Charley
Forum Replies Created
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Has this been mentioned? Walmart carries danskin products – I've had a few of the rbas and they are nice! If there is a Victoria Secret Outlet near you – you can grabs some high quality pole clothes from them – I use their swim wear. 🙂
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Physical appearance will be something that some people look for – there is no way around it. With that being said I have seen all shapes and sizes of women be unhealthy. I personally love to take classes with Veena member Dangerous who works at Vixen Fitness in Detroit – I've learned alot of sexy moves from her in beginner classes and floor workshops. She's curvy! I love the way she moves her body and wish I had some extra to move around like that – it's really hard to shake your groove thing when you don't have thing to groove, lol! I will tell she – although differently shaped than me – was able to take her movements and help me apply it to my body. That's one of the things I look for – can you help me do it on my body.
I forgot to say that I look for movement in instructors – is there a way that they move that I want to take onto my body and make it mine? This was especially true while doing teacher training with Kelly Yvonne – my favorite part was seeing her movement – being inspired by it and learning how to apply it to my body – and it looked different but still pretty! 😀 I also learned a more indepth way of applying movement to my students which was awesome. Always learning!
For anyone who is in the situation of seeking out a new instructor but you already have experience – my best advice is to book out a private with your new instructor so you can get to know each other one on one. Many times people come in and say they have all sorts of abilities and backgrounds and then when they come into class they aren't able to keep up – or when I take time out of a class to ask them to show me their _____ – they haven't quite gotten it then I hear "Well, I was coming to work on this." There is a big difference between telling me what you CAN do and what you want to WORK on because you aren't quite there yet. It's nobody's fault – just miscommunication so I think that's why instructors tend to be conservative with new experienced students.
It's hard being the student who walks in and is capable of a lot and being "held back." It's happened to me but I do understand it. I've been to a lot of workshops that were labeled advanced or master and walked away with new teaching methods but not with new moves and was rather disappointed. I think if I had the ability to train with someone long term – I would do a few privates so they could learn my abilities and weaknesses – it's so hard to explain yourself as a dancer to someone!!!!! lol!
I think there is a realtionship building time between new experienced students and instructors. It takes time to get to know each other. 🙂 I've personally had privates that were just – dance for the instructor, go through a check list of moves and combintations, giving my wish list of things to work on – getting some feedback on that and woof the hour is up! But I can always go back to her now because we had thsoe couple of "dates."
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3rding – Never do silks without an instructor. I took silks for about a year and I still do not feel comfortable practicing on them without someone there. It's too easy to get hurt. Even basic wraps and pretty intricate – it's easy to get stuck in them and have yoru circulation cut off or something – plus you need to learn the wraps properly. I don't know anyone who has silks that hasn't spent a long time going to group classes or private classes.
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@portableninga, Little Engine and Tara
OMG! Personality is the hardest thing to find. I am a very shy person who suffers from social anxiety which is why I like teaching pole classes because when I'm in a room full of students I feel like I can really open up. Some of my greatest friends have been met through pole class. I really think to teach safely you have to have a relationship with your students – every BODY is different and I feel like I learn more and more about teaching just through listening and asking questions.
@Corby – I haven't run into a situation where an instructor didn't have good technique but I've only trained with pro's for the most part and the studio I used to teach at – I'd do beginner classes there and the teacher was really amazing. I don't know what I would do if I walked in and someone couldn't get me from A to B. Even if I am waling away with HOW to condition a move – I've never seen bad technique- that would be frustrating!
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I typically do forearm grip – you can use a forearm grip upright in the air too – Jenyne Butterfly does it a lot.
Forearm grip requires more back flexibility than elbow but elbow requires more core strength and balance in my opinion – elbow grip is safest when you get way far out from the pole – this scares me – hence I do forearm grip because I have the flexibility and can grip for dear life. It varies from dancer to dancer which they like best. The only thing I can think of is elbow hang and that's upright. It's good to be able to perform both grips and if you can't it seems in general best to perform elbow.
