Anzia
Forum Replies Created
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(((Hugs)))
I hope things start to feel better for you soon. It’s so hard to lose someone. Be gentle with yourself and take all the time you need x -
__anzia__
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One of my instructors said that if something hurt my skin, I should squeeze tighter. The next time I did a pole sit, I pretty much strangled the pole with my thighs and sure enough, there was much less pain. A few more times and there was no pain! It makes sense I guess as skin pain comes partly from it being dragged or stretched. Squeezing crazy tight prevents much of that stretching.
Re the climbing, it was only by climbing 2-3 ‘steps’ each side (ie starting with the right leg and then starting with the left leg) every time I poled (4-5 times a week) that the shin pain became less as my form improved. The pressure is now mostly on the inside of my knees (but not painful) and my shins are not getting used so much. Side climb is still a bit painful for my poor knee pit, but a million times less painful than it was! Veena’s lessons were really helpful.
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Well done Tropicalpole!
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Juicy J, what a fab post! I agree completely. When I hit a difficult move (which at my level is almost everything!) it’s so tempting for me to back off and work on stuff I find easier. But the things I persist with, and do every time I pole even if badly, are the things that are really good a few months later x
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Veena’s lessons cover climbing in different styles on static and spinny. Really clear tutorials with tips on good form/points of contact/correct muscle usage. I do recommend them 🙂
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Hi! I felt (and still sometimes feel) the same way. I was convinced the pole would fall down for the first week (lol) but even when that passed, I find it harder to get started on a pole session, I push myself less and I keep well within my comfort zone at home. I find doing a really good warm up helps me feel more mentally ready and also having the TV on, weirdly. Like there are other people around or something, which makes me feel more inclined to have a go! I think I’m just the sort of learner who likes being in a group with a teacher more than studying alone. Maybe you’re the same?
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Hi Jiwon! Welcome 🙂 I’m quite new to pole, but like you I still feel very stiff. I’m doing stretches most nights to try to increase my flexibility.
I’m also going back over all the basic moves/spins and really trying to do them well, with good posture, pointed toes, correct body placement and muscle use, etc. Veena’s lessons have been fantastic for that and as I start doing more advanced stuff I think they’ll set me up with good habits straight away. The 30 Day Takeoff is brilliant. Have you seen it in the lessons? It gathers together lessons from other lesson sections, like strength and conditioning, and puts them into a 30 day lesson plan to give you a really good foundation for your pole work.
Two other things I’ll be trying: big mirrors at home so I get immediate visual feedback on what I’m doing, and also videoing myself so I can watch sessions back and analyse what went well and what needs improvement. If I get really brave, I’ll post some videos on here for tips!
I’m not sure how your ceiling height compares to mine, but it sounds similar. When I invert, I wouldn’t be able to go any higher. There’s just the right amount of room to do moves in an invert but not to do invert/shoulder mount to get higher – not that I can do a shoulder mount yet – just planning ahead! I think you’ll be okay if yours is similar to that. It’s definitely better than not having a pole! 🙂
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Emma owns the studio I attend on Thursdays 🙂 We’re all really proud of her!
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Hello! Welcome 🙂
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New to this, but my understanding is that freestyle is improvised ‘in the moment’ whereas a routine is choreographed in advance. However, the more experienced someone gets, the more likely they are to have favourite combinations of moves in their head already that they might use in a freestyle. The overall dance would be unplanned, though. Freestyle seems good for expressing your current emotions whereas a planned routine seems to be a good way to ‘tell a story’ or have a theme.
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Thanks Cherished 🙂
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Thanks megsmith 🙂 I was stretching 3x weekly, but recently started the Splits in 6 Weeks programme which is daily. I’m cautious because I don’t want to injure myself, but on 3x weekly I wasn’t increasing my range of stretch whereas I am now. Just don’t want to push things too far. I think I’m going to cut back. Thanks for your reply 🙂
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Meg, were there any warning signs at all? This is something that plays on my mind a lot when I stretch. Did you notice any different tightness/weakness/soreness/anything in the run up to it happening? Or was it totally out of the blue? Hoping to find some ‘warning signs’ I can keep in mind!
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I went for a 45mm as that’s what both studios use that I attend. Looking at your pic, my hands are slightly bigger than yours, and a 45mm is perfect for me. I think I’d find a 50mm a bit chunky.
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Hello 🙂
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Wholeheartedly support the recommendation of Veena’s lessons on here! I attend pole class as well, and even with face-to-face tuition, the lessons here have been transformational. It’s like having a pole instructor in my living room! Veena responds so quickly and helpfully to any queries as well. When you compare the annual price on here to what you’d pay for group classes for a year, it’s a total bargain. Also, there is a strong focus here on correct posture/muscle usage and good form that is so helpful for laying down good foundations. Really, really recommend you consider getting the lessons! 😀
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I’d really appreciate Veena’s tips too. I have a very hollow lower back and often catch myself standing and walking in ‘duck posture’. Very poor hip flexor stretchiness too – and a desk job to make it even worse!
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Love it! Gorgeous look. It really suits you 🙂
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Brilliant post. Thanks!
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Hi GF! I’ve just started as well, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how just trying the moves builds up my strength. In my very first class I could hardly do any of the moves 😮 In the second class, even though I hadn’t done any practise in between, I could do two of the moves that I hadn’t been able to do in the first class. I think Jolene Bell is right about checking with your GP and then subscribing to the lessons on here. They’re fantastic, and they start with some conditioning work to build strength, and then really gentle beginner movements like a sexy pole walk, or doing some hip circles. As you get stronger, the lessons build up so that you try basic spins with two hands and then progress from there. It’s a really logical progression and Veena is totally focused on safety and correct body usage which is reassuring. I think you’d find the ’30 day take off lessons’ fantastic. I’m on Day 5 and loving it! Good luck 🙂
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Hi Goddess KK 🙂 I was recently looking at poles and I remember reading that X Pole do a special ceiling mount for use with sloping/slanted ceilings. Might be worth contacting them to check.
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This topic really resonates for me. I’m extremely inflexible and always have been – I can’t sit cross-legged, or stretch my arms above my head comfortably, or do anything approaching the splits. Not even slightly. In my beginners’ classes everyone else can do the warm up stretches properly, do fan kicks and so on, and I can’t. I’ve started the SV stretching lessons and am doing them three times a week (after running, as I’m already nice and warm then!) but I don’t know that I will ever get my splits or be able to do the more advanced moves. I’m not even sure I’ll get some of the intermediate moves because my body simply isn’t bendy enough at the moment and might never be. But I do know that I can improve from where I am now, and the only way to fail would be to quit. Thanks for a really useful discussion everyone – it’s cheered me up a lot!
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Wow! That was fast! Thank you very much.
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Thank you Veena 🙂
