[London]

Yeah I’m guessing it must be a pinched nerve too, but luckily it hasn’t been happening as much so I’m hoping it’s getting better! Although another concern I have is that my shoulder muscle that I put against the pole when I shoulder mount hurts A LOT, and I’m not sure if I’m not doing it right?? I know that’s a little vague but has anyone experienced a similar problem?

[London]

Thanks ladies https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif The weird thing is that the girls who work there were nicer to the girls that didn’t win but who did get jobs there… I would think that they would have been more competition… oh well, not a big deal anyway. Thanks for the support it means a lot!

[London]

owch!! im sorry that happened, i have lost some skin on my wrist from gripping too tight on moves like the back hook spin and such… and tonight i was at a party where there was a pole but it was a different material than im used to and im pretty sure i will have a very bad rash on my legs and butt tomorrow morning haha! oops! but i hope your injury heals quickly!!

[London]

drkfaery i would be down to carpool!!!

[London]

Thank you!!! And yeah Roxy I actually did win a prize, $600!! Makes me want to do all the amateur nights everywhere! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

Also Sissy I was totally nervous before but after getting onstage I felt so unbelievably good and free and empowered! If you wanted to you could totally rock an amateur night!

[London]

I wish I could answer your question but I too have a bruising problem that I want to know the risks about! I’m anemic and it definitely shows on my legs, I mean I know everyone bruises from poling but for example yesterday after practicing I had a sort of hot-cold burning pain spearing through my inner thigh, it felt like I was internally bleeding! It did eventually go away so I’m gonna wait to see if it happens again before I go to a doctor, but I’m just wondering if I can do permanent damage by bruising too much too often?

[London]

I have a question too regarding this thread! Do instructors have to be certified, or have any other requirements like that? And what’s a good organization to get certified through? Thanks!

[London]

That would be so fun to have a halloween-themed challenge!! I’m NUTS about Halloween too, actually it’s a huuuuge deal in my college town that lasts almost a whole week so I always have to make like 3 or 4 costumes! I love making my own costumes too and I probably spend way too much time on them haha…. a few years back I spent two months crafting a Princess Leia gold slave outfit, but it was well worth it! My boyfriend of the time, a total Star Wars geek, was happy about it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif Just today I actually was thinking about what to be this year, hopefully something that I can move around in so I can make a fun costumed pole video!

[London]

AHHHHH OMG Dropkick Murphys AND pole dancing???!! That video was like the best combination of things EVER!!! Why haven’t I seen that before?! Veena I absolutely hope you do that competition so I can come watch you win!!!

[London]

Yeah I had SUCH a great time! Thanks again Veena and Stellabella and Drkfaery and everyone else who helped put this on, I hope we get a chance to do another one soon!

[London]

once at a kickboxing class we were doing warm up relays across the floor and i ran three steps before totally seizing up my quad and almost falling over–I couldnt lift that leg for the rest of the day and it was sore for like three days after, all from a few steps of running! and it was probably something as simple as the fact that i shifted my weight just before i started running and overcompensated or whatever… so anyway accidents can happen no matter how prepared we think we are but doing the prep work does lessen the chances. and there are chances of accidents happening while doing ANYTHING in life–hell, i’ve hurt myself ironing before, twice!–but we don’t stop driving or climbing stairs or doing those everyday things because of it. i think if you worry ABOUT worrying about it, you will psyche yourself out more than if you just say ‘well, i had a mishap and it taught me to always be vigilant, even on moves that i am comfortable with. now i’m gonna get better and give it another go!’

[London]

I’m here I’m here I’m here!!! I would LOVE to meet up for a pole jam or something!!! Seriously that would be a dream come true https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[London]

"Crappy performance"??? No way!!!! That was phenomenal, seriously, my eyes were glued to the screen. You have such a stage presence–even when you were probably panicking, it looked like you had such confidence, if you hadn’t told me about the wardrobe problem I would’ve never known. Congrats to you on your determination and on a truly skillful and inspiring performance!

[London]

This video brought tears to my eyes too! I’m so glad I found this site and I think Veena is the most amazing, positive inspirational person! And everyone else here is so wonderful and supportive. I’m truly thankful https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[London]

Oh those sound perfect I’ll definitely look for those!! Thanks ladies!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[London]

I’ve heard good things about platinum poles, dunno really anything about hardcore poles… I have a Lil Mynx tho and I LOVE it! If you do get a Lil Mynx I would recommend the stainless steel, not the painted surface, cuz those can chip and they’re not as good texture for spins. But other companies do other materials such as brass, titanium, etc which may be better for certain uses?? From what I’ve heard, in most cases switching between any of those materials can take a little getting used to but a lot of it is personal preference; I’ve only ever used the stainless steel though so maybe someone else can help elaborate more if you’re deciding between materials!

