[Drdredancer]

I used to take class at a particular studio and when auditions for instructors came up, I wasn’t picked. They thought it was weird that I used floor in my warm up. I auditioned at another studio and got the job immediately. The problem was that there wasn’t anyone better than me and teaching there monopolized my time. So, for a year, I didn’t grow. My students started catching up with me so I went to another pole studio to learn new stuff. I fell in love with the community there and auditioned to be an instructor there. Again, I got the job immediately! Since then, I am in the most perfect pole situation. I get paid to do what I love, have tons of friend’s with the same interest, and there are so many girls to learn from. The owner of this studio is very advanced and has champion training every week and she constantly pushes us to grow. I also take many workshops at various studios. I think it is hard to generalize this answer. It depends on the studio itself. See if it’s a good fit for you. Do you like the community? Is there potential for growth? Don’t worry about your friend’s from your other studio. If they are really your friends, you will still jam with them and they would understand.

[Drdredancer]

Hey girl! Pole Pressure now has open pole at 7:30 on Wednesday nights. It’s so fun! Hope to see you tomorrow!

[Drdredancer]

Get your chest low. Pull your chest and front thigh together and try to get the pole in your hip hold rather than rely on your armpit or arm. Once in a strong hip hold, really extend that back leg. Contract your back glutes and just really push it out.

[Drdredancer]

@Kurikat: I do not talk about pole in my day job. I work at a private school in a very conservative community, and I fear the parents would freak out. I tell them that I am a group exercise instructor and teach cardio and strength dance classes. 1 teacher knows that I bellydance and only my coteacher knows about pole. I trusted her after years of working with her. She also approached me about my bruises.

[Drdredancer]

This is a great thread! 😉

In the day, I am a preschool teacher and cheerleading coach. Just finished my Masters in Ed Psych. In the evening, I teach pole, bellydance and chair. I became a pole dance instructor when I went back to school to get into education. Prior to that, I was the Front Office/Guest Relations manager at a Ritz Carlton.

Some of the other instructors that work with me and pole students have fab jobs including World Bank, int’l lawyers, physicists, journalists, and more than half the girls have masters- 2 from Harvard!!!

I love these sexy, powerhouse, confident and successful women!!!

[Drdredancer]

I agree with sensual, above. You need to see a doctor. As fitness professionals, we are not trained to give medical advice. All I can recommend is to rest it, ice it and compress it. If it hurts, stop. See a doc soon before it gets worse. It’s harder to pole after recovering than if you take care of it before conditions worsen.

[Drdredancer]

Eat about 5 small meals spread out through the day. When you eat a few large meals, your metabolism slows down. Start seeing a nutritionist and a personal trainer. Do at least 30 minutes of cardio per day. 60% of your meals should be vegetables. For weight loss, the main thing is diet.

[Drdredancer]

It’s really not that that hard. It’s tough, but you do not need to be able to do a full back bend from the splits. It’s a bit of an illusion just like the jade is an illusion. I can do this with a spot. I just cannot safely sustain it. The most important thing is to be able to grab the foot over your head and then pass it along to the opposite hand. This creates a lot of pressure on the hooked foot, which is the only thing holding you for a second during the pass off. If you can work on grabbing the opposite leg with opposite arm in your opposite split, you should get this in no time.

[Drdredancer]

I say be honest and see what happens. To make it work, he should understand and let you do what makes you happy. I’ve dated a guy that didn’t like me cheerleading and made me quit. I shouldn’t have quit. Should have just dumped him coz it was fun and important to me and I missed it. I’m dating a guy now and he works in fitness and totally gets it. My entire life is so fun and our relationship is the best I’ve been in. If this guy doesn’t get it or has a problem with it, he may not be worth your time.

[Drdredancer]

Sounds like a great plan! No need to loose momentum! I teach the next 2 classes after intro on Saturdays. I’ll try to swing by earlier on the 14th! ;). Can’t wait! Btw.. You will be on town just in time for Natasha Wang’s workshop at PP. You should sign up online! It’s gonna be on the 23rd. 😉

[Drdredancer]

Yes! There is a free intro class every Saturday at noon. It’s tons of fun! It’s like a party in there! At the end, the instructor will demo moves for each level and go over a description of each class. You also get a discount if you get a class pack the same day that you go to intro. That’s so soon! Let me know when you are planning on coming to the studio.

[Drdredancer]

Yeay!!! When will you be in town? I’m so happy you are gonna come! We can show you around town, too! The main studio is right in the middle of DC, close to everything! Let me know and I’ll meet you at class then show you around! 😉

[Drdredancer]

hehehe… @minicoopergirl.  I have a Mini Cooper, too! 

let me know when you come to Pole Pressure!  I'm there almost every day!!  I'm obsessed.  Pole Pressure is my happy place. 

[Drdredancer]

Pole Pressure is the best! It’s worth the drive/metro commute. I have friends that live in Rockville that go regularly! Check out the website at polepressure.com and their Facebook page. I have gone to so many studios and have by far learned the most at Pole Pressure, and the community of girls are the sweetest most supportive I’ve ever met! You should come by! We would love to have you in class! 😉

[Drdredancer]

I’ve been bellydancing for 7 years and pole dancing for 3. They compliment eachother well. I suggest taking a variety of different styles and making it your own. The best teacher I’ve ever had was Suhaila Salimpour. She will drill you so that the moves are in your muscle memory. Both cabaret and tribal are based on her style. Your muscles will just know what to do. I apply bellydance movement in my pole dancing unconsciously. It’s just the way I move now. Some terrific teachers that I’ve loved are Rachel Brice, Amy Sigil, Asharah, Kaeshi Chai, Belladonna and Azin Mahoozi. You can get a great start with simple isolations at your local bellydance studio and just take workshops from your absolute favorites. It will definitely help you smooth out your pole moves and make your routines super sexy. Just be careful with the coins though. They can scratch your pole.