[PixiePole]

I WISH I had no torso! I’m made of torso, my torso even extends past the top of my thighs https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_evil.gif as for weight, gah, I used to be 168, I’ve been down to 126, and presently I’m 135lbs lol. But ‘can’t YET’ is a really good way to look at it ;D

[PixiePole]

I’m guessing ye olde pushups? Weights?

[PixiePole]

You should still be able to sell it – just say it was unopened and that you need a pole for vertical fitness, but that it’d make a great bedroom accessory for someone just looking to put on a little show for their SO https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[PixiePole]

Thank you! I’m doing bits of strength training without a pole also – I’m impatient, I know as soon as I get a pole I’ll want to jump right into it so I’m going to build up first https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I did get a proper membership, so I’m doing the exercises I can do without a pole (like lunges) and sort of substituting anything that does need a pole. Gotta admit, I hadn’t even thought of the concept of shoulder ‘stabilisation’ – just kinda figured you’d keep yourself upright and move them as you had to to get your arms around? I don’t know lol maybe I had the right idea but just not quite done properly, that always happens when I take up something new. Definitely gonna study those videos ;D

[PixiePole]

Lol, put it on eBay and buy yourself a decent one that looks like it – he probably wouldn’t know the difference!

[PixiePole]

I love information haha don’t worry about that! Yeah there are a few places round where I live but it’s hard to choose a style. I thought it’d be a really good workout because, as you said, it’s really quite complex – my hip and stomach muscles could do with a proper bellydance ha.

I’m not sure why but I totally missed Veena’s post above mine when I wrote it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif

[PixiePole]

Lol I’m 5’4" – 5’5" depending on how much spine stretching I’ve been doing… I’d actually like to be an inch or two shorter! But I wouldn’t kill kittens. Please don’t kill kittens https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif they’re too cute to kill –> https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif

I would have thought that spinning depends on what kind of position you’re in when you’re doing it. Physics says that the further out your body is, the more you’ll propel yourself around. So perhaps step off into something where you’re only slightly projecting away from the pole, then swing out to spin more, then get in close to streamline yourself for less air resistance as you go around?

…I was a grammar school girl, I’m sorry -_- but there are experienced polers on here who say it comes with experience haha, and trial and error I guess!

[PixiePole]

Not exactly the same, but since I’m out of action til next month I think I’m gonna lapdance this one instead https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif come January 11, I am on the pole!!

[PixiePole]

Hello Audball! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I think the problem with my living space is more what’s in it than how big it is… 1) there’s a LOT of mess in my room, I really need to get more storage >< but I’m working on it! I really need more space for contortion/DDR/elliptical so I was planning on clearing that anyway. And as long as I’m not straight out sideways (which would probably take me until 2021 anyway) I could do a few things in my room if I rearrange it properly https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif but like I said, it’s my mum haha, she’s lovely but rather old-fashioned. She’s a nice plump Welsh lady who likes cups of tea and biscuits and cats, which sounds like such a stereotype, but she kind of is! I think I’ll have to introduce her to the idea gradually before I tell her I’m taking lessons…

I was thinking of taking a term somewhere not too expensive, then maybe seeing if I could save up for my own pole and just teach myself off here. I mean a tenner a month plus £150 for a pole is nothing compared to £140 a month for lessons that some places around here charge =S

As for my shoulder, my current GP is really nice, and actually listens to my problems, but the first things I have to do are 1) sort out my digestive problems (I have an inflamed duodenum. Just waiting for those test results so I know what not to eat…) and 2) get some real help with quitting smoking, because I’ve been trying by myself for ages and getting nowhere so I figured maybe I could ask to join a program or something. I’ll do some light stretches and strengthening exercises on my neck and shoulders and if anything seems wrong I’ll definitely go back and ask my GP or a physiotherapist/chirporactor https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[PixiePole]

Aw man! I’m way down south from there =[ might have to make it a weekend away for one special lesson haha

[PixiePole]

Whaaa! Deets! =D

[PixiePole]

Name: Tamora
Age: 19
Location: Reading, UK
Stage name: Not a performer!
Lessons or self taught: If I had the money I’d take lessons then advance myself and maybe go back for lessons if I wanted… for now I think a month of lessons is more accessible until I can get an actual job https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif
Spin or static: I figure static would be so full of chafe!!
Shoes or barefoot: Shoes, definitely! I never dance without heels https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Favourite pole move: I don’t know any of the names yet ><
Day job: Fashion student https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Your best/sexiest feature: Umm… my lips I guess? Or my eyes when they’ve been made up properly…
How you got into pole dancing: I just figured it’s pretty sexy! And not necessarily in a tacky way either, and it looks like so much fun, and such a good workout…
How you found out about studioveena.com: I looked up poledancing on YouTube and found TaraKarina dancing to Only Hope/Phunkk Mob with a little link at the bottom… now I love the song, have found the site, and reaaallly want to be able to dance like her!
If you were a pair of underwear would you be a thong, boy shorts, bikini cut or granny panties: Lacy boy shorts ;D

[PixiePole]

Oh! And the eighth rule: always stretch with some good TV or music on in the background ;D if you hate stretching, it’d be good to have something nice to make up for the discomfort! And in time you’ll start to enjoy it as you realise what you can do with practice https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[PixiePole]

I used to do ballet (looooong time ago) and contortion (last year) so I love stretching! =D I’m pretty flexible naturally so I guess I find it easier than most, but there are times I feel like I’ve let myself go and here are a few things I do to get myself back up to speed (the cats are my bullet points ;D):

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif First rule: every stretch should ALWAYS be held for 30 seconds!

