yupyup untill you are comfortable with yourself on the pole you wont really know. most of the time if theyre scared of falling theyll cling on for dear life and not let themselves swing out n away from the pole so they wont get momentum as well, and their arm will grag on the pole n cause pole burn on their wrist.

for me i very my grip depending on if i wanna slow myself down =)
it should feel like a normal grip but not a grip as if ur trying to pull ur self up.

like i said tho ull find it when youre confident in the spins you are doing and in urself on the pole ^^

im glad you enjoyed your first class though. the first is always omg! ^^
the pain also will go away. for now ur body and the muscles ur working arent used to what ur doing to it either. but it will get to the point where ur body will go "eh what is she doing?.. oh ok .." n stead of "ahh i was sleeping what is she doing to me?? "