I remember when....a (hopefully) inspirational thread

polergirl started this discussion · 12/22/2010

I thought it might be fun to do a little looking back at our respective pole journeys...I'm sure I'll get plenty of inspiration of you chicas who are far more advanced than me, and hopefully I'll in turn be able to inspire a newb or two. 🙂 I remember when --I couldn't invert in shoes --the cradle spin seemed like a pipe dream --I thought I'd never get a straightedge or aysha --I couldn't dance to an entire song if my life had depended on it --the very thought of freestyling made me shake in my stilettos --my spin catalog consisted of .... the fireman --everything hurt. a. lot. --I would climb, slide down, climb, slide down, ad infinitum --shoulder mounts terrified me, and that was before I ever even tried one!

26 replies

chemgoddess1 · 12/22/2010
I remember when: I used to bruise all the time Trying to find other "polers" in your city was nearly impossible!
vamp79 · 12/22/2010
lol I can't wait to be able to invert with shoes. Thanks for this thread!
polefairy · 12/22/2010
I remember when climbing the pole seemed so difficult. Now it's so easy. 😉 I remember when I was TERRIFIED to do a falling forward spin, I cannot emphasise enough how much I thought I'd never be able to do it. Now I love it. 🥂 I remember after my first class thinking ''what the hell am I doing here? I can't pole dance!'' and now I think about poling every six seconds. 😈 I remember the chair spin and carousel seemed so difficult and I thought I would never have the strength to do 'em. Now I like to do them both together! 😂 I hope all the moves I have trouble with now will some day seem easy too. (because there's a lot! hahaha!) This time next year I hope to say ''I remember when I couldn't do the chopper, now I do it effortlessly!'' 😉 Great thread idea 🎅
Rena LadyBug · 12/22/2010
I remember thinking id never be able to invert... or when I neverthought I could do a butterfly... or an aysha... and a split grip or twisted grip was something only in my dreams--although my split grip is only in my dreams now!! Lol bruising like crazy... Thinking id never pole infront or ppl.. Def. Nevercoming out of my shell... I remember the thought or lifting into an invert was impossible, etc ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE W A LITTLE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION!! 🙂 THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!!
chemgoddess1 · 12/22/2010
I remember the first time I saw a caterpillar climb and thought that was the absolute coolest thing I had ever seen in my life and I for the life of me could not see how ANYONE could do it. Then I finally started working on it and could not get more than one scootch up. Then I remember being so excited when I got two, then 3 ....and then I fell out of it. I did not think I was ever going to be able to get it again out of fear. Forget about forearm grip or elbow grip (split grip is still elusive) I also remember my first super SM invert I never thought I would get the superman because my thighs kept getting in the way Knee hold?? Are you serious...it hurts WAYYYYY too much. Then I had issues with sweaty knees and it, now I can pretty much nail it every single time AND bend my body toward the floor!
Rena LadyBug · 12/22/2010
So I guess there is still hope for my superman!! I swear my thunder thighs get in the way and make me spin = SCARY! 🙂 I forgot about the cat climb being so.hard!! Duh, I've been working on the other side and had forgotten how freaking hard that move is!!! And letting go w my hands for a knee hold!? Really? Who would have thought!! I swear I only thought id be able to do spins but since I've surpassed l my previous goals and just say thebsky is the limit and everything is possible! I don't accept can't!! I can't do.an iron x or an Allegra but that is just temporary!! I will do them one day!!! chem-- I hope I get to.come in feb and meet u!! Im praying we wont be short handed here at work so i can come!!
yogabeachbabe · 12/23/2010
I remember when I was terrified to expose my midriff with just a bra top. I am still somewhat reluctant, but I've come really far from this psychological barrier!
polergirl · 12/23/2010
Yay, I love these! Keep them coming! 🥂
UTpoler · 12/23/2010
I too remember when I couldn't climb the dang pole. Took months to build up the strength to do it properly. I remember when I couldn't invert. I would swing up, grab the pole with my tippy toes and then fight/climb the rest of the way up. Oy vey. I hope this time next year I will say "I remember when I couldn't get the ayisha and now it's soooo easy."
