I made a grievous mistake today.
I did legs day.
I didn't know it would be a mistake, in fact, looking at the squat racks it looked like a positively great idea - and thus it remained to be until about 4 sets in.
Adding the lunges and the barbell hip thrusts was probably unnecessary, but since I was already shaking and sore I didn't see how it would cause any harm...
The thing is, I KNOW about doing legs day after a pole day. Admittedly, doing a legs day followed by a pole day is far sorer, but the principle applies either way round.
I started the session by doing a pull-up.....well, 3/4 of a pull-up :D Given my goals Sunday before last I am pretty pleased about that! (The One With The Burpees).
Anyway, the legs session went as all legs sessions do - I love legs day but given my legs are currently black and blue from poling it wasn't best advised!
Poling....ah yes, I've been poling ;)
I did legs day.
I didn't know it would be a mistake, in fact, looking at the squat racks it looked like a positively great idea - and thus it remained to be until about 4 sets in.
Adding the lunges and the barbell hip thrusts was probably unnecessary, but since I was already shaking and sore I didn't see how it would cause any harm...
The thing is, I KNOW about doing legs day after a pole day. Admittedly, doing a legs day followed by a pole day is far sorer, but the principle applies either way round.
I started the session by doing a pull-up.....well, 3/4 of a pull-up :D Given my goals Sunday before last I am pretty pleased about that! (The One With The Burpees).
Anyway, the legs session went as all legs sessions do - I love legs day but given my legs are currently black and blue from poling it wasn't best advised!
Poling....ah yes, I've been poling ;)
This week started with a pull-up on the pole, which is something I've never been able to do! In fact, I did 1 and A HALF pull-ups - get me ;)
I've been building strength steadily and until last night I didn't quite realise how much stronger I had become from even a few weeks ago. I like to think it's the upper gym work, extra pole practice and increased calories that have attributed to the jump in strength.
Either way, I'm pleased as punch!
Well, as I was saying, the night got off on a good foot (as it were). I've been trying to get the "spin with no name" (aka the "post-it" spin, or "Robyn's spin") constantly for the past 5 weeks. I'm not ready to let it get me, but at the same time, I'm definitely not closer to getting it!
Karen asked what we were wanting to practise and of course, the spin with no name had to get a mention in there! Tom's been practising his flat-line scorpio, which is looking pretty good these days and I've been working on the pike (aka the hip-hold).
I've been building strength steadily and until last night I didn't quite realise how much stronger I had become from even a few weeks ago. I like to think it's the upper gym work, extra pole practice and increased calories that have attributed to the jump in strength.
Either way, I'm pleased as punch!
Well, as I was saying, the night got off on a good foot (as it were). I've been trying to get the "spin with no name" (aka the "post-it" spin, or "Robyn's spin") constantly for the past 5 weeks. I'm not ready to let it get me, but at the same time, I'm definitely not closer to getting it!
Karen asked what we were wanting to practise and of course, the spin with no name had to get a mention in there! Tom's been practising his flat-line scorpio, which is looking pretty good these days and I've been working on the pike (aka the hip-hold).
A flat line scorpio (from poleexercise.com)
Then the glint came into Karen's eyes. I was naturally immediately suspicious, thinking that more arm-pit holds would be required from the lesson. That was only the first thing Karen had lined up. Upon being asked if we'd like to do something "amazing" I wasn't sure whether to be scared or excited.
The move is known as "Superman" and I felt like a million pounds doing it! Tom decided that he wanted to start working on his superman, given that it's a tricky move and can take a bit of practise I thought that was fair, however; watching our instructors show us how to do it I a) knew I was going to get roped into this and b) was very nervous about attempting it!
Tom managed to get a fairly good show of Superman on his first go, with some support - it looked incredibly hard. Like, the sort of hard I'd struggle with.
Then it was my go. There's no use protesting that it wasn't my idea, I just get the "look", so I got on with it.
Up into a knee hook and then......
"move your hips forward and drop the bottom arm Michelle"
I had NO idea how to do that, but Karen supported some of my weight as I worked it out and then all of a sudden it happened - I was in the pose.
I like to think of it like a ribbon unraveling onto the pole - you're in a knee hook and then your body sort of, unravels and in doing so turns around.
It felt AMAZING - especially when I got an "oh my God that is fantastic, that's amazing, well done!" from Karen - you KNOW you've done well when you get that sort of praise from Karen, which makes it worth working for it!
I did it another 5 or so times, only once forgetting how to actually move into it (as soon as the camera came out of course!). As someone said to me last night, the pinch as you move into it really does take some getting used to and the bruises are rather spectacular from doing it. But it's worth it, it's always worth it!
At the end of the lesson I was told I'd need to get a photo of the superman, and I am SO glad I did. Ok, so I *might* have fallen off of the pole at the end of the move having tripped over my feet whilst dismounting. And maybe ending up at your instructor's feet on your back with your feet up in the air isn't exactly the most graceful way of dismounting, but hey, I'll take it - we all know drop and roll works (thank goodness for the martial arts training is all I'll say :p).
Lucky though I wasn't hurt even a little bit (aside from my VERY damaged pride), no one got it on tape (thanks for laughing and asking if they had though Amy :p) and I got THIS photo from it.
Tom managed to get a fairly good show of Superman on his first go, with some support - it looked incredibly hard. Like, the sort of hard I'd struggle with.
