My gym has started to offer pole dance classes , so as its across the road from my office, I decided that it would be nice to try out a new school.
Seeing as the advance lessons are on a Friday night, I decided to join the intermediates class, knowing that I would be able to do a lot of the moves already, but figured it would be fine for concentrating on technique, and using it as a strength builder for my regular Tues class, which I enjoy too much to give up.
As this is the first time it’s been run by this school at my gym, the courses weren’t full so the beginners and intermediates got combined and the teacher had to spend her time between the two groups (not sure this really works - but hey ho).
My initial thoughts when I walked into the gym studio were, that the ceiling is too low, so climbing and hanging upside down isn’t gonna happen.
As the class started, I realised just how much I now know, and had forgotten how much you are yet to learn when you are a new intermediate. You still can’t climb, and have never been upside down (And probably won’t be for at least a few more weeks) - and was concerned that I was going to get bored pretty quickly.
We covered one handed firemen spins, chair (Carousel) into a reverse chair, angel, straight legged angels, eagle, a back spin and sitting up the pole - oh and body rolls.
For a couple of these moves, you need the lower arm to be straight - something that has always caused me pain. I found out that I was holding my hand slightly wrong and by adjusting it just a little, it made the grip so much easier and I lost the pain - which was great. Otherwise the moves were fairly easy and not especially taxing. Whenever I tried practising a few harder moves I wasn’t exactly told off, but I did feel like a naughty school girl.
I did work hard at getting the moves right though, which can only be a good thing and strangely enough I do ache all over today, and lets not talk about the friction burn on my wrist…
Logbook Activity
- Type: General Cardio
- Date: 08/11/2008
- Time: 19:00:00
- Total Time: 1:30:00.00
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August 11th, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
Logbook Activity
- Type: Other
- Date: 08/07/2008
- Time: 19:00:00
- Total Time: 2:00:00.00
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August 7th, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
Logbook Activity
- Type: Other
- Date: 07/24/2008
- Time: 19:30:00
- Total Time: 2:00:00.00
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July 24th, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
After conditioning - which I didn’t skimp on for a change, this week was mostly about learning transition moves.
First up was the X. Where you stand on the bar and, with the ropes behind you, get them to cross into an X-shape, before sliding out backwards with the bum resting over the x-shape of the bars. Manged to get the ropes to cross, but it was extremely difficult to get shoulders through to lean backwards - will work on that next week.
Next - were two drop moves. Sit into birds nest, and star on the bar into hocks.
Sit into birds nest is literally sitting on the bar, hands either side. Take legs into a v-shape, and roll backwards until legs are in the air wrapped around ropes and head is below so in the birds nest position. I was last to try this. Got into position, and then completely bottled it - I was too scared to roll backwards.
Next up, star on the bar - couldn’t get my back in the right position and was sliding out of the star, so didn’t attempt to drop into hocks.
Up next was front balance into forward rolls. From the front balance position, you basically have to play chicken with yourself. Roll forward, keep legs straight for as long as possible. At the very last minute, bring your knees in, place hands behind things and continue to do a forwards roll around the bar - not once, but twice - rolling off on the second forward roll.
I got into front balance positon, but then welched out - yep big old bowl of yellow custard.
Finished with figure head, which looked lovely, but i suffered calf cramps getting into hocks position - so didn’t even try it (I’m sure I could have done this one).
My excuse was that the weather has made my ankles swell over the last couple of days (it has, they are huge) and I was suffering cramps in both my calves by this point - so I just laid out on a crash mat and gave up.
But part of it was the same old problem that I have from week to week of not getting over my fears and just going for it. Not sure how to work on this one, but it’s gotta give.
Logbook Activity
- Type: Strength Training
- Date: 07/23/2008
- Time: 18:30:00
- Total Time: 2:00:00.00
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July 23rd, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
Good class, but I noticed that the six week break from pole a few weeks ago combined with a week of no exercise last week had really affected my core strength. Moves that I previously found easy (reverse grabs and upside down stuff) were much more difficult.
Started with body rolls and a few slide drops which was fun just to get going, then played around with reverse swings and grabs (and i have huge yellow bruises under both arms this week thanks to these ones).
Moved on to the caterpillar - which, after several attempts to get high enough up the pole when kicking to upside down, I eventually managed (mental note - ensure that your t-shirt has not shifted to below the boobage before standing up after this move).
Played around with the phoenix - finally managed to get both hands off - yayyy, but not able to reach behind to grab heel of shoe - booo.
Finished with climbing, and one handed slides down with legs in various poses - owww.
Didn’t have time to work on a routine, but we aren’t going to get away with it - we all have to think of our favourite moves to put together into one routine for next week…
Logbook Activity
- Type: General Cardio
- Date: 07/22/2008
- Time: 19:00:00
- Total Time: 2:00:00.00
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July 22nd, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
Tomorrow is the Dunwich Dynamo, an annual overnight bike ride from London Fields (just around the corner from where I live), to Dunwich (120 miles away on the suffolk coast).
I just want to wish all those doing this ride good luck, hope the weather and your legs hold out for the ride and to send a big shout out to Karl, Tall Friend, and Karl’s doctor friend who are all taking part.
I’ll come and pick you up from the beach on Sunday morning where you’ll all be collapsed in a heap 
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July 18th, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
I had plenty of time to meet friends on Friday night so rather than go two stops on the tube I decided to walk to our destination - despite the wonderful summer weather we are currently suffering. Thankfully my umbrella is huge so I stayed dry.
I know it’s not much but every little bit is better than none at all.
Logbook Activity
- Type: Walk
- Date: 07/11/2008
- Time: 18:30:00
- Total Time: 00:45:00.00
- Distance: 2.1 miles
- Average Pace: 21:25.71/mile
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July 11th, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
After conditioning - we all had to call out a move and then put them into a routine in the order of the moves called out.
Quite hard as they don’t naturally follow each other.
Think the moves were
Moon (I replaced with Gladiator as I was working on the triples bar)
Crucifix
Star
Lamp post
Open angel
front/back angel
Coffin
Also worked on my sit pull ups and again attempted to take my feet off the bar to no avail.
Pleased with my beats - seemed a bit stronger - tried to remember to keep my knees and feet together and it did make a difference.
Skipped bungee trapeze though on Thursday as my neck/shoulder ached and didn’t want to make worse.
Logbook Activity
- Type: Strength Training
- Date: 07/09/2008
- Time: 19:00:00
- Total Time: 1:30:00.00
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July 9th, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
Lovely class - spent running through just a few moves and trying to get them right rather than just rushing through everything we know.
Mainly covered upside down eagle (Arghhh - but it is a little bit loser) and things that follow on from it such as gemini, reverse gemini etc, reverse grabs, a spin from static and a couple of other moves (memory not working I can’t remember which ones).
No bruises - but my knee did ache at the end of class so I need to keep an eye on it if I don’t want to end back up in physio.
Logbook Activity
- Type: General Cardio
- Date: 07/08/2008
- Time: 19:00:00
- Total Time: 2:00:00.00
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July 8th, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
Good class - spent working on conditioning, and practicing lifting my feet off the bar.
Still got the superglue syndrome. Why I can’t take my feet off I don’t know as I know that I can hold my weight with my arms as I do that for beats and other moves. Just a silly phobia.
On the positive though I finally managed some sit pull ups, and my bum actually left the bar - so some progress.
We also all picked a move and then had to put all six moves together into a routine (Can’t remember what they were).
Logbook Activity
- Type: Strength Training
- Date: 07/02/2008
- Time: 19:00:00
- Total Time: 1:30:00.00
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July 2nd, 2008
Von SmallHaussen
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