AriFerrari
Forum Replies Created
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My stupid kindle auto corrected the crap out of this post! I *choreographed* not photographed lol And all the choreographers should say choreography!
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I have had this before, actually from pole! I got it from split grip spins and holds, I was relying too much on my bottom arm. I laid off split grip stuff for a while then when it felt better and I was ready to do split grips again, I changed my bottom hand to what I call “trigger grip”, wrist facing up and index finger extended pointed down, I feel like it’s less pressure on my wrist and elbow and keeps me from death gripping and locking out on my elbow.
Feel better soon! -
Followed those I could find, mine is ARIELLEMEGAN
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I am 5’8 with a ceiling height just over 8′, I also dance mostly barefoot (guess Lina and I have a lot in common there! lol)
Since training on silks and gaining a straight leg inversion, I have more of a lift in my inverts. I’ve kicked my ceiling many times do to this. Aerial inverts take a lot of adjusting. I often find myself sliding down a bit in crucifix and such to get the position without feeling crunched and my caterpillar climb is more of lifting up and sliding back down once kinda thing lol
I would probably put a hole in the ceiling if I wasn’t careful inverting in heels.
I would LOVE higher ceilings!!!
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Hey everyone, thank you for the kind words and encouragement. It’s reassuring to hear that the smaller diameter just takes some getting used to.
He picked up the pole yesterday and as SV said, he is going to sand down and buff the areas until my adjuster fits again. I also asked him to try to smooth my texture out on the rest of the pole, I guess it has to do with the particular paint I picked having metallic sparkles in the color that is making smoothness a challenge. He’s going to add another clear coat to see if we can smooth it out a bit more.
The color I chose is a dark indigo blue with sparkles. I am hoping to have it back and functioning sunday, I’ll post pictures if so.
Stephii, I had him look at a lil mynx and try to replicate the finish. I would definitely recommend taking whoever you hire to see what you are asking for. Additionally, just from this experience, I would say choose a solid color without metallic or sparkles, apparently those bake smoother!
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Hi Erin, how fun! I did a pro shoot with a professional pole photographer and have done a few with my sister who is an amateur. The thing I wish I would have done with the pro was to write a list of poses/tricks I wanted beforehand, it’s harder than you think to do so on the spot. Also, with someone not familiar with pole poses, your photographer may need guidance with angles. That’s my sister’s biggest challenge when she photographs my aerial work. However, sometimes unconventional angles make for cool shots. I would still give your photographer an idea of what you want to capture in certain pics, it may even be helpful to print some pictures of the poses you plan to use so he has a reference. Finally, if you can recruit an “assistant”, that’s extremely helpful. They can standby for when he has a perfect shot but your hairs in your face or your shorts are riding up lol We all know how hard those malfunctions can be to fix when your wrapped around the pole like a pretzel! Have fun!
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Long, good lines require staying engaged from head to toe, even when a trick/pose is mainly working a particular muscle group. This will make you feel like your entire body is involved in your dance movements. My aerial instructor always has us visualize energy running through our entire limb and shooting out at the fingers or toes. With legs focus on movement from the hip joint and keeping your quads engaged and your knee cap “pulled up”, and of course toes pointed from the ankle. With arms, I see a lot of variation in hand position, I like to push through my ring and middle fingers, letting the other fingers kind of “stick up” (hard to verbalize) while I also see others keep all fingers straight. I think either way the key to pretty arms is shoulders back and engaged, elbow and wrist aligned pushing the extension all the way through to the tips of your fingers. Focusing on it and making an effort to be more body aware is the key, so you’re already well on your way 🙂
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Oh! And choreograph a whole routine, I’ve only ever free danced.
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I’ve had a tough few months, caught in a plateau so for starters:
*I hope to get back to poling consistently, even when I don’t feel like I’m making any leaps and bounds.
*Would like to get a solid front split on my non-dom side and square out my hips in my front split on my dominant side then start training for over-splits!
*Flatten my middle and straddle splits.
*Handstands! I’m really scared of handstanding (even with the wall, I hate kicking up!) although I think I’m strong enough for it. So I hope to overcome that!
* Nail various split grip moves, Ayesha…etc.
* Find a solution for my sweaty palms/consequent grip issues!
* Completely straighten my free leg in cocoon.
*Rainbow Marchenko (my DREAM pole move!!!) -
What morons.
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Hi Alexis, welcome to your pole journey and Studio Veena! Here are some responses to your questions, I think you will find this website a great resource!
1) Depending on the pole’s finish, rubbing alcohol is I think the most common cleaner used. I’ve also heard of white vinegar or vodka, these however are often claimed to help with grip, too. I use a combo of 97% rubbing alcohol and white vinegar.