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So I'm going to answer my op and say that because I generally look for instruction when I am competing or performing I choose instructors based on their resume of dancers. I love working with Kelly Yvonne – she doesn't compete – but she knows how to push a dancer to be the best she can at her own style.
I worked with Leigh Ann – who has titles and found that I loved her knowledge of pole and pole moves in relation to body type. She could easily swap something out in a sequence and give you a move to do – if that didn't work she could keep going.
I have taken workshops based off of what the instructors can do and what I want to learn. For example – I loved taking class with Michelle Mynx because she is so spinny on static, Amber because of her ballet background and many, many others because of their experience. As I've gotten older I find that a resume coupled with ability has gotten me in the doors 🙂
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I really hope you can!!!!! It's been too many years of just being online friends https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif
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Just added Leigh Ann Reilly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Forever 21 has $5 yoga shorts!
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Have you checked ebay? Kmart also int he spring has some great deals on bathing suit shorts and bottoms – I've gotten side tie shorts for $16 there. Also check Target, Wet Seal, Forever 21, Kohls…
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Yes, great advicde Chem – I only go to clients houses I know – they can invite their friends if they want – this has caused serious limitations for me because I cannot generally take on new students so I only work with those I know here or through FB.
My bf knows the adress and phone number to where I am going – we do check in's – etc.
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Do you have a pole at home right now? I recommend X-poles and they go to around 9ft out of box and is in pieces – you can even buy extensions – if you are going the "have pole will travel" route – I suggest that kind of pole.
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@MadisonsWorld – if you have an X-pole or removable – you can use that – just makes sure that the client has given you the correct ceiling info and that they know how the pole works.
I use my X-poles and take them up and down – they are pretty easy and I'm turning into a pro pole setter upper, lol!
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Just instructor insurance 🙂
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@MadisonsWorld – yes someone can fall off your porch and sue but the point was that it's more likely with teaching something acrobatic and if your home isn't zoned for commercial business – that's an issue and your home owners insurance is far more likely to cover and settle over the mailman tripping on a clean front porch than someone falling off of a pole.
No matter how good of an instructor you are – people can fall. I still fall off the pole. I had a student who had been doing a move consistantly for years on static and spin fall off the pole because she just lost her grip – it happens. Better to be in a place where everything is legal eagle is all I am saying.
Have you thought about offering only privates out of a studio? I do this, I also offer workshops at studios too and do my have pole will travel thing. It's been really nice – it's still on my time and I make my own schedule I just don't do it at my house – that's the only difference – so that might be something to look at?
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Here's what you CAN do though and I currently do this – you can offer in home lessons and a clients house. I have a friend who hires me to teach her at her home – that you can do. It's the same as in home pole parties. Not sure if that is a good option for you but it's safer and legal. All you would need is instructor insurance. I checked up on this before doing it – so you can do it!
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I don't recommend in general doing this. If someone gets hurt – and I mean sprained an ankle badly taking their shoes off – you can lose your house and everything in it. I hate to be a downer about this sort of thing because I know it happens, it's up to each individual to decide how much risk they are willing to take and with whom.
You could buy instructor insurance but that does nothing to protect your home, waivers show the insurance company that the student knew what they were getting into but it doesn't waive responsibility when it is easier for an insurance company to settle.
I think you have an awesome resume and might consider finding a space that you can rent out part time and teach out of there to keep everything safe and legit. It sounds like you have a lot to offer – I hope you find a safe place to offer it! 🙂
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I'm kidding about the fonji – ofcourse!
In seriousness I think beginners should begin with dance. I require beginners to take a dance/transition class that is multi-level because the advanced girls are required to keep working on their dance/flexibility/strength too.
In my class we work on ground spins then falling spins then lefted spins and work the floor, wall and work on feet and hands.
