[RoseMay]

I too have trouble with this move. Reading this thread I thought that it might be easier to try it coming out of a CKR or CAR? I know that my bottom hand is too high to balance, but I just can't go any further down with that hand with my hand on top still holding on to the pole.

Does it make sense to try to get into it from the CKR or CAR? Is it even an advanced plank with legs in CKR position?

[RoseMay]

I think that upright poses on the pole look so much prettier on spinning mode than on static. Also most of them are easy to hold longer and its so beautiful to watch 🙂 And if your song is melancholy you can adjust the poses, like maybe let your head fall down instead of looking up. Some examples: pole sit variations, swan, viva seat, embrace, daphne, lady sit, layback, upright thigh hold, drama queen, hood ornament, teddy, yogini, skater, ….

Also what I think you can't really do on static is to go into normal spins from the pole, e.g. you do a pole sit, then into a front hook spin. Spins like the angel (the name is often used, but I mean the one from the Art of Pole dvd 1) or several attitude variations look better on spinning mode.

Oh also MissDirdyBirdy on Youtube has some tutorials for beginners in spinning mode, maybe you find something you like there 🙂

[RoseMay]

I have the mighty grip ankle protectors and gloves with tack.

The ankle protectors I wear for every session – they are a really great help for climbing. Especially when I was starting out my feet were costantly bruised and I couldn't climb (or wear shoes without pain!) for days. With the protectors I barely bruise my feet. By now I do know how to climb safely without them, but for practices they are really handy to have 🙂

The gloves I never use, I wish I had gotten the ones without tack. With the tacky ones I can't move my hands at all as soon as they are on the pole and replacing them it almost impossible. I actually got stuck two times and had to jump off the pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif (f.e.: after a wrist sit I couldn't move the hand from under my bum) They don't even help on spinning mode, because I just can't move my hands. Even in a simple spin on spinning mode the hand gets twisted around in a weird and sometimes painful way .. So I'd get the ones without tack for the hands 🙂

[RoseMay]

Well maybe you don't want to make it this complicated for a beginner student. What if you keep it really simple and explain it to her as "proper form" to keep the muscles engaged (just like the shoulder down thing)? As a beginner she's probably very nervous and has to think about so much while pole dancing that it doesn't really matter to her WHY you're telling her to do things a certain way.

And there's really no harm in letting her NOT hyperextend (when I see the answers in this thread the other way around we aren't that sure https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif ) especially in the beginning when she doesn't do any advanced tricks. And I think it's kinda easy to go from not hyperextending to hyperextending if one day she decides to change it.

Maybe later on you can talk to her about it in detail. If she asks and shows interest in the matter, then of course you should tell her what you know 🙂

(Are there even any beginner moves where you extend the arm completely and push with it? The first split grips in the carousel and boomerang spin are usually taught with a bent bottom arm …)

[RoseMay]

Thank you for your experiences gummypia, very interesting 🙂

In fact, I have a gymnastics book with photos of lots of strong men who always hyperextend their elbows while holding planches and stuff like that. And the author (USA Jr. National Team Coach) often emphasizes to keep the elbows completely straight or else it's considered cheating. I've always wondered a bit about that.

I have a weightlifting background and learned to never fully extend my elbows, because it just doesn't feel right.

[RoseMay]

Not an expert, but from my experience: A strong biceps will help against hyperextending. The function of the biceps is to bend the elbow – which is the opposite of extending.

A great way to demonstrate the concept is in a plank position like Amanda said. When I hyperextend the elbow in a plank it actually feels funny in the joint, as if my bones are carrying the weight. If I contract the biceps slightly the elbow goes straight and it feels much better and stronger. (But that's because I'm used to NOT hyperextending it)

And if her arms get stronger it should be easier for her to keep them from hyperextending. As a teacher you should pay attention in all moves where she uses a pushing motion with a straight arm (like split grip, or the top part of push ups …). She should concentrate on keeping her arm muscles active … just like we keep the shoulder muscles active 🙂

[RoseMay]

Well thats difficult, considering how many lessons Veena has https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

If you want one with some "really" different moves and combos and like her style I'd say get Bobbis dvds. Or maybe Jamillas routine dvds, if you want routines.

Oh by the way, in the art of pole are some lessons for spinning mode as well. But not so many that it would be worth buying them if you're not interested in the other lessons.

[RoseMay]

Well I can't really compare them to Veenas lessons as I don't use these on a regular basis (because of a slow internet connection, not because of quality :-))

Here is a list of all the moves in volume 3-5:

https://www.studioveena.com/forums/view/Vertical_Dance_2_and_Jamilla_AOP_3,4,5_2010-11-10_165626

Plus you have a flexibility routine, a warmup and strength exercises (I think the strength exercises are only in volume 1 and 2 though).

I think it explains an apprentice variation where both legs are straight, it's called the Jamilla there. The yogini is not covered and I don't know what a pixie spin is.

(Btw I learned the yogini from emotioncatchers tutorial on youtube, she has lots of tutorials for moves that you don't usually find on dvds  :-))

[RoseMay]

That's interesting, I would love to hear someone compare the Art of Pole to Felix dvds 🙂

I have the complete Jamilla set with the routines, Leigh Ann's set and Bobbis first two dvds of the ones you mentioned, I do have some other sets as well.

