[PoleGrrrrl]

I was at a masterclass recently and one of the girls I was sharing the pole with had really skinny legs and constantly slid down the pole when trying to do the CAR. I had a similar problem when I was training at bobbi’s where their poles are half the diameter of the normal xpole I use.

So ended up getting an great tip from the instructor – rather than trying to release just from a sit with your ankles crossed, pike your hips downwards, and bring your crossed legs up. This means that rather than the pole sitting between the furtherest (that’s prob not a word) points between each thigh (i.e.the top of your legs), bringing your leg up means that there is less distance between the pole and your legs (ie there’ll be more friction) as the pole gets closer to the place where your ankles/calves actually physically cross. And only then do you start releasing your hands and laying backwards.

Again I’m terrible at explaining stuff but I hope that helps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[PoleGrrrrl]

glitterhips you’re not alone in your freakdom, I’m much more confidant in my elbow than split grip (which is still a bit dodge), and like everyone else I use my dominant hand on the bottom.

joni1 the only thing I can suggest that helped me get the elbow ayesha is to do it from maybe the second caterpiller climb (with the elbow). I found initially my elbow grip was much more secure when doing it from that move, i think because you’re kind of pulling (hard) the elbow up and away from the pole, and therefore its in the right position to release your legs. At first when I was learning this move I just sort of placed my elbow into it, which doesn’t work and I slid down- you really need to pull back on the elbow to get that security.

I know i have repeated ‘elbow’ 10 times here and it might not make too much sense https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif but hopefully it helps a bit https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[PoleGrrrrl]

***looks guiltily at several empty takeaway latte cups on her desk***

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif

[PoleGrrrrl]

Everyone’s different, but here’s a few suggestions.

1. Stop drinking beer. (Not even one).
Beer is the worst alcohol for tummies – shorts/spirits are nowhere near as bad. I’ve seen guys that have given up beer and within a couple of months that protruding belly just disappears.

2. Don’t eat carbs after 6pm (or at least, eat as little as possible).
Some say this is an urban myth, but I believe its true – the energy comes from carbs isn’t really used late at night (unless you’ve got a late pole session planned), so more often than not the energy just morphs into fat. Its totally wasteful to eat like a load of pasta at 7-8pm at night, the kjs just go straight on the hips (or belly https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif ). This is used by guys at my thai boxing gym to cut weight (whether just for a fight or long term) and it works.

3. Water water water water water water water water water water water water water.

4. Focus on pole moves that work your transverse abdominals – i.e. the lower abs, so things like lifting your legs up while in the shouldermount etc. It might not reduce the fat on the belly but it should tighten it up a bit.

5. Make sure you eat protein and a small amount of carbs after exercise.
Its important to refuel your body after exercise, particularly with protein as its something to do with fat burning/muscle building. I can’t remember the connection exactly but it is to do with weight loss.

Hope this helps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[PoleGrrrrl]

I know there is an international one with a mens section that ran end of last year – http://www.polechampionship.com/

I think the finalists were voted in via youtube videos? I could be wrong…

[PoleGrrrrl]

While I won’t go as far as to try and figure out what the cause could be, I’ve found that if I’ve got twinging/twitching muscles/ligaments/tissue etc while I’m stretching, its helps if I warm them up by the contract/resistant stretching that was talked about here a while ago.

So, as FreeTheSun suggested, rather than do the stretch sitting down, instead lie on your back, put your legs in straddle above you, and instead of just pulling your legs down towards the floor as the normal stretch, try resisting that movement by contracting all the muscles along your inner legs first. If you repeat this 7-8 times you’ll find your muscles will feel a lot looser and more warmed up, in prep for pushing your flexibility a bit more.

I think this is a mashup of that guy’s stretching theory (y’know, whatshisname https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif ) and that other stretching theory (the acronym of which also eludes me in my afternoon head-fog)

*Hopefully* this will put a bit less pressure on the area of your knee that you’re feeling the injury in.

In the meantime I would recommend seeing at least a physio to make sure you’re not exacerbating a potentially bad injury

[PoleGrrrrl]

I’ve found actually learning the moves in reverse (or as a dismount) really helps understanding your body position and the confidence to know what way to move your arms/hips/legs when you are practicing it as a mount. I think its also a lot safer this way https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif

So, for example, if you want to do a cartwheel into a split grip ayesha, just do a normal invert into the hold first, and then practice dismounting via the cartwheel. If you can’t do the split grip, well, tbh, you probably shouldn’t be attempting the mounts into them in the first place. Also try slowing the dismounts as much as possible, this will help improve your strength in anticipation.

As to the handstands, as I’ve mentioned before, sticking the butt out first really helps, but tbh if its a fear thing you just need to practice it loads to get over that (bit of a catch 22 eh?)

[PoleGrrrrl]

You may be a pole dancer if…

you idley scratch an itch on your inner thigh and realise you can barely feel it from all that man-skin.

You don’t even blink anymore going into ‘adult’ stores cos you’re on the lookout for a new costume/shoes.

