How long it took you guys to do the aysha ?

Gizy started this discussion · 5/8/2015

Hey guys! Now it has been 4-5 months since I started pole dancing. First of all like to share with you that I got moved to level 2 class (we have beginner, level 1 and level 2 classes in where I take my lessons) I am very happy to hear and see that I am improving really fast. I can do quite hard moves now which is so great and I'm very happy specially considering the time I have been practicing. But when it comes to aysha I simply can't do it ! I don't know if it's balance issue that I should focus on or need more tummy muscle+strength in order to be able to do it. I wonder how it goes with you guys. Are you still working on it or for those of you who can do it, how long it took you and did you do anything specific to get to move done faster like any special work out for it ?

16 replies

Wcox · 5/8/2015
I was in the same boat with developing very quickly. If I could go back in time I would have gone slower and enjoyed more of the journey. Ayesha was a tricky one for me - I don't have the best balance. Now I'm working on elbow grip ayesha and it seems so far away. what clicked for me when it came to ayesha was engaging my oblique and making sure that my hips are even. The inverted D is a great stepping stone for it as well. good luck and hopefully you will get it soon :)
Gizy · 5/8/2015
Thanks for the answer. You are right, inverted D sounds like a great first step and it may help me develop the balance I need for aysha. Good luck with your elbow grip aysa, but you are already so good so I'm sure you will do it in no time :)
Phoenix Hunter · 5/8/2015
I didnt get my first EG ayesha until I had been poling for 1 year and 7months. now Im working on split grip ayesha and it just seems impossible for me. I cant even get an inverted D, but I can do extended butterfly. weird. I'm very frustrated with split grip ayesha. I dont even understand how its possible to balance in that grip.
Phoenix Hunter · 5/8/2015
lots of caterpillars and caterpillar climbs helped me to get my Elbow grip ayesha.
kittyface · 5/8/2015
I got my EG ayesha bout a year and a half from since I started pole, maybe slightly more, but I was a slow learner. It took me a year to get my basic invert, so it was about six months after that point that I got my EG ayesha. I honestly wasn't focusing on it at all - I had set it to the side, sure that I didn't have the strength to do it, but one day I was doing a bunch of really solid caterpillar climbs and just decided to try it, and it worked. I got my shoulder V and my Ayesha at about the same time, so if you can hold a shoulder V + have a solid caterpillar climb I'm inclined to say it's not a strength issue. Honestly, my biggest barrier to the caterpillar climb and the ayesha on my weak side is the pain of the elbow grip, since I haven't conditioned my left elbow as much. I know I have the strength, it just hurts the skin of my inner elbow too much to hold it long enough even for a caterpillar climb. Could that be part of the issue?
Rachel Osborne · 5/9/2015
I still don't have Ayesha! It is a nemesis move; it frightens me and I dislike caterpillars so I rarely train it. Everytime I do train it I injure myself. So I have decided to leave it. Been poling consistently for a year at home and did classes for a year before that. I am pretty strong and love elbow grips, it's just the handstandy feel of it I hate. Reverse Ayesha I love, shoulder mounts are fine, I love being upsidedown - but I prefer to invert and use a leg or hip grip rather than weight on hands and forearms. I think if you really want Ayesha it will happen when your body is ready. I don't think I want it enough: there are other tricks and combos I am much more motivated by and interested in.
Pretty Pixie · 5/9/2015
(I'm no expert) It took me a year to do elbow grip Ayesha and a little over a year to do a split grip Ayesha. I'm at a year and a half now and I'm still working on them, so it takes a while to perfect after you've "gotten" a move. Every body is different. Elbow, forearm, and handstands, as well as strong extended butterflies are conditioning exercises I used to get there. Plus, just dancing as often as I felt inclined. It'll happen if you keep working, one day you'll be in your extended butterfly and it'll just feel right and boom. Be patient young grasshopper 😎
I polekat I · 5/9/2015
