FINALLY!!

Well after months of practice I FINALLY got my handspring!!!! I never thought I'd get it. I still tried week after week, but I honestly thought that the handspring would just be in the box of failures. I was so excited I literally screamed when I did it! It's definitely gotten my off my pole plateau that I've been on over the past month or so. It felt incredibly easy once I did it though. I still can't get over that I can do it now! (The video is after I'd done it about a good 6 times or so just to make sure it wasn't luck).

Watching the likes of Zoraya and Jennyne do it so effortlessly made me want to have it so solid that I can do it with hardly any kick and just chill vertical for as long as I want. So my next goal is to get my handspring controlled and hopefully be able to straddle and go into pencil and back again without shaking like a leaf trying to stay up. This has definitely given me new inspiration to push myself that much harder at moves I never thought I'd get.

It just sucks that most of the moves I want are flexibility ones that I unfortunately lack the bendy ability needed. I'm going to this contortion class that is being held by this awesome contortionist, Mim. I hope she just doesn't look at me and say something like "maybe you should just focus on strength moves". Who knows, she might have some amazing stretching exercises that will make me as flexible as Felix!! That would be awesome. I'll have to update and see how the flexibility is going...hopefully I've improved!

Yoga+Pole=Hard work!

So every Saturday morning, Karry, Sarah and I all go to Yin yoga; which is a type of yoga done in 30C degree temperature. Its so good since I have horrible hips which always pop out (sounds awful but it's not too bad). I swear though today the room was way hotter; it's the first time I've ever sweated that much in there! Definitely worth going because I always feel so much more relaxed afterwards.


Once we're done with yoga we all go to a Buddhist cafe which is AMAZING! Everything there is sooo good and healthy. Even though I got a sweet tooth today and ordered an iced chocolate, a truffle and a friand haha. After we eat we go to pole and do just over an hour practicing and conditioning. It's a good time to go since there aren't other students there so we can just have the pick of the poles and do moves that we've been making up. It's always inspiring to think of new combos and totally new moves. 

Yogini

Right now I'm just trying to work on coming up from a layback and jumping straight into an embrace hold on a spinner pole. Proving a bit difficult right now to try and master the fluidity of it though. I have although improved on some other moves that have been crazy difficult for me. I am pretty much over the excruciating pain of the Yogini! Still hurts though but definitely no where close to how bad it used to be (thank god). Also I've been working on my twisted grip handspring which I'm getting so much stronger in. I can't quite get the handspring up yet but I'm able to hold it out with stag legs without jumping for about 5 seconds...which doesn't seem a lot but, to me it's incredible! I still need to work on my Aysha because for some reason my legs don't want to go parallel with the ground! I always things they're out straight forward...but no the're just going straight up into a straight edge straddle. If only it was easy to see yourself in the mirror doing that move. I've also got to work on breathing through my poses. I find I hold my breathe a ridiculous amount when I'm doing a move, so I come out of it red faced and huffing and puffing. Can't wait for class again on Monday and keep pushing myself. Next on the list for class in working on the splits (again). They are my nemesis! But I swear by July I will have them!!

The first entry!

Well I've decided that this would be an awesome place to discuss my current obsession which is pole dancing! It's taken over my life for the past year and I couldn't be happier. I'm sure others who dance as well can totally agree at how addictive it is. 


I want this blog to be about moves that I'm working on, achievements I'm making, what inspires me, and things that I'm struggling with. It'll help me look back as well and see where I've come from and how I can grow. 

NZAPP 2011

Currently I'm working towards the NZAPP (New Zealand Amateur Pole Performer) competition which is in July. I still have a few months but I want to get all the practice in I can since I know there will be some wicked routines this year! I entered last year in the intermediate category but didn't pass my heat. I wasn't highly disappointed because it was so much fun, but I definitely want to make it to the finals this year (and hopefully win!) After competing in November for the New Zealand Pole Championship (NZPC) and winning in the pairs division with my incredible pole partner Sarah, I definitely have a taste for the competition. 

Sarah & I in our winning pairs routine for NZPC '11

One of the things I'm debating on is the category to enter into when the time comes. When I was at the NZPC the competitors were really impressive! Those entering the beginner/intermediate were doing moves I hadn't even attempted yet! It was very intimidating. I'm sure a lot of them will try to compete in NZAPP this year and I definitely want to be ready. I'm currently going about 4 times a week to my studio, Altitude Pole. My instructors are absolutely amazing and what they do and I honestly would be stuck without them. I'm trying super hard to push myself and test the limits of my body.


Right now I want to work on my flexibility because currently it sucks...which is an understatement. I have a bad problem with my hips popping out when I do straddles, so I'm trying to figure out a way around that. As you can imagine things like a jade, or pole splits or an allegra would look horrible without good flexibility. I will update how well my splits are going on each entry and hopefully there's some improvement! Fingers crossed x