Kira
Forum Replies Created
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ohhh elbowstands are my enemy!! I can do a headstand and a handstand but elbowstand feels so difficult, I can't find the balance… and when it comes to elbowstand where the head is lifted up/chest pushed out, I find it really difficult…. even when I use the pole to lean against. What stretches or beginner moves can I do to improve it (aside from practising over and over)
with the iguana I was told to have the back/spine against the pole and roll up and you get to a point where you are on your tip toes. From there I used to do little baby hops to try and get the feeling of having the weight in my arms and get used to a new grip and then I left it for a few months and worked on different inversions like improving my handstands etc. and I found when I went back to that move after a few months I was less nervous and could control the invert better. I agree it's a scary move!!
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Congrats on the win!! Well deserving win 😉 you got so much floorspace in that comp as well, nice 😀 can't wait for your finals video!
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Yup it's muscle – that's good 🙂 weight gain doesn't always have to = unhealthy/fat, there's lots of different factors too. I'm only 5'0 and I used to be about 7/7.5st but now I'm around 8.5st and I've never been as 'slim' or toned as I am now so I'm not bothered that I am that weight. I tend to forget about looking at the scales anyway because I know I am eating healthy and exercising right 🙂
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i get my shorts from http://poleskivvies.com/ and never had any moments where I've accidently flashed someone! For my next performance though I'll be wearing bikini bottoms, the 1st time I won't be wearing my pole skivvies so I'm rather nervous lol
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bit of a dumb question but here goes… is there a 'wrong' place to place the lower leg? Because I rest the pole quite low down on my leg (I think that's my sweet spot… it's the place where it doesn't hurt as much!) but some people tell me to put it just under my knee cap where there's a little groove but it doesn't feel as stable or as comfy and I don't have as much of a constant success rate when I rest it there. Have I just conditioned my leg to rest it in the wrong position? just asking because when I see photos of people it looks like they rest it nearer the knee….
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Amy's tutorial is really good way to start practicing it.
The flaws in the first 2 vids you posted was that they rolled over their shoulder too much so the tension/grip in the shoulder was gone before they got their legs securely on. The second girl practiced it with a t-shirt on as well so she had hardly any grip.
As Veena said it's best to try it with the long right hand grip first because that's stabler than the double cupped grip. Make sure the grip is on the meaty part, not on the collarbone and just do little lifts to get used to it (on the floor and standing) before trying the full invert.
I agree it's a scary one to learn because there doesn't seem to be as much stability when you get upside down but like all moves it just comes with time 🙂
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pike – back/reverse grab – ballerina – and depending if i am on spinny or static, skinny : bring the other leg in so I spin reeeeeeal fast, static : drop into splits 🙂
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IUgafWY2u4
3:12 is the best drop ever but I can't really see how it's done, it looks like he turns away from the pole first. Either way it's faaaar too advanced for me!and think most of you have seen charley's tut on the remi sit drop. I think it's gorgeous (if slightly painful!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs5REv6mwnY
I can do only do yogini/rocketman drops and drops from the top down into floor splits but I still struggle with finding the right balance of letting go enough to drop and stopping the drop. If I can get an example of my (crappy) drops I'll post it up so you can see what I mean!
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wow 3rd birthday already? Happy birthday and hope SV goes from strength to strength ^o^
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great tips Charley, like mizvix I always thought you twist your whole body to face the audience but found that that is impossible. The closest I have ever got was when I was trying a slow controlled dismount from the static V and I had 1 leg bent because I found that gave me a bit more control. I don't know the whole mechanics i.e. what muscles I was using but I keep practising it that way because it seemed to help. Best of luck!! Such an awesome move to get
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that was a great thread to read. I love how when I am feeling a bit crappy about pole, confidence boosters like these are at the top of the forum. Like a sign haha.