You start thinking about sexy moves while walking though a shopping mall and realise people are giving you second glances because you’re OOZING hotness https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_tongue.gif

You’ve finally realised why God gave you curves.

[PoleGrrrrl]

Hey I used to get this all the time with thai boxing (and still do, for that matter)

I’m sure someone else can explain it better than me, but essentially what’s happend is a calcium deposit has formed where you have had a lot of bruising (or, in the case of thai boxing, got hit https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif ), and generally forms because the excess blood hasn’t totally gone away.

This is very common and totally harmless, if you want to get rid of it, you just need to massage the lump/knot area (a lot), it will take a while but will eventually go away. I’ve got loads up and down both my shins from 6 years of kicking pads and sparring!

If you want to stop this from happening again (or as much), just remember bad bruising doesn’t always just magically disappear, if you do have quite a bad one (s), rub it out gently in the shower/bath/steamroon to ensure all of the excess blood under the skin is dispersed (ew right!)

[PoleGrrrrl]

Yes she is fab, I’m pretty sure she won Miss Pole Dance UK (or similar) the year before last? But don’t feel too bad about not being as flexible as her, if memory serves me correct she was in a (possibly eastern european?) circus as an acrobat/performer for quite some time before taking up pole dancing.

[PoleGrrrrl]

yep any flippy-over-thing where your legs will go over your shoulders (which would include the BM) should be on/over the shoulder against the pole.

personally I think if you’re using the double cupped grip, its best to have the opposite hand on the top, I think it just works better for the push/pull aspect of it, like you’re pushing against your shoulder and pulling with opposite hand (sort of).

I have found that the felix-style grip (i assume this is the princess?) is much more secure once you’re actually in the upside down v position, so you can do more things while you’re up there https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif .

[PoleGrrrrl]

It depends on the grip you’re using. If you’re using the double cupped grip, then the opposite arm/hand to the shoulder the pole is resting on is on top. *however* if you’re using a different grip to this, its not necessarily the case.

The other grip I’ve been working on is the bobbi/felix grip, which is where the hand of the resting shoulder (which in my case is on the right) comes around the front of the pole and grips from the left side (its kind of twisted), and then the left hand cups just underneath it. In this case then the same hand as the shoulder is resting on top.

I’m sure there’s a gajillion other grip alternates that will also vary.

Each to their own really, do whatever feels comfortable for you (and the brass monkey isn’t easy to get into btw from SM so its not necessarily to do with your grip!) Also remember with the SM roll to flip your feet towards the resting shoulder.

Hope this helps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif

[PoleGrrrrl]

I don’t know if its too late for an additional suggestion, but one of my first instructors gave me a big help with this move by saying ‘ALWAYS LEAD WITH YOUR BUTT’ https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Its fairly safe to say a person’s butt is probably wider than their foot https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif, so its a lot less likely to miss or slip off the pole. If, when you kick up, you need to push your butt towards the pole, then, as it starts to make contact/lean against the pole, your foot/feet can grab on (obviously your feet will be following your butt up in the normal handstand motion).

This is a great way to learn the move, and get the confidence to do the handstand in the first place. Once you’re comfortable with that, all you need to do is lead less with the rear end and more with the feet https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[PoleGrrrrl]

All the above comments completely agree with, its all in the tilt https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Also, what helped when I first got it is to hold tight (sorta pull almost) the crossed knee leg by the opposite hand (i.e, if you’re right leg is bent, hold the ankle with your left hand). I felt it gave me a lot more security knowing at least it couldn’t slip off once I lay back! Once you get confident at it you’ll be able to do it without holding on.

[PoleGrrrrl]

I most love my wicked sense of humour https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif

Physically I love my shoulders, butt, and consequently the overall curves of my body. I have been told my face is alright too, some big ol’ eyes and an infectious smile https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

**must…not….feel…need…to…say…negative….comment…..arrggh its so hard!**

[PoleGrrrrl]

I remember an interview that Felix did last year in the UK, and how she felt about pole dancing and stigmas etc (or something like that). She said that her aim was to make people realise that just like any other form of dance, the interpretation of movement by polers can be just as varied, and one form (etc fitness) isn’t better or worse than any other (ie erotic), but instead all types should be celebrated as unique and beautiful.

I totally agree with her, personally my style is more to the balletic/lyrical type, and while I appreciate the ‘fitness’ aspect of it you’ll NEVER see me wearing sneakers in a performance (if you’re not going to wear heels, a lovely pointed toe looks much better https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif ). @StellarMotion I totally agree that this whole extreme fitness vs sexy is totally unnecessary, a silly polarisation that limits the style you can learn depending on the studio owner’s take on it.

I think sexiness in pole dancing come from that mesmerising ‘OMFG-I-can’t-look-away-they’re-amazing’ ability where the dance just EXUDES confidence, every movement to the smallest hair toss is performed 110%, whether she’s wearing an itty bitty bikini or shorts and a tank top.

