TG though, and figure if I am not strong enough to do it with an alternative, then I shouldn't do it. :) For me in either SG or EG, the key is getting your butt as far away from the pole as possible - all of a sudden you don't feel like you weigh very much and the balance feels lovely.
FlyingFireBird · 10/1/2013
Hey I just want to say thanks to everyone who replied here! I just hit the sweet spot on my true/baseball grip and elbow grip (still can't find Twisted Grip, but I'll take my wins where I can get them)! Those of you who said arms closer together hit the nail on the head. The handstand training helped too. For those of you still working it, don't give up! It will suddenly happen.
tacha666 · 11/10/2013
SUCCESS!!! FINALLY!!! On friday I finally did an EG Ayesha which felt surprisigly easy and "right". I tried again yesterday just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, and again today, and it's still there! I can hold it pretty long without feeling any discomfort. I'm so happy!!! But on the other hand (I know this sounds weird), I'm kinda mad, because it feels so easy. I expected it to be at least a little bit exausting, but it's not! So I ask myself: why couldn't that have happeed a lot earlier? Ok, what to do next? I've waited for so long, and now I really can't wait to move on to the next step. Aysha with split grip? True grip? Straight edge? I'd really like to learn aysha with a back bend so that the legs turn outside. Is that rubber aysha? How can I prepare for that one? And I'd like to work on iron X because my boyfriend promised to take me out to dinner when I finally get that :-D
Krista Bocko · 11/11/2013
I have been doing EG aysha for quite a long time now, and I have tons of trouble gripping with my other elbow. It feels terrible! I can't figure out WHY it's so difficult on the other side. So I get mad about that. ;) I worked (work) on EG and SG simultaneously, so I'd say go ahead and try. Sure, go ahead and try straightedge in them too! Yes, legs bent and out is rubber aysha. I didn't feel comfortable trying that one for quite awhile (but mostly I don't have a spotter either so your mileage may vary). If you DO have a spotter, I would definitely enlist their help for that one. I do that with EG only. GL!!