Dance Diary Part 17 - Hello Boys!!!

The Hello Boys --- I just learnt a few weeks back that it was the much cooler name for The Wrist Seat. Can totally get where the name came from! Ahem... surely not the most decent pose to strike but who cares. =P 

Here's another picture of The Wrist Seat aka The Hello Boys for those who are clueless about what I am talking about.

It looked awesome on video so I decided to try it. Got a few tips from my teacher Jamie too. Took me about a week and multiple unsuccessful attempts and sore wrists.. but guess what, I CAN FINALLY DO IT!!! The trick was to get the wrist directly under your bum to support your weight (which can be pretty taxing to your wrist) and with the dominant hand up top to kind of support yourself while you lean back and spread your legs. *cough cough now it sounds wrong*

Also this is already week 10 of my pole-venture and updates:

• Basic spins - checked (still need work on my bracket grip though)
• One handed basic spins - checked (on static pole, not quite yet on spinning pole though)
• The Cradle - checked

• Inverted grip moves - checked (I'm really improving on my inverted grips!)
• The Carousel + Carousel Spin - checked (I am so happy I finally got this!)

• The Hello Boys - checked (WOOHOO!!!)
• Basic Climbing - checked (gotta work on the other grip styles though)
• Crucifix , The Seat and Extended Seat - checked
• Hip Lock and Drop - half-checked (got into the hip lock position, but not able to drop yet)
• Butterfly Handstand - checked (Thanks Sarah for spotting me in the beginning!) 

• Basic Inversion - checked yay! But not strong enough to go hands-free into Inverted Crucifix yet (Thanks Jamie for giving me a push the first few times when I wasn't strong enough to pull myself up!)

I don't know if I had mentioned this already but I really am falling in love with this dance! And I love how much fitness there is in it too! It's like going to a really fun gym (sorry but I hate mundane work outs eg weights and treadmills) and I get to work all my muscles the fun way!!! Especially upper body strength and core. Omg I had such weak arms and such lousy core. Sarah (my other teacher) was like: "Gotta work those skinny chicken arms!" (it's even worse than chicken legs I suppose, as chickens don't even have arms!) 

Anyway, I'm glad I'm actually working out again. It had been wayyy too long since I quit gym (and subsequently my latin-ballroom social class) and since then, I have turned into this big fat blob of wobbly jelly with disproportionately skinny arms. Time to get back in shape!!! Hazzah!  

So homework for after exams (yes I was on hiatus again due to exams):

• Work on my bracket grip (why can't I get it yet! *frustrated)
• Continue working my upper body strength and my core (hopefully lose some weight and get more muscular too)
• Work on getting into handstand position front-on
• Get strong enough to lift myself with ease into a basic invert
• Work on my Inverted Crucifix, that is to condition my legs to be strong enough to grip on while I let my hands go
• Work on my Corkscrew Spin & Achilles Spin
• Work on my Pixie Up 
• Learn some new moves (eg: Straddle Spin, The Butterfly...)

And probably eventually be good enough to learn The Flag Figures!!! 

Not sure what the name of this move is, but I'll call it Pseudo-Flag (medical term alert!)

And my ultimate dream move!!!

Till the next update. Hopefully I will bring more good news. 

Love,

Christine