[RoMo]

HI Dori,
I really understand your frustration… I’m also a bit heavy (albeit much shorter than you) and sweat like a hog. I have REALLY sweaty hands, feet, body, EVERYTHING. And to top matters off, I live in a hot, humid country where summers are long…

I discovered Dirty Girl Poltice a few months ago and it has really changed my pole work outs. I put it on my hands, armpits, back of knees, legs, between thighs, everywhere… before every work out and it has made me so much more productive during class and at home. I don’t use any additional grip aids, as I find that if I do even begin to sweat, they turn to a gooey paste that just makes me more slippery.

Other than that, I have a fan I use at home near my pole to help me keep dry. I’ve also got a fan at the studio which I put next to “my” pole. It really helps in humid climates and was worth the investment.

(I have no affiliation with DGP. I get nothing from this review. DGP is not readily available where I live and international shipping costs are a b. I still think its worth its weight in gold.)

Happy poling and I hope this helps….

[RoMo]

Hi Elitha,
I really have to agree with DustBunny. 🙂 I have REALLY sweaty hands, feet, body, EVERYTHING. And to top matters off, I live in a hot, humid country where summers are long…
I discovered Dirty Girl Poltice a few months ago and it has really changed my pole work outs. I put a bit on — ok, a lot! (wet hands, add powder, rub it onto armpits, back of knees, legs, between thighs, everywhere… let it dry white and then rinse it off) — before every work out and it has made me so much more productive during class and at home. Our studio only has 45mm chrome poles and that’s what I own as that’s what I am familiar with. I preferred to stick to buying a pole I know instead of trying something new, as at least for me, the cost of a new pole is a big expense and not something I could write off easily.
I find that during practice (class and home), I usually rinse my hands once or twice more or use a wet towel just to clean my hands, but other than that, I don’t use any additional grip aids, as I find that if I do sweat, they turn to a gooey paste that just makes me more slippery.

I also use Mighty Grip Gloves which were also really good. When I need a really strong grip and I’m working on something new and it’s really hot/humid, I will put them on. (If you do decide to buy them, they run a bit tight, but you do want them snug, so go with the size that’s closest to your hand circumference, according to their size chart. Joel is great at replacing/returns if you find you still bought the wrong size.) Please note, the gloves are NOT good for spins on static pole, but are REALLY good for working on new moves where you need your hands not to slide on the pole. I’m currently using them while working on brass monkey and pencil.

Other than that, I have a fan I use at home near my pole to help me keep dry. I’ve also got a fan at the studio which I put next to “my” pole. It really helps in humid climates and was worth the investment.

I hope that helps! Enjoy your new pole, whatever you decide to buy… 🙂

PS – I’m really happy with the way DGP works, I also sometimes use it as deodorant/on my chest if I’m wearing a colored cotton dress/top and don’t want people to see me sweating like a hog at events like weddings and such. 🙂

(I honestly have no affiliation with DGP or any other products I mentioned. I get nothing from this review. Neither products are readily available where I live and international shipping costs are a b. I still think they are worth their weight in gold.)

[RoMo]

HI Lucca Valentine and BabyDragon! Thanks for your answers. After seeing the video, I realize that I have been doing “mini drops” from a sitting position. I don’t drop very far, but enought to get from sitting high up into a lower height were I can reach the floor with my feet.
I really liked the sad girl drop. That looks like something “relatively easy” to start out with as I do have most of that down. I’m pretty far from the nose dive drop (looks TERRIFYING to drop down face first!!!), but I saw that DakotaFox really does have a nice variation of drops. I also searched through some more of her videos and I’ll add them to my favorites as she has a lot of good explanations.

Thanks!

[RoMo]

I started poling almost a year ago. I have an x-pole at home and when I’m working on new moves, I prefer starting to learn them on spinning pole. Even without exerting any force, the pole does move around and it works on my sense of [or lack of] stability. I recently started working on the Caterpillar climb and while I can do it on static pole, I find that I still can’t do it on spinning pole. I know that part of the reason for this is that while I do the move on static pole, I do it VERY S-L-O-W-L-Y. VERY. And jerky. Spinning pole requires you to do the move quicker, smoother.
In Hebrew there’s a saying, “Practice hard and you’ll have an easier time in battle.” I find that once I can nail a move on spinning pole, getting it on static is a breeze.

Good luck poling!

[RoMo]

If you want cheaper options, there are some good ones. I got puzzle mats for Judo from a sporting good store. They are 80 cm * 80 cm and 3 cm thick and I bought a package of 6 for about $40. I usually arrange them in two rows of three with the pole in the middle. I cut a hole for my pole with a switch blade knife. They are “stiff”, not cushion-y, but I do feel it does a really good job of minimizing impact. I have fallen numerous times, and, knock wood, have sustained no injuries to date.
I also like the idea that theoretically, I could stack them on top of each other, if I wanted a thicker mat.

BTW, the studio I go to also uses the puzzle mats. Although they have squares that are 1m*1m. I couldn’t find them that big.

[RoMo]

Traumheel is great. I also find that lightly massaging the area right when I get the bruise helps it.