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I did! … then I lost it lol. It took me nearly 2 years to successfully get down into my front splits but I wasn't stretching constantly at that time (by that I mean stretching regularly/consistently). I did start stretching every other day about a year ago and could comfortably do dance splits (back knee to the side/hip turned out) and was working on my 'true' splits (knee facing down/hips down). I got as far as oversplits to about 5 inches above the floor and was able to split and bend my back leg up and was verrrrry close to my middle splits………. until I hurt my hamstring and been thrown back in my practice ;_;
so keep on practising you can get there with determination! and don't overdo it or you'll set yourself back months like me 🙁 btw I started when i was 22 (I'm 24 now) and never done gymnastics/dance/anything sporty (I had no interest in sports AT ALL til pole) so it can be done! And I am not naturally flexy, I had to work really really hard to get my splits but the results are worth it 😀
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sometimes during a routine i'd do some floorwork where i'd sweep my hands across my body/legs so i can sneakily wipe my hands off haha though it's not a total solution i find it helps a little even if it is to trick my mind that i have wiped sweat off my hands! then i would go into further moves with confidence and not worry as much about sliding etc.
I use dry hands for grip though, I used vinegar too but I found it gave me too much grip!
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I'm gonna sub all of you guys! haha mine is http://www.youtube.com/user/GreyOwl86
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Hey, the way I learnt the caterpillar up the pole was probably a little different from others. When I first tried to learn it I didn't understand how I could hold my body still whilst I slid up the pole, so I threw the towel in on that move for a good few months.
In that time I learnt the brass monkey (from the CAR) which uses the forearm grip, developed my elbow grip and also learnt straight edge so I was comfortable doing the forearm and elbow grip. Then I tackled the caterpillar again and found it much easier.
You do have to hold a lot of your weight as you move your legs up so it would help to be strong in your grip!! It's also easier to climb by sliding your arms and head right upto your knees before sliding your legs up – keep the ankle firmly gripped on and push your bum away. Hope that helps a little 🙂
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I'm not majorly clued up on big Burlesque names but I know Rodney James did a masterclass whilst I was at Bobbis last year. Though I didn't go to it I saw some highlights of the classes and it's more a sexy routine with hints of burlesque rather than full out burlesque. May be something you might wanna try?
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when you say the floor bodywave do you mean lying on your back and lifting your hips up and bodywaving like that? if so I've tried that and it's hard to breathe lol I just avoid doing moves where my chest is in my face….. with inverts and stuff where gravity is against you just don't look up towards your chest 😛 and I try to lengthen my torso (I don't know how to explain how to do that) so you don't look as bunched together at the top.
I've been naughty and wearing normal bras and vest tops to pole and there's been occassions where I've come dangerously close to falling out but I find sports bras for larger chests so ugly. Looks like some kind of contraption, yuck. Wearing wired/supported bikini tops are good but even that can be quite hard to find sometimes, all I ever see are triangle tiny bikinis 🙁
How do you go about finding your body fat % though? I've been poling for over 3 years and there's not been a time that I have gone down a bra size, in fact I think I've gotten bigger – super gutted!!!!! Don't want to complain with what I've been given but they're waaaay too big for my body frame and it makes me super self conscious and makes it hard to find tops that complement me 🙁 meh /rant over
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@Lopsi are you entering the one run by Jess Leanne Norris?
I did the Elizabeth Jade one back in March and I stupidly entered UKAPP in July but going through a pole rut right now, not the best timing…
ANYway best of luck Beautifulfreak! Just enjoy it 😀
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so many of you to add! 😀 mine is http://www.youtube.com/user/GreyOwl86
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I've never fallen right off, I've dropped a lot down the pole but always manage to get out of it safely. I've fallen on my head attempting an attitude handstand haha. I've had a friend that was doing iron x and the pole came loose on the ceiling and he landed on steps :/ but he got right up and continued his routine bless him! and another friend was doing static v and lost her hand grip and fell. Usually if I feel my grip is weakening or not strong I bail out early and prepare my body to land if that makes sense.
I think it's good practice to fall now and then – as long as you know how to safely land. Always tuck your head in so you protect your head and if when you get to more advanced moves like cross knee/ankle release, if you don't feel like you have a tight enough thigh grip before you lean back – don't chance it. If you have the grip but are still worried make sure you have thick crash mats under the pole and if you can get your instructor to spot you.
