miche started this discussion ·
hey guys, just wondering if it's possible to learn on your own? I don't feel comfortable learning how to pole dance out in public, so I figure I could just buy a pole and get a dvd or something and try to learn it that way. do you think that would work?
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that's what I've done and its seeming to turn out pretty well. The girls (and guys!) on here are so support and help if you ever get caught up on something. It is VERY important though to make sure that you focus on safety and correctly executing moves. Veena has awesome lessons and she even has them grouped by difficulty so you can start easy and grow. She breaks down each move in a very easy to understand way and really let's you know how to do it correctly so you don't get hurt. Good luck!
JenLFG ·
it's totally possible 🥂 i have a pole at home & i have never taken a class. i use online lessons, youtube & the art of pole DVD set 😁
everything I have learned is from here or youtube. especially now with all the tutorials online its very easy to learn at home. I have been poling for around 3 years I went to my first pole class last week mainly to meet other pole dancers in my area =]
miche ·
thanks for the advice guys! 🙂 I just bought the art of pole dvds..so just waiting for that and my pole to arrive 😛
Meleania ·
yup im completely self taught too. I take a beginner pole class lately just to meet other pole dancers in the area as well. The only downside is that if you dont have a boyfriend thats willing to spot you some moves you shouldnt try on your own due to safety
Completly self taught here too! Dvds and youtube were all I learned from, I suggest getting a crash mat or a spotter for inversions! Good luck I'm sure you'll be fabulous!
I am also self-taught! Studioveena's lessons are great alongside youtube!! Go for it!!! You'll do great!!! *~*~ Skittles *~*~* PS. Posting videos of your practice and progress helps too! The feedback the studioveeners give is awesome!
Charley ·
Just to throw a different perspective out there. I'm self taught, moved into teaching and now I take workshops/privates whenever I can. My students not only dance better than I did earlier than I did, but they are learning how to engage their body properly, how to hold the pole, how to finish their moves, they are learning safety techniques and self spotting. I think taking atleast a 4/6 week beginner class will give you a lot. Also consider everyone else in class is there for the same reasons and feel the same way you do, so you are not alone. Being able to get instant feedback is really important. I really wish I would have learned properly.
I have done a bit of both. Mostly self taught with a few lessons thrown in here and there. I know I would have progressed further faster and not taught myself some bad habits had I taken more lessons. The only reason I didn't was because until a couple of months ago there was no studio here locally which meant only taking lessons while traveling. This is my "summer of pole" tons of lessons and workshops. I'm either going to be a teacher at the end or hang up my stiletto's.
Whatever my $.02 is worth, my only instruction thus far has been here. Not just the lessons. I've had one-on-fives in Friday night chat and gotten great observations and support via webcam. Personal instruction is great, but with studioveena and some serious self-discipline, I've grown into a fairly confident and safety-minded poler. In fact, I just got a job teaching at the first ever pole studio in my city! I credit studioveena with that 100%. I know my limitations and what i have no business teaching yet. But I also know what I do know- I know what I'm good at, and how to explain moves that I understand. You will get out of your pole-education whatever you put Into it. Everyone learns at different paces BUT everyone can learn safety and learn ABOUT the sport/art if you use your resources (I.e. Studioveena!) and commit to learning more than just how to do a trick or two. So basically, I love you all. And without you all in my life, I don't know where I'd be. I don't even want to think about it. Studioveena got me out of a bad relationships and gave me my wings in pole and life. *sniff* you guys are the best 🙂 yes, you can learn independently, and you can learn a lot more than tricks.
