polergirl
Forum Replies Created
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For the longest time I thought there was just something about my body conformation that would not allow me to do the gemini. But it's so pretty–and it's an extremely practical move, you can get into SO MANY things from the outside leg hang!
Then it clicked. Here's what helped me, and what I pass on: when you get your knee pit grip, point your toes down toward the floor (your leg will look like it's at a very strange angle from where you can see it), really really really point them, and engage your hamstrings to lock the hold. For me this move is almost all about the hamstring–it doesn't hurt my knee pit at all because that's just the contact point, the muscle is what's holding me in place. And that's how I do it without side skin at all. My side is pushed into the pole for leverage but I don't rely on the skin to help hold me up.
OK, so hamstrings engaged. Check. As other posters have said, extend your free leg out–and by that I mean let it drop straight back from the hip. You don't want it to the side, you want it straight out from your body, and from the hip, not from the knee. That'll do all sorts of things–it'll create leverage for your body to hold you up, it'll press your side against the pole just where it needs to be, and it'll allow you to arch your back and drop your head.
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It's definitely a question of flexibility–I can do elbowstand presses easily but handstands, no way until I gain some hip and shoulder flexibility.
I would LOVE to see your progress and will post, sure!
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Congratulations! Isn't it fun to figure out a new move? Hooray!!!
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I think Amy (blog is aerial amy, I think) has also written about this…. hopefully she'll chime in. 🙂
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I blogged about this recently… hope it's OK to post the link here.
https://ginadances.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/dancing-for-someone-besides-yourself/
If you search the forums here you'll find LOTS and LOTS of posts about how scary it is to dance for someone, so I won't tell you not to be nervous or feel awkward. What I will tell you is that he won't notice those things. Not at all.
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As Veena mentioned about the armpit. I prefer not to use the armpit or side now that I have the knee pit/hamstring locked grip, because it gives me more mobility to transition in/out. I tend to be very grippy (it's a blessing and a curse, believe me) and there were times I would struggle to get out of the leg hang when I was using my side as a POC.
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Charley, thank you so much for posting this! I so wanted to make the trip but just couldn't, so I didn't even allow myself to follow the threads much.
Well done, ladies!!!! I can't wait to get home tonight and watch me some videos! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
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Are the results posted anywhere? And/or videos? I wasn't able to make the trip and am on pins and needles!
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What ^^ she said! Whichever's your outside leg, make sure that foot is pointing down and get that free leg extended to lock in the grip by pushing your hip against the pole. For me, this grip is about hamstring strength–if you realllllly engage the hamstrings of your hanging leg and point your toes to the floor, you'll have it!
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That happens at first–if you adjust a little to increase the contact with shin and calf, that will subside because you'll be using less foot.
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It's very possible to have bruising on your inner bicep (the upper part) if you start with your hands low and use that grip to help you roll up and tip back…which isn't necessarily a technique problem, in fact you want your hands low, especially at first as you're building strength.
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If you have concrete blocks, you won't have to worry about stability. You may have to concern yourself with making sure your pole doesn't slip on the concrete though (concrete can slough off "pebbles" as something rubs against it).
There are three pole studios in Columbus that I know of, each one comes at things differently, so I'm sure anyone can find one they'll love! That's what it's really about, eh?
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Everybody starts somewhere. Some people have a gymnastics or dance background, and they may progress faster or get further as far as tricks, but some of the most beautiful, fluid dancers I've seen don't have background in anything but pole, and if you talk to them they'll talk about how much they struggled with simply holding up their body weight at first.
Beyond that I can't say it annnnny better than chemgoddess did, so I won't try. 😉
If you look up Alethea, look for her "Bleeding" video on youtube–she talks about how refreshing and fun it was to do a dance that wasn't all about tricks and where she could just dance and have fun, and if you watch it you'll see that she only does a few tricks.
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What chemgoddess said. Also, I've found that if I have students think of pushing off the pole with the back of the knee that's hooked, it pushes their hips forward where they need to be. The thing about falling back into a sitting position is that you have a lot of weight behind you, and it smothers momentum. Pushing the hips forward gets everything moving forward.
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Slow, for sure. When I dance to faster music I often do a quick/quick/slow kinda thing, but slow is my comfort zone. I look a little like a spaz when I dance fast, lol.
