[Mindy4pole]

Congrats!!! I love Brass Monkey (I just can’t bring myself to call it "BM", though!! To me BM=Bowel Movement, but I have a baby, so that’s a fairly constant topic! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif )

I can only do it from CAR, and I discovered the leg placement by accident. I’ve started working on the straight-egde approach, but I have a REALLY hard time holding on. The times I’ve tried, my whole body went CLUNKING down hard! Lucky for me, I was practicing over a mattress! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_blackeye.gif

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif for Sassafrassle!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Julie — Jenyne advised us to work on the turn for apprentice/superman on the floor first to understand the body movement. I still can’t do it that way, but I thought I’d pass on the advice! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I took my own advice, and practiced this on the ground tonight. I discovered something you might find useful. When I focused on trying to bring my knee through the "window", it wouldn’t work (as always!) But then I started thinking about just turning my body over, and *AMAZING* there was just enough room for my leg! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
I really mean JUST enough room. I’m still not doing it quite right b/c my ankle bone scraped across the pole. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif But hey! I’ve never been able to do it that well!

Let me know if this works for you.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Since this has turned into a superman thread… Here’s a link with lots of superman combos. She doesn’t do the apprentice->superman, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltLB7cqTbmE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Julie — Jenyne advised us to work on the turn for apprentice/superman on the floor first to understand the body movement. I still can’t do it that way, but I thought I’d pass on the advice! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Oh David — you stirred up some folks with this one!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Last, I have to wonder sometimes, who are we trying to turn on? Most of the "whoos" you hear when a pole performer starts doing sexy floor dancing are straight females cheering for straight females. I believe that the most common type of pole dance enthusiast is the suburban housewife. And from what I can tell, most formal pole dance performances and competitions are primarily attended by other straight female pole dancers. Does it really serve anyone to go before an audience of unsuited and probably unavailable persons and act like we want to excite them sexually? And are we, as an audience, really doing this art and its highest calibre vanguards any service by encouraging them to use the same sexual dance style they use all the time? It’s nice to encourage our friends, of course. But maybe we could encourage them to do something cool instead. Perhaps we can encourage them to break out of their comfort zones, which primarily contain average, common strip-club moves and facial expressions to match. Leading with the butt, in my opinion, is not the most endearing way to engage an audience, but that’s just my feeling. I’m sure there are some audience members who would enjoy being approached butt-first by the performers. But still. Heterosexual women being sexy for each other and pretending to be excited about it makes me giggle a little.

You see, I want a place where I, an urban housewife and pole enthusiast, can performed in front of an audience. I prefer them to be "unavailable" so that my performance in no way makes them feel entitled to get anything else out of me.

I think your post shows a lack of understanding of female sexuality. You’re a guy, you think like a guy. That’s cool! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif But many women have a much broader sense of sexuality. Also, I think for many women, the "turn-on" is just as much fun as the actual sex. So the heterosexual woman performing and/or watching MAY, in fact, feel turned on, even though she doesn’t have any intent of doing anything.

Also, for many women, performing "average, common strip-club moves and facial expressions" is VERY much out of their comfort zone and is very cool. So, if you giggle, do it very quietly, or wait till you get home.

Sex is a bigger deal for women than men — and I mean that in a strictly biological way. Although there are effective means of birth control now, every act of intercourse carries with it the huge risk of pregnancy (and disease). For our ancestors, pregnancy meant a significant risk of death. So, I believe, our pleasure systems grew to be much broader. I want to be able to share my sexual/sensual power with others in a good, safe way. For mean, this means display only.

I appreciate the artistic side as well, and I totally agree w/ you about dancing to "different" types of songs. I think, for me, though that merging what ever emotion a song speaks to me and sexuality is magic and fun! Because sometimes, sex is silly, or sad, or animalistic, or whatever!

To EVERYONE posting on this thread — THANK YOU!!! It really gives me a lot to think about.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I thought your video looks REALLY good! But yeah, the slipping can be very frustrating. What I find helpful… When you are inverted after the release, think about tilting your pelvis forward. That makes your legs turn out slightly, and for me, closes the gap btwn my legs. By forward, I mean pubic bone tucked toward your belly button and the whole hip unit pushed forward. My normal posture has a backward tilting pelvis, so I’ve been practice, practice, practicing this. It seems to make many moves work better — like you body becomes more of a unit.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I love my quick smile and twinkling eyes.
I love my long neck and my collar bones.
I love my breasts and nipples. My nipples were inverted as a kid, but time and 11 months of nursing has made them pokey!
I love my pale skin.
I love my hips, the way they move.
I love my looooong legs. After almost every class w/ the full length mirrors, I come out saying "damn, I have long legs!"
I love my pointed toes.

