Kyrsten
Forum Replies Created
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Dry skin perhaps, since you're supposed to exfoliate before a spray tan? That's strange.
I have been wondering how spray tans affect poling or if poling will mess up a spray tan since summer is coming up and I usually get them… it seems like annoying upkeep combined with pole since you need to exfoliate and moisturize so much to keep it looking good, and there's already such a delicate balance of the perfect amount of skin moisture for grip. I'm also imagining it rubbing off in places I grip often and making me look like a white and orange leopard…
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I made a quick video showing what I did today to get mine to spin better… basically the same technique as shown in the spinning fan kick video, but specific to inverts…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tYh8aPttbs
The difference is huuuge going into the invert from the floor! My aerial V always spun alright but it looks so much better using the same method as spinning into it from the floor.
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I've been meaning to try the true grip v too… forgot about that. I lost my locking pin though, not sure if I'm brave enough to try it on spin lol.
But that video was immensely helpful… It felt weird at first but I'm starting to get the hang of it. I found it helped to keep my grip lower than normal and to think of turning my body into my pole before I invert rather than just going straight up and over like a normal deadlift/aerial invert. I think I'll take a few videos and see if I can see a difference.
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Alright, sorry to revive this dead thread, but this was my exact question. I can do a controlled chopper/V invert but I can't get much spin on it without really throwing myself into it, which isn't cute. Goes for both aerial Vs and normal Vs from the floor.
The video was really helpful, gave it a try real quick, and it feels TOTALLY different from a normal V invert… if I' m understanding correctly, I'm almost supposed to be swinging my leg out behind me rather than forward and up? It feels so odd, like I'm going backwards! The mechanics are completely different, I'm surprised I haven't seen any other discussion/tutorial on this. If anyone else has additional tips I would really like to hear them.
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I reeeeeeeeally wanna go since I missed the Detroit showcase
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Additionally, something I noticed teaching this move last week: sometimes I see people not fully straightening the extended leg and that seems to compromise grip in the CKR. It's not just the crossed leg doing all the work… make sure you're engaging the extended leg as well. Try flexing your feet to start out as well, I find that gives a more secure grip with the laybacks.
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Alright, I'm not there yet, but I'm working on it. I can tuck my body up, parallel to the ground but I can't straighten my legs or hold the position for longer than a second or so.
I make sure to try it a few times every time I practice and I see little improvements every time. I've been poling 7 months, no strength training, but I do practice a LOT (probably over 8 hrs a week) and I was in decent shape before starting pole. I'm practicing the Iron X down from the handspring and working on lots of leg lifts on a pull up bar as well.. there's a pilates move I particularly like for lower core strength called the corkscrew, hollllly crap does it burn. Here's someone demonstrating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zD3xN9G6Cg
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Try climbing with your toes pointed, and pointed down toward the floor. It forces you to climb without that weight on your foot, plus it looks prettier 🙂
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Yeah, I have the bad kitty spider back top. It seems to run really small. I ordered an XS being that my bust is only like 30" or 31" and it still is really tight and rides up in the back. It's wearable but not super comfortable.
Does anyone know if Mika has shorts that are lower-rise than the Mikaelas? The Mikaelas are pretty low-rise as is, but I have a super short torso so I like to reveal as much stomach and hip as possible so I don't look stumpy.
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I have the Mikaela shorts, and when they're not scrunched at the side, they just cover my butt. I can tie them up and make them cheeky. I was worried about sizing, as I was right on the border of two sizes according to their chart, but the shorts have a LOT of give and are very flattering so if you're in between sizes/on the border I'd actually recommend sizing down. They are super comfortable.
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I have a PS stainless and it's my favorite pole ever! Mine is a 45 though. Nothing works as magically as stainless for me. Everything else is either too slippery or too grippy… stainless is grippy enough for me to stay on but my skin doesn't get all burned and ripped while spinning or sliding either. I don't think I'll ever own something NOT stainless, lol.
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Cartwheels and aerial shoulder mounts… can do them, but they're still hit or miss. :/
Cupid/knee holds… forever my nemesis!
Also working on transitioning in and out of my superman smoothly, and the superman fall, aaand all my back flexibility tricks… allegra, bridge, dove, coccoon…
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It's never to late to start! There's ladies (and men) well into their 40s, 50s, even 60s who pick up pole. You still have a pretty big advantage being in your twenties. And being a guy… damn you guys and your upper body strength. 🙂 I can't answer as to pole studios, but I would try calling around…
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I'm not super short, but pretty short (5'2") and agree.. being petite is actually an advantage in pole, I think, when it comes to the power moves. Less to lift, and less limb to get in the way when you're doing combos. Like FuzzyNavel said re: gymnastics, plus you can do more with a short pole than a tall dancer would be able to. My pole is under 7 feet and I can do almost anything on it (except wear heels and do straight edges, haha).