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif Second rule: on finding your working stretch level… if you can’t hold it for 30 seconds, you CAN’T stretch that far yet! Take it down a little and do what you consider to be a really easy version (for example, sit down and instead of grabbing your feet, which you may only be able to hold for 10 seconds, just touch the tips of your toes, which you can do for the whole 30). Then next time, go half an inch further. Do this up to 5 times (ie maximum of 2.5in further than where you started.) and even if you feel like you can go further, don’t. The next day, start somewhere in the middle of where you were and work your way up again. Eventually you’ll reach a point where you can feel yourself stretching about as far as you can without pain – this is your working stretch level. You might have reached this on your first day; that’s fine. You do this for 5-7 days and then take it another 0.5-1in further for the next run https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif so in summary:

Level 1) the easy stretch. You do this on day 1 for 30 seconds.
Level 2) half an inch further. You do this after your L1 stretch for 30 seconds if you can. For this level and all others, if you can’t hold it for the whole 30 seconds, you go back to the level before.
Level 3) half an inch further than level 2 – 30 seconds if you can
Level 4) half an inch further than level 3 – 30 seconds if you can
Level 5) half an inch further than level 4 – 30 seconds if you can. This is your MAX for day 1!

Then on day 2, if you’ve already discovered your working stretch level, you do that for the 30 seconds. If you haven’t (ie if you easily held levels 1-5 for 30 seconds each) then on day 2 you start at level 3, and progress to level 7 (in the same manner of adding just a little more stretch every time).

The half inch isn’t an exact measurement, especially considering that every stretch is different, just an idea of how to increase your stretches https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif Third rule: stretch every other day! The resting period applies to stretching too – I used to stretch every day 3 times a day but I’m not sure if that’s really the proper way to do it. I also found having a rest day to be good for my muscles to rejuvenate though, so considering I’m not a doctor or fitness instructor it’s probably best to stick to that one lol.

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif Fourth rule: if you can’t stretch all the way, get some help! I’ll use the example of sitting down and touching your toes again. When I first started contorting, I couldn’t reach my toes, and I think there was a lot more contortion going on in my face than anywhere else -_- so I used a belt to help me. If you can get a cheap fabric belt, you can mark it to check your progress – this is useful for figuring out where those half inches are! Stand on it with your feet fairly close together like they would be in the stretch, and mark the outside of your feet. Then put about 10in of markings from each of those marks, in inches and half inches or something similar. If you number them it’ll be easier to see where you’re at when you’re using it for stretching.

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif Fifth rule: stretch from different angles! You won’t always realise but you can be stretching different muscles when you think you’re not. For example, sitting down and stretching for both feet is different to stretching for just one at a time – I always find it easier to stretch for one at a time because my muscles are more flexible that way. You gotta do both, otherwise you’ll try to do something else (like a split on the pole) and realise you haven’t actually stretched as much as you need to. Also in this example is stretching on things like a chair (where you put your foot on the chair and reach for it or something) because it’ll angle your other leg differently, etc. Look for different stretches online that you can use.

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif Sixth rule: hot massages!! I love to soften up after a good stretch with a massage or a hot bath. I also stretch near the radiator sometimes lol, not sure if that’s good or bad. But a massage is always good – and it’ll help get rid of cellulite ;D I’m not exactly model material yet, but I used to be made of orange peel, and since I’ve been massaging it’s definitely improved! Be gentle and use circular movements etc. And get an amazing moisturiser or oil blend to do it with, just because https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif Seventh rule: repeat your stretches! Try to do each one a few times (maybe 5) a session. So you’ll get 2.5mins total out of each stretch without ruining your muscles. And remember to always note your progress, and remember what you’ve achieved https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif good luck!

[PixiePole]

Hehe seems there are a few UKers here but not many compared to the US! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif much harder to find lol. Yeah I’m not so sure about my shoulders, I asked one GP before and he basically told me to shut up and go away, but he isn’t really very nice https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_neutral.gif might ask my current GP about it again soon… I’ve had a few health troubles lately so I can’t actually start right now, but I’m told that’s probably down to a food allergy so as soon as my test results come back I should be able to avoid that food, heal up and get back to exercising, which will of course include the pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif I can’t do pushups to save my life so I’m gonna start with like 3 a day (yup, really wasn’t kidding) and see if I can make it higher… start small, work my way up. In the meantime, I’ve got abs, glutes and thigh muscles that lift a ton, so I’ll definitely work on making them even better so when I start poling properly I should really only have to concentrate on technique, form and not ruining my neck and shoulders =D