[Charley]

oops – I forgot to say it’s in Detroit. I’m sorry https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif

[Charley]

Sounds like you have it figured out. The biggest issue with gemini is that you HAVE to get a good knee grip above your hands. When you are inverting think about hands about head height because like you said the higher the hands the higher you have to get up over them.

Glad you got it sorted https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[Charley]

Thanks for all the feedback. She purchased her pole from a reputable pole fitness center in town, who had purchased multiple X-poles for their studio and happened to have 2 leftover they were selling to their clients. So I’m fairly confident that it’s the real deal.

Maybe I just have really sensitive skin, and by maybe I mean I have been told multiple times I have the most sensitive skin in the world. The joints weren’t rough at all just not as smooth as I would have expected, my expectation was to not notice it at all. I think I will end up going with an X-pole, if I still don’t like it I can just sell it "gently used" as everyone else seems to love them https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Thanks again!

I was sensitive to the multi piece poles too. I could always feel the joints but I think that’s because I was really focusing on them. I was super afraid of multi piece poles for awhile too. You’ll be happy with an X-pole and I think over time you will forget about the joints…I did – I don’t even think of it anymore.

[Charley]

I can do the cradle, yogini and V hiphold

My latest moves are – perfected the remi drop, baby version of the phoenix and the jade.

BUT – I’ll also use what I have recently taught my students because i think those are those moves are a little hefty…We did tuck spin/basic cradle, butterfly and spinning dismount from invert.

[Charley]

If you are taking lessons on 50’s I do think it’s better to stay on 50’s. The studio I teach at has BOTH and I still teach laybacks and inverts on the 50mm. I don’t think one is safer than the other because your body will adapt to what youa re working with however because leg grip is much easier on a 50 I’d rather have students work on what’s easiest and what will cause less pain.

I didn’t move to working on 45’s until I had been dancing for 3.5 years so the change wasn’t as big a deal and I knew what to look for as far as having secure locks. Knowing how each move should feel when it’s secure comes with time and if you are newer I suggest the 50.

I have small hands and I can handle a 50 just fine. There are a lot of things that are easier on the 45 but not enough so that I would recommend getting a 45 if you’re new to pole.

I have some students who have 45’s at home but still train on 50’s at the studio and they don’t seem to have much problem adapting but we are just now getting into inverts and laybacks – it will be interesting to see how they do with those things.

[Charley]

I personally do not suggest getting an LM rotator because on the static version your screw/flange takes a lot of abuse and often over time the screw will end up moving and not being secure – so taking that into account when you spin on a rotator you are putting even more tork on one screw. I don’t see how that pole could sustain for very long.

The X-pole is a good pole – if you don’t like the holes you could go with a PS pole. PS pole is stainless steel and a lot of people do find stainless frustrating because they take a while to break in and get grippy and they take the longest to warm up and easily cool down. I generally use chrome all year round but when I was using my stainless I only used it in the summer – and I find stainless overall to be better in the summer.

LM stainless for whatever reason seems to be the slipperiest of all stainless poles. I’ve never had much luck with them and I haven’t known too many others who have either.

I haven’t experienced any issues with the X-pole but coming from a LM to a multi-piece pole I felt the joints probably more than I expected to. Over time you’ll really disregard them.

The long and short is – I am really happy with multi-piece poles over LM because I don’t have to worry about just a single screw holding my pole up. When I finally took mine down I was stunned see the damage it did to my ceiling. And I was lucky that my pole never came down because the flange was really loose.

Disclaimer – I do know people who swear my LM poles – I just didn’t have that great of experience with mine. I used it for over a year and the pole itself was nice (powder coated) but I’d never trust an LM. They scare me.

[Charley]

LOL! I am so addicted to groupon! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

I just saw laser hair removal – 6 sessions for $99 https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Charley]

I am due to shooting something in Toronto soon! I am going to see if I can schedule it around this so I can come play!!!
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_santa.gif

[Charley]

Happy Birthday babe!!!!! Enjoy! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Charley]

I am so excited for this to come out!!!!!! I really wanna know which otc cosmetics are good and bad.

I am so make up and beauty illiterate!

[Charley]

Gorgeous photo!

I would just consider it a butterfly too – you don’t have to bend the extended leg. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[Charley]

I have pretty small hands myself and I use both 50’s and 45’s. If you are taking classes on 50’s I’d suggest to stick with it. Over time your hands and wrists will get stronger and you will be able to better grip the pole.

I only purchased a 45 because I found it much easier for me to work on spin mode but I do transfer everything I do on the 45 over to the 50 once I am confident. I also want to continue competing and a lot of comps use 45’s so having on to practice on will help me with my routines.

45’s are overall easier on the hands and harder the on the legs – grip wise. I don’t think one is safer than the other you have to be sure of what you are doing, do things step by step and pay attention to your grips, how your grippinr and is you have achieved the lock you need. I have students to own 45’s and come to class and work 50’s – only problem with that is it can be frustrating translating moves between the different poles.

My personal opinion is to learn on a 50 – I found it easier to translate to a 45 after having a lot of experience on 50’s BUT either way you decide to go, both poles are safe if you are getting X-pole.

[Charley]

I concur with Veena 100%. To many people are hip hoppity to try bigger moves than they are ready for because they look cool. Pole dancing is a journey. I would say that really strong elbow/forearm caterpillars, ayshas, straight edge’s and brass monkey transitions before working on split grips.

The TG really requires a lot of shoulder flexibility and I have noticed a lot of people who do not stretch their shoulders have a very difficult time just getting into the position much less being able to get upside down.

I would work with traditional grips first, as Pantera pointed out to me, TG is easier because it’s using your pectoral muscles which is a larger msucle group than your biceps. Working on traditional grips will increase your strength not just in your shoulders and arms but also in your core as you have to work harder to stabilize the moves.

[Charley]

I go into it with flexed feet until I am sure of my grip then I point them. It’s much nicer in shoes, with barefeet I think youb should probably always be pointing but safety first! I think it’s safer to keep them flexed until you achieve the lock.

I have seen even pro dancers flex the feet in this one.

[Charley]

I know Joni, I am just upset that they didn’t see it as an issue with the club. The club requires the big heels, the club sits the rail too close to the stage – so really it’s the clubs fault not hers.

Totally not fair to sue someone who just doing their job. Maybe we need to form some sort of lega council for pole dancers, lol.