Express The Sensual

“What kind of safety equipment do you use for advanced inverts?” –from J.A. in Washington

In case you haven’t noticed, safety is one of my favorite topics, so lets start with the general safety requirements for exotic aerial pole dancing.

1. Pole Safety Check.

Before every training session, you should check the setup and stability of your pole. Make sure that you are using a professional pole, like the ones they sell through LilMynx or Xpole and that it has been installed according to the manufacturers instructions. Also make sure the the humidity or room temperature hasn’t made the pole too sticky or to slippery. Use rubbing alcohol or grip aids if needed.

2. Always Warmup.

You must have a warmup before any exercise or training activity. Even if you are not going to be doing any advanced movements, a basic warmup, like I have included in my online classes or that you might do in your local aerobics class, is perfect. This ensures your core body temperature and muscles are warm enough to work through your full range of motion.

3. An Experienced Spotter.

If you can train with a friend, make sure and learn how to spot each other during inverts and other advanced movements. Find someone you trust, because spotting requires physical contact. A good spotter doesn’t just stand back and watch you while you try something for the first time. She should be able to help you during the trick execution and catch you or break your fall if you need to come down quickly.

4. A PoleCat Power Safety Mat.

Whether you have a spotter or not, a firm thick mat developed for heavy use during aerial pole training is one of the best ways to protect your body while learning a new trick (see picture above). I train with these mats and I absolutely use them in my local and private classes. They are tough enough to walk on with your high heels but have enough give to help protect you during a fall. You can purchase these through LilMynx or through the developer, UrbanFertilityDancer.

5. Always Cooldown.

A cooldown is absolutely essential to any exercise session, just like a warmup. A cooldown ensures that you give your body time to slow down and avoid serious injury from a rapid drop in blood pressure. A few minutes of easy standing movements plus stretching will keep you safe and help you enjoy all the great physical and emotional benefits of your training session.

6. Be A Smart Cookie.

Finally, the most important piece of safety equipment in aerial exotic pole dancing is you. You must listen to the small whispers and messages your body sends to you. Pay attention to your level of strength or fatigue and give yourself a rest if you need it. Its okay to change your plans and work on basic spins and transitions instead of inverts if you are too tired. Remember, the person most responsible for your safety is you.

How do your worries affect you? What techniques do you use to let go? Share your ideas in the comment section!

If you enjoyed the article, please subscribe to ExpressTheSensual and share it with your friends.

Twirl, Swirl, and Fly!

“How can I make my improvisational dancing smoother?” – from N.S. in California

Beyond Beauty and Strength

The answer I heard the most when I first learned to improv was… “You should slow down.” But there’s a big problem with that–not everybody wants to dance slowly. You can be sensual and still move fast, just check out tango and latin dancers. Instead consider what latin dancers, and sensual exotic and aerial dancers (pole included) have in common. Beyond beauty and strength, they also have a balance between emotional expression and resistance. What I mean is that when you watch an improvisational dancer, she is moving according to what she feels as well as creating resistance to that movement.

Whether you moves fast or slow isn’t as important as taking the movement generated by emotion and creating a balance by using your technique and control to physically resist it.

You can practice this right now by raising your arms, but slightly resisting the movement. This will create some tension in the muscle, but more importantly, this will create an intensity in your movement as you extend to your full range of motion or contract back to your relaxed position. Try this technique during your  improvisation or training session until you find the balance of resistance and emotional expression thats perfect for you.

What does Flow feel like when you dance? How did you experience Flow during your last improvisational dance? Share your ideas in the comment section!

If you enjoyed the article, please subscribe to ExpressTheSensual.com and share it with your friends using the Share & Enjoy social bookmarking sites. Thank you for your support!