Almost a year since I started this here blog! Let's have a round up!
Well, I got the nemesis I had in my first post, Shoulder Mount. I am now working on lifting into it.
I am still madly in love with spinny pole. I like the graceful, flowy feel of it.
I have discovered that I am far better at making up and performing dramatic or or theatrical routines than dancey type ones. I love them!
I have also discovered that I like performing which was a shock to a shy retiring wallflower like me I can tell you!
This year I have also made some amazing friends in the pole world and met some awesome people - Pantera, Felix and Suzie Q included. Total inspiration.
Now to find some time to put it all to practice!
Tuesday 29 September 2009
Wednesday 26 August 2009
Teaching pole
When I did my first pole session I knew it was something I wanted to learn and was immediately passionate about it. 2 months later I had my own pole at home and was learning whenever I could. 3 months after this I did a qualification in it which helped me understand the pitfalls and made sure that I taught everything with safety foremost.
I still didn't feel confident enough to teach until over a year after I first began, and then only very basic moves.
I had already taught fitness classes, trained people at gyms, done personal training and had all the necessary First Aid certificates, music licenses and Insurances yet still felt I had so much to learn to be the best Pole Instructor I could. In fact, I still feel that way!
That is why it is so worrying when someone has a few pole lessons, thinks 'Easy money!', and then sets up their own classes.
It is fantastic that someone should inspire somebody else to become an Instructor in anything, and want to share their joy in that subject, but nothing is ever that easy.
It is not just a simple issue of buying a pole, finding a room and setting up to teach. There are legal and moral complications in any taught subject.
Also, being able to pole dance does not automatically mean you are able to teach it well. There is a knack to breaking down moves and making them accessible. It is a skill.
Teaching pole is very hard work! If your teacher makes it look easy then it just means they're damn good at what they do!
I still didn't feel confident enough to teach until over a year after I first began, and then only very basic moves.
I had already taught fitness classes, trained people at gyms, done personal training and had all the necessary First Aid certificates, music licenses and Insurances yet still felt I had so much to learn to be the best Pole Instructor I could. In fact, I still feel that way!
That is why it is so worrying when someone has a few pole lessons, thinks 'Easy money!', and then sets up their own classes.
It is fantastic that someone should inspire somebody else to become an Instructor in anything, and want to share their joy in that subject, but nothing is ever that easy.
It is not just a simple issue of buying a pole, finding a room and setting up to teach. There are legal and moral complications in any taught subject.
Also, being able to pole dance does not automatically mean you are able to teach it well. There is a knack to breaking down moves and making them accessible. It is a skill.
Teaching pole is very hard work! If your teacher makes it look easy then it just means they're damn good at what they do!
Thursday 20 August 2009
Pain Thresholds
I've noticed a curious thing with pole. People seem to have lower pain tolerance in certain parts of their body, and everyone is different.
My low tolerance area is my calf and the back of my knee. I can't even stand to stretch my calf muscles out without feeling a bit queasy and hate the sensation, while I will happily sit in box split stretches for hours.
I find the Scorpio and Gemini moves really nasty yet when learning Elbow Grip moves wouldn't notice the pain at all and would be very surprised later on to find myself black and blue from it.
Some ladies find inner thigh moves are their bugbear and others armpit holds. Yet both might be happy to kneehold without a care.
No matter where your low pain threshold area is, gritted teeth and dogged determination is the only way forward!
My low tolerance area is my calf and the back of my knee. I can't even stand to stretch my calf muscles out without feeling a bit queasy and hate the sensation, while I will happily sit in box split stretches for hours.
I find the Scorpio and Gemini moves really nasty yet when learning Elbow Grip moves wouldn't notice the pain at all and would be very surprised later on to find myself black and blue from it.
Some ladies find inner thigh moves are their bugbear and others armpit holds. Yet both might be happy to kneehold without a care.
No matter where your low pain threshold area is, gritted teeth and dogged determination is the only way forward!
Monday 20 July 2009
I'm strong to the finish, cos I eats me...protein...
Last time I went to visit Anna from Readings BADs studio she gave me some protein powder to try.
Now, having been vegan for the last 15 years I know my diet is pretty good as I take care to make sure it is varied. I have bad days just like everyone else where crisps and chocolate are guzzled but on the whole I eat very healthily indeed. I have never needed supplements even while popping out the sproggs and have always been fit and healthy with loads of energy.
So when Anna gave me the protein powder I was a bit blasé about the whole thing, but decided to give it a go.
So once a day I mixed up a scoop of the soya powder with a smoothie. My god it tasted nice! Far too nice to be good for me surely?
