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I think there is a certain element of 'x factor' that people have naturally but I think that you can develop it to some extent too. Eye contact with the audience is a big one for me, and facial expression. I agree with the others that those who seem like they are completely internally focussed are a bit less interesting to watch, even if they are doing awesome things! One of my fav internet pole clips still remains someone who is really engaging and perky  in their dancing and flirtation with the camera, even though they're not doing much beyond spins.

 

I think practice is a biggie for becoming more confident and when you're more confident, you can let your body take over the actual pole stuffs and work on your face and eye contact. Also, working with a mirror or camera and pretending that's the audience can make a difference in "getting out of your head" so to speak:) 

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That's a shame you have to pass it on Lynda, I've enjoyed reading it and knowing it was written by a fellow kiwi!

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Oooh that's crazy awesome! I'm busy trying to think if I know anyone who I can make try it:)

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I've been trying to practice the tg hangman every week in the hope that one day I'll be able to deadlift (although I'm also convinced that my big heavy legs might actually put this dream forever out of my reach *sigh*). I find I unwind on my weaker side but have worked up to not unwinding on my "good" side. I do try to do both sides though because I find it hard on my muscles and would prefer to keep them more balanced:) I'm pretty sure that ultimately, you want to be hanging with your chest facing up towards the ceiling. For my unwindy side, I try to prop my foot against the pole and push out a bit to try and compensate for the twist (a bit like the E pose on wikipole but with a tg) in the hope at least if I practice that way it will strengthen that side a bit. On my good side, I really feel the pull when I'm engaging kinda at the top of my side; I'm not sure if this is part of the obliques or if the lats wrap around there. All in all, practicing it quite a lot has definitely helped strengthen and get better:) Not sure if any of this helps!

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Empyrean, any tips you can offer on getting into it from the leg hang? I'm still struggling with this move – it's so disheartening that every time I try it, I get absolutely no further than the previous times I've tried it:( One of my instructors managed to get it a couple of tries after I'd explained it to her and her sister who also poles came to our studio a few weeks later and did it first time! And even though she's tiny and ridiculously good and strong at pole, it still made me sad:(

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It might not be back fat but muscles:) I find the more pole work I do, the bigger some parts of my back get – and those you probably don't want to get rid of!;p

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Nice job! You flowed well with the music and your moves were cleanly done:) I would second what Jehanne said about the audience interaction – it sometimes takes a bit of practice to get this but it's well worth it:)

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Ha I'm having the complete opposite problem to you right now – I normally work on static and I set myself the challenge of using the spinny pole for my next show routine (which is coming up next week, eeeekkk!) and it's been tough! 

 

My big piece of advice when going from spinny to static though would be, when you're getting into the moves, really think about your angle relative to the audience, ie finding the best way to orientate yourself to show it for maximum effect. Because you don't have to think about that when you're doing it on spinny, it can be something that people overlook when making the transition and it really shows when you're watching it…

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I'm not an expert by any means but it kinda gives me the heebie jeebies to think about stretching for splits on cold muscles. I've heard and seen people who completely screw up hammies and other muscles doing it this way:/ Is there any reason why you need to do it cold rather than warm? Personally, even though I can split on cold muscles, I'd much rather not take the risk and  will do them after a good run or similar.

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I'm pretty sure you gals have magical bootays 'cos my butt will never be able to shake like that!! I'm always admiring of your yt clips where you're upside down and all  of a sudden there's a whole lotta shaking going on!! If only shipping to New Zealand wasn't so expensive….:(

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Thanks for posting that – just spent time watching all the clips:) Some amazing stuff there! And gosh those boys are flexy!!

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Have you tried moving into position while leaving your legs in crucifix rather than a leg hook? I found in working out moving my hands and shoulder round, this helped because it meant I wasn't as worried about the leg grip. Once you've got the shoulder movement sorted, then you could go back to trying from the scorpio? 

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I can do the sm bodywave and I can do the shoulder mount but I can't do them both together 'cos I find the bodywave wrecks my abs (in a good way!),  working them so much more than just the sm would. And like Amy says, really pull in through the biceps!

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So you can't do them at all or you can't make them look nice? I find these ones much more ab and hip initiated than the other kinds, I guess because your chest is essentially immobile, which is where I would normally start my floor based ones from.  In fact, I sometimes use this as an ab exercise 'cos I find it so much tougher than the actual shoulder mount:)

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Is it what wikipole calls a double brass monkey?