lilblondie
Forum Replies Created
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@heathalynne: just to clarify, I didn't injure myself in Derek's class — I did that myself a long time ago! 🙂 Glad you had a good weekend!
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Try cradle spin -> apprentice … then butterfly into flatline! Still one of my favorite combos.
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I had a great time too …. and was blown away and inspired by the performances. I was left kinda cold by the M.C.s and organization of the afterparty, but I won't say anything else because I'm just grateful the event was organized and brought together so many amazing performers 🙂
Let's see … what did I do … Rebecca Starr's "Pole Power" class on Friday. Fun, solid warmup for the weekend 🙂 Cool to see how other people teach technique and strength moves for things like ayeshas, aerial climbs, etc. At the end she took time to give me personal tips on backbending in ayesha and TG handspring. Very sweet!
I took Derick Pierson's workshop afterward and had a great time — I felt his warmup and approach was really informed by a focus on anatomy, which I love — and despite an injury he got me into the "plus sign" and then "allegra splits" for the first time ever, on my "wrong" side! I also did a controlled SM flip for the first time. I loved his positive energy 🙂
I also took Allegra's first workshop (not the one you were in heathalynne). The chopper into Allegra was new to me and I liked the triple V, but I was disappointed with the beginner spin combo, and after Derick's workshop, I was too tired to work on the exact same Allegra splits again. We didn't work on lifting TG, she just gave us "homework" and performance tips. However, she is so cute and seeing her demos was so awesome that I'm still glad I went 🙂
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Oh, a few more thoughts. Sorry … this is something I feel strongly about!
I would NOT enjoy a class that encouraged my partner to spot me, critique me, or do doubles spins with me (unless that was specifically advertised.) I go to classes to learn from the instructor — not my peers — and to learn to pole dance individually. I might end up partnered with someone who is too weak to safely spot me, or far below my level. And vice versa.
BTW, most of the classes I've taken are 1-to-a-pole, and it's what I prefer! I was just responding about my different but positive experiences with multiple girls per pole since I thought it might be helpful. 🙂
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OK, I prefer one, but I think 2/pole is OK. The main difference in the structure of classes is how aggressive they are. I've taken classes at B&P in NYC — 2 on a pole — where I had my ass completely kicked in that 1.5 hours and even ended up with extra pole time because my pole buddy was too exhausted to continue. If I felt upset at all it was because I felt they were TRYING to tire us out with the warmup ;).
On the other hand, I've taken classes at BeSpun which were 2 PLUS girls per pole, yet had a very light warmup, and still felt OK. In this case the structure of the class was so SLOW (we only learned 3 tricks in each class — one spin, one lift and one hold) that I still felt I had plenty of time on the poles. I find that most girls don't like to repeat the same trick more than a few times … they get bruised, and would rather sit on the floor watching.
If I were you, I would either raise your rates or add more classes. Otherwise … STEP UP the pace! 🙂
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One more thing you may want to try: drink water!! I can get sharp headaches from dehydration if I work out and especially if I go upside down. Drinking a quart of water throughout the day keeps them away.
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I have a TG and maybe I'm not discerning enough, but I don't feel any difference between it and the chrome poles in our studio. I'm also a big spinner on static pole. I get a lot of callouses on my hands, but I've never felt that my body was getting "ripped up" any more on TG than on any other pole… shrug! To me the biggest difference is diameter — I love the 45's.
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LOL @JeHanne. I have had people give me tons of shit about crocheting. Apparently, it's for old ladies. And a waste of time. No hobby is safe!
You just have to do what makes you happy. There is ALWAYS going to be someone who doesn't "get it".
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Yay! I've been wearing Mika yoga products since they first launched. I think the side-string shorts are still the best … there's a reason they're practically a uniform in hot yoga classes. (If you do Bikram, you will recognize the poses of the models on the Mika site! I love that they have started to market to polers too though). The company Shakti Activewear (http://www.shaktiactivewear.com/) makes similar side-string shorts that I like even more — the fabric is so light, it really feels like you're wearing nothing. I have piles of both brands 🙂
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^ haha yes amy that's exactly what I meant … that move with natasha "untrapping" her foot is the opposite of what Alethea does!
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Cool!! I wasn't expecting such a good view of the trick when that video started, lol!
It looks like the opposite of something Natasha Wang does. She starts from the down splits, moves into the position that Alethea ends in (with the foot trapped) and then switches her hand into a shoulder mount to free the leg. I got shivers all over the first time I saw it! You can see it at 0:43 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2WguirjwYE. Both ways are awesome!
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If you think these are 2% as cool, they may be worth checking out as a starter edition. 🙂
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I don't do it for strength, but I've tried a bunch of other apparatus for fun. My favorite is chinese pole, a thicker pole that's coated – you climb with the soles of your feet and wear something that covers your whole body to protect you from friction. I also like hoop but I don't find it a huge challenge, it seems very natural after pole.
I have a love/hate relationship with silks. I thought I would love it and wanted to, but somehow I ended up skipping the rest of my lessons. I find it to be lot more technical than pole in the wraps, turns, etc you have to memorize. I also think the instability makes it tougher for strength, as some other people have said. Worst of all, you experience the beginner bruises and scrapes all over again — my first few silks lessons were pretty painful. I don't know if I'm just unwilling to struggle through the beginning stages again.
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^ that is so funny about the samples. LOL. You should really consider getting some made like shampoo samples in those foil laminated packets with an official logo, etc!
On a related note (apologies for mentioning a competitor) I travel all the time with iTac and have never had a problem. I just put it in the quart ziplock bag with my toothpaste, lip gloss, etc.
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Chinese grip is with the top hand in cupped grip (fingers and thumb same side of pole). What’s true grip? Is that just not twisted?