Angel1201
Forum Replies Created
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Hi MD5677, I see you are in Maryland. I live here too and I was diagnosed by Dr. Howard Levy at Johns Hopkins Greenspring Station, he is a specialist in EDS. He knows I pole dance and he was professional about it. He was protective of me actually and asked if I minded if he wrote it up for my permanent medical records. He wrote it up as “vigorous dance” in his notes instead of pole dance. You could also go see Dr. Clare Francomono at GBMC. She is one of the world leaders in EDS. She taught Dr. Levy. In fact she is creating a special EDS center at GBMC for people to come to from around the world. I was diagnosed at 40 which is not uncommon. Most doctors don’t know anything about it. Every EDS person I know has a story about delayed diagnosis and insensitive doctors. The only reason I was diagnosed was because I did a lot of research and I didn’t give up. If you feel like something is wrong with you, keep fighting for answers.
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Thanks Korinne for posting that article, my doc wrote it but I had never read it! The reason I was diagnosed with EDS was due to (what I thought at the time) were unrelated issues – I often had “blackouts” when I stood up, even to the point of fainting. Testing for that led to a ’tilt table test’ where I tested positive for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a condition where my heart rate would pound to compensate for a dramatic drop in my blood pressure when I stood up. Sooooo, to try to find out WHY I had that, I kept coming across EDS. I found this chart pictured here: http://www.physio-pedia.com/Beighton_score and I realized I could do all the things in the picture. Thumbs to wrist, knees bend back, elbow bend back, could touch floor with my palms with straight legs, pinkies bend back more than 90 degrees. Seeing that convinced me i had EDS, so I found a specialist, Dr. Howard Levy, and he confirmed the diagnosis. As a fitness instructor, remember that you cannot really look for it in your students or diagnose anything. Your responsibility is to make sure that your students are not progressing to weight bearing exercise before they have built the strength for them ie. they are in the appropriate level class. That you keep joints in their proper range of motion (no hyperflexing or hyperextending) and that you include the proper conditioning exercises in class so they build strength. You should also repeat ad-nauseum that if your students feel pain, they need to STOP whatever it is that is causing the pain and don’t let them back into the studio until they get medical clearance.
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I have EDS- hypermobility type. My fingers bend all the way back, my thumbs can touch the inside of my wrist, and on and on. Every joint of my body tested outside the average norm. I also have stretchy skin, POTS, low blood pressure, orthostatic intolerance, and chronic fatigue. I am lucky to see one of the world experts, Dr. Howard Levy, at Johns Hopkins near my home. He has been and always will be adamantly against me pole dancing. Every time I see him, he reminds me to “tone” my body rather than do any weight bearing exercise. I did end up tearing my forearm extensor tendon by 50% which kept me from extreme poling for at least 8 months. After that healed, I ended up tearing 3 of the 4 rotator cuff muscles completely in half. I had to have a massive rotator cuff repair. That was a brutal injury. There are a lot of successful pole dancers whom I suspect have some degree of EDS. You can tell once you know what to look for. I would caution your student to see a physician who actually knows something about EDS. It took me 20 years to get a firm diagnosis because many doctors are limited in their understanding of this condition. And even after I found a doctor, I continued to pole against doctor recommendations thinking that because I was careful and strong as well as conditioned that I would be immune. I thought my doc was ridiculous to tell me to tone with 1-2 lb weights when I knew I could lift 100 pounds, so I ignored him. Look where that got me… At the very least, get your girl to sign a release.
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Aerial, I’m glad to hear you cashed in on those credits! Discoveries Dance is still approved by ACE for 1.6 continuing ed. credits. I just haven’t been on the ACE site to update and list my trainings. I didn’t think too many people looked there, so I stopped posting and I just update my website instead. Maybe I’ll get back on and list what I have coming up.
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Thanks for the discount Joel. I just bought some! I almost went got the chocolate coconut, but chickened out and got vanilla!
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I ordered a 'pole sleeve' at the Pole Convention. It just arrived this week. I got it to go over my 45" pole. It's pretty cool and definitely adds safety to pole, however, static spins are out as Veena said. Victor, who created Pole Sleeves, is very nice and professional to deal with. The pole sleeve goes on and off as needed, it's pink and super soft. Here's the website: http://polesleeves.com/
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Let me just say that I love gentleman's clubs. Every woman is so beautiful to me that has the courage to get out on stage and show her stuff. I wish I went more often, but my hubby doesn't want to go. I do get nervous, because I wonder how the dancers will take me, but surely they realize we are there to appreciate them, just like the guys are! I've have some great nights in the clubs and some so-so nights where there dancers ignored me. But if they give me attention and smile, I pay well and my night is awesome!