I’m taking some lessons at Bobbi’s in Perth at the moment, where you have to wear pleaser-type heels when training. I have to say what they excel at is not just teaching a move/trick, but all the idiosyncrasies of the initial invert, the small movements to position into the trick, and right to the type of dismount, which in my opinion are just as important as getting the trick itself. Consequently the instructors and students are just amazing, every movement is just soooo sensual, I’m trying hard to copy but right now I’m just concentrating on not falling over in the shoes https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif )

[PoleGrrrrl]

@Aubbal Ive had a look around a few adult shops in Dublin (ugh they’re awful here I hate going in them!), they have some shoes but they’re poor quality and SEVERELY overpriced (tho isn’t everything here!), like at least 3-4 times what you’d get them in London or America for. Honestly you’re better off ordering them online, even with the postage costs they’re still better value.

[PoleGrrrrl]

http://www.youtube.com/user/PoleGrrrrl

[PoleGrrrrl]

My weight from poling hasn’t changed a singe iota but I have got a lot leaner all over – Im currently home (Perth Australia) for the holidays and all my old clothes that didn’t fit properly a couple of years ago are now super loose https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

In fact I’ve actually lost a couple of kilos since I’ve been here (that’s what, like 5 pounds?) because I’m losing muscle like nobodys business due to the lack of exercising and poling since I left (havent even been able to touch a pole for like 3 weeks arrrgh).

I’ve spoken to people about weight and body before and I think there’s a point at which your body says ‘ok, I’m happy here, I’m not going to move’, so if someone’s doing the right thing exercise and diet wise, and not losing weight, its important to listen to their body and not try and force it to be something it doesn’t want to. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

In terms of calories, well I would burn abut 350 in 20 min on the treadmill, so an hour of decent poling I reckon would be at least 450+. But I guess it depends on what you do…

[PoleGrrrrl]

hey yay I spoke to my instructor at class last night and she really wants to enter our studio in pole unity next year as we’ve never been in it before. Poletickles mentioned there was an Irish one in march first so we’ll probably do that one first and then hopefully head over to london in May is it?

Also I do believe Deetron mentioned she might also get her girls together for a performance…

[PoleGrrrrl]

Thanks everyone, I think I’m def addicted to the performing now – i’ve whacked up a couple of pretty pics on my profile if any of ye want to have a gander

wahoo Christmas is almost here! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_santa.gif

xx

[PoleGrrrrl]

Speaking of adjuster covers, last night in class a girl was going into a gemini, and she kicked the adjustable cover off of the top of the pole.

When she was coming out of the gemini, as she moved into the inverted crucifix the cover slid down, and the skin on her inner thigh got caught between the adjustble cover and the pole.

oooowwwwwwwwwwww, I’ll never train with that thing on again https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_blackeye.gif

[PoleGrrrrl]

I really mix things up (maybe too much?), depending on how I’m feeling that week and how my schedule is, maybe thai boxing 3 x week + flex stretches (I train with the fighters so I get super fit https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif ), gym (cardio/weights/deep flex stretching) 2 x week, pole 2-4 x week, then maybe a swim once a week (usually as an excuse to get in the sauna!)

I need variety in my exercise, its not that I get bored easy, just I think its important to not put too much pressure myself, if I don’t feel like poling I’ll go thai boxing, or if I don’t feel like thai boxing I’ll go to the gym, whatever, y’know?

I think a lot of people intimidate themselves out of exercise (i.e. if I don’t go to the gym 4 x a week I’m a failure so I might as well not go at all!), whereas cross training a load of different stuff you don’t even notice you’re working up a sweat (except in thaiboxing, my face turns purple and I spar in a puddle of my own sweat https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif )

[PoleGrrrrl]

I also jumped on the Cooley bandwagon and bought the DVD (its difficult to read books when stretching!)

I stretched with the DVD after a pole practice one night and I was wrecked by the end – that contract/strengthen stuff really takes it out of you!

While I’m following the specific stretches he talks about, I’m also applying the concept to my normal flexibility stretches – i.e. for splits, straddle splits, back, etc, and I must say I have gotten further down in all of them than I’ve done since I was about 15! I also feel a lot safer when I deepen the stretch, because my muscles are contracted I don’t feel like I’m going to pull/tear something.

I also find that using the cooley method my warmup stretching actually warms me up (as opposed to just stretching the muscles), and I feel a lot more limber. Then when I start on the pole I feel a lot more confident that I’m not going to injure myself!

Finally, I’m actually also feeling a lot more sore the next day due to the contract/strengthening of the muscles, particularly in my legs that wouldn’t normally get that much of a workout on the pole (I usually need the gym for them).

This is only after a week or so of using it so I’m excited to see the results after a few months https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif

[PoleGrrrrl]

This is so helpful thanks so much ladies, at the very least I can definitely use the stress ball at work to practice during the day, and then work in byrdgrrl’s exercises into my next pole session.

Empyrean that Dyaflex powerball thing looks great, I went to watch the vid and realised that from a distance it may have looked a bit NSFW – tee hee https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

roll on the straight edge! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif