[Rouge_LAmour]

Arnica cream or drops works wonders for healing bruising.
I used it when I fractured my radial head (Ball joint in elbow) and gained use of my arm pretty fast.

try your local healthfood shop, pharmacy or alternative health practitioner.

Not sure about the sticking, but I do notice if I’ve had a shower pretty close to getting on a pole, there’s not enough grip as the skin is too clean.

But I’ll have any of your grip that you’d like to send my way https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[Rouge_LAmour]

Congrats on the new arrival. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif

Let me guess: OCD perfectionist?? The spins will come with time. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/alien.gif

I have no idea how many times I’ve had students nearly give up as they can’t do a spin, then all of a sudden, it comes to them (me included!! I’m really bad at beating myself up for not getting spins etc we don’t even discuss inverts right now… But I can do the Ushiro, which one day I will post as it’s very pretty and a lot of fun).

Keep trying and really stretch out your shoulders and arms.
They don’t hurt too bad on the first day, but the day after… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif
I wanted to curl into a little ball, but could barely raise my arms above my elbows, so didn’t curl up.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Got oyour local gym supply store and get some hand grips. Use these constantly while watching TV, etc. Make them replace your water bottle as accessory of choice https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif
this will help strengthen your grip.

I often find if my hands are too dry (or sweaty) then I lose grip.
Try leaving a tiny bit of water residue on them, don’t be completely retentive about getting them dry after washing them, leave a tiny bit of moisture on them. This will help create the "insert physics / science term here" required to stick to the pole.

Windex etc can create build up on the pole, we use meths in our studio, well rubbed off.

[Rouge_LAmour]

All Personal computers, no matter what OS they use are PC: the difference is the OS*: Mac, Windows, Linux, Unix or other operating system.

The "have to take the whole thing in if the Mac needs repair" also applies to windows laptops.
When our Windows Laptop needed repair, we had to take that to the repairer in it’s entirety. No pulling out the bits, as the case does not allow easy access. (HP Machine)
Conversely, when our MacBook Pro Battery went BANG! and warped, they got us a new battery (FREE!!!!! Thanks Mr Jobs et al) and the machine kept going.

We have 5 computers all up (2 humans, 4 cats, a lizard and 5 computers. That’s normal, isn’t it?? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_ugeek.gif ): (warning geeky bit) a Windows tower that is a door stop, a Windows laptop that I only use for my security cameras, a MacBook Pro which I love, our ex-editing machine which is a G5 quad tower which we run our studio system on (excluding security cameras because they were Windows only) and a very sexy Mac Tower (quad core, seriously nice) that we got last year to run Maya and Final Cut on. When we need to replace anything, it’ll be for another Mac. We have them because they work and are easy to use.

We have not had to install anything or purchase a "Mac" specific piece of hardware for any of our Macs. everything works first time. Conversely, we had about 3 – 4 hours of fiddling, playing and cursing when we had to reformat a hard-drive for a Windows machine – and that was just after we’d purchased it from the shop!

Another big consideration for a Mac lappie is that the newer ones (at least 2.5 years old) have a magnetic power supply, which means if you trip over the cable, it pulls out of the machine. rather than having a machine suddenly land on the floor and go Bang. Poof, big puff of smoke.

I run all my business applications on a Mac OS and have no problems opening XL / Microsoft files or even sending said files to Windows machines. Huge spreadsheets just work.
Even other apps like Photoshop and final cut have transferred nicely between OS.
My way of switching between he OS is to have the mouse r/h for one and l/h for the other.

My husband is writing all his Film Diploma essays on a Mac and there are no issues with his tutor opening them – the tutor uses a Windows machine (I think). Anyway, the webmail is an Outlook derivative and there’s no problems with that on the Macs.

I use both OS on a regular basis and do prefer the Mac OS. That’s not being biased, that’s using Windows machines at work for many years and being grateful to come home to a Mac. My work has involved hard drive / speed demanding files and I’ve worked in IT projects where I had pretty fast and high specced machines.

Great, the Windows v Mac debate is now on this forum… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/alien.gif

*OS= Operating system.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Try this vid http://mistress-maya.blogspot.com/2008/ … df6f083594
it’s how we teach it.

I’m getting into that one at the moment, and I am starting it by having arms in position with the pole across my shoulder, arms straight, then kicking one leg across the body and getting into it that way.

You get the feeling of the move and correct positioning without having to try and grab. It’s a method of breaking down of the move into about 3 bits that seems to work.

[Rouge_LAmour]

LOL.
My husband has been tape logging and one of my best buds is digitising for the Kiwi version!!
So yes, we’ve been watching out for their names.

Wasn’t Rachel Hunter doing that show at one point??

[Rouge_LAmour]

terribly cheesy but terribly tempting: "Bad Boys", the theme song to the TV show Cops? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

"I shot the sheriff"?

"I fought the law"? (Clash version is great)
"The Call up" again the Clash…

Chick Habit by April March. (Admonishment of a boy with a chick habit / serial womaniser)

not sure of the song, "woop woop, dat’s de sound of da police" Ragamuffin / Dub

NWA, "911 don’t work"?

