[Miraine]

I'm vexed by the "news feed" thing not being something you can control the privacy of.  I don't think I'll be using it any more.  I know it probably sounds silly, but I don't want every single "friend" of mine to be shown what I've commented on someone else's pages.

I have exes and "complications" that I don't want to have seeing more than I want them to see.  Sure, they could just not follow my feed, but that's not within my control.

It's free, they have no need to pander to me, so I'm not going to make a fuss.  I've just been forced off of it by my own paranoid need for privacy, lol.

[Miraine]

I am the antithesis of @Vaudeville https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif

Much as I'd love to be able to write myself a routine and stick to it, my health never seems to make that possible.  My workouts are utterly random and often spaced out far more than I'd like.

If I could cope with it, I'd ideally like to do pole strength based stuff every other day, and dance practice in between, with flex training every two to three days depending on feedback from my body…   As it is, because it can be a few days before I feel well enough to do any exercise at all, I tend to end up skipping the dance side of things in order to try some pole tricks every time I'm feeling up to it.

However, intermittent as my practice is, I am still making progress!  Slooooow progress, but that's unsurprising given the situation.  So, I'm basically saying I have *no* routine, but to take heart if you lie somewhere between me and Vaudeville on the scale of things, because you'll still improve regardless https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Miraine]

A good arch needs flexibility in the whole of your back.  My lower back is naturally bendy, and to an extent, having a bit of excess padding on my behind emphasises that rather, lol.  But I've discovered that my shoulders are the limiting factor to me doing a good elbowstand bridge.  Not sure I agree on the long back short legs thing: I'm all long torso and dumpy legs, but I can get a nice curve 🙂

Veena's Pole Press Stretch is my favourite one of her stretches for shoulders, though you can do the same thing with both hands on a table and have someone press down a little onto your upper back.

Another great stretch for shoulders that I was taught recently involves putting an arm above you so that the had is directly above your head, and leaning against a wall.  You keep your chin up, and bend at the waist so as to press your upper back and shoulder into a stretch as you bring your chest into contact with the wall.  Requires a bit of experimentation to find the best stretch, but worth some playing with.

Flexier hips will also help to make the most of your back curve.   This is something I do *not* have a talent for, so despite my flexy back, I still wouldn't be able to do a closed Scorpio, for example.

Short version of my rambling: don't forget that it's not just your back that matters here.  Shoulders, upper back, lower back, and hips all need different stretching methods, and improving any of them will help here.

[Miraine]

Ah bother, good luck!  See you next week hopefully.

[Miraine]

Today? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Going by the previous timing it'd be in two hours' time, but I'm not sure I'll have had a chance to warm up properly by then.  Anyone care to join me an hour later, say, 8pm UK, 3pm EST, midday PST?

[Miraine]

Ooh, didn't know about this 🙂  Perhaps I'll be able to get along to it!   Thanks for posting.

[Miraine]

Just a quick reminder, going to be doing this today, so if anyone's about in about 2 and a half hours, see you in the chat room!  🙂

[Miraine]

Happy birthday Veena 🙂  Hope everyone spoils you completely for the day, hehe.

[Miraine]

Hmmm…. getting an attachment put up in the ceiling for aerial silks / lyra?  🙂

[Miraine]

Anyone fancy this for the same time(s) this coming Monday, 12th September?

[Miraine]

Thanks Veena, I'd missed the booty lift one completely somehow.  My attempt at that is dire though…  A long way to go https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

My legs do not like going backwards from vertical!

[Miraine]

Congratulations 😀

Must be hard enough to compete in pole competitions where you know people are going to be supportive, but to do so in a mixed talent contest…  Very brave!  https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Miraine]

Thanks Amy, helps a lot to know what you're searching for.  Turns out I already do some active exercises, but I'll definitely be adding some dynamic stretches (carefully!) to my routine.

Well, as soon as I get round to making and sticking to a routine, lol…

[Miraine]

Ouch, doesn't sound good 🙁

You might find that by playing with the rotation of your legs, you can find a position in which you can get into a straddle, though.  Like, if you lie on your back and lift legs vertically, knees pointing towards your face, then lower the legs out to the side, and that reaches a point where you can't go further, try instead to lift legs vertical, rotate knees outwards (ballet dancer turnout type thing), then spread legs apart so that knee caps end up pointing towards the ground.  It's a matter of finding an angle where the joint doesn't jam.

[Miraine]

Some people do have hip joints that are shaped such that perfect box splits are either impossible, or will always be painful on the joint itself.  It's a matter of the shape of the socket.  If you're unfortunate enough to fall into this category, then I can't say I'd imagine it would be a good idea to press on, as you'll risk stretching ligaments that stabilise the joint.

If you can do the front splits and have good flexibility in other directions, what happens if you try to rotate from that into the box splits?