I do find I have more difficulty than some girls with certain tricks… twisted ballerina and the pixie spin come to mind, I don't have much torso to wrap around the pole. And the hip holds/jade split… again, super short torso makes positioning a little tricky. Also, we tend to have smaller hands which can make gripping bigger poles more difficult, though I personally feel comfortable on 45, 47 and 50 (never tried smaller).
So some things will be a bit harder and some a bit easier depending on your body personally, but I don't think height and size plays a huge role in what you can and can't do overall.
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Thanks everyone. I don't think it was the tightness of the pole, because HOLY CRAP those bolts would not budge!! I had to have my dad bring home two giant wrenches for us to loosen them to pu the pole back. I think the combination of the foam mats and slightly uneven floor may have done it in, especially since the pole slid off at the base. I'm moving the pole over a few beams to an area where the floor is completely even and cutting a hole in my foam so the base will be on solid cement just to be safe.
I will surely be giving it a solid check before every practice now though, and taking it down once in a while.
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I posted that thread chemgoddess linked…
I have a PS pole, but the top dome is very similar to X-Pole's. You can see in the photo how there is a piece of drywall installed across 3 beams… that is where I put mine, on the center beam covered by drywall. It works great 🙂 I'm moving the pole to another part of the basement and I plan on using a thick piece of wood or more drywall this time (depending on what's cheaper, I'm not sure), again installed across the 3 beams.
So yes, drill in a big piece of wood/drywall (I used about 6 nails on each beam to secure it) and you should be alright. It's a pretty simple job, plus with unfinished ceilings you don't have to worry about making sure you hit the joist lol 🙂
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Thanks for all the responses in this thread, they are all very helpful and informative. Mine would be only "internal", I think… my outer hips never give me problems, it's just right there in the hip flexor. I have thought of getting a foam roller, I probably should.
My issue has gotten better in the last few weeks. It happens a lot less often and the pain/popping is less severe, more of a mild inconvenience than an "OW I CAN'T STRAIGHTEN MY LEG AT ALL", so I think in my case it may just be that I need to strengthen my lower body and core. Hopefully. Every time I go to the doctor for a pain issue (went once for ongoing shoulder pain and again for ongoing pain in my ribs) they just tell me I strained a muscle, to give it a few weeks, and throw meds at me, so it really puts me off from going unless there's something really concretely wrong with me. I really need a new doctor…
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I do use corn husker's but it's just not good enough of a moisturizer for me. It works for adding moisture to get grip (like, as a before pole thing) but it really doesn't help my dry skin much overall. 🙁
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Depends on what the problem is… for me, I use a combo of corn husker's (body), iTac (pole) and Dry Hands (hands).
For body grip, I prefer to apply a light layer of corn huskers and let it dry for about 10 minutes. This is helpful if you have very dry skin. However I have to wash my hands with dishsoap and wipe them with alcohol after applying corn husker's, or else when my hands sweat they get slippery.
For hand grip, wiping them with diluted alcohol or Dry Hands.
Before I try iTac, I'll wipe down the pole with diluted alcohol. If that doesn't work, a light layer of iTac applied directly to the pole.
Corn husker's and alcohol mostly does the trick for me, though. I have dry skin and live in a cold dry climate. Mighty Grip doesn't work for me at all.
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Check craigslist, too: I got a 7′ by 4′ mirror for free from a former gym owner. I saw a couple more reasonably priced big mirrors, too.
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@tallica ugh! annoying, isn't it? i feel like i have the hips of someone four times my age! lol. i think it may be a matter of needed to be warmed up more before trying to even stretch or do leg rotations/lunges/etc.. maybe some light cardio beforehand would help.
@aerialvixen ahh my lower abs are quite weak compared to the rest of my core and lower body! always had issues with lower ab exercises. that's something i thought could be a possbility, not having great lower ab strength and overcompensating with my hips/quads and straining those muscles.
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What kind of pole do you have? Certain finishes make a difference in grip on different skin.
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Thanks so much everyone! I'll probably knock out some of the existing drywall (the joist I want it on is actually right where the drywall ends, ugh) and add either new drywall or some sturdy wood. That is what I was thinking, spanning three joists with a block of material and setting the pole on the center stud. Lyme, that is also helpful, I may try that as well.
I'm pretty sure I want a PS pole 🙂 I don't see the option for a stainless X-Pole? I think my ceilings are too short for the XPert, anyhow (only 7 foot).
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Thank you! There isn’t much information on their website, so that is helpful. I’ve only used their free standing pole.
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My first pair of shoes are a pair of Pleasers with clear ankle straps and I love them! They're very comfortable and supportive, even with 7" stilettos lol. I'm a size 6 US and I actually went a size up to a 7 because the pair I tried felt tight, but I guess they're supposed to be kind of snug. It seemed to be an oddity with that specific pair though because all the other Pleasers I tried in 6 fit just fine.