[RoMo]

You have nothing to be ashamed of, answering him like that. I agree with Cantentinza – giving a stupid question a flat out, honest answer is fine. Octaviaalice’s advice of just ignoring his is also a legit way to handle such situations.

At some clubs the girls wipe the poles down before their set. I’ve seen some girls incorporate this into their routine, using the time to do a “French maid” routine… Other gals do it mechanically, get it over with and start dancing. BTW, at clubs, girls tend to do a lot more floor work and spins… lets “tricks” as it not only leaves bruises but also it’s discouraged at lots of clubs. Less time to “collect the cash”…

@Allyson – Yelling at waiters is NOT ok! Like Dave Barry said “If someone is nice to you but rude to the waiter, they are not a nice person.” Here’s a nice article – CEOs say how you treat a waiter can predict a lot about character – http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2006-04-14-ceos-waiter-rule_x.htm

[RoMo]

Lyme,
So sorry for your loss. Be strong during this time.
Hug.

[RoMo]

Good luck! 🙂

[RoMo]

Good luck! 🙂

[RoMo]

Big hug from the other side of the world.

Please take care of yourself. Do you have someone there to help you? If there’s anything I can do to help (have food / groceries delivered to your house, etc…), please don’t hesitate to ask for help. We live in an amazing world and even though we are scattered across the globe, technology brings us closer.

[RoMo]

I fully agree with MissyM about that time of month. I realized that the difference in hormones throughout the month really changes how I feel before, during and after practice. Another thing that I’ve noticed is that it also affects how much I perspire, which really affects my grip, especially during my period.

Good luck and be patient with your body!

[RoMo]

Nice challenge. I like the idea of it. Good luck!

I’ll try to get on instagram…. 🙂

[RoMo]

Hi PolarGirl,

I TOTALLY AGREE with what you wrote — at least the first part about being surprised by filming yourself and how you felt. I used to feel weird about the idea of filming myself, but I started doing it about a week ago. I do feel guilty about spending a lot of time on this site and not posting pictures and videos of myself, but mostly because I feel self conscious of how I look. So yes, I feel like a creeper, too… I will start uploading stuff soon, I hope… (feeling tiny in chair…)

I actually feel self conscious about my size and when I filmed myself for the first time, I noticed that I couldn’t really see my cellulite and all the little things I usually nit pick about… I felt better than I expected to feel.

There’s another thread about how people photograph themselves. I usually use a tripod and I find that the angle really makes a difference. Yesterday hubby filmed me doing shooting star and cupid and he’s an AWFUL photographer! The angles were weird and got the worst views possible! So don’t be too unhappy with your body – maybe it’s a matter of finding a better angle / different lighting.

Thanks for your post. It’s good to know I’m not alone… And I will try to muster up the courage to post some pics soon. 🙂

[RoMo]

I wanna see your bird cage! 🙂

[RoMo]

Any chance you’ll be doing something Hanukkah themed for us good Jewish gals? 😉

[RoMo]

LolaSlaytor — I laughed out loud when you mentioned your ICU patients usually being intubated and sedated. 🙂

GreyEyes — Gotta agree with your coworker who said “Who cares!?” and glad to hear you ended up wearing those boots in! I’m sure you looked amazing in them! 🙂

I enjoy reading this thread!

[RoMo]

Wow. I really enjoyed reading how strong some of you guys are. 🙂
I got into pole a few months ago and got a pole short after I started. Hubby has no problem with it in our house (he is much more bothered by my cat). His friends enjoy doing “feats of strength” on it and our friends with kids have no bones about their kids playing on the pole and are often quite encouraging (as long as I have laid out crash mats!).

My parents know I dance and they are very supportive and I know how lucky for that.

Honestly, as we don’t try to hide the pole, I’ve actually had some friends and neighbors who didn’t notice it until I specifically spelled it out to them that, yes, it’s a pole. 🙂

At work I manage a team of software developers. My friends at the office know I dance, as does my boss, the VP. I have never been given any problems and I know that my coworkers know that it’s a hard sport.

Like I mentioned, I started just a few months ago, so I haven’t posted any pictures or videos yet. Also, I’m still not comfortable with my size and in pole clothing. In general I don’t post much on FB, but I do hope to soon have the confidence to start posting here. (I actually taped myself the other day and was pleasantly surprised!)

[RoMo]

I know what it’s like to struggle with weight issues. I’m a mere 5′ and at 14 I weighted 105 kg (231 lbs) and took up boxing. I loved it so much, I started competing and at my peak I was 58 kg (128 lbs). That was over 10 years ago and university, work, medications and life found me recently at 80 kg (180 lbs). I have a husband who loves me and my curves, but it’s hard knowing I was thinner and could be. I struggle daily to keep from eating “junk” which is hard, as I spend most of my day in an office, surrounded by junk food and sweets… And by the time I get home I am usually too tired to work out…

Over the years I have worked with my doctors to find medication that don’t affect my weight as much. I have an amazing psychiatrist with whom I’ve been for years. He understands that weight also affects mood and I’ve tried dozens of different cocktails of meds before I found a combo that made me feel balanced and good (and didn’t have me putting on lots of weight or feel like my stomach was a bottomless pit…). Psychiatric meds usually come with a battery of side affects and each person is affected differently. I know it’s frustrating, but eventually you’ll find something that works for you.

