I think this was initially available from Gin's site as a download under the title "Pole- lateez." It was then released on DVD-R as Straight Up Stick and is now available on a regular DVD with Salsa Walk, which is the version I have, purchased from Collage Video. Gin is by herself in what I am pretty sure is her own production studio - I've seen the set (or a similar version) in some of her other videos. Hardwood floors, kind of a minty green wall with glass blocks part way up and an art deco type painting of her in the background. I like it; it is nice and bright, clean and pleasant. Gin is wearing black pants and a reddish orange top and sneakers. I've done the workout twice, both times in bare feet and think that shoes aren't really necessary if you don't want to wear them. The music is mellow instrumental, nothing recognizable, but seems a good fit with the workout. Gin uses a wooden dowel with a hand towel wrapped around the middle, secured by athletic tape. At the beginning of the workout, a trailer appears across the screen specifically saying not to use a weighted bar. The dowel is used for nearly every exercise, so it really is necessary (you could probably substitute a broomstick). It is not a strenuous workout, but some of the positions present a little bit of challenge for me (the muscles of my chest and shoulders are particularly tight due to some surgeries). She does hip hinges, squats and lunges and some one legged balance moves and has you position your hands differently on the stick to vary where you feel it. There is also a move where you stand the dowel on end, press it into the floor and kind of pull yourself up, like you are getting out of water. Next it is down to the floor for some seated stretches and twists and v-sits, then you are back to your feet for some tricep extensions and back stretches. In one move, she has you roll the stick down your back, over your butt and then back up and she says something like if your arms are too short, or your butt is too big, write in to her, she has others available for sale. I love her sense of humor. At the end of the approximately 36 minutes, my upper body feels nice and open, which is what Gin says the workout is supposed to do. I really like this and plan to incorporate it into my routine regularly.

Instructor Comments:
Excellent cueing, calm, precise, but funny.

LAC