[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

[Mindy4pole]

I was told that Silver City Cabaret was having a pole contest.

I searched on the web, and found this link:
http://www.silvercityclub.com/index.php?option=com_mad4joomla&jid=3&Itemid=107

I kinda want to do it, but I’m also kind of intimidated by the strip club thing. Anybody have opinions?

Mindy
(Also, I don’t know that I am good enough!!)

[Mindy4pole]

I’m hearing that the studio had trouble with all removable poles, right? <snip> If the studio where the pole fell down happened to have a dance floor or aerobic type floor, the kind that are meant to give and slightly spring back, that could cause a problem if the floor is not taken into account when installing the pole.

Thanks so much for the opinions guys! The studio WAS previously a ballet studio, so I’m guessing the spring of the floor may be part of their issue. I never would have thought of that!

I’m really leaning toward the L’il Minx — the price (since I can buy it locally), the easy of putting it up, and the lower maintenance are all big points in its favor. I’m planning on doing a video when I get it — I have just the song!!

Oh — and the studio didn’t "get rid" of the XP’s by throwing them out, they just sold them. I would have been the first in line for THAT dumpster diving! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Thanks again!!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

SO — I did it! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

Here’s my challenge video:
https://www.studioveena.com/video/gallery/I-don-t-know-August-Challenge&quot; onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think it came out ok. My perfectionist side has picked it all apart, but I’m telling her to shut up and just have fun! This is my first video, so feedback is definitely appreciated.

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

I took an S-Factor class in Houston almost two years ago, when they first opened up, and I loved it. I was in okay shape (working out somewhat sporadically on my own), and the workout kicked my butt at first. What I LOVE about S-Factor — they concentrate on sloooow movement and sensuality. From the very beginning, music is a huge part of the class. I always left feeling sexier than when I went in, and that feeling spilled over into the rest of my life.

What I don’t love is how expensive they were!! It seemed they still had California prices in Houston. I think they have modified the costs some now, as well as adding some less expensive options. I didn’t continue b/c I was pregnant, and didn’t feel like I could keep up w/ the physical demands. Then I moved.

If there is anyway you can, I recommend going to class AND buying a pole. Having a pole means you can always practice, play and progress in the way that works for you. (Can you tell I have a bad case of pole lust???)

Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

So is it ok to do the challenge with no pole at all?

Here’s hoping!
Mindy

[Mindy4pole]

Congrats on getting this one at all! I can barely even get my feet off the ground. I can’t figure out why. My abs aren’t super strong, but I can do a pole sit, bend all the way over backwards, and then sit back up. I just feel like I have no "stick" to the pole. I’d post a video of my feeble attempts, but I don’t have a pole at home. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif

I’ll be eagerly watching this topic for any advice!
Mindy