I like Runemist’s comment about learning to love your body:
“In many ways, the challenge of accepting your body is far greater than that of trying to “lose weight,” but it can also be more attainable, and tends to make you happier, and it lasts longer!”

I’ve been working on that part for years…

[RoMo]

HI Bethany,

You are NOT too big to be able to do the pole sit and the wrist sit. I started poling a few months ago and it took me a while to get it down, so I fully understand your frustration! I’ve got big thighs, so I thought they were too big… Quite the contrary – now I find it kind of helpful. The biggest tip I can give you regarding the pole sit is to turn your knees in. Kind of like you’d do if you really had to pee (Sorry, best way I found to describe it). At first, it hurts. You’ll have black and blue bruises. Eventually, it stops to hurt and the bruises no longer appear.

Wishing you the best of luck!
🙂

[RoMo]

@NikitaDarling and any other studio owners — Just a bit more elaboration on how to use FB to your advantage. Here’s a few tips and tricks that I’ve seen have worked for local, small business owners.

1 – Create an excellent profile / web page. This does NOT have to cost lots of money, but do put the time and effort to doing it. You can create a nice FB page or a free web page with a service like WIX. If you create a site, connect it up to your FB page.
2 – Add friends on FB. People in the demographic that interest you (ie; Women, 18-50).
3 – Join groups, especially similar stuff – other local gyms in the area, dance classes, etc. You’ll really be surprised to see how many people saw your page from their local gym’s FB page…
4 – List your events. Invite people.
5 – Share! to rack up followers, you need to create interesting content. Users who like your page will see your post. If they like or comment on your posts, their friends will see it, which can cause your network to grow. The most successful FB posts are the ones that drive the most people to comment, share and like. Most of the times these use a visual element (pics are better than videos!).

Utilize the following tools:
1 — Page insights – it’s like Google’s analytics and will tell you who’s checking out your page, number of people who saw a post, etc. It clearly illustrates the specific content that engages readers.
2 — Hashtags. ’nuff said.
3 — Scheduled posts – FB lets you create a bunch of content and upload at predefined times. Setting certain posts to publish at certain times will give you a great boost in views. For example, if most people check their FB in the mornings, publish this week’s class schedule at 7:30 am, so it’ll be on top of your followers’ news feeds. Pictures, quotes and inspiration should be posted in the evenings, when people need it.

Wishing you all the best of luck! If you ever want any help/advice, please feel free to message me privately.

🙂

[RoMo]

I work in Market Research and Facebook ads are NOT a good way to spend your money. Please don’t waste your money on Facebook ads! You get the views that you’re promised, but the demographics are not accurate and the ROI doesn’t cut it.
Facebook presence is good.
Create a site for your studio (Wix.com or any other free site builder, or even just create a facebook page) and spread the word via friends and such.

[RoMo]

I’ve been waxing my bikini line for ages and it’s made the hair so much finer and lighter, that I find it’s worth it. Also, after years of doing it, the pain has become very mild. I used to go to a professional but a few years ago I started doing it myself with microwavable wax. I find it really convenient, but it does take a few times to get the technique down, so I would go to a pro for the first few times. At home I don’t heat the wax up as hot as my cosmetician used to heat it, but I prefer it this way.
If I have the patience to do my legs, I wax ’em, but most of the time I’ll just attack ’em with an Epilady or some equivalent. Similar to waxing without the mess of the wax. A bit more painful, but faster and cleaner, so it’s a trade off….

As for needing hair to be of a certain length for waxing/tweezing, yes, it needs to be about 4-5mm for it to be effective. But, waxing does cause new growth to be thinner than shaving (shaving cuts the hair at the thickest part, while waxing pulls it out from the root. New growth comes in tapered thinner.). I don’t let myself be bothered by a few mm of growth and no one’s ever said anything to me in a class. I decide not to be bothered by it.

All of that said – I agree with tacha666 — never change a running system before a big event / competition! Experiment when you know you have the week to live with possible unwanted side effects/results.

[RoMo]

Hi Layesh,

I’m sorry to hear this happened to you and I agree with a lot of what Runemist34 said. I can’t talk from personal experience about infidelity, but I can talk as a child of divorce. I was really young when my parents decided to split and looking back, I think it’s the best thing that could have happened for them. My parents weren’t meant to be together, and when they were apart each found their own way and grew. I think that a lot of people who choose to stay together “for the good of the kids” are actually hurting their kids more than anything else. When you are happy, confident, proud, your kids will be much better off. I can only imagine that as a mother you will want the best for your kids, but you also need to make sure you are taking care of yourself, as they’ll be a lot better off when you are happiest.

Wishing you the best of luck.
Hug.

[RoMo]

Ohh, tonight is great for me! Skype or video chat? I use skype all the time, but never used the video chat on here… (Actually, don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone “online” here according to the who’s online on the bottom of the screen…)

9 hours from now is 1:30 am for me… Is it possible doing it a bit earlier? Around midnight my time (GMT+2)?

Thanks