near death by pole

lily started this discussion · 3/23/2009

SO, today I tried my first attempt at a pencil mount, and seriously nearly killed myself!!! I've been icing this goos-egg for a few hours, and thank God no dizziness or anything has set in.....if it weren't for beautiful Natasha Richardson's death from a minor head injury RIP I'm sure I would have just laughed it off....but I have been such a drama queen about it 😳 Kissing my babies like it's the last time, telling my husband earnestly how much I love him......he was like 'Yeah and if you don't wake up tomorrow I promise I'll tell everyone you died hitting your head on a Bible' LOL Okay, for real I feel fine now , but DAMN - that rang my bell!!!! What's the worst fall ya'll have ever had?? I wish I would have caught it on video so everyone could have a good laugh.....I am feeling better after looking a few youtube pole disasters... This is pretty much EXACTLY what I did...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNJZM-UbW3M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qmozDoWPTs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAxFFy4GWSA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm5qm_e0bIs I'm sure ya'll are smarter than me and try new moves with pillows or mats or a spotter underneath you....feel free to share any safety tips 🌸 helmets are hot on a pole right? 🙂 I think I need one......

18 replies

kerrierou · 3/23/2009
OUCH GIRL! welll a spotter is always the best, but who has one handy every time they want to pole. there are special pole mates that all cost around $100. if you go to your local fabric store they should have foam. i went to joanns facbis this morning and found good 4'x4' squars that are 4" thick. i also bought polka dot fabric to "reupolister" it. you can have it match your room or personality, be safer, for around $20-$30!! good luck and be carefull!!!
Veena · 3/23/2009
Oh my I hope your ok!!!! 😢 😲 😮 Personally I think the "pole mats" are kinda spendy. If you want a pole mat making one yourself like Kerrie suggested it a great and fun option. You could also pull the cushions off your couch...those tend to be even MORE cushy than mats you buy. Take care of that noggin 🤔
lily · 3/23/2009
Thanks so much girls 😳 It's feeling a better today - I have some large pillows I may set down around the pole, and/or I need to get my husband to spot me.
pole-twista · 3/23/2009
omg! 😮 glad to hear your ok!!! wow! this is the move i think i am most afraid to try just looks scary i will eventually try it (when i have a spotter have never used 1 but think this move i will need 1) well really glad to hear your ok !!!! 🥂
yogabeachbabe · 3/23/2009
Glad to hear that you're ok! You may want to try Dry-Hands or some other kind of grip aid JUST for that move. When I know I'm going to have a short practice, I'll save the Iguana mount for the end (as long as I'm not too tired) so I can use a little Dry-Hands. Make sure you let it dry completely before poling. Some girls use grip stuff all throughout their practice but I found out that it was too sticky for me and tore up my palms. So I'll practice spins and climbs, then inverts and then Iguana. Good luck! ps. I think it's a great idea to ask your husband to spot you. I'm sure he'd love it!
DeaconJungleCatPoles · 3/23/2009
OH my god, glad you are ok! I had a mishap last week. My pole came down while I was in mid spin! It was something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miF-1lr61NU&NR=1 except I landed on my feet and had the pole in my hands before it banged into the wall!! Good thing cats always land on there feet 😂 And this other link is something I found that was just plain funny!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XidTNHii4zY&NR=1
Novadog · 3/24/2009
So far in pole related injuries I've: Spun myself off onto a wall, Landed on my chin, my arse, my shoulder, my hip, the top half of my back, my ear (I used to to rowing and it's drummed into me 'Never let go of your oars,' which seams to translate into 'Never let go of your pole') Scraped my back off a table Sailed myself over another table (it's no where near my pole but I was 'experimenting' with using all the 'space' I have available, and I completely forgot it was there), gut punched myself with said table (I was so 'in the moment' on that one). Scraped my knees, and impailed myself on my heels. This excludes the line of bruises I've had along the inner side of my thighs, trying to master the various sits and cross legged/ankle/knee holds, the blister bruising i've had on the left side of my rib cage, and the skin pulled bruises on the inside of my arm. So yeh, Pole Dancing.. Completely enjoyable hobby... 😐
pole-twista · 3/25/2009
yes it does cause some bumps and bruises along the way but it literally toughens you up 😎 not only are my muscles/confidence stronger so is my skin!! used to get bad pole burn/blisters that would eventually start bleeding on my palms ect now I consider myself a pretty tough cookie it gets easier as you get a better feel for the pole and how to handle yourself properly 👸 👑
lily · 3/25/2009
Damn Novadog! 😂 I agree Pole-twista, all the injuries definitely make me feel tougher 🙂 Thanks for making me feel better everyone 🌸
Novadog · 3/26/2009
Yeh, I bruise like a prune so it always looks worse than it actually is. Considering the list, it's kind of surprising I wasn't diagnosed with dyspraxia untill I was in my 20's. Nx
Poledancefan · 4/2/2009
I'm a big believer in mats. I am not petit--195 pounds of weight would smack the ground pretty hard--even from a short height. Before I bought the rather expensive mats, I just piled up old bathroom mats, comforters, and lounge chair cushions. I have pegged foam squares permanently under the poling area. The fastest, cheapest way to get protection is sheets of foam rubber used for projects and bunting at the sewing store. I've gotten fragments and endpieces for a couple of bucks. It's a nasty green or yellow colored piece of foam, but with enough layers it will save your a** and your noggin. Yes, the Natasha Richardson case got my attention. I've ridden a bike THOUSANDS of miles without a helmet over the last 20-30 years--but that is an activity in which I have TOTAL confidence in myself. Not so with poling!...Hence, the mats,..... lots of them! Joel
