Teaching pole sit: foot on or off the pole?

aryannapoledancer started this discussion · 1/23/2012

Hi there, I'm teaching pole sit to next lessons students. I have been doing lots of researches and check out different famous pole dance instructors and their styles and I found out that some of them use to teach starting with a step on the pole, some of them (inclued Veena) ues to start directly from an arms pull up. Another thing I have noticed is direction of leaning body; some instructors teach to lean body twds crossed leg some twds the opposite side. Which method do you stick to while teaching pole sit and why? Thank you as usual.

7 replies

Veena · 1/23/2012
You can lean either way, its just preference. It's good to work on leaning to both sides. Hooking the foot comes natural to some as a way to hang on! Its not necessary though, and I don't teach it with the foot hooked because not everyone will be able to do this. It could stress the muscles of the ankle and foot, but for some it not a problem.
chemgoddess1 · 1/23/2012
When I teach this I start from the ground and have them squat, place one foot straight diagonally across the body but on the ground and the otehr they cross. Once they have positioning I tell them to lift the one foot off the floor....there is usually a LOT of screaming in pain at this point. I do not teach the foot behind until they combine it with a climb.
aryannapoledancer · 1/23/2012
Thank you Veena for your fast reply. I have watched your pole sit tutorial and I have seen you teach the move with this sequence: - pull up with arms - lift legs - cross legs . Someone teaches it this other way: - foot on the pole - step up on the pole - cross the leg .. Are you telling me the reason you prefer the first way is because of flexibility? Wouldn't it be easier for a beginner to count on foot grip an the "step help" than directly crossing the legs and let go? What do you think about that? Thank you! :)
Veena · 1/23/2012
Easier doesn't mean safer. As long as your tipping the hips you'll hold. As a beginner, they would tend to place a lot of weight on the hooked foot, and as I said, that can be fine for some, but not for others, because yes, flexibility can be an issue. You can still pole sit from a climb, but I would still pole hole into it then cross the leg 🌸
dustbunny · 1/23/2012
As someone who had to relearn this move after a year of doing it wrong I would avoid teaching it with the foot on the pole. It is WAY harder to relearn something than to just learn it the right way from the start. I originally learned it with one foot on the pole, but was not taught how to tilt and use my thighs to hold on. As Veena said, most of my weight was on my foot, not on my thighs. As a result of that, it was more difficult to learn other thigh holds later on until I got Veena's lessons and relearned a lot of the basics.
Danielle Tillie · 1/23/2012
I teach this move from the ground so the student can find their "sweet spot". From standing and with both hands on the pole I have them walk themselves into the pole until they are in a seated position with the pole in their inner thighs and feet still on the ground. Then I have them cross one leg over, squeeze like they mean it, and lift the other leg off of the ground. This is also what chemmie was describing. Once they can hold that I teach it like Veena, lifting with the arms, tilting the hips forward, crossing the legs, squeeze and hold. Having the four behind the pole can turn into a crutch, in a way. As it has been said, it's harder to relearn something once you have a habit like that.
Danielle Tillie · 1/23/2012
*foot* behind the pole. (Sorry, stupid autocorrect)