"State trooper" (?) Bruce Springsteen?

[Rouge_LAmour]

I second the Mac purchase. They are slightly more pricy, but hold their value.
I’m currently using a 2.5 year old 17" MacBookPro with Leopard 10.5.6, it’s better than many laptops out there now and the IT geeks I used to work with loved to play on it – these are hard core Windows boys too.

Wonderfully easy to use, drag and drop is the theory.
And you’ll get iMovie, which is a really good domestic product. Beats Windows Movie Maker.

I am biased towards Macs as we have 2 at home and one at the studio. Yes, we have higher spec machines, but that’s because they’re used at professional levels.
A Mac Book should do you fine for what you want to do.
Get a DVD burner as the disks hold more data and you can get better compression rates.

[Rouge_LAmour]

you’re welcome.

This is what this site is about (to me anyway), being supportive and helpful.

[Rouge_LAmour]

totally jealous https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif and proud that you finally got it.

Congrats!

[Rouge_LAmour]

I have both the electra that Lola has and these http://howcool.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25_1352&sort=4a&filter_id=19&page=3&max_display=10&sort=4a&page=3&products_id=4023

the knee boots I’ve worn for daily stuff, in the office etc. They aren’t the shiny PVC therefore don’t stick to the pole but look great with knee length skirts / dresses.

The spike ankle boots are PVC and great for climbing. PVC sticks to the pole really well. I do drops and kick in them with no problems. They were great for minute taking in meetings, somehow the senior managers seemed to behave themselves when I wore those… (maybe it was being 6’4" in them??) The heel at speed can cause lacerations, so be aware of where people are.

The most important thing is to get footwear designed for dancing. Normal street footwear isn’t designed with the reinforcing required to cope with what we put our footwear through.

The shank in dance footwear is stronger. The shank is a piece of metal that reinforces the sole. Ballet dancers break / shave down the equivalent of this in their pointe shoes so the shoe will bend. Which is why pointe shoes don’t last long.

Single sole units will also help, these are stronger and the heel is less likely to snap off, unlike multiple unit soles where the heel is separate, causing a potential stress area.

Finally, dance footwear has a rocker last. This is where the sole under the ball of the foot is curved. This makes walking in them easier and gives far more manoeuvrability than normal shoes of similar height.

Yes, I used to work in footwear retail and had to learn about footwear construction as part of our training.
The only other tip I can give for heels is to walk on the ball of your foot and use the heel for balance. Basically on tip toes and to seriously stretch the calf and Achilles out afterwards to prevent snapping and tearing when back in flats. My mother was a 4" stiletto wearer for decades and when she wore flats for the first time in many years, she snapped her Achilles walking down stairs.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Side splits:
Frog stretch. Which is on your knees, with legs apart at 90deg from your body. Lean down.
also ensure you work the hip flexors, so what I call the figure 4 strech, or what looks like a x-knee release is great for those (Stand near your pole on the base if you have an x-pole or other with the metal "Circle of death", bring one foot above the other knee, then sit. pull your hips away from the pole, and obviously hold onto the pole).
This will also stretch your glutes. (Maximus and minor).
Also buddy stretch. Sit on the ground with legs apart. Get another person to match your feet and pull each other forward, taking turns. This stretches the inner thigh.

And the good old Butterfly stretch (on ground, feet together and near your girly bits, press knees out wards by leaning on them. Keep back straight.)

forward splits, figure 4 and hamstring. buddy streching is good for this. lie on your back, legs straight. Bring one leg up and pull towards your body. Buddy can help by keeping lower leg flat and pressing extended leg to your body. Work with your pain limits and don’t forget to constantly breathe.
Stretch the quads too.

check veena’s video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZMEGqdgGRs&feature=channel_page
really useful I’ve directed quite a few of my girls towards this one too.

[Rouge_LAmour]

I’ve also heard it referred to as an angel, an aurora and a reverse catch swing.

Pole Addiction have this video of it http://mistress-maya.blogspot.com/2008/03/pole-dancing-dislocator.html?zx=b67eb0df6f083594

I don’t do the sit and spin into it, but that’s cos it’s one of my least fav moves.

So the landing is both feet down first, to get balanced, then drop to the splits. I used my left hand to steady my descent. I did it r/h. Will maybe try to post a vid of it.
Can drop into the jazz or 1/2 splits if it’s easier. (back leg bent, front leg dead straight).
my current party trick is climbing the pole, then dropping 2+m into the half splits. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

Vertical split against the pole is next biggie. Inverts can wait, the splits are far more fun!!!!

@kerrierou: I’ve been able to do the splits since very young (or pretty close to it), my mother was into yoga and I used to do it with her. Frog stretch is great for box or side splits, works the inner thigh and the hip flexors.
forward splits require good hamstring and quad stretching. Veena has a great split stretch on her vids too.

[Rouge_LAmour]

now as to the other questions re grip on the titanium poles, silver is less grippy than the gold.

I’ve used chrome once and didn’t like it that much, far too slippy for me.