lily · 4/2/2009
Thanks Joel! 🙂 I actually think I've figured another solution for a little while....my kids have a playscape with a fireman pole on super soft grass, so I've been working on inverts out there lately 😂 I really have been having 'pole fear' since that fall though, I'm being such a baby - I need to get over it and own the pole!!
Poledancefan · 4/3/2009
One other thing I was going to mention--I've seen Krizbe84 in Scotland use this, and Boomloulou in Singapore, also: That's the inflatable camping mattress that blows up with an air pump included with the product. Walmart sells these for less than 50$ for a twin sized mattress. They are six inches thick. You will still have a little "breakthrough" however, if a pointy part of your body hits the air mattress. (Like an elbow or your heel). So put a carpet scrap UNDERNEATH the air mattress to stop breakthrough. Boom and Krizbe have both posted vids with their gigantic inflatables underneath them. Ain't no shame in avoiding the orthopedic surgeon's office, LOL! But it sounds like you've found a good solution for now. Anyway, camping supplies go on sale in the fall--stuff'll be cheaper 5-6 months from now! Joel
Nativejewel007 · 4/10/2010
Oh how many of us can relate... Great thread by the way, I've been too embarrassed to share this, but now that all y'all have posted I guess we need to be proud of our battle scars! So this is my war story... I was learning the iguana mount and had only successfully penciled it 3times with my hubby spotting me. Well he gets a call and leaves the room and my dumb, confident, independent self decided to give it another go without him. Oh if I could take that moment back I would give anything! Fell str8 down onto my right shoulder and broke my collarbone and hospitalized for a moderate concussion. 8 long, excruciating weeks without Miss Priss (yes, I named my pole!) don't act like there's nameless poles out there now come on!! Anyway, that was a few months ago now but I am fully recovered with a horrible memory. For a while, I was mad at her, then ofcourse I missed her after a few days!! Well now we are inseparable again with some good and bad times under our belt lol =)
moonflower · 4/11/2010
I think the iguana mount is a very common one to fall on. I fell pretty hard on this one too. I thought I had it then my hands just slipped and I came right down on my head. Luckily, I had thin foam mats down, the kind you put down for kids to play on. It cushioned my head but I still hurt my neck. I couldn't look left for almost 2 weeks. And silly me, I didn't go to the doctor because I was too embarrassed to explain that I fell while pole dancing. I hope you feel better and nothing was too badly hurt. Be careful! While on this topic, I want to share a very strange (please dont; laugh) fear of mine. I an TERRIFIED of hurting myself while on the pole very badly and being unable to move or call for help, and then having people find me the next day or two crumpled next to my pole in my bra and undies. I even get nightmares about it. It's not just the getting hurt part. It's also being found half naked or indecently dressed. What will people think? I can hear the nurses gossip already, " hey, did you hear about the girl who came in with trauma to her head? She fell with POLE DANCING! IN HER UNDERWEAR!!!Talk about slutty." *shudder* 😲
azriel · 4/11/2010
While on this topic, I want to share a very strange (please dont; laugh) fear of mine. I an TERRIFIED of hurting myself while on the pole very badly and being unable to move or call for help, and then having people find me the next day or two crumpled next to my pole in my bra and undies. I even get nightmares about it. It's not just the getting hurt part. It's also being found half naked or indecently dressed. What will people think? I can hear the nurses gossip already, " hey, did you hear about the girl who came in with trauma to her head? She fell with POLE DANCING! IN HER UNDERWEAR!!!Talk about slutty." *shudder* 😲 Moonflower, i have the same fear! I usually practice at night when my bf is at work, & i always have the camera running. I can just picture him coming home, finding me passed out on the floor with my heels on, body bent all awkwardly. Then he sees the camera still running, & goes & watches to see what happened, where he sees me trying to act all sexy & cool, when suddenly i slip in the stupidest of ways, frantically trying to save myself before crashing to the floor! Talk about humiliating, LOL.
SimpllySweet · 4/11/2010
😂 I carry my cell phone with me when I go workout. That way if I fall and "can't get up" If I can just make it to the cell phone.... For mats I use the old mattresses (spelling) from my kids beds. They work great.
horsecrazy12987 · 4/12/2010
LOL I've never been afraid of getting stuck and having someone come in and find me in a compromising position, but maybe I just have no shame. The only thing I really worry about is the pole coming down on me, so I'm pretty paranoid about constantly checking it. A lot of activies I've participated in in the past have either involved falling or the possibility of doing so, so actually falling off the pole doesn't really scare me--I'm falling onto carpet, after all, and when I'm learning a new invert I always put a bunch of pillows down. (I live alone so I don't really have a spotter on hand.) I just don't want the pole crashing down after me, because I'm scared it would take out my computer or the sliding glass door or something. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be getting my damage deposit back in that case. 😲