So to answer your question: biggest bang for your buck is the Art of Pole collection 🙂 If you want to learn routines the routines ones are also great. You can learn them step by step. In other dvds I find myself pausing the dvd and rewinding while trying to figure out what exactly they did. Also with both dvds you have 8 2-4 (?) minute routines that will keep you busy for a while.

[RoseMay]

Thanks lasenzagirl, very helpful! Is there anyone who would make a list for the advanced dvd as well? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

Based on the reviews I read so far I'm pretty sure I *need* the artistry and flexibility one .. but I'm not sure about the other ones yet.

[RoseMay]

I too would be interested in a list like that 🙂

[RoseMay]

Thank you Tine https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif I'll put these on my next shopping list and keep an eye out … or I'll just keep using the one I have now 🙂

[RoseMay]

Is using 10% acidic vinegar okay or will my pole get damaged? I have no idea what white distilled vinegar could mean in german or where you could find it in germany.

10 % spirit vinegar is what I had at home and I tried it today – only had to wipe the pole down 2 times (usually I do that after every trick if I don't use grip aids) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif But now the pole room smells really bad …

[RoseMay]

My name is kinda an english version of the german long form of my real first name https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif When I grew up I always found "Rose May" such a beautiful name and always thought that when I was old enough I'd change my real name to it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif Well I'm not gonna change my real name now, but I still like it.

[RoseMay]

Good luck! Apart from what everyone else already said … also remember to really squeeze the pole between your thighs. The stronger you are the less you have to rely on skin gripping the pole (and the less it will hurt and the less bruises you'll get).

[RoseMay]

Ah I understand now, thanks for clarifying this Veena 🙂

[RoseMay]

This is dangerous? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif I thought "hanging" here means so use the biceps of the top arm more and keeping the top arm bent. When I tried this technique with a split grip butterfly it felt so much better on my lower shoulder.

So just to clarify … in a "normal" inverted split glit most of the weight is really resting on the bottom arm?

[RoseMay]

To the chinese pole topic … I found an interesting manual of the basics to download:

http://www.fedec.eu/resources.1637.html

(under the basic circus arts instruction manual, chapter 5)

Maybe it's helpful 🙂

[RoseMay]

Thanks for sharing! I didn't know about this site but since you posted this link I listened to 6 or 7 different playlists https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif It's great for finding new music.

[RoseMay]

Pole dance is just such a versatile sport and hobby. I feel that there's so much you can work on and learn that it will never get boring. That's not why I started in the first place, but it's the main reason why I'm still doing it.

There are of course the many tricks you can learn, the strength training you can do to get them, the flexibility training you can do to make them pretty … and if you don't feel like doing strenous training you can always just dance … and there are many different dance styles you can combine with pole dancing. Then there's the floorwork and acrobatics and gymnastics part. And you can think of your own choreographies and costumes.

And apart from all the physical things, I also learned how to use a camera and edit videos and photos. I also started to learn to "listen" to music … I mean hearing where you can put accents in your dance and stuff like that. In general I started to always look for new music. And not to forget the lightning for videos … before pole dance I never thought about anything like that, but it makes a huge difference. Oh and last but not least I'm finally learning to walk in heels https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

So yeah, I'm sure it will keep me interested for a while https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif

[RoseMay]

One way to reduce the growth of calluses is to pay close attention to the grip. Especially on poles with a smaller diameter.

Try not to grip in a way that the skin on the hand is folded. This usually happens under the middle finger.

Instead you should grip in a way that the skin is "straight". The difference lies in the angle the hand grips the object. If the grip starts from the middle part of the hand (right under the fingers) it won't fold the skin. If the grip starts from just above the thumb it will fold it and cause extra calluses.

It's kinda difficult to describe https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif It's a technique I learned in weightlifting (the smaller the thing you're gripping the more important this is) – and I never had any problems with calluses.

[RoseMay]

Oh sorry KittyCat, I didn't see your answer when I typed my reply  https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif

[RoseMay]

If you do the plank with both legs straight and crossed you can turn that into a CAR by tilting the hips back and leaning back 🙂 So being comfortable with straight leg planks will help with feeling more secure in the CAR.

Oh and if you can't do an elbowstand or handstand I wouldn't try the iguana mount.

Maybe learning elbowstands will help a bit with the fear of going upside down? Because you can get used to it in a different and more secure position, especially if you start against a wall.

[RoseMay]

Well I think which dvds you do is totally up to you 🙂 She says at the beginning of each dvd to do it 5 times a week to gain flexibility and 3 times a week to maintain flexibility.

It kinda depends on your goals which one you should do. If the main goal are the splits I'd concentrate on the pure splits. If you want back flexibility as well then do the stretching for pole as well.

I think Alethea also said somewhere that the stretching for pole is more suited for beginners.

I personally had great results with alternating between both dvds 🙂

[RoseMay]

From the day since I got them to the day to my first split I used her pure splits and stretching for pole dvds alternating almost every day. I did them 11 times in total (it's like 55 min per dvd) until I was down to the ground.

I didn't hold the poses any longer than Alethea does in the dvds. And I did not do any other stretching.

The only thing I changed in the routine was that while she does her freedance at the end of the dvd I stretched for the front splits again for a few minutes. I'm really happy with the results https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

Though I think the pure splits dvd does a lot more for the splits (of course). So if the main goal are the splits I'd concentrate on that one 🙂