Month: December 2019

The (Not So) Secret Diary Of A Pole and Aerial Hoop Beginner – Week Six

Posted on by Joey

Week Six – Pole

I was really looking forward to Pole this week, but I was also a little sad. The reasoning behind this was I felt like I was making great progress in Pole, but I was sad as this was going to be my last pole lesson of 2019.

Hannah took us through the usual warm up, increasing the quantity of everything (toe touches, push ups, etc.) a little to push us a bit harder.

We then revisited our inversions. Firstly, Inversion into Crucifix. This was a hell of a lot easier for me than the previous week and within a couple of tries I was able to do it and take off both hands for a full Crucifix! The key to success for me here was the placement of my knees on the pole, making my hold a lot stronger than previous attempts. My dismount still needs some work, but I am incredibly happy with my progress.

Hannah then suggested trying a Straddle. I’d been working on something similar in Aerial Hoop, but this didn’t seem to translate over to Pole. After adjusting my grip a little, I did manage a messy (read legs not straight and toes not pointed) straddle, but it’s something else to work on in the first session of 2020!

We then moved on to putting together a short routine including a Threaded Reverse Pirouette, Chair Spin, Attitude Spin, Fan Kick and some floor work.

The Threaded Reverse Pirouette felt very weird to me, like my body didn’t want to follow it through, but I think I got there in the end with some further guidance from Hannah. Basically, I was having flashbacks of right-hand leading Cradle Spin from week five, when falling backwards into a move leading with my right, my brain seems to shut down!

Going into Chair Spin from this transition was completely different to me from doing it as a ‘standalone’ move. Connecting it smoothly to a preceding move and ensuring I finished in a position to go onto the next move forced me to think about everything I was doing.

I really feel like my Attitude Spin has come on leaps and bounds since I first learned how to do it. My left foot naturally hooks on to the pole now and my finishing position on the floor feels spot on (to me anyway).

Fan Kick is another matter. I think over the Christmas break I should practice the movement on the floor at least once a day until muscle memory really kicks in, so that it looks and feels natural. Straight legs and pointed toes are my only saving grace in this move, the nice, wide legs and smooth circular movements elude me, but I am determined to get it right!

The floor work elements of this routine felt really alien to me the first time I tried, but after realising that nobody cares what I look like while slinking about on the floor, I threw myself in to it wholeheartedly and had a lot of fun. I’m no Magic Mike (yet), but at least I tried!

Week Six – Aerial Hoop 

Due to the Christmas wind down, there was no Aerial Hoop class to attend at Aerial Attic this week, but I’ve been reading up on possible new moves to speak to Ellie about in the new year to expand my repertoire.

I’ll be taking a break from attending classes over the Christmas and New Year holiday while the Aerial Attic is closed, but you can be sure I will be practising everything I can while I’m off.

Here’s hoping you all have a brilliant break over Christmas and that Santa brings you everything you asked for, see you in 2020 for more adventures of a Pole and Aerial Hoop Beginner!

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The (Not So) Secret Diary Of A Pole and Aerial Hoop Beginner – Week Five

Posted on by Joey

Week Five – Pole

I think I finally followed Hannah’s warm up correctly! It only took five weeks and an insane amount of concentration, but I feel comfortable now.

After a little conditioning, we started on our first new move of the session, Forearm Climb. After learning the basic Pole Climb the previous couple of weeks, this didn’t feel quite so intimidating at the start. The hand and arm placement felt quite natural. I can already feel that my upper body strength and overall stamina has improved since beginning these sessions and the Forearm Climb proved this to me. It looks so much more ‘professional’ than Pole Climb too (I see it in pretty much every performance at competitions and events). The initial lift off of the floor onto the pole was a lot smoother and personally felt easier than previous sessions.

Then we progressed to Cradle Spin. As I mentioned in my last blog, I feel like my right side dominates (read is stronger and easier for most moves), but my body was about to betray me; left side in Cradle Spin was super easy for me to grasp compared to right side! After a few more tries on both sides and some guidance from Hannah it clicked. The feeling of leaving the floor and being close into the pole was a little alien as most other moves we have learnt so far require the body to be off the pole with straight lines (pointed toes/extended legs for aesthetic purposes) and locked arms.

Hannah then showed us a Side Spin. This proved to be quite challenging for me, both with the leg placement and getting both feet of the floor smoothly. I’m not 100% happy with my current progress, but it’s something to work on until next week’s session.

Finally, we moved onto what I had been waiting all week for, inverting! Hannah showed us a Basic Invert from Strong Hold into Crucifix. I wasn’t too sure about being able to invert from the Strong Hold, but even my first try was a lot better than I thought it would be. After that, another issue I hadn’t anticipated came into play; coordinating my feet above my head while my hands were holding on to the pole. I guess it’s a muscle memory thing and will come with more practice. Check out the still images below kindly shot by Dion.

After the Bird’s Nest in Aerial Hoop last week, being upside down wasn’t nearly so intimidating as I thought it would be. I did also manage to remove one hand while in the invert so does that equal a half Crucifix? My dismount from this move was somewhat less than graceful. Watching most of the other students gliding down the pole to end up on the floor in a pretty pose has made me want to really nail this next time.

Week Five – Aerial Hoop

Unfortunately, there was no Aerial Hoop session at the Aerial Attic this week that I could attend (maybe this will give the various bruises I have picked up during Aerial Hoop to heal a little), but I can’t wait to get back in the studio next week with Ellie, polish up my existing repertoire and add some new stuff before the Christmas shut down.

