[Mindy4pole]

So, I just have to get on my soapbox about pushing…  Unless there is a safety issue w/ you or baby, don't push until your body wants to push.  Too often, women get told to push just because they are at 10 cm, not when they are ready.  Both of my labors had a break in contractions somewhere btwn 9 and 10, and the rest was WONDERFUL!   Your uterus is the most effective muscle at pushing that baby out, but you can't make it do it.  There is an amazing, incredible feedback loop btwn mom and baby's bodies that has nothing to do w/ your conscious, thinking self.  When your brain is trying to direct the action, you use all sorts of other muscles and get exhausted.  But, that's just my opinion that I can't keep to myself!  😉

[Mindy4pole]

Veena has said most everything I would.  I did my home water birth, in part, due to her recommendation!  Plus, my pole was an AWESOME labor aid.  I could lean and pull on it all I wanted, and it never got tired or had to go potty. 

I definitely got lots of comments from other polers (some negative), but bottom line is that this is your child.  What ever choices you make, YOU are the one who has to live with them.  Listen to your body.

I posted a video of me poling the day before my son was born.  He was 2 1/2 weeks late, so I was doing ANYTHING to try to start labor!!  =D He is such and awesome and physically capable baby, too. 

[Mindy4pole]

I poled some through my pregnancy.  I thought I would have done more, but I just didn't feel like it.  That's my main advice — listen to your body.  Don't let yourself get overheated, and do use caution when stretching.  Your body produces relaxin so your bones can separate during birth.  That also means you can overstretch if you aren't paying attention to how you are feeling.  This isn't the time for "no pain, no gain".  You should be able to continue what you have been doing, but probably not try to learn new <challenging> stuff. 

I did a home birth, and I HIGHLY recommend using your pole as an aid in labor!  It was awesome to lean and pull against, and it never got tired or had to go to the bathroom.  ;D

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Definitely caterpillar/climb.  Try it with no hands, just using your glutes to pull your body up.  Inverted sit ups/crunches are great for lower abs — do a layback so you are inverted, and the sit up, keeping your upper body as relaxed as you can.  Use your lower abs to pull you up and hold for as long as you can.  I can only lift my body up a little that way.  =)

[Mindy4pole]

Breast feeding hasn't seemed to negatively impact my poling, except that I'm more careful about trying certain moves.  Most of my body is covered w/ bruises at the moment, but I protect "the girls".  They don't belong to me right now!  =)  I have more upper body strength than I did before.  I think a lot of that is from my sweet boy.  He loves to be carried, and he weighs more than 20 lbs now!  I HAS helped me lose weight, though.  I weigh less now than prepregnancy.

[Mindy4pole]

Realize that your body has been through enormous changes, so some things may work differently.  I've been able to get more functional upper body strength than I had before my little boy (he's 10 months old), but none of my hip/leg holds work right anymore.  My hips move differently than they did before, so I'm having to start over on those things. 

Your body is still in a mode of being open to radical physical changes, and I have gained a lot more hip mobility <for good and bad!> than I had been able to achieve in years.

LISTEN to your body!!  I went to a class in the 2-3 month post partum time, and I found it was too much for my pelvic floor. I didn't want to mess around with a prolapse of any of my girly parts!!   I did other things for a while (silks and aerial yoga) so I could build strength while everything healed.  Since I was a beginner in both, I didn't feel (too) bad about not being able to do things. 

I've been poling several times a week for the past couple of months, and my home pole is still slip-slidey a lot of the times.  I am not a fan of grip, but I've started using Mighty Grip.  It really does help.

It'll be back.  It's remarkable how fast the next few months will pass!  Getting some sleep will probably help everything, too. 

[Mindy4pole]

Would you go up to the other seven girls that didn't place and tell them they were nothing for it?  Probably not.  So don't do it to yourself!!  =)  You went out and did your thing, and the comp gave you a reason to train.  So, you won!!  And your daughter wins b/c you are w/ her and breastfeeding.  😀  My little boy is 10 months, and I'm trying to coordinate nursing him during a competition in a week and a half.  LOL  The difficulties of motherhood!

