I wasn't planning on taking class tonight, but Pheon convinced me. some prep work had to go into this though. a trip to old navy and american apparel to get bra/top and high waisted booty shorts (awesome!!!). borrowed Suzanne's stilettos from her NYPD locker and felt like a youngster again, trying to remember how to work a combination lock. good thing I have a good memory. all this took place after I left work and spontaneously got my ears pierced. yeppers.
9pm beginners climb and spin w. Anna and I believe we danced to 'Walk Away" by Christina Aguilera. in the video, the routine starts, but in class, we didn't start the routine until after she finished her speaking intro. came out fine either way and playing with my iMovie for the first time was fun. finally, I got to rotate the video!! :)
we worked a lot on the straddle spin, which this blog's title is all about. stabilizing your core, so your body stays straight in a sitting position, making sure that your legs are straight and up. my legs definitely needed some work keeping straight (both at the same time, so difficult for me) and in alignment with my hips. like your sitting on the floor in a straddle. it's hard to get your legs up there, but I'll keep working on it!
I rushed through that backwards step back move b/c of all the momentum from the first swing around, which I also need to control, so that's why I look so awkward for a moment. then I hip circle it out for a long time b/c I couldn't remember what came next in the routine. Pheon told me "fan kick" and I proceeded to do so, to my liking I might add :) DEFINITELY need to work on getting my legs off the pole during those peddle descents and not keep the pole in my inner thighs. gotta work on that arm strength.
either way, great class with Anna. she really focused on each of us in class (4) and made sure that she gave us feedback. check out the video and I'll be back soon with another blog.
5.10.2010
"are you okay?"
booty camp'd it out this evening (7:30-8:30). a little step aerobics, with some abs, triceps and biceps thrown in the mix. great stretching and I officially met Jenny, who is tiny and amazing!
walking out of advanced climb & spin (9-10), I didn't feel the same way. Lauren was sick, so Brynlyn filled in and chose an appropriate ghetto song for the routine this evening- "Freaky Gurl" by Gucci Man, featuring Ludacris & Lil' Kim. holla!
there were 7 people in class and some of them had long legs! had to stagger a few spins, b/c I got kicked at one point. we had to go in two groups, which doesn't allow you tons of time on the pole and I def sat out every other time, while people got more time on the pole. it happens. the routine was great, a little quick in the beginning and in the middle for a hot second, but awesome.
I just felt... defeated. there's no better word. I could do the moves for the most part, but once Brynlyn stepped away and watched us, I was done for. 3 out of 4 run-throughs at the end of class, I bit the first part and jumped back in, not concentrating on my face or feeling the music, but rather trying to get my routine in shape and keep up. I think I did well on my inner thigh spin though, but need to work on transitioning my hands from that spin directly into a reverse body spiral with straight legs, which I've never tried before. that's gonna be something to work on in open pole. I know I just have to take my time with it. but it sucked tonight. I couldn't climb to save my life. not even one level, I kept slipping, even after I rubbed down the pole with alcohol and I didn't have any lotion on all day. if there was a bear sitting underneath my pole with his mouth open, I'd be dead right now.
and it's so damn frustrating. no really, I don't think you understand. if you know me, you probably know that when something bothers me, I mean really bothers me, I get all quiet and my eyes fill with tears. this is dancing and it's fun and I just felt like I sucked at it tonight. and to top it off, Brynlyn could tell I was getting increasingly annoyed with myself, after I just gave up in the middle of two run-throughs.
I know it's only one class and Thursday is going to be better and I have new moves to practice at open pole with Lauren on Sunday, but it still bothers me. I DID however once get to the top of the pole, swung myself to the side, opened my legs in a straddle and came down to the floor in a split. THAT was cool.
walking out of advanced climb & spin (9-10), I didn't feel the same way. Lauren was sick, so Brynlyn filled in and chose an appropriate ghetto song for the routine this evening- "Freaky Gurl" by Gucci Man, featuring Ludacris & Lil' Kim. holla!
there were 7 people in class and some of them had long legs! had to stagger a few spins, b/c I got kicked at one point. we had to go in two groups, which doesn't allow you tons of time on the pole and I def sat out every other time, while people got more time on the pole. it happens. the routine was great, a little quick in the beginning and in the middle for a hot second, but awesome.