[London]

Haha yeah my boyfriend got this huge grin and immediately ran up to the pole and wanted to flip around on it the second I got it, being the goof that he is.
Now he is content to just watch me do my tricks, but I didn’t want to do anything for him until I got better at it!
…BUT then we had a really nice date last night and I figured maybe I’d do a little dance for him at the end of the night, and I actually found myself getting really into it! I got into performance mode and my nerves turned into adrenaline and it helped me do the moves that have been harder for me in the past! To be honest, though, ladies, no matter how silly we may feel trying to dance all sexy sometimes, guys won’t see it that way. I taped myself beforehand and thought I looked absolutely RIDICULOUS–like I had this "sexy face" in some of my floor moves that looked more like JYNX said, like I was seizuring! But to guys, if you dance around the pole just for them with the lights low in a sexy outfit, they’re going to love it no matter what!

[London]

Thanks so much Veena, I’m gonna start doing those too.

And yeah purplelady I will hopefully have that video of the other exercise up by tomorrow (along with maybe my first dancing vid too! Yay!!)

[London]

How cool! I’m gonna put this in my profile too but for now:

Name: gonna stick w/ my stage name hehe https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Age: 20
Location: California
Stage Name: London
Lessons or self taught: Self-taught to start (only a few days), but getting lots of help now from Veena!!
Spin or static: My pole is static, but definitely one day hope to try a spinner!
Shoes or barefoot: Definitely SHOES! Climbs are sooooo much easier with patent leather heels to grip the pole!!
Favorite pole move: Just mastered the thigh hold!!!! Sooooo excited!!! Trying to learn a more graceful dismount other than sliding onto my head though haha
Day job: College student and sales associate at a boutique
Best/sexiest feature: Eyes, chest n stomach https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
How you got into pole dancing: I’m not very good at staying committed to exercising–I’ve tried swimming, kickboxing, other sports, but I always wind up losing motivation to keep going. But I always thought that if I took up pole dancing, I would really enjoy it and have a way to tone my body while really enjoying myself, so my roommates and I finally ordered our pole–and boy was I right!!! I can’t stay off it now!!
How you found out about StudioVeena.com: Since there isn’t a pole dancing studio in my city, I was online trying to look for instruction video, and I found a link from YouTube!
If you were a pair of underwear would you be…. : Boy shorts! Lacy ones!

[London]

Okay yeah I guess I had better just go see a doctor, much better safe than sorry!!!

BUT in the meantime I have found a bit of a remedy! I mentioned my problem to my boyfriend because he is a personal trainer, and he said it looks like the problem is in my rotator cuff (I think?? Haha I don’t remember all the muscle names he used but I think that was the main one) Anyway he showed me a way to strengthen it and after just trying that a few times it actually felt better!! Apparently I may have stretched it so that it wasn’t keeping my shoulder in place as well, and by doing that exercise it tightened up so that it had proper placement again.

Anyway I’m still going to go to the doctor but if anyone else is interested in the exercise he showed me, the way to do it is to stand with the pole slightly in front and to one side of you, then make a fist with your inside hand and place the back of your wrist against the pole with your elbow tucked in and touching your side–at this point your body should be straight but leaning slightly against the pole. Then without moving your elbow from your side, use your shoulder muscles to push your body away from the pole. You will only move a little bit each time, otherwise your elbow will come away from your body, but it is enough to feel the muscles working really well. Once I get some video I’ll try to post one of me doing it because it’ll probably be easier to understand that way.

Hopefully that was helpful to somebody out there!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[London]

How exciting, just beware Toccara that when you do get your pole you will not be able to stay off of it and you may find yourself hard-pressed to get anything else done!! Haha.

And KAT that is so cool that you have those moves down, I still can’t figure out the cradle, for some reason I find it hard to support my weight that way even though I can do that grip for other moves. Hmm!

And I know I still need to work up to being able to invert because that’s an intermediate move, but what frustrates me is that on the first day my pole arrived, before I knew about this site and was just messing around on my own, I somehow was able to pull off an invert no problem at all, but ever since then I can’t do it again even when I try my hardest! I’m probably overthinking it and I probably didn’t do it correctly that first time anyway so I’ve put that on hold to wait until I’m properly at that level, but my housemate is able to do it no problem without ever having pole experience before and she even does it the right way, but pulling up slowly instead of just kicking and flinging herself into the air. Oh well, everyone learns at different rates, so I’ll just keep working in my own way!!

[London]

Yeah I’m just beginning too and haven’t posted a vid yet, but I’m finally getting to the point where I might have the confidence to make one! I hope to have it up in the next few days! And I’d be happy to work together to keep each other motivated and share progress!! Personally all I have down are the pinwheel, fireman, back hook, basic pole sit, and most recently the carousel! I was proud of that one because it required mastering a new grip. What tricks have you learned so far? Which ones are you hoping to conquer soon??