[Mindy4pole]

You're thinking of Miss Texas Pole Star — it's the one in October.  I don't think I'm going to do it this year…  I won the amatuer division in 2010, right before I got pregnant.  My skill levels are not really back yet, definitely not for the "fitness" division.  So, I'll probably wait until next year.  But yeah, the judges are amazing!

Miss Texas Pole Dance Fitness is a smaller comp, and being held in San Antonio on June 30th.  But Pantera's a judge there, too!  =)

 

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I got the competition package today, and the visual dictioinary DOES help a lot!

[Mindy4pole]

Thanks Shimi!  Your video is intimidating!!  You're both strong and flexible.  https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif&nbsp;

So, where would I get this pictionary you speak of??  That WOULD help a lot. 

It seems pretty obvious that moves based off of splits (which I can't do) are flexibility moves.

Also, I know that moves like iron-x & twisted grip dead lift are strength moves, but I'm nowhere near being able to do stuff like that.

I don't really feel like I can do any on-the-pole moves very well, so it's hard…  I think I'm nuts for signing up for this.  I'm not even sure I can do all the required moves. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif&nbsp; It gives me a place to perform, though, and hopefully the motivation to get more skills back.

<<And, sorry for the double post.  I was impatient and didn't realize it had saved.>>

[Mindy4pole]

So, I decided to do the Miss Tx Pole Dance Fitness competion, and I was hoping for some ideas on what their terms mean.  They require both "strength moves" and "flexibility moves".  What are some moves that you would consider amateur level moves in these catagories?  My self concept tell me that I'm not strong or flexible, so any moves I can do are NOT strength or flexibility.  Thanks so much for your help!!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I'd like to add that, along with pasties, you should wear a small, nude thong under your bottoms.  I learned this from the beautiful, talented, oh-so-professional Felix Cane.  She was performing, and somehow the metal loop holding her bottoms together broke.  She finished her move, held her pants on, and headed off the stage!  It was embarassing, I'm sure, but she was covered and didn't flash anyone.  Then she got new bottoms, and came  back out and finished her performance.

Also, figure skating costumes have good coverage.

[Mindy4pole]

I t hink that for the folks that seriously practice corsetry, it is a real body modification…  That's why they said you grow accustom to it and need to take faja in after awhile.

[Mindy4pole]

I would be concerned about wearing them on a regular basis, especially for folks who are doing things that required core strength.  Having this kind of artificial support weakens you back and ab muscles, so you end up becoming dependant on them.  There are also digestive issues to worry about.  I also wouldn't let a teenager wear them except on a special occasion.  Their bodies are still growing, so the issues are compounded.  Plenty of folk are into corsetry, and thanks to the web, there's a lot of info on how to do it fairly safely. 

[Mindy4pole]

Cool idea!  I love it that this is a less physical challenge!  I haven't done one in so long!!  Thanks, Veena!

[Mindy4pole]

I don't know of anything in San Antonio, but if you are willing/able to drive up to Austin, there's Brass Ovaries (http://brass-ovaries.com/).  They are sooooo good!  I don't know if they teach anything other than pole, but I know Brynn and Sarah both do hoop as well.

Good luck!!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

How about a dance for Mother's day?  At seven months pregnant, this would be one I could DEFINITELY do!  =)

Or maybe for Beltane/May Day, do a fertility dance?  We've already got the dancing around the pole part down.

Also May Day is a pro-labor day in a lot of the world.  I'm not too sure how to do a "power to the workers" dance, but maybe…

Maybe a Cinco de Mayo dance?  There's lots of cool Spanish language music.

I finally have a new camera and would love to participate!

[Mindy4pole]

Thanks Veena!  I thought it was something like that — I'm a big believer in the power of twisting your torso!  It's certainly a challenge to have to put this stuff into words when you can't just hop up on the pole and do it.  You definitely have my respect for your word power!!

[Mindy4pole]

I'm trying to help my friend w/ her jade, and while her legs are pretty darn flat, her body is somewhat angled.  She's definitely using an armpit grip –> that is where most of her "stick" is coming from.  I found some pictures that showed jade's w/o the armpit grip, and I see you guys referring to it here. 

I think she is getting into it from a hip hold.  Unfortunately, I don't have access to Veena's lessons right now.  I had to suspend them for a while to pay for sonograms!!  LOL

Any tips I can pass on to her for flattening her body out?