When I started there wasn't any place in Chicago to take classes so I was self taught with online lessons at Vertical Dance and mentoring via the internet by KT and many others. Yes it can be done safely but you can also make mistakes along the way that lead to injury or slow you down. Nothing replaces live classes...as all of us who have not always had as good of opportunity will tell you. We crave live classes...and like Charley, are anxious to take as many as we can. Online lessons can teach you a lot, but they can't give you feedback that relates specifically to what you are doing. Online lessons can be great but if you can take live lessons, take them too! Or at least take them once to get a good foundation and then go back occasionally. Also, there is nothing like the fun and comraderie of a group class!!! You can develop fantastic friends online but it's not the same as taking a class with them. A couple of my best friends I met online, but it didnt' compare to finally meeting them in person and getting to take classes together. I'm going to get to do more of that with the upcoming Detroit pole jam and workshops and the Midwest pole jam...and I CANNOT WAIT! Even at this stage of teaching I crave the live classes and yet still take the chance to learn from every available resource possible both online and live.
litlbit ·
I am also self taught, there are NO STUDIOS anywhere in this state. I learned from Veena, then Studio Veena. As with anything else if you are motivated and safety conscious you will not have problems if you have a good resource or tools available. Studio Veena's lessons are the best I've seen, and because she is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer definitely knows how to teach proper form and technique. I am involved in Bodybuilding, and most if not all the training for contest prep is done online...it is up to me to do it the way they tell me to prevent injury. My feelings as a "retired" nurse are as follows, you can teach someone anything properly, but is is still up to the individual to do it the way it was taught/explained. I say this because I had to give patient discharge instructions after Ortho surgery, not all were compliant...that was their responsibility. So basically the old adage stills applies....you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink...this is also true of classes, not everyone is going to do as you say. Now having said that, I'm not advocating a person should not take classes, by all means! if you have a studio available and can afford it. I don't have that kind of money so even if there were one here I would not be able to do that. Studio Veena offers me an affordable SAFE alternative, and I am EXTREMELY grateful for this site!!
Charley ·
I hope no one thought I was trying to say that live classes are the only way to go. I highly encourage my students to practice and to get instruction from other places such as here for one, because I know Veena will meet people in chat and clear up confusion and give further advice. Infact, this is the first place I would tell someone to come. I haven't personally taken the lessons here but have spent enough time talking to Veena that I know she is an excellent teacher and has taken the time to build a program for all levels of dancers. In chat she's always helping people with moves whether you have her lessons or not - which I think is amazing! Vertical dance 1&2 are the most bang for your buck for learning tricks AOP is very thorough and breaks things into mini routines and combinations which I really liked. There were even new beginner and intermediate moves that I learned from those DVD's. I am just saying don't avoid classes because of fear of being in a "public" setting because we all have the same fear. If that's the only reason you aren't doing live classes then you should reconsider. Everyone has the same fears, body image issues and worries but most of the time classes are encouraging of one another, you meet new people and make friends. There are a lot of advantages to taking classes if that's an option for you. I just had my 3rd live class recently with Amber/Fleur and it was amazing! I learned tons and I didn't even nail a crazy hard trick. I learned so much about lines, extension and learned variations on spins (she tried to help me nail a crazy hard trick but my body wasn't ready.) Having someone giving me the instant feedback was great! So, basically don't avoid classes because of fear...everyone is feeling the same way.
Veena ·
I missed this one! You most certainly can learn safely at home. But no matter how you chose to learn its up to YOU to listen and follow the instruction weather in a studio class or at home. There are a few good dvds out there and I have my online lessons set up in an order that helps you build strength first and then you move on to pole work. I'll even tell you what you might want to go back and work on if your having a hard time with a move. As far as not taking lessons because your too shy or self conscious, that is an understandable fear...but I have found... doing things that scare the crap out of you is the only way you GROW and get over that fear. 😳 One thing to keep in mind is that your instructor is knowledgeable...one sign that you should leave a studio....letting beginner INVERT! Thats a no no. Hope that was helpful.
I'm a big hodge podge of all of the above and it can totaly be done at home, especiall with Veena's lessons because she breaks things down for you just like a class instructor would. I do have to say that I agree with Charley too though. It's always nice to be in a move and look up at somebody and say "Like this?". LOL 😂 That's what's so awesome about chat. It's like a class in your house. I can't count how many moves I've gotten in chat. I also love taking classes and going to jams to mingle and share ideas and styles. I hope that as you progress you'll feel more confident to pole with others 😀