I'm sure others here will have more horror stories to share! 😉
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i've nothing to add as i think you have everything sorted! just wanted to say your routine was really good though i agree with the awful positioning of the pole, it's almost like they've put you to one corner! and boo to the unresponsive audience but by the sounds of it you must have won them over due to the demand for classes :))) gratz!
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Bluesioux – yeah!! I have a rather narrow view of making new friends now which I know is kinda 'wrong' but I've had too many fake friendships I don't want to waste my time being used by such people anymore. I feel people have to earn my friendship, so they have to work to get to know me almost… like I love films and pole and other normal stuff but I don't talk about it unless someone asks me or engages in a conversation with me. Otherwise they aren't my type and I have no interest. I used to drink and party a lot but I've changed and it seems to be so hard to find others of that mentality because it's somehow seen that people that don't drink or party or like to get pissed a lot are not normal people or cool thus they don't talk to you. It's pathetic and part of me doesn't care but part of me yearns to be part of a crowd, to be accepted. It's lame and I'm always at loggerheads with myself about it, sometimes I fake it and go out party and etc. but I always end up feeling rubbish and a fake.
Sorry I went on a rant there, just so glad that others are as conflicted as I am in social situations lol
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ahhh I love you guys! Just came on here to cheer myself up and I find this thread and it has made me feel better now. I don't have anxiety as such, I don't really know what I have as I tend to avoid diagnosing myself. I used to have depression and self harmed but that was down to crazy hormones and the usual stress of being a teenager.
I went travelling to 'find' myself and I did, I came back feeling on top of the world, I knew myself inside out and was happy with who I was but being back I've slowly gone down and down… I recently started a new job and earlier went on post work drinks with 4 other colleagues. I wanted to get out of it but I forced myself to go (I never go out, I've lost contact with a lot of friends since coming back because I reject invitations and they have slowly given up contacting me) and I left feeling crap. I can't do social situations. I'm scared of people judging me, I get tired trying to have conversations and hearing about people's amazing achievements, I get REALLY uncomfortable if people notice me so I never dress nice or in bright colours, I just want to fade into the background but yet I still want people to get to know me. I know I am genuine and a nice person but I am so closed off people think I am rude, cold or disinterested and I don't mean to be but I just auto act like that :/
I often let people talk about themselves and ask questions about them and I just don't speak. If they are nice they ask questions about me and I'll give a short, vague answer but more often than not they love to talk about themselves and inside I'm screaming "ask me what I do!!" I don't know why I don't talk about myself. I feel ashamed and like I am boasting just talking about my hobbies! It's weird. I bottle things up and I go quiet, I just don't know what to do. I get really upset and nervous and it's just such a nightmare :/
I'm also feeling so lonely right now, losing contact with apparently 'close' friends – some just ignore me for no reason and I haven't had a boyfriend for 3 years. I'm terrified to let anyone get close to me apart from the select few that know me. I don't know why I'm so nervous and scared to let people get to know me, I'm my own worst enemy…
Anyway, I agree with everyone about pole. I truly am myself when I pole and dance, it makes me so happy that I just get over myself and show off my moves. Now if only I can apply that to 'real life'….
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@PolefitFanatic – well done 😀 Love the feeling when you nail a nemesis move. I just recently got the knee hold but can't keep practising because of the sore bruise on my leg lol impatient to wait for it to heal before trying again.
My move I don't think I will get any time soon is DEFINITELY the Allegra!! I've not experienced that amount of pain for a very very long time (not even with knee hold!) and even my usual tactic of 'ride through the pain, get into the move' doesn't work as I feel like my rib is about to break 🙁 darn my short body!!!
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if you mainly want strength and flex in your legs then i'd go for ballet
gymnastics would be good as well but there's more a range of stuff that'll include handstands etc. I reckon
bellydancing gives you more control over hips and stomach so you'll learn how to 'dance' around that area more fluidly
I don't know enough about modern and brazilan 😛 and cheerleading I would imagine to be more cardio and depending how advanced the rest of the group are it can be a flexy workout too
The only one i've ever taken classes in is bellydancing and it's awesome for your stomach and learning how to move more sensually (i think anyway!) but there's not much flexing or intense leg work going on