I also love my uterus and vagina. They performed a miracle housing and delivering my little girl. That’s sort of more "inside" though. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Mindy
(I couldn’t resist naming more than one, or the others would get jealous!) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif

[Mindy4pole]

great! thanks for the pick! am going to try fri when i have someone coming over to pole w me. will see if she can use my webcam top tape me and will (try ) post on here wether i get it or just fall on my face. we’ll see… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Woo hoo, I can’t wait! I think this will be an unexpected, cool move.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Out researching a completely different topic on the net tonight, I ran across a post from someone saying that their DivaCup had pulled out their IUD. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif
I have no clue the validity of this statement, but if you have an IUD, you might want to ask your Dr. about the DivaCup.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

i am still not sure what hero or apprentice is.. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_question.gif
is there a vid? i cant even imagine being lucky enough to have any class w jennye b. what amazing talent.

I copied this from wikipole:

apprentice.jpg

I have my straight leg in front of the pole, but other wise is the same. I got the apprentice->superman transition from Jenyne, but I can’t get my knee/leg through into superman.

The steps for my combo (in my head) are cradle spin, and as you come around, put your legs into apprentice… Then pull your knee through the window of your arm and the pole, and flip your body over into superman. I figure a lot of folks know the app->superman transition b/c of Jenyne.

THANKS!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I think its funny that barefoot is considered less sexy! I dated a man w/ a thing for bare feet, so to me, they are the ULTIMATE sexy. When I’m in heels, I’m just walking. When I’m barefoot, I’m pointing my toes as hard as I can and really paying attention to my legs. Which just goes to show… Sexy is what ever it is to the person doing it!!

And poledanceromance — thanks for the dolphin info! I forgot about them! Bonobos (another primate) also do lots of sex play, but I’m not sure about actual intercourse. I’m a big science nerd, too! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Mindy4pole]

Yeah! I’m so glad folks are discussing this. Sometimes I feel like "sex" is the elephant in the room we can’t talk about.

I guess I have two issues… 1) Pole dancing and sexuality, and 2) sexuality and culture

It seems as if we are constantly bombarded with two big messages — SEX!!!! and Sex is BAD!!! (so, you need to pay a lot for it!) This bugs the hell out of me. Humans are the most sexual animals on this planet. We are the only females that have intercourse when we are not fertile. And we are very successful animals! Supposedly, sometime in our history, the human population almost went extinct, and only a small tribe was left… Like maybe only 100 people… And they repopulated the planet! That’s a lot of sex.

So, I have a really hard time seeing sex as bad. Yet, I’m given that message all the time. I feel so fortunate to have had parents that didn’t tell me sex was bad. I’ve always responded to music in a way that is very sensual/sexual. As a kid, my favorite part of watching movies at home was the music in the credits. I would writhe around on the ground, feeling, dancing… I know what you mean Amcut about being your body. It’s hard to just be if my mind has to be on alert for "this is sexual, cut it out!" I believe that sexual energy and creativity are very much the same… In dancing, in writing, in painting, in anything that lets your soul flow through your body. Maybe if I referred to it as "passionate" rather than "sexual", that would be better…

For pole, I don’t want it to ONLY be sexual or only be fitness. I want freedom to move the way I want, the way that music moves me. I think its funny that I can tell people I do West Coast Swing dancing, and they think nothing of it… But it can be a very sexy dance, and it’s a partner dance. My connection with my partner is almost always sexual, in part, and I’m proud that I connect the same way with almost anyone I dance with. I only turn that part off if I feel like its making my partner uncomfortable.
But if I tell people that I pole dance — which I do mostly by myself, in my own house — they fill in all this "dirty" stuff in their minds.

I suppose my fantasy is to have a sort of "women’s temple" kind of atmosphere to dance in… I love dancing by myself, but I’m also a big ham! Being onstage with no audience gets old! I want to be able to dance and not worry about being "too sexy" — in fact, I want to celebrate being sexy!

[Mindy4pole]

UPDATE!!!

The Girl’s Room now has a BLUE door, not a red one!

I went to class tonight, and was surprised! One of the instructors said she walked right past the door and had a moment of confusion!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

SO — find the BLUE door, go up the stairs and turn right!!

Only three days to goooooooo! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

hiya,

What i do is do the CAR, the twist my body around so my arms are in the flagpole position, then just kinda slide myself into the brass monkey.

hope that makes sense!

And you know, I don’t even do the flagpole position/grip quite right… I just can’t really feel the grip. But when you let your body twist around the pole, your leg just hooks on and really stays. That’s why I need help getting out! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif This is also one that is a lot easier for me on taller poles. I need a little distance to slide into position.

i usually do this into a pole sit but you can also do a pretty bow and arrow or go into an ayesha. i do it here (haha i JUST uploaded this!) about 2/3 of the way thru =)

http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/2555" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

THANKS! I think I have done the foot lock a time or two just to keep from hitting the floor. Now I have a game plan for that and the ayesha. Now I’ve just got to get the grip secure!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I made this discovery of how to get into the TG super easily. Now, I can’t really DO anything with this grip yet, but I can gracefully get my hand into position! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

–Stand next to the pole with your inside arm straight out. Your hand should be behind the pole and your palm touching it.

–Bend down at the waist, but let your hand roll upward –> it goes palm, back of hand, palm.

And TADA! twisted grip!

