The ISI calls the on-ice tracing a spiral, but the position an arabesque. (Learned this at the Conference in May)
However, the ISI rulebook definition is the same position as the USFSA. (Free foot behind body at hip height, shoulders lowered, back arched, etc.)
I don't know a lot of coaches who call an attitude glide an arabesque. (That might be a regional thing or based on how much ballet the coach has done?) I learned the Attitude as an Attitude and I teach it as a glide first, then a spin second because the free leg position is similar to the layback. I call an arabesque the same thing that Skittle does - it's one back arch short of a spiral, with the extended free leg behind.
Arabesques and spirals require off-ice stretching and a little weight training (to simulate the skate weight) to become comfortable and to master the move.
Flexibility is important, otherwise you have a flat-back which makes it more difficult to balance. If you check out Doubletoe's spirals, she actually does a front-to-back split of the legs, so there's more flexibility.
I think strength is just as important - the skate hanging at the end of your leg adds weight and holding it up is difficult. Think of holding a fully-loaded roller at the end of a painting pole: with two hands, it's manageable, but with one hand, you're using a lot of muscle to control the roller and keep it from wiggling, splattering and crashing.
Be sure to lead with your shoulders (head up) not your head. A lot of people think the object is to get their face as far in front as possible and that's not really the case, especially at the beginning level. Heads are heavy, so it's better to keep them up over the shoulders and lead with the chest. That helps prevent face plants from overextending past the skating leg.
Pick up your toes inside your skate so that you don't catch a toepick. You should glide on the middle of your blade. Later on, more advanced spirals use the heel of the blade, but it's not necessary at the beginning. You just want to stay off the rocker and toepicks.
I've been using backward spiral drills (with me running interference) with my students. It's also helped with landing positions and confidence. There's a sense of security in knowing that, if they catch a toepick going backwards, it slows them down - they have to trench the pick into the ice to fall. I only use this drill on freestyle sessions - spirals are usually too dangerous during public sessions.
Start off with low spirals on a bent knee, so that you get used to extending the free leg and upper body. Think of keeping one shoulder on each side of the skating foot. (BTW, a left spiral means the left foot is on the ice. Just so if you're looking at Moves patterns, you understand what is expected.)
I really think a lot of the Fear of Spirals comes from not having secure edges and flats. A lot of students can push and hold the free leg behind for a second, but the push and extend is a struggle. Those same students struggle with spirals. There's a definite link there, so doing edges and turns with a calf- or knee-high, fully-extended free leg and holding that position really helps.
I expect the skaters to align their free leg behind the body and skating leg, almost in line with the head, which leads the way.
A lot of beginners open that free hip to hold the leg out to the side or wrap it around behind. Both of those tactics lead to body contortions, with the skater twisting at the waist or shoulders to compensate. Try to focus on staying in line - it helps later with the camel.