Level 2 is Halfway
Where oh where has the time gone?
I cannot be the only person who needs extra hours in their day and an extra day in their week. Life seems to have suddenly become far more hectic than usual. Yes, this is my weak arsed attempt at an apology for taking so long to update my next level of poling... sorry.
I'm half way through my Level 2 course, and yes I still love poling, pole people, and the whole pole community. It's extraordinary to think three weeks are done and there is only three weeks to go and I once again will find myself graduating a new poling level!
This first three weeks of Level 2 have really been another steep learning curve.
Bea is our instructor this term, Karla is predominantly with the level one newbies settling them in and building their confidence like she did with us. It feels odd being considered 'experienced' by the noobs but hey, I'll take it. (I use the term noobs in poling with much love and admiration that these women have made the decision to have a go, please don't take offence).
The first night Bea threw us right into it. After the warm up we went straight in to the choreography for our dance. I really like this process for teaching new tricks and moves. Rather than as a group being shown and then practicing a trick over and over before moving on to the next trick, we incorporate it into dance. It seems to make learning and mastering a trick easier if that makes sense.
This first night was massive, six tricks/spins and a huge amount of choreo. We all accomplished it really well. One of the ladies recorded it and later on put it on our closed Facebook group. I find this amazingly helpful to later on run through the moves and as a memory tool. Okay, I also use it to check out how we are all doing too - yes my inner gawker comes out.
Caught on film 'chatting' during class, but hey, that's me ;)
The following week Bea laughingly told us she had covered two weeks worth of choreography in the one night. Well didn't that make me feel super schmick, our group sorta nailed it and sorta remembered it - two weeks worth in one session, not bad. So this second lesson became more about perfecting our trick/spin techniques and nailing the choreography. Oh, we also had to recall our level one dance which had most of us standing behind our poles goofily smiling trying to recall anything. You know that "one thing in, one thing out" thing that happens when your learning or mastering something. My brain had archived the level one dance in its entirety to make room for the new stuff coming in. After a dismal first attempt, we were all dismal so no one felt bad, Bea joined us in doing it and it flowed much smoothly. There were a few "Oh, that's right" and "Oops, forgot that bit" but on the third go we all had it. The class ended with a small bit of extra level 2 choreo and we were done for the week.
Week three has just passed by. My class lesson comes up so quickly in the week I can't believe this level is going to be finished in only another three weeks. Bea progressed us on more with the choreography and a few new spin variations. We are powering through the song and the choreography isn't too far off from being completed in anticipation of our upcoming Performance Party evening on the 1st of November.
Life being what it is I haven't been able to attend many casual classes during this level. They were so beneficial in level one in improving my flexibility, stamina and strength. I have done some stretching work at home but being able to do it at the studio is more motivating and I seem to get improvements quicker.
The early part of our Level 2 dance.
So halfway Level 2, who'd of thought I'd be doing what I do still... oh, and improving in what I do - that's the part I find amazing, even just the one day a week at the moment the improvements keep happening. See, poling is just like magic for the body. Well. it works for me.
