My Pole Dancing Diary!

I thought that when I signed up for this course it would really help, and now I know it definitely will!

We started off with using hand grips... 8 grips in front of your hips, 8 to the side, 8 with arms out at shoulder level, 8 straight out in front then starting again in front of the hips. We did it 3 or 4 times, the last time double speed!

Nex we did sit-ups and push ups with a number of exercises fo core strength. Again it was 15 sit ups, 16 elbows to knees (legs cycling), 15 counts balancing on yout bum in a v shape, 15 counts balancing in the push up position, 8 wide arm push ups, 8 shoulder width hands push ups. We did that about 4 times... very very painful

Next we used weights...8 lifts, 3 different starting positions... we did the sequence 3 times. Then it was 3 lots of squats holding the weights!

I have never been so glad to move onto pole conditioning in my life

We did an hour of conditioning, which ranged from pull ups to spins and holds. I really surprised myself being able to hold myself in the swan hold (legs in a V shape held off the ground with one arm up the top of the pole, the other at waist height) and then move to a position where I have the same arm grip but my legs are in a v shape out front... I moved from one to the other without touching the floor

We finished off with 30 minutes stretching which was a welcome relief after working hard

The lesson was friday night and I am still aching a little today!! And I have my level 3 lesson tonight! Hopefully doing these 2 at the same time means I'll be perfect and able to move on in 6 weeks

Last night was the second level 3 workshop! We went through the stuff we had been covering in level three, got taught a level 4 move called the V sit... you sit on the pole, right arm, bent, grabbing the pole in front of you, the left hand grabs the pole under your bum, you lean back a little, extend legs so they are straight and raise them so the body is in a V shape, then open legs into a V shape!! It was rather hard but I managed it! Not properly as its a new move but I managed to release my legs into a small V shape

I also managed to do the eagle  I know exactly what I am doing wrong so I can work on it! I am now confident thatr I will ba able to move on after my September courses

And now I have no lessons for 3 week  I will have to try and book my level 3 course in september to go along with pole addicts but I am not sure when i will be able to! I am hoping it doesn't get sold out!!

I had the first lesson of level 3 workshop last thursday It was really good and I enjoyed it so much! I can't understand why I enjoyed it a bit more than usual, I just did I managed to do all my moves ok, except the problems move typically

And on saturday my mate came to visit. She helped me with the eagle and laughed because I was getting into position and immediately bouncing out But I practiced it a fair few times and managed to do it and hold it ok! It was quite strange to stare at the tv upside down though

The second and last lesson of the workshop is this week, and then I have 2 weeks before Pole Addicts start (did I mention its half hour od weights, one hour of pole strengthening exercises using the pole and half an hour of stretching?? ) I shall be booking my next course after thursday too, probably a level 3 one but I am not really too sure right now! I would prefer to move onto level 4 but as the saying goes you can't run before you can walk!!

I just had a little freestylee dance around my X Pole to Lady Gaga's Paparazzi! It was a lot of fun, even if I am crap at freestyle and choreography!! I always forget moves, or there's not enough room to do the moves I remember

But I did manage to do my hangback with straight legs...THIS!! (Let me know if the link doesn't work for you as its facebook, and I'll change it ) I didn't stay up too long but I still did it, and even managed to roll up without pushing myself with a hand under my bum

This weekend my friend from school who does pole dancing is visiting.... should be soooo much fun

So I had my last level 3.4 technique lesson today It was good but I really need to learn how to freestyle! We had a few minutes to do what ever we wanted but my mind went blank

I did learn what I am doing wrong with my eagle though I need a weight on my right foot to keep it down and my hips up (look here, 6th row down, middle pic )

I am now completely shattered and am going to veg out for the moment! I am looking forward to the level 3 workshop on wednesday

Oooh its been a while! I keep meaning to update but the trouble in work meant I kept forgetting typical me!

anyway, level 3/4 technique has been great! My last lesson is this week. I am going to be a bit sad to see it end as we don't have any more proper courses til september! I do have a 2 week workshop starting next week!