In my personal and humble opinion as a mailnly self taught dancer my progression was unsafe in the beginning – I am lucky I didn't seriously injure myself and I feel like even at the advanced level you should always be gaining strength and flexibility – the stronger and more flexible you are the more useful your trick time will be. I found through basic dance – high leg lifts, pirouettes, lifts and slides, floor work – and working on correctly executing the simple things my stength and flexibility doubled. So if this is true for someone who is advanced then how much more so for beginners who don't have technique yet, who will be prone to bruising and will have high fear factors – generally speaking.
Many studios feel "upside down" will keep students without thinking that SUCCESS will keep students around. No one wants to go any exercise class and feel "left in the dust" "unable to keep up" "scared" or "incapable." There is a line to be drawn between giving someone a great workout that challenges them but also makes them feel successful and pushing people way beyond their physical and metal limits.
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Wait! What? I thought day 1 was supposed to be fonji prep???? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif Doesn't everyone teach the fonji in intro? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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@AriesWolf – I did just go straight up into it from chopper – hook inside leg grab above. I don't know it's easier but it's worth a try. More direct might not put your ribs in the same spot flatline does.
Work your flexibility on that side first too – make sure your close to even with the right side then readress the move and fiddle gently with the positioning.
I really have to support myself up with that bottom arm to push the pole into my lower back instead of my ribs. On my right – my body is used to it so it's not an issue but on my left I still take my time – which I think is what you are going through too.
And even though my Allegra isn't the bendiest or look like Allegras I just try to make it mine and make it's as pretty as I can with what I've got. I don't recommend trying to grab the back leg if you are tight and having side pain.
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Open the hip up – stretch it out – I can't do Allegra well on my left because as Veena said you have to be open enough to do the turn out so I do find that if I'm not warmed up the left side gets beat up.
If this makes anyone feel better the Allegra took me MONTHS to get and I can't do it well on 50's because my waist is a bit too short. Its also going to be very helpful to stretch obliques, shoulders and lower back to help give that extra bend.
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I actually really like the TG in winter too. When I was teaching in studios one of them had tg's and chrome 45's and tended to be on the very cold side when class would start and I could still manage on the TG with , the chrome wouldn't cooperate as well.
I know people compare TG to brass and having worked on both – it's not the same with my body chemistry – I do feel like the brass is slippy in winter but not the TG.
Also just to add – for winter dryness you can always try or Pole Physics – I use both products and have been having an easier time this winter because of them. Pole Physics keeps my skin healthy and moiturized and the gives some added tack on those days where I am super, duper dry.
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Hi Saphyre,
I will try to get as many X-Pole finishes as I can. The pole will also be on sale at the Festival too for a really good discount. Last year we had the TG and Chrome in 40-45-50mm. I will try and see if I can get a brass, if not, I will look into purchasing one for the event 🙂
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It really is. My first pole was a crappy Peak-a-boo and it fell over while I was on it. I was so scared of poles after that! When I went to purchase my second pole – I was afraid of anything that didn't bolt in.
6 years and 12 poles later lol…
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I can so relate – I have the sweatiest hands EVER!
I started on a Lil Mynx powder coated pole and that was not so good for my hands because the sweat just kind of sat on top of the paint.
I move to stainless steel – which was better but not by a lot.
I then moved to X-pole and found the chrome was much more user friendly – then I moved to 45 chrome and that was really nice. Last year I broke down and the X-pole titanium 45 and that has yeilded the best results for me. I have talked to other sweaty hand girls who have said chrome wasn't easier for them – so it's really how about your body chemistry.
I don't recommend brass at all. I find it is like the powder coated – really grippy on my body but my hands are a mess, a huge mess.
Since you have really sweaty hands – take all that into account but you should also look into a antiperspirant like Tite Grip or Dirty Girl Poletice ( a mud mask fro y our hands to prevent sweating.) that will make all of the finishes much better for you and I do recommend smaller diameter poles for dancers with sweaty hands – doesn't stop the sweating but they are easier to manage since you can grip your hand around the pole better. Just my 2 cents.
*everyone with sweaty hands has different ways of dealing with it and might have different advice – this is just my findings. 🙂
