Woot! Air Shoulder Mount!

RikkiL started this discussion · 8/22/2011

So today was the first day back to classes after our two week break between sessions at Dance Alley and I was able to get the air shoulder mount! :D So excited! I did it three times in a row and am feeling pretty comfortable with it. Now I just wish we had taller poles so I could follow up with something other than Brass Monkey (too close to the ceiling to even do Eros and the drop ceilings keep me from learning Ceiling Splits or the Death Lay)! Any suggestions?

11 replies

mizvix · 8/23/2011
congrats!!! you could practise your ASM into superman - it will help you prepare for your death lay (when you have a ceiling!) and it shouldn't take as much room as a brass monkey. You can aso practise your SM flip back onto pole - i was always ok doing it on the ground but the additional height and reliance only on your core make it that more daunting!
RikkiL · 8/23/2011
Thanks for the superman suggestion, Mizvix! I haven't mastered the SM flip yet. I've been trying it periodically, using the Veena grip, but I typically use a double cup grip. Any tips for doing it?
mizvix · 8/23/2011
i use the cup grip too - i feel more secure with it than the others! flip advice? i'll try!! with the flip, you need to be confident with inverting without gripping the pole with your legs; so V shapes and pikes. you need to have momentum in your movement to get your pelvis level with and beyond the pole, so superman practice is good here too. SM bounces would prob help too! i'd advise a spotter with this one, or plenty of cushions! Whichever shoulder you mount on is the side you will be putting your legs to in a pike shape. when your pelvis goes beyond the pole and your legs are ready to bring you back to standing, look where you are going - i look over my right sholder to the ground (or to the pole if i'm fliping onto it). I don't let go until i'm secure on the ground or pole. i hope that makes sense... i'm okay at showing, but not so good at telling unless someone is in front of me!
RikkiL · 8/23/2011
Thanks! I'll have to try flipping with the cup grip and I'll have to add in looking where I'm going. When I attempt the flip I end up pushing myself diagonally away from the pole (so instead of going straight over my head and back onto the pole I'm going over my shoulder and landing to the left of the pole. 😕 I think watching where I'm going will probably help.
amy · 8/23/2011
what she said, and: GO SLOW! try to control it all the way down. if you start the flip sitting on the ground, you may be less afraid of falling-- your feet will already be on the ground before you know it.
mizvix · 8/23/2011
i still do that if i rush into it - not so good at the top of a pole 😲 lol! a friend of mine was at a workshop with alethea and the 'look where you're going' thing was her advice - it def made it a lot easier and much less scary! and don't forget to keep the tension in your arms until you've landed - that shuold help you stick close to the pole too. xox
polediva55 · 8/24/2011
Awesome progress, well done!!
polediva55 · 8/24/2011
Can't wait till I get that good :)
poleprincess89 · 8/24/2011
Any advice on how to get the aerial shouldermount? i've been working on it for a while and still can't get it!
RikkiL · 8/24/2011
Advice....hmmmm....well, I knew that I could do a very controlled, slow sholder mount from the floor (standing or sitting) so I thought I'd try it from up high. I side climbed, got into a Figurehead position and adjusted my hands as needed. Then I let go with my ankles and flipped up into a Brass Monkey. Feeling secure in the Figurehead was probably key - next to being able to shoulder mount without momentum. Not sure how helpful all of that is but maybe it'll help! :)
mizvix · 8/25/2011
shoulder mounting down from invert to standing - work on this until you can do it slowly and in a controlled way. Also, try SM from your knees (front hook position). Sounds odd, i know, but from standing it's easy to kick, even if you don't mean to and the same when you are sitting on the floor. i'm about 80% successful with my no-kicking aerial SM, but the more i do it the more comfortable it feels! good luck! xo