[Mindy4pole]

Yeah! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif I hoped that they might just be gone due to the upgrade.

Thanks sooooooo much for all your work on this site. It is such a great place, and I know we REALLY appreciate it!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I love this video. Thanks for posting! Body image IS crazy.

When I was almost 100 lbs heavier than I am now, I felt so sexy. It was like I was outside the social norm, and so I could accept myself as who and what I was. If people didn’t find me attractive, that was their problem. I remember going to a renaissance festival dressed as a slave girl — 200+ pounds, wearing nothing but a bra and harem pants. I had all these people coming up to me, wanting to take pictures with me, flirting with me.

Now, I’m pretty close to the cultural "ideal", but I can’t see myself that way at all. I feel "fat" and that my breasts are too small (even though I wear a 32DD bra!) I keep trying to shake these feelings, but they are still there. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

Any ideas on how to be more accepting of your own beauty??

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

What size is it? (other than tiny) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Cute garter! I like your butterfly, too!! I have one on my right inner thigh.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Yeah, I have a problem with thinking of cool links. However I am really good at stealing other peoples link moves and then learning them, LMAO! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I found cradle SOO HARD! I could do inverted teddy/hip hold, reverse grab/pretzel and bow and arrow long before I could do cradle! And I’m still very average at it! (I have scarred my thighs from ‘falling’ out of the crable pose so many times and cutting my my leg on my the nails on my bottom hand!)

I was just talking to my teacher a couple of days ago about the way I figured out how to do cradle. This one hurt me a lot — I had so many bruises from trying to do it! So — I spent lots of time obsessing and figured out that the key for me was to focus on bending my body over, not lifting my body to my arms. It started working immediately after that. I hope that makes sense!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I got a shoulder mount today for the first time using the Respect Grip. I think I’m going to try the Veena grip too…

WOO HOO for you, too!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

So brave to post a video!! I haven’t been able to get it again… I’ll keep plugging.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I do the average SM grip the one it sounds like your trying, just before 2:06 and if you watch you can see me switch to veena grip in the middle of the hold.
https://www.studioveena.com/video/gallery/HERE-TO-STAY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Veena — You are TRULY amazing!

I’m still sick, but I just had to try the shoulder mount with your grip. AND IT WORKED!!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
That’s the first time I’ve ever been able to get the shoulder mount! I tried it twice more, and my feet just missed the pole, but I’ll blame that on sickness. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

OK — I THINK I GOT IT!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

butterfly.jpg

I used Veena’s suggestion of caterpillar first. My twisting problems get even worse when I try to do it just from inverted crucifix. It still need lots of work. I don’t feel like I have a trustworthy grip with my hand close to my knee. I guess the strength will come.

The extended leg is not in exactly the right place, but I feel like I understand what I’m doing now. I think I’m going to practice the leg positioning from a headstand.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Now I can stop obsessing on this, and work on my Sept. challenge!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Thanks you so much for the advice. I’ll try the crucifix entry to butterfly tonight after I’ve gotten my little one in bed.

I’ll keep you posted on progress!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I get this sometimes, too. I’ve found that it is usually referred pain from the muscles in your forearm. (I’m a massage therapist, too.) Here’s what helps for me. Put your sore hand in your lap, palm down. Reach over with the other hand, and grasp your forearm, near the elbow. If you move the sore fingers, you should feel movement under the fingers that are rubbing. Work on rubbing those muscles for a while, and it should give you some relief.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I can’t record myself to show until I can do more than just dip and swing around a bit. I would bore everyone! I try to use a mirror, but also go with the music and not watch..I think for a while I was too into watching myself to flow.

Record yourself now, even if you don’t want to show it to anyone else. It gives you a kind of feedback you just can’t get any other way. Also, you can let yourself get lost in the music, and still get the benefit of watching.

If that doesn’t convince you… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif think how cool it will be when you are inverting without a second thought to look back at your early stuff and see how far you’ve come.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

How about a "You pole danced to WHAT??" challenge.

I love doing pole to songs you’d never think of. Waltz’s are surprisingly good for it!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I also get this pain BIG time. I pretty much avoid doing it, even when my instructor says to. I just don’t feel like I should chance injuring myself. That said… can anyone explain alternative grips?

The pose that hurts me the most is stationary spread eagle. I can sort of do the spinning version, I think, because the centrifugal force of spinning is holding me away from the pole, relieving pressure on the bottom forearm.

What exercises increase the strength in the upper arm for this move?

Thanks SO much!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

When I get a chance I might just have to make a video showing the tricks I’ve taught myself to use when taking pictures or videos.

Veena – This would be AWESOME! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif The inverted positions always seem to accentuate my loose belly skin. I’ve been pol’ing for about 5 months, and I am amazed at how my body is starting to look!

cbr600girl – I have a suggestion that sounds odd, but has worked well for me. Try to find a pole class to go to. Wear skimpy clothes and let your belly hang out! It will be really hard at first, but soon, you won’t even notice. Doing it on a regular basis just makes it seem normal to have your body exposed. Since I’m a stay at home mom, I don’t get out much other than pole class, so it DOES cause a little bit of a problem. I have no sense anymore of how to dress "normally". One day I went to the grocery store in some of my workout shorts. My hubby’s eyes got big https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif when he got home from work — "You wore THAT??"

Also, in class, you see other women’s bodies and realize that they all have hangups about themselves. It seems that society programs us to be dissatisfied with what we have. The tall girls want to be shorter, and the short girls want to be taller… The skinny girls want curves, and the curvy girls want to be skinny… ETC. I’ve known this for a long time (in my head), but actually being around these lovely women and hearing their insecurities has driven the point home.

Bless you in what ever you decide w/ surgery — you’ll still be great which ever way you decide!!

Mindy