 Week Five – Aerial Yoga

After missing a few sessions of Aerial Yoga due to work and personal commitments, I was really excited to get back in the studio with Jess. Check out the video below to see what I got up to.

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THE (NOT SO) SECRET DIARY OF A POLE AND AERIAL HOOP BEGINNER – WEEK FOUR

Posted on by Joey

Week Four – Pole

After our usual warm up with Hannah (I think I am 99% there now!), we launched into our lesson.

We revisited the Chair Spin from last week. Originally, I hadn’t found this too hard, but ‘polishing’ it up to ensure I had the correct hand placement, a good form and pointed toes was a little challenging.

Hannah then moved us on to a Carousel Spin, initially I was a little sceptical about being able to pull this one off, as it was my first time using a Split Grip (AKA Bracket Grip) and like most people, I guess I have a dominant/stronger side (right if you were wondering!). My inclination is always to hang from my right hand and push with my left for the spin. Trying it in the reverse with my left ‘leading’ was an interesting experience, but after the first couple of tries, it felt a lot better and I managed to get some nice clearance from the floor and finish in a good foot position, rather than just landing flat on my feet.

Another move we revisited during this session was the Fan Kick. My ‘coordination issues’ came back into play at this point. I think if I begin to practice these kinds of things at home off the pole on the floor (read Fan Kicks and Shoulder Rolls), it will eventually become more natural and less forced. After a few attempts I got there, not to the level that I would like, but passable.

Hannah then introduced us to the Pole Sit. I am so glad that I had purchased a pair of ‘short shorts’ for this week’s session, as trying to do this in my usual basketball shorts would have been pointless! Even my new shorts were a bit long for what I was trying to do (make skin to pole contact with my upper inner thighs)! The first time I attempted this move I also nearly crushed ‘the family jewels’ in my enthusiasm to get a decent way up the pole! Then the dreaded ‘pole kiss’ happened (my first I’d like to add)! My inner thighs were stinging for the rest of the night, but after that initial shock and the some ‘management of my assets’ I did manage to remove one hand from the pole and lean back to make a nice shape, so I consider it a win.

We went back to our Pole Climbs, after the Pole Sits, this felt like a blessing! I was determined to beat my own personal best of about three climbs from the previous weeks sessions, and with a little verbal encouragement from Dion (cheers for that mate!), I got within touching distance of the very top of the pole (it’s a 4.2m pole in the studio, so a big achievement in my mind) but after that, I was absolutely shattered! Next time I’ll definitely get to the top.

Tying all this together and making it smooth was the next task and I must admit, it’s nowhere near where I would like it to be, but it’s progressing.

Hannah mentioned that next week we will be trying our first attempt at inverting; I. Can. Not. WAIT!

Week Four – Aerial Hoop

I had been looking forward to Hoop all week. The pace is always a little slower than Pole on Mondays at Aerial Attic and generally less crowded, so you can really get into whatever you are doing. But the workout is just as challenging and satisfying, so I went into the studio feeling great and ready for a good session.

Ellie warmed us up as per usual and again, I think I followed it 99% accurately this time.

We then moved onto conditioning on the hoops, including shoulder shrugs, seat, pike and straddle lifts (good form straddle lifts still elude me, but it’s something to improve on at home).

After that, we revisited Man In The Moon transitioning to Amazon, which I really feel comfortable with now (even Ellie commented that it’s becoming very fluid now). I did manage to ‘upgrade’ my Amazon too, by taking my hand off the hoop and using my head/neck to stay in, which I am really pleased with.

It was time to then get back to really nailing Gazelle and Ellie also showed us a few variants for those who have been attending classes longer (Split and Twisted Gazelle). I focused on my basic Gazelle and felt 100% more comfortable this week.

Finally, Ellie showed us the Birds Nest. Watching this filled me with a cold dread! The thought of balancing all my body weight in the small of my back was not appealing, but I was soon to find out that wasn’t event too bad (it stung a little afterwards and I can still feel it a bit today, but nothing to write home about). It was the transition into inversion that really put the fear in me for a moment! Being upside down, with your legs spread wide holding you in the hoop along with all your weight on your hands behind you and then moving your body to a folded position to be able to get into a Double Knee Hang was the scariest moment of hoop I have had so far, I was so sure I was going to fall, but with some spotting and guidance from Ellie I managed it (very untidily in my opinion, but hey, it’s something).

It has been one month since I started this journey. I didn’t know if I’d make it this far to be honest. But I am incredibly glad that I started and have stuck with it. It has been so much fun and I can already see progression in both Pole and Hoop. I know I’ve recommended beginning either pole or hoop if you haven’t already tried it before, but I’m going to say it again, the feeling during and after class for days afterwards is amazing and I already feel stronger and more confident in what my body can achieve if I really put my mind to it. It’s also driven me to get back into training at home, whether it’s practicing what I have learnt in class or more conditioning/bodyweight stuff, which is a huge positive. I’m eating healthier, feeling stronger and really enjoying being active.

Bottom line, don’t wait for the ‘new year, new me’ guilt to kick in, get yourself to your local pole and aerial studio and enrol in a class or two, even if you are a seasoned gym goer, the variety of the classes will make you work in ways you hadn’t thought about before, while having an amazing time supported by great people. I can’t wait for next week’s sessions with Hannah and Ellie!

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