I just felt... defeated. there's no better word. I could do the moves for the most part, but once Brynlyn stepped away and watched us, I was done for. 3 out of 4 run-throughs at the end of class, I bit the first part and jumped back in, not concentrating on my face or feeling the music, but rather trying to get my routine in shape and keep up. I think I did well on my inner thigh spin though, but need to work on transitioning my hands from that spin directly into a reverse body spiral with straight legs, which I've never tried before. that's gonna be something to work on in open pole. I know I just have to take my time with it. but it sucked tonight. I couldn't climb to save my life. not even one level, I kept slipping, even after I rubbed down the pole with alcohol and I didn't have any lotion on all day. if there was a bear sitting underneath my pole with his mouth open, I'd be dead right now.
and it's so damn frustrating. no really, I don't think you understand. if you know me, you probably know that when something bothers me, I mean really bothers me, I get all quiet and my eyes fill with tears. this is dancing and it's fun and I just felt like I sucked at it tonight. and to top it off, Brynlyn could tell I was getting increasingly annoyed with myself, after I just gave up in the middle of two run-throughs.
I know it's only one class and Thursday is going to be better and I have new moves to practice at open pole with Lauren on Sunday, but it still bothers me. I DID however once get to the top of the pole, swung myself to the side, opened my legs in a straddle and came down to the floor in a split. THAT was cool.
5.07.2010
this just in: chrome stiletto draws blood
beginners climb and spin with Brynlyn last night, Thursday 5.6.10. we danced to "Am I the One" by Beth Hart. it was a slow jam, very seductive, slow, sexy. we were told to give a lot of attitude and you know I didn't disappoint (in my humble opinion).
we worked on controlling our full circle around the pole, keeping our core tight and straight, making sure that if using two hands, we kept a baseball grip, if with one hand, we did something fun with it. remembering to stay straight definitely helped me to control my up/down motion of stepping around the pole without losing control at the end.
that motion took us straight into a reverse body spiral, which I had never tried before. Lauren had taught me how to do a regular body spiral in one advanced class and I had a hard time keeping my bicep grip and body next to the pole. in the reverse body spiral, you need to readjust your hands, so your forearm/elbow grip allows your elbow to line up with your shoulder. once I tried it a few times (and failed) I got the hand of having your elbow sort of wrapped in front of the pole, in a position where your forearm is right against the pole tightly. I like that grip and unlike the bicep grip, it makes you keep your torso away from the pole for an amount of time while your doing your reverse body spiral. there's space between the pole and your side. gotta get that core tight. all the while, keeping one lef bent in front of you throughout the entire spin. this I had a problem with. it wanted to go behind me like a reverse hook. the body spiral (forward/reverse) will be practiced at my next open pole :)
Brynlyn gave us two types of climbs and she told me to do the second one. YES! I'm improving! it was a lot of fun too. on the right side- basic climb with the right foot behind the pole, lift yourself up, sort os dragging or extending your straight left leg around to the front of the pole. reminds me of a running climb, where you are basically climbing the pole with your back leg only and using that momentum from the straight leg to keep going up. once my legs are around the pole, you do a little booty swing from side to side, then take the climb to the second level, booty swing and descend the pole in a stag descent (one leg bent, one straight). where I found it was hard for me, was after the booty swing b/c it was then that I had to climb again, not having really any momentum to take the climb to the second level. so it felt like I was using my arms a lot to get there. after some practice I felt better with it, so it all comes in time.
I keep forgetting that I've only been at this just past a month and the instructors are telling me that I picked up climbing very quickly. I love it :) got some bruises back on my inside/back thighs and I must have sliced myself with my stiletto on the side of my left knee b/c I have two parallel scratches (that drew blood). it's getting dangerous, this pole dancing.
we worked on controlling our full circle around the pole, keeping our core tight and straight, making sure that if using two hands, we kept a baseball grip, if with one hand, we did something fun with it. remembering to stay straight definitely helped me to control my up/down motion of stepping around the pole without losing control at the end.