As an eczema sufferer, my skin is really dry, which means I need the titanium to "assist" when climbing.
Along with PVC boots, until I’m sweaty, then I can clamber up like a ungraceful, clumsy thing. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif
(Don’t get me started on the creams, lotions, dietary stuff. I’m allergic to fowl and parabens mainly).

Rosin is great as a grip aid, but is pretty noisy / sticky on static poles. Keep it for spinning and strength holds.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Titanium x-pole are in either silver or gold.
Wait a minute!! Just to avoid confusion. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif X pole has 2 options as far as finishes go. Titanium which is gold coated. Chrome is silver in color. There is not a silver titanium pole…..at least not that we can get in the US. Do you really have a silver Titanium pole Rouge???IF you do I want to know why we don’t have that option here! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif Oh now I’m really curious let me know Rouge https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Yup down here in little old New Zealand, we can get titanium in either gold or silver.
We have 2 x 45mm, one in gold and one in silver and a 50mm in silver, all titanium.

Chrome is also an option, which some of our students have.

http://www.xpole.com.au is the site

Maybe you’ll just have to come visit us then and take home a silver one. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
polegirlsonia is who we get ours from as she is an authorised reseller.

Clear as mud??

[Rouge_LAmour]

A warm, supportive environment, accepting of all levels and sizes, where no question is too silly.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Titanium x-pole are in either silver or gold.
We have both at the studio and titanium is the way to go. Chrome is slippery and very soft.
Polegirlsonia has a couple of chrome at her studio and rings have cut the chrome surface, ergo titanium being a better choice for durability.

stainless (right grade required) are great once they’ve been scratched up a bit. We have 8 of these and they’re great for learning on, esp as ours are static.

Spring that extra cash on the titanium if you have grip concerns. Gold is grippier, but the silver is just as good.
we have 45mm in both silver and gold and they’re completely fine and our 50mm is silver.
If you’re going to dance with rings on, hmmmm, then get titanium. It will last longer.

Personally, I’m a firm believer in the no ring policy. stops skin getting pinched between them and ensures better grip. I hate dancing with mine on.

OK, my 15cents over and done with. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_salut.gif

[Rouge_LAmour]

Jacq, get arnica, stat.

It really is the best thing ever.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Welcome from the Antipodes!!

The 50mm x-pole is a good size for males, we use ours (titanium) to teach our new male student and other males who have used it found it a good size.

[Rouge_LAmour]

welcome to the site Andy!!

it’s a great warm place to discuss loads of stuff.

Rouge.

[Rouge_LAmour]

stream of consciousness logging is how I’ve heard it described by my Geek friends.

great way to update facebook, myspace and other sites in one foul swoop.

[Rouge_LAmour]

refer my dislike for WMM. Crap product. (Digital frame dropouts, problems with transferring files and formats etc, etc, etc).

Either download the trial version of Sony Vegas or buy it ($55 usd, very good price).
Great easy product that will address most problems and is used to edit many short films.
It’s a domestic version of the professional product.

If you have a Mac, iMovie is fine. It’s a far better product than WMM. Very few issues with it as a product, I’ve seen things edited on it and it’s a very stable and usable product.

If you must use WMM, (rocking: I will not re-educate, I will not re-educate) refer Joel’s (poledancefan) instructions and follow to the letter, but do be aware that it will have frame dropouts and sometimes has issues with capturing footage and talking to cameras.

We use Final cut, used by Coen Brothers etc , but that’s a seriously professional product and industry standard along with AVID and way out of the market for Pole Dance vids at our level!

[Rouge_LAmour]

Vote Number 2 for Rylie.

One question though: Is Rylie your stage persona?? If not, then you’ll also need to think about that persona

Rouge suits me as I’m a bit stroppy and 5’9".
I did have a job where I was known to clients as Madame FluffyBum (waiting tables…)

[Rouge_LAmour]

Something I remembered this morning, well, a couple of things.

Firstly, the worst pain with a Brazilian is the front, where you’d usually trim for a bikini wax. The rest really doesn’t hurt that much. In fact, armpits hurt far more along with anywhere close to a bone.

Secondly, take 2 x aspirin and 2 x paracetamol 20 minutes prior as this will reduce the inflammation and cut the pain. Most importantly, go mid cycle, around the time you’d be ovulating as the pain is pretty insignificant at that time of the cycle.

If you have pale skin and dark hair, like me (I’m naturally a brunette), then waxing is the way to go as there are no little "hairs" left under the skin to look like lots of little blackheads.

[Rouge_LAmour]

My husband was trained as a mechanical engineer and one of our students has double degrees in Maths and engineering (Phd in Aerospace engineering…)
They both think the x-pole is the business.

Our student created her own, and it doesn’t have the same level of sideways pressure that an X-Pole has.
We don’t have platinum stages in NZ, therefore I can’t comment, but Elite Poles also seem to be good.

If you’re a bigger girl (ie over 50kg as the media thinks that’s "fat"…), it’s best to consider getting a professional pole, or follow Joel’s instructions to the letter.

X-Pole has a 2500kg sideways force, which means the centrifugal force is capable of holding pretty much anyone and in a country like NZ with quite a few Rubenesque Amazons, that’s a biggie for us!