I love getting ready for the Annual Show because I love Doubles Tricks!! I am grooving on all of the hard work, retries, and laughs to successfully achieve some super cool shapes that I could not do alone.
Every aerial apparatus is inherently difficult. Then you add another person onto the same apparatus and it becomes even harder. This is when you realize you are an apparatus hog and need to scooch over. Sometimes adding another person can make a trick easier but you will always need to reassess where to put your limbs and become comfortable climbing all over another person. I recommend starting your doubles relationship with a hug since you will essentially do this in the air… while spinning.
As you move up into intermediate and advanced doubles tricks, one person will be the base to support the trick and one person will be the flyer. Inherently more communication and commitment is going to be required to execute these tricks. When I am the flyer, I can get super self-conscious. Even though my partner and physics have me all day, I sometimes feel like I am going to rip her arm off. In a hoop trick, if I do not fully lean back, Paula will not get the counterweight to lock her in and then the move feels less secure. Ironically, when I am the base, I’m like “give it to me”! So especially when I am the flyer, I need to get out of my head and commit! I need to trust myself and my partner. I need to commit in order to put less strain on my partner. And if we execute safely and properly, physics will be on our side. Practicing a lot, with padding and spots also helps provide more confidence. That’s the cool thing about doubles, giving is truly receiving. And by doing so, you are building a trusting relationship. Team work really does make the dream (of that move) work!
The picture I choose for this blog is the perfect example. I am choppering off of Paula’s leg. I felt terrible putting all my weight on just ONE leg. I was also pregnant so I didn’t feel as confident in my pelvic tuck abilities. But every time I hesitated, it was more painful for Paula and I was jerking my neck. It really does look pretty and felt good when I finally committed 🙂
Communicate, communicate, communicate! Tell your partner when things are going well and feel good. Have safe words for when you are not comfortable in a trick (i.e. down, done, off). Communicate on how your bodies are feeling and be aware of overuse as the show approaches. Sometimes marking the routine with you partner and saying when tricks should happen is a great way to rest the body while still helping the routine marinate in your bones.
As always, only do tricks your instructors have taught you. Safety is the number one priority; therefore, you must properly learn entrances, exits and any other important cues in order to be successful and safe in a move.
In summary…
The move is nothing without both of you
Your partner needs you!
Communicate
Check-in
Commit!
Take videos and pictures. It the best way to deconstruct what you are doing. Watching your improvement is always rewarding.
Have fun!
Laugh!