And here's an updated photo of my extended butterfly.

Some new moves I'm hoping to train for are:
The Oona Split - I think it looks amazing! My good split side is with my right leg forward so I'll either need to improve my left split or get working on Cupid with my left leg on the pole and my right foot planted against the pole!
The Allegra - I think it may take me a while to get this one, my back flexibility is coming along though so we'll just have to see!

This was my first ever attempt after 1 hour of stretch class and an hour of pole, so I was feeling pretty tired. After trying it from a Flatline Scorpio (as taught to my instructor by the one and only Jenyne Butterfly! *Swoon*), I felt like it wasn't quite clicking and felt slightly unnatural. We tried it from an Outside Leg Hang - Bomb - Pike - Hip Hold Straddle and Voila.... I'd managed my Jade Splits!
Understandably, it doesn't currently look like the prettiest move in my pole repertoire but I can work on that!





A few more class photos - Flying Peterpan, Wonky Reiko Splits! , Straddle with nose to wall



Some poling out and about for Pole Social. We're holding another one this Thursday and I'll hopefully get more photos!
(So prepare yourself for another photo heavy blogpost ;) )

I had a great pole session on Monday, a whole 2 hours of spinning, flexing, climbing and floating up, down and around the pole.
I don't have any new moves to show for it, but I have definitely rekindled my love for 'dancing' around the pole as opposed to be able to just pull out signature moves without linking them together. I've never really done any work with freestyle or routines, the pole classes I've been to have always been aimed towards getting particular moves  and never really linking them together to create the dance element. As a warm up, we were asked to do a quick 2 minute freestyle... my mind went blank..

Another picture heavy blog post, but I'm loving all these new moves I'm coming out with! Continuing to push myself by getting a few hours at the gym between work and Pilates classes alongside my regular Pole classes. Definitely noticing a difference and I'm seeing progress for the extra effort I've been putting in, hopefully next session will be as productive as today's!
I don't have a pole to practice at home and I'm hopefully looking to purchase one in the next few months, no amount of time spent in the gym can cure me of my longing to pole dance more than once a week - so watch this space...

 Leg Flexibility
I started off the year with a consistent right legged front split, and I still have it! I'm making serious progression with my middle split, (although I'm still about 3cm off the floor) and my left legged front split is still a way off, but I've definitely evened them out a bit more. I have approximately 5cm on a good day and 10cm on a bad day until I get my bum on the floor - regular stretching is going to be the key with this one!





 My no hands cupid! It was really hard trying to stop my bottom leg sliding down the pole, my legs ached from being so tense but I now have it consistently - Hoping to try Allegra Box Splits next!

Bulging biceps!

My flag with no wind! It was so hot and sticky that my hands kept sliding down the pole, nice...

 Here's to my Summer of pole!