I hope this makes sense.
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

ahhhh! i’m still seeing if i can get a way up there and a sitter!! I really hope I can make it tho https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif

I think I speak for everyone when I say "WE really hope you can make it!!" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

The Tshirts I checked into this morning. He can have them printed by Friday when I leave. I looked at some really cute workout tops and they are going to run right at 18.00 a peice. Tanks are a little cheaper. So I was going to have like 10 printed. Do you think that’s too many or not enough? I could go get some tops and just do iron on transfer’s. That would knock the cost of the shirts down to about 5.00 per shirt.

I vote for tank tops. The more skin on the pole, the better! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif My personal feeling is that cheaper is better, too… I know there are several of us that have $$ issues. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_moneyeyes.gif

Last — anybody have ideas about what/when/how we will be going out? My hubby and I were trying to figure out the driving situation…
Me drive = no alcohol… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif Him drop me off = Mindy drinking! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

T-Shirts??? HOW COOL!

This is going to be so much fun!!

Here’s a suggestion — sometime during the early parts of the pole jam (before we are all exhausted!), we should do a mass January challenge. My camera just won’t cut it, though, so somebody else would have to do the recording. Maybe we could do it in groups, since I’m not sure all of us could be seen at once.

Also, remember to bring music! The stereo at The Girls Room can play most anything, but be sure to bring your own cable if you wanna plug in your IPod (or whatever).

WOO HOO!!! Less than a week away!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I’ll try to make some of my oatmeal bars to bring. They are yummy, but good for you!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Oh, this looks like such fun!! If only my camera wasn’t dead. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif My December challenge had such poor image quality (and shakiness) that I didn’t even post it.

I really want to practice this though. Thanks for the idea. (Now, if only I had one of those looooovely 12′ poles at home!!!)

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

One thing I definitely recommend — double sided tape!! Put it on edge or your bra so "the girls" stay put. I have been upside down more than once when my breast slid out of my bra, exposing me! I suppose in the right environment, that would be a feature, but I don’t think it’s what you are looking for! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

thanks mindy! can you give me the location , date and time? was looking for it in the forum but it sounded a little confusing. still in Dallas right? I’m in Houston, but maybe i can try to make it out there. Need all the pole time i can get before Vegas in February!
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Here’s the details:

Saturday January 16th from 9:00am-12:00pm

The Girls Room –
1921 1/2 Greenville ave.
Dallas Texas 75206
$35 per person

It’s a little bit hard to find, but look for the red door between the pizza place and the "Pipe Dreams" head shop. Go up the stairs, turn right, and you’re there!

Here’s a map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=1921+1%2F2+Greenville+Ave%2C+Dallas%2Ctx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here’s a picture to help:
pole jam location.jpg

Here’s the folks I have as definitely coming:
1) Mindy4Pole
2) Gelina
3) Ashley
4) Cynthia Saldivar
5) Simply Sweet
6) Voodoochild
7) zgurl95(Rachel)

I think there are also a few more folks I don’t have on the list. I invited a couple of the other instructors from The Girl’s Room, and I’m hoping they can make it.

Who have I missed?

Also — how do we want to run the pole jam? Do we warm up together? Anything that folks particularly want to work on? I figure it will evolve on its own, but we can save some of our time if we discuss these things ahead of time.

See you SOON!!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Is this pole Jam still active?
And what exactly do you do at a pole jam or is it just lessons?

Sapphire — If you can make it up, we’d LOVE to have you!! There will be all levels of folks coming, and it should be a lot of fun. I think we will also be going out and partying that evening. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

HI! It’ Clarissa from Zensual Dance in Dallas who offered the space for the Pole Jam on Sunday, Dec. 20th from 2-5pm. I’m sorry I’ve slacked in getting back on Studio Veena. Work has been crazy-busy. In a good way!

I’m going to try my best to make it! Sounds like a great time.

Mindy https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif

[Mindy4pole]

Wanders — If you are comfortable w/ crossed ankle release, you can "cheat" and get brass monkey. Here’s a video where I was playing with it. Note: I didn’t actually GET the brass monkey in that clip, but you can see the way you get into it.

http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/1390

Veena does it beautifully in one of her dances. Sooo sorry I can’t remember which one!!

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Hmmm… Interesting about the sound track. It did it to me too when I posted my Halloween video. I spent so much time on it, and it ended up all screwed up when I uploaded it. It bummed me out. I haven’t posted since, but it’s good (?) to know it is still happening.

Mindy https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif

[Mindy4pole]

WOW! This is amazing all the folks that want to do this!! I’m super excited. Which is good, cause I’ve been kinda bummed out and not poling much lately. I can’t wait to meet you all!

I’m not so stoked about the morning time, either, but it’s just a sleep issue for me. I’m thinking we might hang out together after the jam, too, right?

Stellar — Maybe things will work out, and you can make it after all. Good things happen unexpectedly, too! I hope so! =)

Anngiern — That would be so cool if you did one in Houston. I’m down in that area about once a month. Where is your studio?

Mindy