[PolefitFanatic]

Hi Chemgoddess,

What cradle I am talking about is a split grip invert I suppose is another way of putting it….https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[PolefitFanatic]

@Cinara

Your post made me laugh-catastrophising – it's easy t0 do isn't it? I am going to give shellectras method a try -I think it might be the move I am getting into it from that is the problem, but the cradle -*sigh* I have looked at so many DVD's, my instructor has helped me soo much. Maybe I should have a look at veena's lesson? I am sure it's a technique issue as there are lots of more difficult moves that I  have mastered.  Thanks for the support!

[PolefitFanatic]

thanks Shellectra,

I have copied and pasted your thoughts and will give it a try – I think I know what you mean! I will let you know how I get on. thanks so much for your thoughts…

[PolefitFanatic]

This was really interesting to read! I haven't started trying the knee hold very often. i just give it a try from time to time but it's a bit above me at the moment. At the studio I go to we learn a routine over 10 weeks, so you get at least that long to practice a move. And sometimes they are carried forward or advanced on in the next routine and sometimes I have done the same course twice for extra practice. So, i have practiced the cradle mount (into butterfly) for about 30 weeks. Still no joy – the butterfly and extended butterfly are just fine, so are lots of other moves  – ayesha, straight edge, various drops – piece of cake. I just can't do the x*^%% cradle mount (I cheat and go up in what ends up being a one handed invert.) The other one is the superman. Honestly, I have spent 15 weeks trying to go into a superman from a knee hold move that the name of escapes me at the moment. It has driven me quietly insane. For some reason I can't transfer my weight adequately  to my bottom leg so I can swing my top leg over, I end up hanging from my top leg with my bottom swinging free. My poor instructor has patiently been over and over these two moves, and my classmates have been so encouraging. All to no avail. Meanwhile I move onto bigger and better other moves, but these two have psyched me out almost to the point of tears and I hate even trying them now – ummm – so the answer to the op is..Yes….!

[PolefitFanatic]

@Rouge LAmour – thanks for putting this thread up. I am in Tauranga, so quite a way from the action. My husbands relations there are safe too. so awful – poor people….https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

[PolefitFanatic]

I have told a lot of people about my interest in pole. It does make me upset that I have to keep that information from a lot of people though. I have 2 teenage boys, and I am sure most of their friends know that I pole. I have pole pics on my facebook page and a lot of the kids are friends of mind on facebook so they can grab sports photos of mine, but I would feel for my kids if it was known by the wider school community. A friend of mine sort of 'caught me' and hushed me up as she was worried that I'd let the cat out of the bag in front of her husband one night. But people I do tell act like they understand. There's been quite a bit on television over here and it is becoming more accepted as a form of fitness. That;s pretty much why I started my website, we all deserve to be proud of what we do for fun and fitness, and I'm all about getting it out there and educating people. I do feel for you girls, I am not sure, but it does seem like there is a very conservative 'bible belt' area in the southern states that will be a very difficult nut to crack. Am I right about that guess?

[PolefitFanatic]

Congratulations Shellectra – AWESOME! There is nothing like the feeling you get when you nail a move that has eluded you!! There are quite a few that I have been trying to get for monthS!!!- fortunately the ayesha wasn;'t one of them and my elbow grip was sweet straight away, but some of the girls in my class – we are pretty half and half – use a forearm hold instead of an elbow grip. That feels totally cock-eyed to me. amazing how everyones anatomy is different. Now, if only I could master the split grip….that's next on my hit list…https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[PolefitFanatic]

Believe me Cherry, regardless of how long you are doing pole – well, in my experience which is about 3 1/2 years, you are never strong enough, fit enough or flexible enough – there's always something new to conquer and you are always striving to be better. But, that, is the fun of it. If it was all easy it wouldn't be fun.  Patience is a good friend to have, but Frustration is often hanging close by. I am sure you will rise to the challenge!

[PolefitFanatic]

hi there,

I think what you are doing is fantastic! I think that Fawnia was one of the original girls to take pole mainstream, and also Jamilla DeVille – (Australian) was an early-influencer…my 2 cents. i am going to come back to this thread and check out all the links!

[PolefitFanatic]

Hi Cherry,

Reenie has pretty much covered it – but if it is your first day it will hurt, you will bet bumps, burns, bruises and sore muscles. None of us are immune from that. The more you practice a move, the less it will leave bruises in the area of contact and the less it will hurt. It varies from person to person, just make sure you give your body time to recover between pole sessions. As far as grip goes; I sometimes use a bit of mighty grip or a tiny bit of gymnasts chalk. I try to do without anything most of the time.  When I first started pole I had really sweaty hands. I found tite grip was the best thing for me then – it's an anti-perspirant. Some girls needed really sticky stuff like Itac2 – I found it a bit too sticky and I sweated through it. So tite grip would have my vote when you are beginning…Good luck! 

[PolefitFanatic]

Hello -from the Bcn I take you must be from beautiful Barcelona. I was there last year and loved it!  Yes, I can sympathise with the flexibility thing – that's my weakness on the pole.  All the best with your pole.

[PolefitFanatic]

I wonder how Sean O'Connor gets on: http://www.pinkpolepower.com/index.html ? 

 

Although I do note he specifies that he donates to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Maybe they have a different set of rules…..!

