AnnVann
Forum Replies Created
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I did sell this pole. 🙂
For those still looking, there are some really nice deals on craigslist.com. -
Hi Jolene. It took me almost a month. I had NO upper body strength. I started timing how long – One second, two… I’m not kidding. The good news – once you start to be able to hold, it gets better fairly rapidly. I just started a split grip and I have that up to 8 seconds! Be sure you have a fighting chance by using a grip aid, if your body type needs it. (Mine did.) I also used weights and resistance bands daily to help off-pole. Now I don’t use weights because it seems like working on the pole itself is really helping me build muscles. But I read a lot of posts here that many women cross-train with weights. Modified push-ups help too. Keep track of your progress, so yo can appreciate it. It’s impossible NOT to get better, as long as you don’t quit!
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If you have average to large hands, you’ll be good on the 50mm. If you have small hands, you might prefer the 45mm. Lots of people say 50mm’s are easier to do leg holds on. So it depends on your hand/body size.
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Have you tried iTac or Mighty Grip on inner legs and pole? It might help while waiting for weather to warm up!
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Sounds like you need a grip aid. They are not all equal, so you need to figure out why you’re slipping. If you are sweaty, I think Veena suggests using “Dirty Girl” on hands, legs, and pole. If you are cold and dry like me, I have to use iTac, or Veena’s secret blend of Mighty Grip plus .
There are other threads that address grips on this Discussion site, so cursor down. Hope that helps! (I was just about ready to give up, until I met iTac, lol!) -
When I was recovering from an injury, I did the tennis ball squeeze thing! Lots of gentle stretching. (Not flexibility training) And watched lots of pole vids, which is a mixed blessing, because you get so fired up to get going again that it almost hurts your heart, lol! Also, I assembled some pole music playlists from iTunes.
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Omg, I just started poling last Oct., and my body is Night and Day different! I am getting shoulders for the first time in my life! My hips are narrowing, and my bum is very much tighter. I was expecting most change to be in biceps, but it is more in shoulders, lats, and triceps, for me, at least.
This poling stuff has amazing body benefits! I “do” get sore a lot with all the rapid changing, but it is so worth it. -
Hi, Veena has really good core and ab exercises that have helped me (i.e. Hard Core Warm Up, etc.) Pole will definitely help this area! 🙂
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I agree with Runemist… go take a few lessons and see if it grips you! You will know very soon! Don’t worry how you look at first. Everyone has to first “feel safe” to be comfortable with sensual stuff. Your husband will probably really appreciate the effort, even if you are a work-in-progress! But be sure you are liking it too! If it’s “just” for someone else, you might not own it in the same way. Personally, I have a few routines I like to do, for different reasons. I have a Rated G routine that stresses fitness and fluidity (at least that is my attempt, lol!), and I have a routine that is almost trashy, lol, because I can explore a side of movement that I haven’t done before! It’s liberating and even empowering in a strange way! I wouldn’t post that routine to Facebook, haha!
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@jdecourcy – Trust me, I was like you in the ZERO upper body strength. I could not lift myself up even 1/2 inch from floor on either side. If you just keep at it, well, it is a miracle! I can pole climb now and spin. Also can hold myself in split-grip. I can’t believe it. Not inverting yet, but I’ve only been at it a little while. Also, there are quite a few More-To-Love-Ladies who pole dance really well! They’re getting themselves upside down, doing reverse grips, and all sorts of things. I saw them on youtube, plus also in real life at studios!
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Hi, beginner here, too. I warm up to my own music using a Pilates chair and light floor stretches. Then I do the SV lesson for the day. (30 day program)…Then I put on my own music and do more stuff, taking care to not push too far ahead of strength capabilities. I actually pulled a left pec muscle from a studio class I was taking… I think I was trying to cram a lot into that live lesson, and I probably went beyond my capacity. If you miss a day of 30-day, just pick up where you left off, or a lesson or two before that. It doesn’t have to be literally 30 days, right? Don’t feel guilty if you miss. You are human, doing human things. 🙂
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I wanted to offer this to the Veena-verse first, before putting on Craig’s List. 🙂
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Here’s a pic of the pole and its components. It’s the standard Xpert pack that fits up to 9′ ceiling. It’s easy to add extension pieces if you need them. 🙂
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The knee hold doesn’t look too fun…
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OK, my challenge will be to improve forward splits and fan kicks to incorporate in dance. 🙂
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Hi Kristina, I am just new, but I am seeing that everyone’s body chemistry is a little different. Some people can “stick” better than others. I am a dry-hand non-sticker, lol, and the only grip that remotely works for me is iTac. I got my jar from eBay. It comes in a few different strengths, but I just got the “regular” strength, because I find it is build able, if necessary. It does kind of muck up your pole, but alcohol wipes can take care of that. I own Mighty Grip too, but it was a joke for me.
Useless. My hands are so smooth and dry that I barely have fingerprints, lol! My pole teacher says as I get stronger, I will need less iTac. -
I can understand that, too. Skill is skill. (This is a great discussion!) I have known some skating competitions where if the “Adult” category winners win over three times, they are tossed in with the majority to compete, regardless of age.
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Seems like we all have had a “friend” like that. When I did, I tried to focus on the good ones and tried to not put energy into the non-friend. If she changes her tune and comes around on her own, you’ll know it. Otherwise you don’t need that! Be strong and pole on!
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@michael Honestly I don’t know much about BMI. And you’re right someone with bulky muscles could qualify, and then that defeats the purpose, in our case of discussion. I hadn’t thought about that angle. I guess you’d just have to call the category Plus Size, and let the entrants decide if they fit the description. People have been arguing for decades what “normal weight” even is, lol!
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Maybe the Plus Size can be determined by a BMI index %, however that would only be a suggestion to those who choose to enter. It would be up to the entrant to figure if he/she qualifies…. ?
Another thought – (I was a competitive ice dancer in my “former” life, lol) Many people competed in ice skating, when all they really wanted to do was have a performance goal and be seen in a formal public setting. So at one of the rinks where I trained, they developed a Showcase for exhibiting. They still gave out trophies and took pictures of those who entered. They put Plus on the trophy for that category; not the term Plus Size. So no one seeing the trophy would automatically know what that meant.
I am not a plus myself, but I am certainly sympathetic to categories that need to exist to encourage all people. -
@cheffy You mention that you are not strong or flex… My question is how much stronger or flexier would you be if you did NOT pole, lol! Anything you do is “money in the bank”. You are improving your body little by little, even if you are not that aware of it.
Keep on polin’! 😀 -
Samsara, I DID ask my oncologist about poling… She thought it was great! 🙂 I am a former ice skater, and I had also asked her about returning to the ice, since my bone density had been altered. She loved it and thought the good far outweighed the bad. (Unfortunately there is no longer a rink near me.)
Although my lymphs are not totally removed, I do have to be careful. But since one of the treatments for lymphedema “is” exercise, I figure I’m heading it off at the pass!
Using spinny pole reminds me of my skating days and rejuvenates me, so even though I am taking it slowly like you, I feel I need to do this!
My only problem now is that my mind wants to do so much more than my upper body strength can agree with, lol! -
Hi, I am a survivor too. I am told that exercise prevents lymphedema, so I’m “all systems go” with the pole! Also, the chemo threw
me into an early menopause, so I have to watch my bone density. Again, pole is great cuz it’s weight bearing! The only thing I have noticed is that I get pain sometimes when the scar tissue tears a little as I am building back up my chest. I think it’s ok, though. -
-you’ve used your blow dryer on your pole…
-you love leg warmers…
-you’ve said the words, “Really, it’s not what you think.”
-you think you should own stock in Epsom salt companies…
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Are they ok for pole, or is the buckle a problem? I new, so sorry if this is a dumb question!