I have been poling maybe a year and a half and I am a fast learner, but still no ayesha for me haha! It's one I am trying a lot but the grip is scary for me, I rarely feel secure =\ but yep extended butterfly no problem, inverted D is hit and miss, but yeah I think if I got my inverted D solid and consistent then ayesha would follow shortly
Veena · 5/9/2015
I normally don't talk about how fast my progression was, but I was able to do forearm grip Ayesha the first session I tried it....Split grip variation (off the pole) took me a few days. I don't have a background in gymnastics or dance, so I'm NOT average and caught on to pole extremely quick. I'm telling you this because EVERYONE learns at their own pace, there is no timeline of what "should" be done by a certain time. Some move are not right for some people and they may never do them. It's great to have goals and plan to work towards something, but we often become discouraged (especially quick learners) when we hit a point where natural ability stops, and things become hard. Make sure you're taking time to understand and learn the fundamentals of pole, this will make your progress safer and help you understand how everything is connected.
PolarGirl · 5/9/2015
I got my split grip Ayesha after 7-8 months of pole and I got it on my first try no problem -- but I also super strength trained working up to that to make sure I was strong enough first. I also immediately overtrained on that move because I was so happy to get it and injured my wrists and had to take almost 2 months off pole and strength training altogether. So don't be in too much of a rush to nail tough moves. Go slow and build that strength and coordination. I have never tried forearm grip Ayesha and elbow grip terrifies me because it feels less secure (to me). I have never gotten the elbow grip version of even butterfly yet. Will have to get on that... Good luck. I hope this thread has helped you learn that everyone progresses at their own pace and finds different moves or versions easier than others. We're all different!
Cuwoody · 5/9/2015
1.5 yrs for twisted grip Ayesha and 1.25yrs for elbow grip and 1.75 for split grip. Handspring at 2yrs. The elbow grip was easiest for me. An elbow grip Ayesha is A LOT easier than an elbow butterfly. Sitting ur butt back oj the Ayesha is a totally different center of gravity than in an EG butterfly. i hate the EG grip or forearm grip butterfly. They both feels much less secure than an EG Ayesha When doing a split grip Ayesha think side crunch towards same side as top arm. Yup are not straight back. it helped me to bend the same leg as the side I was crunching toward to figure it out. You can also try a jack knife. That may help you to get used to the crunching to the side part. Remember u are bringing your legs down to you so you have to tuck your pelvis.
CapFeb · 5/9/2015
I have been poling on and off for about 4 years. Ayesha is my nemesis move :/ I could do fonjis before I could do Ayesha.
dustbunny · 5/9/2015
I have been poling for nearly 6 years now. I only just got my split grip Aysha this winter. Split grip is the easiest grip for me but many people prefer the elbow or forearm grips.
chemgoddess1 · 5/10/2015
I have issues with ayesha mainly because of the length of my legs and the shortness of my upper body. I am better with straight edge which is usually harder for people. I am 8 years in and still do not have split grip. I got forearm probably about 6 months after mastering caterpillar climb and elbow was pretty easy after that once I was shown proper form.
kandy206528 · 5/10/2015
I learned TG Aysha after 4-5 months of pole. Elbow Grip Aysha after 5-6 months. Then Handspring after 6 months. Split Grip Aysha took me 1,5 years to get it because you need much more strength. Cup Grip Aysha after 1,25 years. I'im still struggeling with my SG und CG Aysha on my weak left side.
Casi · 5/10/2015
At my studio, they taught us TG handspring into Ayesha without teaching Ayesha first, so I guess that would mean I learned TG Ayesha at around 6 months. I learned caterpillar climb and elbow grip Ayesha at around 8 or 9 months. I had been poling almost a year when I taught myself split grip handspring and Ayesha, but they are both still weak and unreliable on my left side. I don't have a cup grip Ayesha yet, but it's on my list. There are girls at my school who have been poling much longer and only have their TG Ayesha if that. But, they can do Yogini and rocket man and pretty flow, which I can't. Everyone really does progress differently and find certain moves easier than others. One day it will click, and when it does, you'll feel amazing!