Working on SG Ayesha

Black Orchid started this discussion · 3/14/2013

I've been re-reading the threads on cartwheel & true grip handsprings because I would love to be able to float up prettily into one of these before my next birthday. LOL. One of the things I'm wondering about is how to work on my split grip Ayesha ( i have my EG one and am working on straight edge from there). Can you go into it from extended butterfly and/or the "capital D"? And if so, what tips do y'all have for body position and balance from there? Is it similar to the EG Ayesha that way?

2 replies

Lyme Lyte · 3/15/2013
I have been working on SG for months....I did get it one day but not since. it is tricky.....I don't have any tips except I heard one person say that u need to use force and push on one arm and do a pulling motion w the other. haven't been on the pole for a few weeks so don't know what arm does what...lol
tehCammy · 3/15/2013
I have been working on SG ayesha for a long time too, I find my legs get stuck I've managed to get it once or twice in a freedance. I would suggest work on your split grip straddle right side up, pushing yourself away from the pole and bringing up your legs to mimic the ayesha posture as much as possible. Also work on your caterpillar for balance and squaring the hips. To get into the actual ayesha pose, emotioncatcher showed a good tip for releasing the knees in caterpillar but keeping the ankles crossed as you move towards extending the legs. A studio instructor also taught us to go into archer (like extended butterfly with the inside of the foot gripping the pole) then bring that into a pike with the pole betwen our feet and go from there. For me that got me squared enough and pulled away enough from the pole to take my legs off. Can you do deadlift elbowstands? Working the descent of a straddle elbowstand will probably help you to get the feeling of engaging the lower abs and tucking the pelvis.