Not comfortable with home pole.

MD5677 started this discussion · 2/1/2014

I am a relatively new poler. I learned a couple of spins and such but would forget them as soon as class was over. I also blew out both elbows and knew I would have to start from scratch when I started poling again. So I got a home pole. X pole expert. I am not having any real problems with it but I can't seem to get comfortable With it. I went back to the studio today and I was able to do much more than at home. Have any of you had this experience? Should I just avoid going back to the studio until I feel more comfortable with my pole? Thoughts appreciated.

11 replies

Runemist34 · 2/1/2014
Poling at home, especially when you're used to the environment of a studio, takes some getting used to. Humans tend to compartmentalize, especially places: We have our bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms. They've got specific uses, and they're optimized for those uses. Dance studios are similar, in that they are optimized with the best lighting, sound, floor, and atmosphere that we can make, so that when we got there, we associate dancing and working out with being there. However, if you have your pole (and thus your intended workout) in your bedroom, or living room, or even a spare room that may have been re-purposed for your pole, you may have a difficult time "getting comfortable" with it. You're changing the nature of the room, and the way you label that room, and it can take some time. That being said, if you have it in a spare room, you can do your best to optimize the space, and you'll likely get more comfortable with it in a shorter amount of time. If it's in a multi-purposed room, such as your bedroom, see if you can find some "rituals" to do before getting into your dancing. For me, it's things like cleaning up the massive amount of laundry on the floor :P And, also setting up my music. I hope to get my big stereo into the closet one day, so that I can have some really awesome bass! Just give it time :)
Tara · 2/1/2014
I am a believer in repetitive practice. I would advise you to give Veena's lessons a try. This way you have the option of learning different things, under good (safe) advice, at your own pace. The direction is amazing! But be patient; and expect it to feel awkward :-)
Veena · 2/1/2014
How are you structuring your home pole sessions? It's best to have a plan, if you don't it can end up wasting a lot of time and that's not fun. Have you considered using the lessons here? The 30 day take off Program, is a program included with the lessons and it's very structured. Also the lessons themselves are all place in order, allowing you to progressively build up strength and build in skill. Something else to keep in mind when poling at home, pole conditions will vary because the climate will vary, hotter, colder, dry etc, and if you're not warming up at home this can also affect your workout. Here's the 30 day take off program http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4KzMIIbZH0 This video explains how to use the lessons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Bgmg3jNmQ
MD5677 · 2/1/2014
R34. You know I never really thought about where I put the pole. You have such a good point. I put the pole up in our basement/man cave. It is the place when the males of my family hang out. Pre pole I rarely went down there for fear of I might see...dirty underwear on floor, months old food, pee on the toilet, well you get my drift! It is an unfamiliar and uncomfortable space for me so no wonder I am having some adjustment issues! Veena, if it were not for you lessons I would still be standing there looking at the new pole and wondering "what next"? Especially since I have been injured, the lessons have been invaluable in helping me to focus on strength and learning the technical nuances that I missed the first time around.
Veena · 2/1/2014
Aw thanks MD! Well after reading your last post I would agree that maybe finding a better pole space would help a ton!!!! I know I have moved my poles around 3 times in this house, and I still gravitate towards one space because of how it "feels".
anamika · 2/2/2014
I am with you MD. I have a pole but I don't like poling at home. It's so bad that I just feel like I dislike poling. But when I go to the studio, it's a different story. I feel safe and I feel like learning. I come home all motivated and that motivation goes away in no time. Thanks for posting this as I thought I was the only one and didn't want to share it. Don't know what to do.............
chemgoddess1 · 2/2/2014
Poling at home really takes effort. When I am at the studio it is harder for me to say no because I am paying for that class and there is a whole different atmosphere. Everyone around me is trying the move so I feel I need to in order to get my money's worth out of it. At home it is so much easier to just blow off a move because I tend not to push myself unless I am preparing for a performance.
dancingqueans · 2/2/2014
poling at home is something that I tell myself 15 minutes a day and I try to work on something fun. at the studio is when I work on the hards stuff, I don't have the leg room here. :(
teachtrinity · 2/2/2014
What helps me at home is cool music that I want to dance to and also my pole journal, I have a list of at least 10 moves I want to work on then just literally work down the list, I add new moves as I get taught them in class and then tick off the ones I have nailed so the list is constantly updated (some moves have been on the list quite a while though lol) I browse the internet and my PDC book for new moves too to get me inspired :)
Lina Spiralyne · 2/2/2014
I understand you. And I had weird problems in the very beginning with my home poling as well. I started in a studio and when the course was over I got myself a pole and was very excited about it. But what a strange disappointment that was at first. I had had NO problems whichsoever with swinging around the pole in the studio, and now I was standing there thinking WTF is wrong, because it was like I didn't dare to get on it. So weird and I had never expected such a thing to happen. Luckily it passed quickly and I soon felt totally normal about poling at home. Since I have a small apartment there's not much choice in where to put the pole and I like the space. However, I can imagine that going down to a basement would give me problems. Not to mention the garages some people are poling in. If they are not very nice basements and garages. It is difficult enough to get up from the couch and start moving anyway. Obviously you need to find a nicer space for the pole, as that really is an important part of it, and then I think you could get better friends with home poling.
hookedonpole · 2/3/2014
So glad you posted this. I've been poling for few years and have struggled with poling at home. I can practice things to continue to get better and remember, but I hold off on new things or that I'm not confident with (but can do). But I get to the studio and can do it with more ease and confidence. I struggle because of the lack of height at home in comparison to the studio. And even though I have decent pole space, I let the storage shelves, etc in the room distract me and I don't feel I have enough space. I have to plan or time spins/tricks to end up on a certain side, etc. I'm glad I have a pole at home and get good practices in, just wish I did more at home. As mentioned, sometimes it's hard to get motivated at home because I want to be at the studio with my awesome instructor and gals in class! :) Hang in there and get a comfortable location. Awesome that you have veena's lessons, they were a huge help to me when I didn't have a studio to go to and learned A LOT from them. Maybe you can find someone to Skype with, a lot of veneers do that, OR better yet, come to chat here on Fridays and video pole! :)