Skating technique: Inside Pivots

The Inside Forward Pivot is a skill taught in ISI Freestyle 1. If you'll read my thoughts about Figure Skating Levels, you'll see that I call the first level Intro to skating, and that covers basic skating skills. The next level, that includes the skills from ISI FS1 and FS2 are included here and USFSA standard Pre-Preliminary MITF and Freestyle (or adult Pre-Bronze MITF and Freestyle I call a Low-Beginner.

Forward inside pivot (Pivots are done in both directions, I'll describe just the CCW): 
1. stand with the feet shoulder apart,  or moving slowly on a right inside edge, arms to the sides
2. bending the knees, place the left toe pick into the ice while to transfer the weight to the left foot, and push around with the right foot on a forward inside edge straightening it after the push, in an increasing radius circle. Basically the right leg is doing the first part of a swizzle and then doesn't come back to meet the left leg but stays apart in a lateral lunge position. Keep the left knee turned out, the arms out to the sides, shoulder height, keep the core strong.
3. hold the circling around, maintaining the width between feet, at least 1.5 revolutions in a continuous motion, while keeping the core and the inner thighs very engaged.  No extra pumping or stopping allowed.
4. exit by drawing the right foot in near the left foot (like it's doing the second part of a swizzle) and straightening the left foot. Again, you are using the core and inner thighs.

I like the demonstration here. It gives an exercise to prepare for the pivot (pumps with a foot around the other foot that's on the toe pick). It shows how to have the  knee (and hip) of the leg that's moving turned out. You can see that that moving leg is slightly dragging behind the upper body and hips block.  I found the most important thing was to move the weight TOTALLY, on the toe pick (and hip) of the leg that makes the axis, left leg in this case. Don't drop the left shoulder and stick the hips to the right. Push the hips to the left, to feel you are over the left hip. Another way I heard it said is push into the left hip. The foot and shoulder form like an axis (a vertical bar) that you rotate around.

Backward inside pivot CCW is very similar with the  forward inside pivot:
1. stand with feet shoulder apart, right arm lateral left hand in front
2. bend the knees, place right toe pick in the ice and push around back wards with the left foot while transferring the weight onto the right foot toe pick and straightening the left foot. The left arm helps the rotation and comes lateral, so both arms end laterally.
3. hold the circle 1.5 revolutions
4. exit by drawing the left foot near the right foot.

Working on the pivot, I think the most important thing to understand is  the weight transfer. The weight is kept on the skating foot (toe pick) and hip, if the weight shifts from the skating hip, the pivot will wobble of center and stop. This weight transfer skill will be used over and over again in edges, spinning, jumps, EVERYTHING...