Then it was my go. There's no use protesting that it wasn't my idea, I just get the "look", so I got on with it.
Up into a knee hook and then......
"move your hips forward and drop the bottom arm Michelle"
I had NO idea how to do that, but Karen supported some of my weight as I worked it out and then all of a sudden it happened - I was in the pose.
I like to think of it like a ribbon unraveling onto the pole - you're in a knee hook and then your body sort of, unravels and in doing so turns around.
It felt AMAZING - especially when I got an "oh my God that is fantastic, that's amazing, well done!" from Karen - you KNOW you've done well when you get that sort of praise from Karen, which makes it worth working for it!
I did it another 5 or so times, only once forgetting how to actually move into it (as soon as the camera came out of course!). As someone said to me last night, the pinch as you move into it really does take some getting used to and the bruises are rather spectacular from doing it. But it's worth it, it's always worth it!
At the end of the lesson I was told I'd need to get a photo of the superman, and I am SO glad I did. Ok, so I *might* have fallen off of the pole at the end of the move having tripped over my feet whilst dismounting. And maybe ending up at your instructor's feet on your back with your feet up in the air isn't exactly the most graceful way of dismounting, but hey, I'll take it - we all know drop and roll works (thank goodness for the martial arts training is all I'll say :p).
Lucky though I wasn't hurt even a little bit (aside from my VERY damaged pride), no one got it on tape (thanks for laughing and asking if they had though Amy :p) and I got THIS photo from it.
I'm still buzzing about it.
It does go to show that you can constantly surprise yourself - when I stepped up to that pole I honestly did not think I'd be able to pull this move off. I thought I had months, if not years of work to put into it - I certainly wasn't expecting to be able to put myself into the pose first time, let alone hold it.
It does show though, that you should NEVER underestimate yourself. Apparently you're capable of things you never thought you'd be able to pull off - remember that.
As I got reminded by Tom though, people have very different strengths. Apparently a basic spin is something I'll need to work on - which both Amy (one of our pole buddies) and Tom found very amusing and given I was being a bit bossy with the both of them (DON'T GIVE UP CMON YOU'VE GOT THIS apparently doesn't go down too well sometimes...) I happen to feel they felt some satisfaction in instructing me in how to do a basic spin and then seeing me fail quite hard.
Additionally, a corkscrew spin......EVIL. I cannot get my bum in front of the pole for love nor money....
It does go to show that you can constantly surprise yourself - when I stepped up to that pole I honestly did not think I'd be able to pull this move off. I thought I had months, if not years of work to put into it - I certainly wasn't expecting to be able to put myself into the pose first time, let alone hold it.
It does show though, that you should NEVER underestimate yourself. Apparently you're capable of things you never thought you'd be able to pull off - remember that.
As I got reminded by Tom though, people have very different strengths. Apparently a basic spin is something I'll need to work on - which both Amy (one of our pole buddies) and Tom found very amusing and given I was being a bit bossy with the both of them (DON'T GIVE UP CMON YOU'VE GOT THIS apparently doesn't go down too well sometimes...) I happen to feel they felt some satisfaction in instructing me in how to do a basic spin and then seeing me fail quite hard.
Additionally, a corkscrew spin......EVIL. I cannot get my bum in front of the pole for love nor money....
Looks so simple.....
I did request another armpit hold - they don't actually seem to hurt too much and they look pretty good, so Karen decided to give me this one. I've no idea what it's called but if you get it wrong IT HURTS LIKE HELL.
My first attempt I managed to wrap my elbow and forearm round the pole, which, when given the weight of my body burned....it burned like it was on fire and led to me (not) gracefully collapsing into a swearing mass at the bottom of the pole.
Still, second go....
Presenting armpit hold #2 :D
I did request another armpit hold - they don't actually seem to hurt too much and they look pretty good, so Karen decided to give me this one. I've no idea what it's called but if you get it wrong IT HURTS LIKE HELL.
My first attempt I managed to wrap my elbow and forearm round the pole, which, when given the weight of my body burned....it burned like it was on fire and led to me (not) gracefully collapsing into a swearing mass at the bottom of the pole.
Still, second go....
Presenting armpit hold #2 :D
Yeah, I know I look a little smug.
This was after the incidences with the basic spin and the others couldn't do it (teehee). Also, it's supposed to be a smile, but given that all you're REALLY holding on with is the skin on your inner arm it's sort of hard to smile whilst you want to be crying a little bit. As I find with most pole work.
I'd also like to add (in my defence) that by now I'm actually holding my breath because I'd been in the pose for a few seconds - Karen is just out of shot telling me to put my feet down more.
So, not really smug. Ok, a little bit but they did laugh at my basic spin. And when I fell off of the pole.....honest.
This was after the incidences with the basic spin and the others couldn't do it (teehee). Also, it's supposed to be a smile, but given that all you're REALLY holding on with is the skin on your inner arm it's sort of hard to smile whilst you want to be crying a little bit. As I find with most pole work.
I'd also like to add (in my defence) that by now I'm actually holding my breath because I'd been in the pose for a few seconds - Karen is just out of shot telling me to put my feet down more.
So, not really smug. Ok, a little bit but they did laugh at my basic spin. And when I fell off of the pole.....honest.
So what have I learnt this week from pole? Mostly that you can completely surprise yourself - especially when you're least expecting it!
Oh, and doing my yoga before going to pole.....what a great idea xD
Oh, and doing my yoga before going to pole.....what a great idea xD
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