I decided to give it a few weeks to see if there was any difference. While I did this I began to think about the demands I have been putting on my body recently.
My classes have built up slowly over the last year. At first I was teaching 2 pole classes a week and a few circuit and Boxercise sessions. The circuits and Boxercise were easy and only demos were needed while I watched and directed.
A year later I am now teaching 15+ classes a week, minimum of 3 pole, 1 or more spin, 2+ aerobics, 3+ toning and 1 2 hour circuit which I actually join in with. That's just my council classes and doesn't include my own pole classes, 1-2-1's, jams and my own training. And when I'm not avtually teaching the classes I'm often found bouncing around making up new routines for that weeks classes.
So really it was no surprise when within a week the protein had a remarkable effect on my strength. Things became far easier and I also noticed I recovered far quicker.
Am now hooked on the stuff and very very grateful to Anna for getting me to try it.
My diet before was great for your average lifestyle but I have to keep reminding myself that it isn't quite so average anymore, even though it feels like it!
Now, having been vegan for the last 15 years I know my diet is pretty good as I take care to make sure it is varied. I have bad days just like everyone else where crisps and chocolate are guzzled but on the whole I eat very healthily indeed. I have never needed supplements even while popping out the sproggs and have always been fit and healthy with loads of energy.
So when Anna gave me the protein powder I was a bit blasé about the whole thing, but decided to give it a go.
So once a day I mixed up a scoop of the soya powder with a smoothie. My god it tasted nice! Far too nice to be good for me surely?
I decided to give it a few weeks to see if there was any difference. While I did this I began to think about the demands I have been putting on my body recently.
My classes have built up slowly over the last year. At first I was teaching 2 pole classes a week and a few circuit and Boxercise sessions. The circuits and Boxercise were easy and only demos were needed while I watched and directed.
A year later I am now teaching 15+ classes a week, minimum of 3 pole, 1 or more spin, 2+ aerobics, 3+ toning and 1 2 hour circuit which I actually join in with. That's just my council classes and doesn't include my own pole classes, 1-2-1's, jams and my own training. And when I'm not avtually teaching the classes I'm often found bouncing around making up new routines for that weeks classes.
So really it was no surprise when within a week the protein had a remarkable effect on my strength. Things became far easier and I also noticed I recovered far quicker.
Am now hooked on the stuff and very very grateful to Anna for getting me to try it.
My diet before was great for your average lifestyle but I have to keep reminding myself that it isn't quite so average anymore, even though it feels like it!
Monday 29 June 2009
Pole Party
Thanks to the fab Pipsical, Jamie from Defy Gravity and I performed for the most wonderful bunch of people you could ever wish to meet on Saturday.
I have never felt so comfortable with a group of people, nor met people with such grace and manners as I did that night. Our acts were received with some lovely comments and we got to teach them some moves too as they were incredibly receptive.
I finally got to bed at 3.45 am and lay there feeling every cell in my body buzzing and awake and happier than I can ever remember feeling.
Woke up still on a high at about 8am the next morning. Later taught pole to some gorgeous students. Didn't think I could get much higher but the girls being as fabulous as they are made it happen! We had a real giggle filming our routine and learning new moves and I found that I can suddenly lift into my Iguana Mount! Hadn't tried it for a few months and suddenly there it was!
Awesome weekend!
I have never felt so comfortable with a group of people, nor met people with such grace and manners as I did that night. Our acts were received with some lovely comments and we got to teach them some moves too as they were incredibly receptive.
I finally got to bed at 3.45 am and lay there feeling every cell in my body buzzing and awake and happier than I can ever remember feeling.
Woke up still on a high at about 8am the next morning. Later taught pole to some gorgeous students. Didn't think I could get much higher but the girls being as fabulous as they are made it happen! We had a real giggle filming our routine and learning new moves and I found that I can suddenly lift into my Iguana Mount! Hadn't tried it for a few months and suddenly there it was!
Awesome weekend!
Thursday 18 June 2009
Friday 12 June 2009
Update
Blimey, not been on here for ages!
Am now lifting into my moves instead of swinging. Have conquered the Split Grip Aysha, Jacknife and Straight Edge and am now attempting to mermaid wiggle upside down in Straight Edge - with hilarious consequences!
Isn't it funny how when you're upside down your body feels like it no longer belongs to you!
More work needed, as usual!
Am now lifting into my moves instead of swinging. Have conquered the Split Grip Aysha, Jacknife and Straight Edge and am now attempting to mermaid wiggle upside down in Straight Edge - with hilarious consequences!
Isn't it funny how when you're upside down your body feels like it no longer belongs to you!
More work needed, as usual!
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