Alethea does utilize the pole for her stretching DVDs, both for pure splits and stretching for pole. However, for the stretching for the pure splits DVD its pretty easy to substitute a wall or doorway for the pole, and the ballerina stretch is the only one that actually requires a pole, I think. I haven't tried it specifically, but I would think you could totally work on that twisting position with a broom stick to some degree. It's slightly more difficult to substitute for the pole in the Stretching for Pole DVD, but its also possible, will likely need a doorway for grip. So if you have some wall space and a doorway handy, I would think that you don't need your pole. Using the pole is probably easier, but not necessary. And for her standing splits on the pole, I don't like using the pole anyway, because its more difficult to set up with your hips square, since having your bottom foot on the floor in front of the pole and your extended leg up on the pole puts both of your feet in a straight line, pulling your hips open, if that makes any sense. Its one of the reasons that I appreciate how Felix tends to explain mechanics more. Technique in stretching is just as important as technique in dancing... without it, you are either setting up for injury, or just not being efficient.