Pole Dancing in Pictures

Poleminx Pole Basics

2012-08-29T15:40:00.000+01:00

I have put together this fact-sheet for Students, with just the basics covered - Posture, Grips & Body Positioning, and Timing / Walking into spins. I hope it helps complete Beginners :-)

Improve your pole dancing - squeeze a ball

2011-08-10T10:30:00.003+01:00

Squeezing rubber stress balls or tennis balls is great for pole dancing. How?

1. The exercise will strengthen hands by working the muscles which flex the thumbs and fingers, therefore improving hand grip.

2. It exercises and strengthens the muscles of the forearms. Stronger forearm muscles will help support and stabilise the wrist joint. Therefore improving pole techniques (Split Grip) and positions (Handstands etc) which exert pressure on the wrist. This applies to spins like the Carousel or Cradle; and Inverted Aerial Holds like the Butterfly or Aysha, for example.

3. Therefore squeezing balls is great for strength building and injury prevention.

4. Technique - Squeeze and hold for 8-10 seconds, then release. Repeat a couple of times, enough to feel mild fatique, but never pain.

8 Ways to Get The Most From Your Pole Dancing Lessons

2011-06-30T11:40:00.022+01:00

1. Wear Appropriate Gear

Depending on your Level, you'll need bare legs (at least knees at Level 1; as much as poss for Levels 3,4,5). Shorts and a vest top are best

Bring flat shoes and heels, so you have a choice, both have their pro's and cons. (There's a separate article on this, see links at bottom)
Read more »

8 Things to Make Poleing At Home Easier :-)

2011-05-10T15:22:00.002+01:00

Pole dancing at home? Grab the following to make life easier... 1. Towel to wipe the pole or your hands (makes such a difference)

2. Pen and paper to write down inspired combinations or ideas, or draw funny stickmen to remember the moves by

3. Mat or padding if you're trying out something upside down. Ideally have someone else there if it's extreme / new
Read more »

POLE CLINIC: HOW TO DO THE BASIC FIREMAN SPIN

2010-11-20T17:54:00.004+00:00

The Fireman Spin is one of the first spins newcomers to pole dancing will probably learn as it's nice and easy and feels secure.

It's not too heavy on the upper arms as the legs are also keeping you on the pole, and squeezing in those abs will keep you upright and provide support to the rest of the body.

Here's a few tips on how to do a successful Basic Fireman Spin:
Read more »

Pole Clinic: How to do the Cradle Spin

2010-06-25T15:08:00.002+01:00

The Cradle Spin

This Level 2 pole dancing spin is like Marmite - people either love it or hate it. Different to many other spins, it requires you to tuck up close as possible in to the pole, and lead with the legs first. It has a funny habit of taking a while to crack, then mysteriously 'clicks' into place.

Here are some pointers for a successful Cradle Spin:

1. Try either side of the pole; sometimes it can be easier with the stronger hand at the top, and vice-versa.
Read more »

What does pole dancing mean to you?

2010-05-30T09:25:00.001+01:00

What does pole dancing mean to you? To contribute to our A-Z of Pole Dancing, click the image, or click here

Pole Clinic: How to do the Butterfly Handstand

2010-05-06T09:53:00.001+01:00

The Butterfly Handstand

Pre-requisite moves: the Basic Invert, the Crucifix

1. Invert, then go into a Crucifix (it's important to keep your height up the pole)

2. Using foot / leg grip to control, allow yourself to slide towards ground, extending arms until hands make contact with floor.

3. Your hand position should be shoulder-width apart, but placed close in to the base of the pole.

Poleminx in the SW London / Surrey Guardians

2010-04-30T09:42:00.001+01:00

Dealing With Pole Pain

2009-07-04T22:17:00.012+01:00

Pic credit: www.ehow.com

Being a bit of an old softie, pretty much the only downside to teaching pole for me is seeing people suffering pain or discomfort as a result of pole dancing.

On week 1 Beginners, it's unexpected friction burn ("pole burn") during Fireman Spins etc, and week 2, reports of difficulty changing gear in the car or getting dressed due to achy upper body muscles from the week before.

Unfortunately, this goes with the territory in pole dancing; the good news is

Visualisations to Help Pole Dancing Technique #1

2009-02-19T13:45:00.009+00:00

I'm a fan of using mental visualisations to help carry out and hold the various moves correctly.

Here are a couple to start with, more later.

Roulette Wheel: for smooth round even spins.

Fairground Chairs: for the Carousel and Chair spins

Scissors: for Kicks and slices, eg Foward Kick, Scissors Hop

For Floowork and general Posture

Anyone else use similar mental pictures?! Let me know in the comments...

Performing a Valentine's Day Pole Dance for Someone Special

2009-02-13T14:58:00.005+00:00

Stick to these 10 tips to transform a pole dance into something sizzling and seductive on Valentines Day

1. Set the scene with low lighting, perfume, music and your outfit

2. Tell your partner to sit tight during the dance and let you make the moves.

3. Start slow and build intensity gradually.

8 Useful Pole Dance Accessories

2009-02-07T09:16:00.013+00:00

1. Floor mat.
Protect your knees during floorwork, and handy for cooling off stretches

2. Cloth to wipe hands and pole

3. Kick-ass music you love moving to

4. A mirror for checking your technique and pole style

6 Very Common Pole Obstacles Which Will Disappear With Practice!

2009-02-04T13:58:00.006+00:00

1. The pain :-0
2. Sweaty hands
3. Over-grippy hands
4. Feeling awkward!
5. Information overload - trying to remember everything at once and getting nowhere
6. Believing you can't / shouldn't do it.

Believing that these obstacles to

8 Essential Pole Dancing Habits for Good Technique

2009-01-30T14:13:00.009+00:00

These are general and relate to many of the spins. Adopting them will bring quicker improvements to technique:

1. Always engage your core abdominal muscles
2. Leave a good space when moving around the pole into the spin
3. Try out the moves on both sides

4. Usually, your stronger hand

Two Easy Ways to Make Some Pole Dance Progress:

2009-01-24T09:46:00.014+00:00

1. Practice movement / body posture:
You'll need:

- Mirror

- Heels (optional)

- Glass of wine (optional)

Try the Hip Circles, Body Wave, Wiggle Down / Bottoms Up, Floorwork. Also Standing Slide and Pirouettes which can be done without a

Footwear for Pole Dancing

2009-01-20T14:45:00.012+00:00

I'm thinking about the good old heels versus trainers debate.

5 Reasons to Wear Trainers or Flatties for Pole Dancing

1. It's been a long day on your feet already and they're just more comfortable
2. You're dancing on a marble or similarly treacherously slippy floor
3. You see pole dancing as a -purely- fitness activity

4. You're not