In a bid to find my new normal, I came across a gym that offers pole classes very near to where I live. I was asked to come along to the beginners pole course they run, to see if it is something I could teach. I had never thought about teaching pole before; I hadn’t thought I was good enough…but then a couple of sayings come to mind – the best way to learn is to teach – a good athlete doesn’t always make a good coach, and a good coach doesn’t always make a good athlete.
So Day 1 of the beginners course, and I actually felt like a beginner as I was so nervous! …A new city, a new studio, a new teacher, new people…new ways of learning! Yikes! …but we must embrace change in order to evolve, right?!
I cycled up to the studio which is located in a basement in the city centre. My first thought, was, oh, the poles are white?! …random, I know, but every pole I had ever seen was chrome or plated with a gold metal (which may be brass?). I looked this up just now, and the poles they use here (at Gym Everybody) are Finnish made called Fit Pole. Interesting.
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| Picture from Fit Pole gallery – example of a studio that uses the white poles |
Class started as class has ever started, with a warm up including joint mobilisation. This was followed by some conditioning work focusing on the core, of full sit ups, crunches, oblique crunches and ‘supermans’.
Then it was down to business – beginner business anyway. We covered how to stand (on your toes), step around and reverse step around.
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| How to grip the pole |
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| How to stand |
Step around. Keeping your outside leg straight, swing it out to the side and step all the way around the pole, pivoting on your inside foot at the same time. Allow your knee to bend slightly as you turn. (http://m.wikihow.com/Learn-Pole-Dancing)
With class being 60 minutes long, we had time to learn just 1 spin – the fireman spin…(Image from http://www.squidoo.com/poledancemoves)
Any beginners course that doesn’t start with this move may quite possibly be questionable!
As expected, class finished with some stretching…the usual suspects. After having been to Body Balance in the am, some cycling, and pole class, I had a quick go at my (right) splits and they weren’t too bad!
So, hopefully pole will be a great way to meet some people here in Finland as well as help me to achieve my goals for 2013. This course lasts for another 2 weeks (2 x 1 hour classes each week) which is new for me! I’m used to having a full week to recover but hopefully I will manage as the moves are not as intense!
I’ll be sure to share the rest of my beginners journey here with you!
…and if you haven’t tried pole yet, what are you waiting for?!
Elle 😉
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