I can fly!

Actually, I can't, but sometimes when I'm pole dancing, I feel like I'm flying - especially during Wednesday night's spin class. Tonight's combo included one of my all time favourite poses, Fairy, which is one where I really feel as if I've taken to the skies. Watch the video below and see if you can pick which one of the poses is Fairy, then read on below to find out if you got it. 

Did you get it? The combo goes: cross-spin, climb, mount, wrap, fairy, diva, stag-drop (because I can't do the splits), cat-roll, dirty-squat to standing. Fairy is the pose I do where I spread my 'wings' (arms) and kick out my bottom leg. I forgot to point my toes, so it doesn't look as pretty as normal, but I still love how it feels to be in this pose. The strength, the twist, the entry from Wrap... it all just comes together and makes it something special.

Something also to look out for in this combo is the hip lock after the mount and then the unlock as I transition into Diva. As I mount and place my legs on the pole, prior to coming into Wrap, I twist my hips to the side and 'lock' them onto the pole. This is taught as standard in Beginner classes at Pole Divas, as it ensures that you have as much thigh skin, and therefore grip, on the pole as you can. If I were to take my hands off the pole at that point and switch on my abs, I would be able to hold myself up there just by virtue of the thigh grip I have from the hip lock. This lock is what allows me to do the Wrap without sliding all the way down to the floor and it helps with Fairy as well, as my thighs are still hanging onto the pole when I extend my bottom leg, so the grip is strong enough to allow me to release my hands. As I transition into Diva from Fairy, I unlock my hips and centre onto the pole, which then allows me the lines I need for Diva, and also prepares me for a split drop (or, in my case, a stag drop). 

So it is the lock that is really doing the magic here, and my thighs are doing some seriously hard gripping to keep me up there. In truth, that is the base of pole dancing, no matter how pretty the trick or how fluid the transition, there's always some part of the dancer's body being twisted up tight against the pole, hanging on in the most awkward position and burning the hell out of them. I have found Hemp Lotion from The Body Shop to be the most effective relief for pole burn (just as long as I don't have another class within the next twelve hours), although I know some of the ladies I dance with, including my instructor, prefer ice. The Lock can cause bruising on the thighs, but the immediate pain of pole burn is usually the most pressing issue following an exit from this position.

So, there you have it, a little about one of my favourite pole tricks and a little trade secret to go with it. Flying into Fairy is one thing guaranteed to make me feel better about anything because, really, what woman wouldn't want to live her childhood dream of turning into a fairy? All I need is a pair of sparkly wings and ballet slippers, and 5-year-old Jewels will jump up and down with joy. Maybe I should try that next time...

- Jewels