2) Again, some have claimed white vinegar helps with grip. You can wipe the pole down with it or dampen a rag and rub directly on hands. Everyone’s grip challenges are different, from being too dry or too sweaty (my biggest issue). There are a multitude of grip aids made for poling and everyone has their preference(s). However, the nervousness will subside as you gain confidence and also you will build grip strength with practice. Grip aids are helpful but if you become reliant on them, can hinder training true grip strength.
3) Yes, as you see above, rubbing alcohol is in fact the most commonly used for cleaning poles.
4) I would suggest that you stick to conditioning and flexibility stuff when you first get your pole, especially as a brand new learner. Veena has plenty of ideas and her program is progressive, so you get an idea of what you should be doing. She even has a 30 day take-off for new polers. If you are a home poler, I highly suggesting trying her curriculum out. You don’t want to risk injury from trying things that are too advanced and slow or hinder your pole journey before it even starts. It’s tempting to try all the “cool stuff” first, but a good foundation is the most important and learning to make the “basics” your own style will make you a better dancer in the long run.
5) Personally, I think a 3 hour training session as a beginner is a bit much. I’ve been poling two years and 3 hours would kill all kinds of body parts on me! Perhaps taking it slower would be the safest route. Additionally, the grip gloves are good for training new moves where you really need to be able to rely on your grip but I don’t think they are the best bet for beginners. Just like grip aids, the gloves can hinder you from developing grip strength that only plain old hard work and practice develops.
6) There are tons of website’s for pole wear and gear. You’ll find that everyone has a different style, I like a nice comfy bralette and yoga shorts over costumes when I train. But I know badkitty.com has a lot of fun dance outfits and they also carry the Pole Fit line, which are pole outfits exclusively designed for pole dancers. You will see that Veena wears a lot of stuff from Mikayogawear.com, they too have a line designed for pole wear. As you progress you will find that the more skin exposed is better for gripping, generally a sports bra and shorty shorts are the basics. -
I agree with the others, it’s most likely from the change in temperature. No sweat can be just as bad as too much. I struggle with knee pit grips from time to time and use a spray grip aid called “Stickum” I believe it’s originally for baseball and I’ve easily found it in most sporting good stores. Last year, when my heat went out I put a small space heater near my pole, that’s something to consider also!
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Just an update, I went ahead and stuck with the Xpert. What can I say, I’m a creature of habit.
After trying my instructor’s black lil mynx rotator the other day, I did find that I really loved the powder coating. I felt pretty confident about the grip. However, I just couldn’t get past the clanking noise it made during more high impact tricks and spins while set on static. I will most likely use static more often and it was distracting and although the pole felt pretty sturdy, just made me a little hesitant. I do want to clarify that I did research this noise and have read many sources saying it is just because of the way the pole is built with a pole inside a pole, so the clanking is not a stability issue as much as just the anatomy of the pole. My experience with the lil mynx wasn’t bad at all, I just really like the solid feeling of an xpole, personally.
I ended up getting a really great deal on a used Xpert on ebay last night, with the extra money I didn’t spend on a new one I will have a friend powder coat it to replicate the lil mynx’s finish. Best of both worlds. I’m so excited!
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Webmaster,
Thank you SO much! I have firefox so I can visit the site from that browser but I will also look into updating my computer.
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Hello again ladies, turns out my aerial instructor has a black lil mynx pole she’s had put away for a few years! I am going over to check it out tomorrow! Had a question for Veena or anyone with a SV pole who may know the answer: how similar is the finish on the original coated lil mynx poles to the new SV pole’s finish?
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Okay, so this is slightly off the topic here but Aerial Gypsy, that rash you got from the medical tape might have been an allergy not just sensitivity! I got AWFUL silk burns in my armpits a few months back and had to tape on nonstick gauze and neosporin. I instantly got these little irritated bumps in the exact line of the tape, I talked to my nurse friend and it turns out quite a few people can have allergies to the adhesive in some medical tapes. I switched brands and no more rash! Just wanted to share in case anyone else has the same problem! LOL
PS Charley, good luck. I have major anxiety about doctors and medical procedures, so I understand your fears. I wish I could help, but haven’t experienced this myself. Just want to say good luck and hope you feel better soon!
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Oops! I did not expect the pic to be so huge and it isn’t even the full thing where you can see the rig, I’m sorry! The website I linked will prob be a better reference!
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Have you considered an outdoor rig?
They are pricey but can be moved around essentially anywhere outdoors (or indoors with the right clearance) and are built specifically for doing aerials.