Charley · 12/23/2010
I remember when I climbed with the soles of my feet - ick! there wasn't anyone to tell me it was ugly! I remember when I thought I was just soo advanced and awesome and it was all about the tricks (even though I secretly knew it wasn't.) I remember when I thought the handspring would NEVER happen for me - to add to that list, the iguana, the tg handspring, the aerial shouldermount, any drops, the knee hold and variations there of. I remember when I danced likes this - feel free to point and laugh (I used an effect so no one would know its me lol.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLuklW81Qnk&feature=player_embedded and here is me today http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/5946
Danielle Tillie · 12/23/2010
I remember when: I thought I wouldn't even be able to do a pole sit because the pain was too great. (I nearly cried during that class!) I couldn't do a wrist seat because my hands were so sweaty and my grip was so poor. Dancing through an entire song meant that the last half of the dance was only floorwork and transitions because I was too tired and too sweaty. Aerial inverts were only for people with ripped abs! lol I was terrified of the shoulder mount before I had even tried it. I thought I wouldn't be able to make anything look pretty due to my nearly absent flexibility. (update on that actually, last night for the first time, I stood with my feet together and put my palms on the floor! woooohooo!)
Veena · 12/23/2010
I remember when I discovered you could buy a pole for your home!! I remember when I first saw the Cartwheel mount and thought that was the most amazing move ever! Then wondering if it was even possible for me to do! I remember when I found out I was pregnant and saw my dreams of a physical studio fade....but as a result Studioveena was born! 🥂
tiggertail · 12/23/2010
I remember spending hours on YT watching video thinking only gymnast could do that. falling in love with MY dream move: the knee hold, still strugling with it but yeah i got it. thinking it would take me many years to get some moves like SM because i was too weak, and got it in less than a year...by accident lol. I remember feeling alone by myself and too shy to talk about my poling, what people would think of me 😕 And now i have tons of friends on internet and turn myself into a pole-preacher 😂 Many years ago, asking myself, other than club if there was a way to play on a pole. For the next year hope i will add: doing a live performance, meeting more poler, more, more and more moves 😀
madorie · 12/23/2010
these are great! here's mine: I remember when climbing was extremely difficult. Just holding on was hard. I remember when inverting was scary. Now it's like second nature. I remember watching this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOu4iOVYMIc) back in 2006 and was just in awe of her tricks. I still think it's a cool video. I remember when I used to get bruises up and down my legs. I didn't wear skirts or shorts for at least two years. I rarely bruise now. I remember thinking that I'll never get the handspring. I had a mental fear about flipping upside down and then holding with just your hands 🤔 . It took me a year and a half to get over that fear.
hookedonpole · 12/23/2010
OMG, WHERE to begin!!! I remember... going to an introductory class and thinking "yeah, right!" and having the deer caught in headlights look with every new move to attempt! the superman took forever and MUCH pain... aerial invert was a move for all the other polers (still need to improve it), but it's getting there... beginning the caterpillar and caterpillar climb were like, what the heck!... the shoulder mount was no where near my pole-to-do list, now I'm in beginning baby steps and am on my way to getting it 🙂 Maybe next year I can say I remember when handstand was no where on my list (just have a MENTAL block) EDIT: My pole hubby says "I remember when she used to wear her wedding ring" Sorry, thought of another one...I remember when I said "I could NEVER post a video of me poling!!!" 😮 List can go on and on, so thankful for all of the veeners, you have all made my pole journey fun and exciting. I am amazed at how our pole community is so supportive, encouraging, friendly, funny (glitterhips!) etc, etc. THANK YOU V, FOR THIS SITE!!! AND WEBMASTER 👍
LittleC · 12/23/2010