So level3/4... I have been practicing all the moves I learnt in level 3, and a few more I have done a few more advanced things as well but because there aren't any level 4 people in the class we couldn't do level 4 stuff I did do the hangback (sit on pole, extend one leg, other crossed, and lean back to hang upside down) with 2 straight legs in one lesson! that was very hard!

I will hopefully be able to move onto level 4 after the workshop, if not, level 3 again but I definitely won't need to do it again after that! But I am in no real hurry so I don't really mind

Especially as I have signed up to another course in september called Pole Addict! It teaches other moves and short routines! This course is open to levels 2 and up so I think its one I could do over and over, each time learning different things

Last night was my last lesson of level 3 It was good though

Last week we learnt the very last part of the routine, practiced everything, especially the Eagle! Thats the only thing I am still struggling with, but I think it is only because we learnt that last. If we'd had it earlier in the course I think I would have been ok with it

Lesson 6 is usually demo day... all the students demo the routine and then the teacher does a demo for us... unfortunately Nat (or teacher) had injured herself so couldn't demo We ran out of time too!

We did a lot of practice last night, then those of us taking level 3 for the first time did a group demo, and those doing it for the second or third time did a solo demo...they all dressed up too, it was great! One girl wore a corset... I am soooo doing that next time

Anyhoo I tried to book the next level 3 class at the weekend but it was fully booked I am actually quite pleased about it because I spoke to Nat last night and she said I am advanced enough to take the level 3/4 technique class! She said do that and then take her level 4 class which is a rocky routine, which she thinks is a bit harder than the other level 4s, probably due to the beat and the speed!

So I shall try to book the level 3/4 technique class tonight. It starts next Saturday so not long to wait its a 4 week course because the school has a summer break. This class doesn't have a routine either (not at the moment, I think they are thinking of introducing one though ) its just moves! I want to go to a few practice session too, so in a few weeks hopefully I'll be ready for level 4

So we had the 4th lesson last night. Usually we learn the last part of the routine in this lesson but because they feel that level 3 is a big step up from level 2 they like us to do the course again before progressing. She seemed to think we'd take it another 2 times after this but I don't feel I need to. I think once more will benefit me but twice would be holding me back a little. It might sound big headed but I'm not doing too badly. In fact I am really holding my own and am better than some of those who have already done level 3 before! I know I am not brilliant, there's a lot to learn but I don't see the point in doing it twice more when I know I will be ready to move on well before they have finished Maybe I'll talk to the teacher next week to see what she says. The next level 3 course has no choreography as its only 4 weeks so there will be no demo at the end... although she did mention a level 3/4 course so maybe she'll let me move onto that after it

Anyhoo back to last night. We did a lot of practice of things we had already learnt and the new move, the eagle. I think I'll have this one down ok by the end of the course too We learnt most of the choreography and saw the rest, it is going to look great by the time its finished!

Oooh I had a thought, maybe I can practice the routine at home and by the end of the 4 week course I'll have it all down and she'll let me move on?! We'll see

Maybe I'll have a bit of a practice tonight, My pole will have to come down tonight too, as we have a visitor coming on Thursday!

In lesson 3 we did a few spins and worked on the inverts we have been practicing from the start! Mine are coming along quite nicely, I just need to remember to keep my legs straight and keep my thighs squeezed on the pole!

The spins were a pole climb spin... climbing on the pole, flinging a leg around and spinning with both legs straight and against the pole, another was called the flying step... flinging one leg across the body and the around the pole, front leg straight and back bent, both parallel with the floor, and the last was a sunwheel going into lotus position... legs out front and back both, bent, parallel with the floor then the back one straightens and comes around the front so you end up sitting! I may have to post a few more pictures as my descriptions don't do it justice!

So next week we learn the last few moves of the routine, one is an invert called the eagle.... (jumping upside down with legs in a V shape parallel to the floor and holding like that) which I actually had a little go of last night and I seemed to do it ok! I was probably holding the pole all wrong but at least I know I can get myself in that position for however short a time it was! I am looking forward to trying it properly next week

My muscles are still aching from Monday nights lesson and I have some huge bruises from then too!

I guess that means I am having a good workout I must make sure I have a practice tomorrow after work too