A friend recently purchased one (http://www.damnhot.com/trapeze/New_port_rig.htm) and I have used it, it was awesome and a new experience! I’ve attached a picture on it! I feel safe on it and the best part, you don’t have to rely on a tree. I’ve seen people use it on the beach.
Rigging to trees, as cool as I’ve always thought it looks, is just too much of a gamble for me. If you do choose to do that, I second with Kobajo, please make sure a professional arborist takes a look at the tree and limb you want to use!
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Thank you for the offer, Ly! However, I’m all the way out here in NC 🙁 Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone here who has an SV I can try out (or even just a powder coated pole) and I’ve yet to see any studios in the state that have TG. There lies my major conflict while shopping for something new…I have no way of TRYING anything new unless I just purchase and pray it works out!
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Ladies, thank you for all of your feedback! It has really been helpful and I think I’m definitely leaning more towards the SV pole for Christmas! 😀 If there are more Veeners out there with suggestions, I hope to hear those too since I won’t be making the purchase until after all my other Christmas shopping for family and friends.
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Well, it sounds like TG might not be a good idea if its so slick. I had read somewhere that both brass and TG work with sweat due to their being porous, while other surfaces reject it (including PC). I had eliminated the idea of brass just because I grip pretty well else where and didn’t want to trade one issue of no grip for another with over grip.
With what Gypsy said about the different textures of PC, where does the SV pole stand? Is it transparent or opaque?
Also, Gypsy, would you say PC is your top choice for sweaty hands then? Since you have the same problem and have tried the different textures. If not, what is?
I do hope someone with sweaty hands who also has the SV pole might pop up!
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So I have absolutely no idea why I addressed that message to “Nukpana”, I swear that was the name that was showing as OP when I read this yesterday. Maybe I’ve lost it, lol! Glad the stretch suggestions seem useful, FAYE lol
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Nukpana,
I have a pretty bendy back when it comes to going backwards as well, but I also find I’m stiff in that area with some SI joint pain when folding forward. Especially when I don’t warm up my lower back before aerial/pole sessions where I’m expecting it to arch often. One thing that always gives me relief and you can also do before workout to warm this area up is Standing Cat/Cow poses. The kneeling ones are also great, but I find that the Standing Cat (second picture in the link I’ve attached) really gives me the most relief, and I like to hold it for an extra couple of seconds for the stretch. Additionally, this stretches hamstrings, which helps with back pain, too. -
I have also been asked on various occasions if I have a dance background, I have to laugh because I was the least physically inclined teen ever growing up. I didn’t even play sports. However, I do credit a lot of my body awareness and even clean lines to a yoga background. A great yoga teacher I had in college really drilled her students to use proper form and I think this really helped me in the long run in areas I never imagined: Pole and aerial dance!
Proper yoga form, I think, that translates into dance/pole includes:
*Stacking joints: i.e. keeping elbows in line with wrists and knees in line with ankles. Keeping this in mind in extensions pretty much guarantees straight lines.
*Energy in hands and feet: While yoga doesn’t push pointed toes like we do in pole, it does encourage us to keep energy in our entire body, from the tip top of your head to your toes. This is true for dancing, too. Often you can see pretty straight legs or arms with limp hands and feet. Visualize energy flowing straight through your arms and legs and shooting out of your hands and feet. This helps avoid the hands/feet “turning inward” like you described. On a side note: Remember “pointing your toes” is actually more than your toes working, you have to really push through your entire foot and ankle to create a flat line down your shin through the top of your foot and toes.
*Squared hips and posture: Being aware of your hips is helpful in your lines and posture. Keeping them straight and squared allows you to focus on your core and not “dump” into your lower back. Also, chin up and shoulders back, and remember that energy coming from the top of your head! Like there is a string running through your spine and pulling up at the top of your head.Seems like a lot to focus on at once, but body awareness in these areas really helps with lines, posture, and even keeps your joints/bones safe while dancing!
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Thank you Chem, Runemist, and dancingbeagle (thanks for the book suggestion),
The show went great. Unfortunately the crazy fluke happened again but I rolled with the punches and very few people noticed, those that did knew my choreo/heard me stressing about it after my bad dress rehearsal. Honestly, I think just posting this discussion helped clear my chest. Kind of the whole “release it to the universe” thing, except in smaller measures “Release it on SV” hehehe
I am trying to find a way to post a video, everyone’s footage is on Facebook and I, of course, wasn’t filming 😉
Either way, thanks for the advice, I’m bookmarking this to reread when I do it all over for my Christmas show!