that motion took us straight into a reverse body spiral, which I had never tried before. Lauren had taught me how to do a regular body spiral in one advanced class and I had a hard time keeping my bicep grip and body next to the pole. in the reverse body spiral, you need to readjust your hands, so your forearm/elbow grip allows your elbow to line up with your shoulder. once I tried it a few times (and failed) I got the hand of having your elbow sort of wrapped in front of the pole, in a position where your forearm is right against the pole tightly. I like that grip and unlike the bicep grip, it makes you keep your torso away from the pole for an amount of time while your doing your reverse body spiral. there's space between the pole and your side. gotta get that core tight. all the while, keeping one lef bent in front of you throughout the entire spin. this I had a problem with. it wanted to go behind me like a reverse hook. the body spiral (forward/reverse) will be practiced at my next open pole :)
Brynlyn gave us two types of climbs and she told me to do the second one. YES! I'm improving! it was a lot of fun too. on the right side- basic climb with the right foot behind the pole, lift yourself up, sort os dragging or extending your straight left leg around to the front of the pole. reminds me of a running climb, where you are basically climbing the pole with your back leg only and using that momentum from the straight leg to keep going up. once my legs are around the pole, you do a little booty swing from side to side, then take the climb to the second level, booty swing and descend the pole in a stag descent (one leg bent, one straight). where I found it was hard for me, was after the booty swing b/c it was then that I had to climb again, not having really any momentum to take the climb to the second level. so it felt like I was using my arms a lot to get there. after some practice I felt better with it, so it all comes in time.
I keep forgetting that I've only been at this just past a month and the instructors are telling me that I picked up climbing very quickly. I love it :) got some bruises back on my inside/back thighs and I must have sliced myself with my stiletto on the side of my left knee b/c I have two parallel scratches (that drew blood). it's getting dangerous, this pole dancing.
5.06.2010
"... or I could fall!"
I experience my first open pole class today at NYPD w/ Lauren and lucky me! I was the only one signed up! a one on one experience without the price tag, exactly what I needed.
last night I wrote a comprehensive list of what I wanted to work on during today's open hour: knee hook spin (forward and reverse), baseball grip hip circle (meatball) from standing position and the floor, hitch kick (not so great at that), straight leg descent (chest into the pole, legs off), stag descent, climbing and holding my body at the side of the pole (definitely need to work on my arm strength for this), inner thigh spin. practicing each of these moves a few times on both the right and left sides took the entire hour, with a few minutes over to record some of the hilarity that ensued (it's a blooper reel).
spending that time with Lauren really gave me insight as to body positioning and things I had to work on. and she reminded me that taking some time off a move help clears the mind, so when I return to it, I have a better understanding from the get-go of what to do. like with the knee hook spins- I really need to remember to drop my torso and not hold myself up because it hinders my legs from spinning completely to the ground. in the video you can see that I bite the forward knee hook spin both times and end up dropping to the ground. oh so graceful, I know :)
I bought an open pole package, so my next one is scheduled for Sunday 5.16, which will give me some time to get some other classes in and return to the pole with a clear mind of how to set-up each movement. my calluses from rowing on my palms came back and I have some pole burn on my wrists, but all is good. my body is totally sore, but I'll be back tomorrow for beginners climb & spin w/ Brynlyn at 8 and stretch class at 9.
last night I wrote a comprehensive list of what I wanted to work on during today's open hour: knee hook spin (forward and reverse), baseball grip hip circle (meatball) from standing position and the floor, hitch kick (not so great at that), straight leg descent (chest into the pole, legs off), stag descent, climbing and holding my body at the side of the pole (definitely need to work on my arm strength for this), inner thigh spin. practicing each of these moves a few times on both the right and left sides took the entire hour, with a few minutes over to record some of the hilarity that ensued (it's a blooper reel).
spending that time with Lauren really gave me insight as to body positioning and things I had to work on. and she reminded me that taking some time off a move help clears the mind, so when I return to it, I have a better understanding from the get-go of what to do. like with the knee hook spins- I really need to remember to drop my torso and not hold myself up because it hinders my legs from spinning completely to the ground. in the video you can see that I bite the forward knee hook spin both times and end up dropping to the ground. oh so graceful, I know :)
I bought an open pole package, so my next one is scheduled for Sunday 5.16, which will give me some time to get some other classes in and return to the pole with a clear mind of how to set-up each movement. my calluses from rowing on my palms came back and I have some pole burn on my wrists, but all is good. my body is totally sore, but I'll be back tomorrow for beginners climb & spin w/ Brynlyn at 8 and stretch class at 9.