Thanks so much!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

What kinds of changes have u made to lose the weight and keep ot off?

I think awareness is the biggest key. I’ve done food diaries (for months!) a couple of times, and just doing that alone was always enough to start losing. Somehow when you make yourself write down what you are eating, you thing twice before just popping something in your mouth.

Don’t eat food that you don’t like. Sounds silly, but you’ll notice yourself munching on something that you don’t particularly care about, just because its there.

Figure out what foods you can’t keep in the house. Mini-marshmallows and chocolate chip cookies are two of mine. If they are there, I will eat them!

Eat your veggies first.

Cut back just a little. Use a little less cream than is perfect in your coffee. Use only half a pat of butter. Take half of what you want at a buffet place, and give yourself permission to go back. Every time you eat a little less, it adds up. If you start out not eating too well, this is even more effective! Your taste system then becomes more sensitive, and then you don’t notice anymore. If you want, you can cut back a little more at this point.

Move! The more the better! Every little counts here, too. Intentionally park in a farther parking spot. Go pole — even if just one or two songs. Practice holding your abs and moving your torso in tiny ways when you sit in your chair at work.

I would only weigh myself once a week, to keep from going nuts! I also did a weekly "try-on". Find some neat (too small) clothes you like, and have it be your try-on outfit. Somehow that’s gratifying in a way that the scale isn’t! =)

I think my most important thing is, though to actually have numbers for the "ideal" weight, the "stop trying to loose" weight, and the "lowest acceptable" weight. It is such an addictive feeling to be losing weight, and it can be very tempting to just want to get smaller and smaller. I’ve slipped off the other end of the eating spectrum before as well, and I can tell you… starving yourself sucks. All around.

WOW! I didn’t expect that to be so long! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I hope those are some useful ideas!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

im not even 5’1 and weigh more than most girls! As scary as it is to say this so openly on the internet I figure this is the safest place to soo it… im about 170ish. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif HUGE https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I love my curves I just want them smaller. I could never be 130 but im ok w that. I may not have learned as quickly as some ppl but im so Damn stubborn and hard headed that I wont accept "can’t" when it comes to poling except when I say can’t do it YET! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif just stick w it and know the sky is the limit https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

I love your curves, too!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif I checked out your profile pic, and you are awesome! And FAR from huge!!

With the weight thing — you probably could be 130. I’m 5’8 and weigh btwn 140 and 145. I NEVER thought I’d see those numbers on a scale!! 160 was my "skinny" weight, and I was around 230 at my heaviest. (I have one of my heavy pix up on my profile.) This hasn’t been a quick "on this diet" kind of thing for me. I’ve lost and gained back significant amounts probably five or more times, but (almost) every time, my "heavy" weight has gotten lower. It’s all a matter of finding what works for you. So if you want to change your weight, just point you stubborn nose at it, don’t accept "can’t", except when you can’t do it YET. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

@Serzi – This is a few months late but I just stumbled on this thread —

I’m 5’10"!!! I’ve been wondering the same thing – I am the only one that tall? Glad to see that there’s at least one other girl out there who’s my height! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

Amber Richards — Fleur on here — is beautiful, graceful, fluid, strong… and 5"10, too!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

…My humerus is poised to come out of the socket with slight manipulation (I have some hypermobile joints) and my infraspinatus in both shoulders is significantly weak. … strengthen your infraspinatus. This is basically what I am doing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotator_cuff#Strengthening&quot; onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Veena’s external and internal shoulder rotation lessons (under strength) are awesome.

Thanks for posting this! I’ve known for a long time that something doesn’t work the way its supposed to in my shoulder system. I used to slip my shoulders out of joint to amuse/shock people when I was a kid. Carrying a heavy weight straight down would also do it. These exercises are hard for me, with no weights. That tells me — keep doing them!!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Can anybody who went/participated in this event give me more details about how it worked? The next Texas competition will be run in a very similar way. SO — the compulsory round — just walk up, do moves and leave? Then the whole formal dress part…??? What kinds of things did people do? The performance part, I can figure out, but I don’t have context for the other parts.

Thanks so much!!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

what’s a remi spin?

It’s like chair, except the outside hand cups the pole above the inside hand. (Both your hands are going the same way.) You can really fly! I don’t know if it has another name or not. You know how names are!

Mindy