New Post with Bad Kitty USA! The human body is a marvelous creation. No matter how challenging the workout, eventually the body adapts. Each week, we have a routine: we attend the same pole classes and for the most part work on the same moves or related moves. Of course this depends on the level, but once past the beginner realm it’s easy to get stuck. Perhaps class has gotten more difficult and you aren’t getting new moves as quickly as you once did. You feel like you are st

New Article with Bad Kitty USA. If you visit different pole studios around the world, it’s apparent that different combinations are taught in those studios, diverse teaching methods are employed and there is a distinctive vibe in each studio. From a business perspective, this is all well and good, but the real art behind a pole studio is having a positive classroom environment and fulfilling classes where students not only learn pole but feel like they are a part of somethin

As discussed in previous articles in this series, the body is an integrated system and when one muscle group becomes imbalanced another muscle group will often react to the disparity. The upper back muscles of the aerialist and poler get substantial use and creating lopsided muscle groups is completely plausible and probable. Our previous posts on shoulder imbalances have focused on the origins of the most common inequalities and examined brief postural fixes. At this point,

New students to an aerial class come from many different places. Gymnasts see a performance or video and recognize movement patterns that they have experienced. Dancers are attracted to the movement and the grace. Fitness buffs are always looking for fun workouts. And some new students will be coming off the couch. As an aerial arts and pole instructor you will likely have many fitness levels, strength levels and body awareness levels happening in a beginning class. A great

How do I teach aerial or pole to out of shape clients? This is one of the most asked questions we get from instructors. I wanted to create trainings that had progressive teaching method and material that was applicable to the average client walking into a yoga studio, gym, aerial arts or pole studio. This client could be very fit; he or she could participant in other sports or workout regularly. Or this new client may not be regularly exercising or has not exercised in a long

Let's discuss Facilitated Stretching and how it can help open tight hip flexors. Here is a post on the basics of Facilitated Stretching. You really should read this to understand PNF. Posts in this Series on Hip Flexors Tight Hip Flexors Tight Hip Flexors (Basic Stretching) Tight Hip Flexors (Myofascial Release) Tight Hip Flexors (Facilitated Stretching) Tight Hip Flexors ( Weak Glutes and Hip Flexors) Here is a past post on other Auxillary Hip Flexor Stretches. Facilitated s

My Experience with Meditation The best way I can describe meditation is checking in with the very core of your being. On the surface, this involves moving inward and removing as much brain chatter as possible. This is easier said then done, of course, or the entire population would be full of shiny happy people. By getting back to our core we have heighten awareness of the world around us and feel more connected to life. Personally, the more consistent I am with meditation, t

As discussed last week, the mechanics of the aerial inversion an aerial mount can send new students into a a depressed funk becuase the movement is difficult and unforgiving for many new students. Understanding how to move the body is important but having the strength to perform the movement is equally important. When performing a basic aerial tuck inversion, the lattismus dorsi, shoulder girdle ( teres major, infraspinatus and teres minor), arms included the long heads of t

As discussed last week, it not helpful to jump cold into the splits and imagine you are helping yourself get the splits. If you are taking the time to stretch make it worth your while, make your body happy by stretching properly. The most effective time to stretch your splits is when you are warmed up and have stretched the involved muscle groups. Stretching before a workout does not help flexibility. Most Effective Plan for Stretching the Center Splits 1. Stretch when you ar

If you participate in aerial arts or pole, you absolutely know how much core it takes to perform at even a beginning level. I liken the core work required for aerial arts to Pilates on crack; basically we are aiming for the abs of a male gymnast. I am not talking appearance, but functional strength. Many six packs out there in the world are for show and not function. The rectus abdominis, the six-pack muscles, are semi-useful but not as important for aerial arts as the transv