-Photo by Pole Ninja Photography
Pole life is more fun with a secure outside leg hang “OLH”! Too often, the outside leg hang is learned as a brief stepping-stone on the way to other moves. The full potential of the OLH is left behind on the hurried quest towards ‘prettier’ shapes. With a solid hook, you can transition with more ease and find more expression, musicality, and complexity in your aerial work.
I’m a lover of leg holds, and when I speak to people who aren’t, it’s either because they say it hurts (that changes with exposure), or they don’t trust their legs very much (that changes with improved technique). It takes trust to let go and relax, and trusting your holds requires both the right approach, and practice.
This OLH Helper Series is intended for three primary audiences:
- Those who are able to invert, but struggle to hold a chopper/inverted V, tend to readjust their leg after it makes contact with the pole, or can’t seem to solidify their knee lock.
- Instructors who crave more tools to help their students excel safely.
- Curious advanced dancers who want to refine their aerial basics.
This series assumes you can invert, and that you have knowledge of how to do so safely.
If you are still working on inverting, I made the Inversion Helper Series to help you and it includes a Prep Session, Lifting and Leaning Lesson, and an Upper Back Engagement Lesson.
Learning online has its challenges, but here is what you can do to get the MOST out of it:
- Pause frequently, TRY often.
- Listen in detail to the alignment tips. Take time to check your alignment. If you have a mirror, use it.
- Set time aside to watch and practice just as you would for an in-person class.
- Set yourself up for success by preparing your space, mind, and body for optimal effort.
- Make it pleasurable or playful. Engage with the material in a way you enjoy.
Course Curriculum
Hi, Marlo here.
I’ve always been immersed in movement. I've studied dance for 30 years and have taught movement professionally for 18 years. I love leading atypical group movement experiences, and I am continually exploring how I can lead in innovative and welcoming ways.
I'm a graduate of the Virginia Governors School for the Arts (modern dance major), and I have a degree in Anthropology and Public Relations from the University of Miami. Over the years I accumulated numerous certifications and credentials in the fitness and mind-body realm, but working directly with movement innovators and decades of self-directed study has been the most impactful on my work today.
I'm most known for my pole dance accolades and innovations. I started experimenting out of curiosity over 11 years ago before there were mainstream competitions. Pole dance confirmed that there is a magic in moving in circles, abandoning the confines of a mat, slowing way down, and using your full range of motion.
Flow Movement was born out of my desire to share what I understand about fluid movement. I wanted to share the benefits of dance experiences without the things that generally scare people away. Dance doesn't have to be complicated or intimidating, though it too often is. The Flow Movement approach invites all people in and delivers in a way that stimulates imagination, sensuality, connection, and playfulness.
After 10 years in NYC, I now reside in Boulder Colorado with my partner Kenneth Kao. We travel internationally to teach 6-10 months a year. One of my proudest accomplishments is teaching in 70 countries — visiting many of them repeatedly. It's not that I've traveled that brings me joy, it's that I've built something unique that people all over the world want to experience.