I love this thread! 🙂 I remember when the hip hold hurt me so bad that I hung there and cried. My inner thigh looked like I'd been hit by buckshot. Now it's just a necessary hold to do more fun things, like the jade! I remember when I took my first classes and wore yoga pants and long sleeved t-shirts. I am still on the modest side but I have come a long way - I can go to a class and wear little shorts and a sports bra and it's not a big deal. I remember thinking I would never in a million years get the cartwheel. I remind myself of that now, as I feel like I will never get my knee hold. 🥂 I am still very shy with my poling efforts as most of my practicing has been alone, but this year I have started going to classes again and also playing with other pole girls in my area. It's so much more fun that way - the more you put yourself out there, I think the easier it will get. I want to get over my fears of posting videos here, too - I can work on that one little by little this year.
Layla Duvay · 12/23/2010
This is great! I remember when I thought I'd NEVER be able to invert. Now I don't even think about it! Hell, I remember in my twenties when I was a working dancer and I saw girls whipping around the pole and thought "I could never do that!" Now I'm in my late forties and DOING it! YEAH!!!!! 🥂
RoxyPink · 12/24/2010
I remember when I couldn't even do a step around/half spin with one hand...so weak and out of shape I remember when I thought the scorpio was the most amazing looking and impossible feat ever I remember when I wanted to give up when learning the ckr because the pain was so bad I remember when I never thought I would be good enough to compete I remember the 5 bagillion times that I thought I couldn't do a move because of my weight and then the 5 bagillion times I proved myself wrong....including a stalled tg lift I remember when Little C got her first pair of shoes and was so freaking excited!! 🙂
LittleC · 12/24/2010
Haha - oh yes, Roxy! And I wore my shoes (mules, because I knew I would probably never be able to invert) with my capri length yoga pants! You are a huge part of what kept me working hard and I am so grateful to have you as a pole cheerleader as well as a wonderful friend. I remember when you didn't ever thing you would compete - and also when you got your first cartwheel mount! 🌸
joni1 · 12/25/2010
I remember when I first saw someone do the cross ankle release at a dance club and said wow 😮 I want to learn how to do that. Now I'm the girl who does the cross ankle release at the club. 🥂 I remember getting my 1st brass pole in my bedroom for mothers day. 😛 Now I have 6 poles all over the house as well as outdoor in every size, finished and make. 🙂 I remember when I did my first invert being so awkward barely getting into it by jumping. 🙄 Now I can effortlessly lift into it aerially. 🥂 I remember when I thought I was the most inflexible girl in the world and my husband telling me I look like a tripod when I first trained for my splits. 😠 Now after 14 months of training,finally got flat on my right front splits. 🤸 I remember being so jealous of all you gals in the states for having so much fun at pole jams. 😢 Now I run the successful Ontario Pole Jams monthly at various studios. 🫡 I remember when I was so shy to go up on the pole to dance at a club. 😳 Now you can't get me off the pole. 👸
Ryssa · 12/28/2010
I remember when doing anything more than walking around the pole was a dream, due to nerve damage in my spine, now I can do anything with enough practice 😀
minicoopergrl · 12/28/2010
I remember.... The first time I did a quick routine. Yeah it was basic but I was feeling it the entire time the bet Jessalynn and I had when I could finally invert when I first time I inverted and freaked out the other room almost crying sometimes in class when I couldnt get the moves and watching everyone else nail the move the first negitive comment I got on YT and laughed at it the first time I was reconized from YT when my boss found out I poled and I was a competitive poler! 😎
chemgoddess1 · 12/28/2010
I remember.... when my boss found out I poled and I was a competitive poler! 😎 My coming out at work was when I was on the news. Me hanging in a CKR was the teaser clip that kept getting aired all afternoon.
Charley · 12/28/2010
I remember when Empy was the only American pole dancer I had ever heard of!
chemgoddess1 · 12/29/2010
I remember when Empy was the only American pole dancer I had ever heard of! I remember seeing a picture of you doing an aysha and I thought never in my life would I be able to do that!

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