5.04.2010
a triumphant (?) return
last Monday was my last pole class in my package and last Thursday was the first in my FIT package. FIT class examples are stretch & booty camp. anywho, I waited for the May newsletter which had specials in it and decided just to go with the 20 climb and spin, which I can use over 90 days. they'll definitely be gone in a little over a month though. I just couldn't convince myself tha 30 classes (18 c&s and 12 fit) could be done in the month of May for me- I'll be gone two weekends and have some work weekday events that cannot be missed.
I made my return to the studio today, Tuesday and damn, Tuesday classes are energized! this is how it went down...
6-7 pm: booty camp w/Gabrielle
- stretching, abs, legs, arms, kill me, biceps, right arm actually shaking uncontrollably, pull up your limp lower half on the pole, forearms, sweating, not remembering to breathe
- this kicked my ass and was fantastic after all was said and done
8-9 pm: beginners climb & spin w/Bonnie
{few different song choices throughout the routine}
- stretching, tons of ab work TONS!, strength work with biceps curling our body into a ball and holding our body up, hips in front of the pole
- reverse knee hook spin (the opposite of what Brynlyn taught me last week) - you start off in the same position, but fall backwards, like you're sitting in a chair, while bending your outside leg and straightening your hooked leg. THIS is why I have pole burn on the back of my knees and thighs. I apparently had a death grip on my hooked knee and top hand, so I wouldn't continue to spin down the pole, instead stopping half a foot from the floor and stuck there. over and over again. even in the routine I had trouble getting into position for the spin, always coming out of the illusion badly with my foot too close to the pole to get into proper position. something to work on.
- worked on a climb with a stag descent, one knee bent, the other straight sliding down the pole. we only did this once and for the rest of the class kept doing the routine minus the climb. to the point where I was tired to even get any of my footing correct.
- definitely a good class with 4 other people, but it was a mess for me personally.
tomorrow 5.5 I scheduled open pole w/Lauren at 7pm. open pole is where students can come in, have their own pole and work on whatever they want to work on- spins, climbs, a routine, etc. with an instructor watching and giving their input. just some time for you to help conquer the pole. and so far I'm the only person reserved, so I'm really looking forward to just working on my spins, climbing and descents. I've learned a lot so far and just want to practice each a few times with an instructor to give me tips on how I can improve. and I definitely want to work on my running climb and possibly a spinning climb.
that's all for now, super tired and we'll see if I have any bruises from today's spin in the am :)
I made my return to the studio today, Tuesday and damn, Tuesday classes are energized! this is how it went down...
6-7 pm: booty camp w/Gabrielle
- stretching, abs, legs, arms, kill me, biceps, right arm actually shaking uncontrollably, pull up your limp lower half on the pole, forearms, sweating, not remembering to breathe
- this kicked my ass and was fantastic after all was said and done
8-9 pm: beginners climb & spin w/Bonnie
{few different song choices throughout the routine}
- stretching, tons of ab work TONS!, strength work with biceps curling our body into a ball and holding our body up, hips in front of the pole
- reverse knee hook spin (the opposite of what Brynlyn taught me last week) - you start off in the same position, but fall backwards, like you're sitting in a chair, while bending your outside leg and straightening your hooked leg. THIS is why I have pole burn on the back of my knees and thighs. I apparently had a death grip on my hooked knee and top hand, so I wouldn't continue to spin down the pole, instead stopping half a foot from the floor and stuck there. over and over again. even in the routine I had trouble getting into position for the spin, always coming out of the illusion badly with my foot too close to the pole to get into proper position. something to work on.
- worked on a climb with a stag descent, one knee bent, the other straight sliding down the pole. we only did this once and for the rest of the class kept doing the routine minus the climb. to the point where I was tired to even get any of my footing correct.
- definitely a good class with 4 other people, but it was a mess for me personally.
tomorrow 5.5 I scheduled open pole w/Lauren at 7pm. open pole is where students can come in, have their own pole and work on whatever they want to work on- spins, climbs, a routine, etc. with an instructor watching and giving their input. just some time for you to help conquer the pole. and so far I'm the only person reserved, so I'm really looking forward to just working on my spins, climbing and descents. I've learned a lot so far and just want to practice each a few times with an instructor to give me tips on how I can improve. and I definitely want to work on my running climb and possibly a spinning climb.
that's all for now, super tired and we'll see if I have any bruises from today's spin in the am :)
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