[PolefitFanatic]

@Veena;

 

Kudos to you. PERFECTLY said. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

[PolefitFanatic]

@Charley,

I don't know if I think that a division has been created between us all as pole dancers, is that what you mean? I think we all have enough love of the sport collectively, and are aware that we cop enough flak externally, to all stick together and be supportive as a group. I am not a stripper, therefore it makes me cross to be taken for one, however, that's not taking anything away from those who are. All power to them. However, i would very, very much like to see the sport taken seriously and while the world at large thinks we are all strippers, that is not going to happen, imho. Not because strippers are not worthy, just because strippers are not seen as athletes, dancers or artists. And I am not saying this is MY opinion, but you have to admit, this is how they are seen…..

[PolefitFanatic]

@Empyrean.

Yes I know. VERY poor form. however, for the sake of my son I let sleeping dogs lie rather than go up to the school and make a real fuss. Thanks, I will go to the site…

[PolefitFanatic]

@Empyrean,

O and another thing. I am a web developer. If you need a hand with the site, I can help. i am pretty busy, but I am happy to volunteer some time if I can be of help for a good cause. Email me if you like: mailto:lynda@polefitfanatics.com.

 

[PolefitFanatic]

@Empyrean

I agree with your thoughts. As far as what people think where I am? People aren't necessarily closed minded – they are just ignorant – in that they don;t have the knowledge. It's not for me that I am embarassed, but i do need to consider my children. My 13 year old son has had a teacher come up to him and say 'I hear your mum is a pole dancer -snigger, snigger." That's not fair on my kids. So i am all for bringing awareness, and it is good to hear you saying that pole will not lose the dance aspect. Nice thoughts, you could change my mind yet!

[PolefitFanatic]

Funny that this thread has been revived; I just wrote a post on my blog about it last week.

http://www.polefitfanatics.com/2011/02/pole-an-olympic-sport/ 

I don't think pole should be in the olympics, purely because we lose the ability to define what pole dancing is for ourselves. I would like to see it 'legitimised' though – and if that means that the sport disassociates itself from it's stripper roots – so be it. Like many have said, that doesn't affect what you do in the privacy of your own home and doesn't detract from the dance/sensual aspect. What I would like as the mother of teenage boys, and a business woman, is not to have to feel embarassed about telling people about the sport I love and what I do in my spare time for fun and fitness.

[PolefitFanatic]

Hi There, This may or may not help, but I struggled with this move, and found that when I inverted it didn;t matter how far apart my hands were, but with this move, I needed to have my hands very close together, touching, so that they acted like a good, solid pivot. I found that until I repositioned my hands I just couldn't hold myself in position, i'd come crashing down and hurt my shoulders. Just a thought – sometimes it's just something soo small that stops a move from working….good luck!

[PolefitFanatic]

Hi There!

I am sure you will enjoy pole. It's a fantastic sport! I have found the best things I have done are to spend time in the gym working on my shoulder and ab strength – but I suppose it doesn't need to be in the gym – something like hanging knee raises and front raises with weights could be just as helpful. also, when starting out you may have to work on your grip strength so the above helps with those too. you may need to use a grip-aid for the first weeny while, there are lots out there but as you get used to the pole you should need it less. Another thing i spent time doing when I first started was doing handstands against a wall – helps with shoulder strength, gives you the feel of being upside-down and so when you come to do a hand stand mount or dismount it will be a piece of cake! Can't give any flexibility tips I'm afraid – I am hopelessly miles away from being flexible enough! Have fun…

[PolefitFanatic]

Hi ollie, where abouts are you now? I will get in touch with sonia, I need to get everyone's studios on the site!

Thanks Maree for your kind words about the site. I sound like I ahve the opposite problems to you dance-wise but it's encouraging to hear that even the best dancers have issues! Counting down till MPDNZ! Happy days!

[PolefitFanatic]

@Ammivo

Thanks so much for the tips…I'll keep trying..and good luck getting your TG mojo back – I know sometimes its just a bad day!

[PolefitFanatic]

Ammivo, Well done you! ,I am nowhere near a tg handspring. However, thanks for your you tube video because i want to learn how to do the cradle hold from an invert like you were doing in the first part of your video. you said on your  video that your grip had been wrong? Your grip looks like what I am trying. Is your weight evenly balanced between both hands or mainly on your bottom hand? Is it just a matter of keeping trying that until you find your balance point? Any tips would be a great help!

[PolefitFanatic]

I will pop in wiht my vote for an x-pole. Mine is fantastic, I have had it for 2 years and no problem at all – i have moved it a couple of times.  I just wish my ceiling ws higher so I could have a longer one…

[PolefitFanatic]

hi Maree, Oh, so you guys are from Polaris studio – I am trying to get me head around all the studios so I can a) add them to my website and b) know where to go to a studio when I am out of town! I bought my x-pole from sonia hendry so she was the only person I knew down there in pole, and now I know you guys! I am sure it must be nerve wracking coming up to the competition, however, you must be pretty fantastic otherwise you wouldn't have been selected to go in it. That's awesome after only 2 years.My instructor entered but didn;t make it unfortunately. I have been involved for 3 years – but as the studio I was first going to closed down I did have a gap of almost a year in the middle. Although it doesn't all come naturally to me – so much of what we do in the studio suits the anatomy of the girls with dancers physiques but I am learning some new strength and leg hold moves at the moment which suit me better. My flexibility is quite poor  – well not for a normal person – but for a dancer – it's something I have to work really hard on! all the best for the competition. I am beside myself excited about going and am also doing 3 of the workshops on the sunday. It's easy to be excited when you are not competing I suppose – but I am sure you will be amazing! You are amongst the top dancers in the country! Very cool!