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Let me just say that I love gentleman's clubs. Every woman is so beautiful to me that has the courage to get out on stage and show her stuff. I wish I went more often, but my hubby doesn't want to go. I do get nervous, because I wonder how the dancers will take me, but surely they realize we are there to appreciate them, just like the guys are! I've have some great nights in the clubs and some so-so nights where there dancers ignored me. But if they give me attention and smile, I pay well and my night is awesome!
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Let me just say that I love gentleman's clubs. Every woman is so beautiful to me that has the courage to get out on stage and show her stuff. I wish I went more often, but my hubby doesn't want to go. I do get nervous, because I wonder how the dancers will take me, but surely they realize we are there to appreciate them, just like the guys are! I've have some great nights in the clubs and some so-so nights where there dancers ignored me. But if they give me attention and smile, I pay well and my night is awesome!
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Yeah, we’ve missed you. Your natural talent excited so many of us, you just make it look effortless and you are simply one of the best. I took a lesson with you in Charlotte years ago and I really enjoyed your fun and kind personality! I hope to see more of you, it’d be a shame for you to switch careers!!! XOXO
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I have the Xtend Barre: Lean & Chiseled. It’s $11.99 on Amazon right now. It starts with a warmup, then you work the arms, next the legs and it winds down with a floor segment. It’s entirely ballet based and when they use the chair for support in the video, I hold onto my pole. I did it yesterday and I feel great today, tight, but not too overworked and drained like I sometimes do post workout. I love the lighting in the video, light blue, kind of like club lighting. And the instructor is not annoying.
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Yep! I use mine for Barre 3. Just did it tonight in fact.
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I developed a teacher training program called Discoveries Dance. It is a 16 hour training approved by ACE, AFAA, PFA & PDC. I wrote it on my summer break in 2010 and I have continually added to it and improved over time with the help of constant reseach and the review/input of three Physical Therapists, a chiropractor, an orthopedic surgeon, a PHd level forearm injury specialist and even Amber Richards who is pursuing her doctoral degree in Physical Therapy. I keep the cost of my training low, in fact I think it's the lowest available, since most pole teachers are young and just starting out and I think the information I provide will help drive the acceptance of pole dance as a safe, growing and popular form of physical exercise. The money I have made goes either back into my company or to charity (animal rescue, cancer, addictions treatment, etc). I have a full-time job in Education that pays my bills, so I do this on the side because I love pole and the pole community. I strongly feel a pole teacher needs to know anatomy, expecially of the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizer, in addition to the prime movers of the body and it is absolutely essential that she/he knows how to keep a student safe. I think they need to know exercise science, CPR, First Aid, management skills and of course teaching skills. I have never had anyone take my program and tell me that they already knew the information I provide. I am hoping that this knowledge spreads its way out into the community and we can all be better for it. I have worked with many teachers who are already teaching safe classes and I have worked with some who were doing some dangerous things. In order to take my training in the first place, people must have solid beginner and intermediate skills, a solid invert without kicking up, and some advanced moves. They can not in fact pass the post-training testing (which I estimate takes at least 8 hours) unless they can execute advanced movements. I also strongly feel that those who teach pole should have either a group fitness or personal training certification. These nationally accredited programs are the real deal and the knowledge they provide is invaluable. I am proud of my training and what it has to offer, but I expect that an interested student reseach all programs to see if what they want from a training matches what the certification provides.
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I have some barre DVDs at home. I like them for off pole days. I just hold onto my pole instead of a chair or a barre. To make my body feel tight and they’re not as difficult as a pole class. So I like the balance of the two together.
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Hi, I purchased the aerial yoga DVD from the uk. It was slow paced but I learned a few things. The splits stretches were good if I remember correctly. Justvdidnt get my heart rate up like my live class.
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I have alethia’s. There are some great stretches on her dvd’s. The music is not my taste, so I turn down the sound and then can’t hear the instruction. Some shots make it hard to see her alignment or foot placement. Other areas of the DVD do not match up cueing with what’s actually happening. So I get confused on that section. Am I supposed to do what she says or what I see her do? The section I’m referring to is the floor split stretch/relax section. She has a few section where she does ballistic kicking. From everything I’ve researched, ballistic is not advisable. I’m also ACE certified and they teach you to not use that type of stretch when teaching. I honestly don’t understand why she includes it. When you kick into a stretch it causes a reaction in your muscle that actually contracts the muscle. Then you kick again quickly and repeatedly on a contracted muscle and go beyond your natural range of motion. It’s considered a very risky form of flexibility training and may cause injury. I do know however that some elite athletes will use it as will martial artists, so i don’t know… I support Alethia, and think she’s so awesome, but I would hate for anyone to get hurt doing these kicks. One last thing, there is another stretch where you place your hand just above your knee and pull upwards on your lower leg. This hyperextends the knee joint. It’s very bad for the knee and I’d skip that piece if you do get the DVD. All in all I’d say go ahead and get it, just be gentle with yourself and if something causes pain, stop that particular exercise. Stretching shouldn’t hurt. As an aside, I will say that I do like the resistance stretching DVD with Dara Torres. She’s an Olympic athlete and she credits her success with this type of stretching. Yoga is also great for flexibility. The are some wonderful DVDs with hip openers and splits stretches (Hanumanasana).
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Hmm. So sorry to hear all this. I have a ps 45 multipiece bottom loaded pole. I like it a lot. My top piece needed to be replaced because the coating bubbled. But after that, all was well. I don’t mind the bottom sleeve all that much.
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I have some bad kitty, mika, and pole skivvies and they are all great. I bought some Zweet and some Onzie at the Pole Convention and I'm enjoying the fabric and the patterns. They're made for bikram yoga, so they are pretty versatile.
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Wow, what a sisterhood we have here! I thought all you other polers were superbionic LOL..I feel relieved knowing I'm not the only one struggling! I have Ehlers-Danlos which affects nearly my whole body. As a result, I have disc issues, soft tissue injuries, POTS, orthostatic hypotension (dizzy every time I stand up), fibromyalgia, migraines, IBS, chronic fatigue, varicose veins, Raynauds, probably endometriosis, mild scoliosis, some arthritis, and god knows what else!! LOL. If nothing else, all this has forced me to take really good care of myself.
Jgrey, thanks for putting this out there! I'm wishing all of you ladies lots of healing!
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Memphis, Thank you for sharing your history with addiction. Your openness can only help others who may be suffering in silence!
Cinara, I was shocked to learn I had POTS! The tachycardia didn't register with me consciously, even though it was happening every time I stood up. Weird! The test for it is simple, it's called a tilt-table test. I think when you experience something your whole life (pain, subluxations, lax joints, etc.) you just think it's normal! Keep us updated on your progress!
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Hi Cinara,
There are two things you mentioned besides pain that caught my eye. Subluxations and hypermobility. Have you been checked for Ehlers-Danlos (hypermobility type)? Hypermobile joints, subluxations, and frequent pain are hallmarks of the syndrome. I have it but was not diagnosed until 40 because many doctors do not know about it. It took many many doctor visits to get to that diagnosis. I finally had to seek out a world expert at Johns Hopkins to be told that my pain was part of the syndrome and that my POTS, IBS, tendonitis, migraines, trigger points, fatigue, orthostatic intolerance, and varicose veins were all additional symptoms of the disorder. The source of the problem is irregular collagen which makes up your muscles, veins, cartilage etc. When your joints are hypermobile, your muscles have to work harder to keep the joints in their proper range of motion, so the go into spasm causing pain. I live with pain each and every day. I get so fatigued at times, I walk around like a zombie. The joint pain migrates from joint to joint. One month its my hip, the next my knee. Luckily my doctor understands that and recommends a lot of medications (that I avoid as much as possible). Sorry to ramble on, but if anyone out there reads this, it may help them if they are hypermobile struggle with pain. There is a simple test that can help lead to a diagnosis called the beighton scale.
PS, I'm so very sorry that you hurt as a child and you weren't given help. That is totally unfair and I wish your complaints would have been treated with respect and care.
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I'll see you there! I'm teaching right after you.
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Congrats on your acceptance! I would strongly recommend the Full Body Fitness club in Pitts. I trained the pole teachers there and they are excellent instructors! Plus they have all sorts of aerial devices to train on! I know it's far, but even if you went once, it'd be worth it! I know that on occasion they have 8 hour silks workshops on the weekends. Might be a nice break from studying!! You can also check out Pole Nation. It's a great site that lists all pole studios in the US.
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Since I have 6 dogs, I do a lot of dog walking, haha. Outside that I do yoga, barre, kettlebells DVDs. I also recently got a whole body vibration machine. Supposedly a ten minute workout on it equals an hour. I'm not so sure about that, but I love using it. I feel really good afterwards.
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Hey Pheonix, I will definitely hunt you down for a pic and hopefully I'll be able to catch your (what I'm positive will be breathtaking) performance.
Linda!! p-leeze! Don't know anyone? I'll be there girl! You can hang out with me!!!
Empy, I'll buy you and your hubby a coffee so you can keep the party going!
