[Rouge_LAmour]

stop worrying about what the scales read too.
As you gain more muscle, the scales will have bigger numbers.

Just eat healthily and in moderation: loads of fresh, unprocessed food and you will see a huge difference.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Also for some reason I CANNOT do body rolls. I manage the first roll okay but if I try to do any consecutive rolls it just looks like I’m humping the pole! And no, I’m not doing the rolls backwards, as in hips first and chest last, though I did start out that way.

Body rolls defy even the most amazing dancers, but once you get it, you’ll be fine.
My tips are:

Stand a (smallish) step away from the pole. grab with both or either hand
Bend your knees slightly, esp if you have lower back issues.
stick your tushie out
bring your head to the pole(sticking your tush out will help this to occur naturally), stick out your tongue and think about licking the pole. (crass, but this may work)
now, move your head like your licking an icecream (or Brad Pitts chest, whatever takes your fancy), long lick.
follow by pushing your boobs to the pole, arch your back and keep the tush stuck waaaay out there.
keep your back arched, then bring in you tummy above your belly button, pull your head backwards
keep the back arched, bottom part of your tummy / hips, so bring in your tushie
take your shoulders and upper tum off the pole.
bring your knees into the pole.
then sit.

The trick is to think of only one part of your body on the pole at any one time. (hands excepted)
Think of the worm from breakdancing or even how a cat stretches. Try to emulate those movements and it may help. It’s an arch or curve of the back, well, that’s how I see it.
If I get some time I’ll try to make a video of it for you.

I have days where I can’t even do a fireman – and I teach!!! It will get better. Promise, but it’s the Pantene Promise: it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.

BTW physical dyslexia is called dyspraxia

[Rouge_LAmour]

Go see a Doctor, quick smart.
That’s not a "normal" pain. You need to get it seen. OK!!!

You’ll get the walking around without hand slipping in time, don’t expect to be amazing at the start, you need to build up strength and conditioning. Jamilla is incredible, but think how long she’s been dancing for??
And not just pole, she does tissue, other circus work, she’s an acrobat, danced for years in many forms….

She is incredible and I think trying to emulate her at this early stage will be frustrating.
The pantene promise holds true: it will happen, but not overnight.

We all get frustrated. I’m sure all the amazing dancers on here will agree.
As a teacher, I see so many girls get frustrated. Especially when they feel we’re holding them back and making them do moves slowly, but that’s about control and strength and once you have it, everything becomes much easier.

Now, go see that Doctor!!

[Rouge_LAmour]

Jamilla has a contact email: mailto:info@jamilla.com.au

I know she’s travelling a lot this year, so it may be worthwhile emailing to find out when and where she will be.

"And I totally love how she stressed that descending from a static chopper/straddle inversion is more important and more conditioning that ascending." (yogabeachbabe)
That is one of her big things that she teaches. I’ve been using it a little from the ground and it works quickly.

Did she also teach the "breath"? It’s hard if you’ve done singing as it’s a very different type of breath.
All in the chest, rather than in the lower parts of the lungs.

[Rouge_LAmour]

My ex told me I was too fat to do it. My husband told me to do it if I wanted to and enjoyed it.

It also tells me that your ex only sees pole for the sleazy side of it.
Do it for yourself and for fun, everything else just comes later.
Anyway, why would you want to give that creep any chance of seeing you dance if he’s been that negative.
The fact that you won’t show him, is even better. Show your friends who are interested, but don’t how him.

Revenge is a dish best served icy cold. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Rouge_LAmour]

GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
Jamilla is worth the drive. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif
She is one of my favourite teachers, she’ll run over time as she thinks it’s important to have a full lesson.

I learned so much in two lessons from her. She is completely wonderful and so sweet and cute.
I just want to pick her up and put her in my pocket, but there’s laws against that… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Can you tell I’m excited for everyone who’s able to go?? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

I did hear Pantera was coming to NZ, but was going to charge nearly $250 for an hour.
Jamilla is far less than that.

Also purchased art of pole series and the chair dance dvd. Should be here soon.

[Rouge_LAmour]

http://www.xpole.com.au is definitely a genuine product.
If you’re unsure, I can give you the email for Stacey at Xpole UK to double check.

chrome is $610 AUD and titanium (either finish) is $722 for delivery throughout ‘stral.
$50 delivery, so the poles are $50 less is you pick up from the Sydney Warehouse.
The PO Box says Rose Bay, which is the next bay east from Double Bay, near to Bondi. (Yay, Whereis!!)

Hope this helps.

[Rouge_LAmour]

As a studio owner…

we offer pole, bollywood and latin based dance fitness as core classes.
We do pole parties as required.

We teach the basic spins, then coach the students into the more advanced stuff as they are able to do it.
I have a fantastic tutor I often use to double check on student ability, she’s usually right!

So yes, we teach everything from a basic fireman through to death lays etc.

We brought in dance fitness for girls who wanted dance steps, but it’s also a bonus as this encourages students who don’t want to pole. Ditto for Bollywood, which rocks!!

One on One is great for learning, but can be prohibitive as it only allows one student.
I suggest looking at all the costs of setting up a studio before you leap in headfirst. The more the better is good, but you do need to know exactly what costs you will incur.

We have 10 – 11 poles at the studio. This means we can have up to 20+ for parties, it also means our girls have a pole for a decent length of time. Total cost of our poles was (approx) $1600 for steel and $3500 for titanium.
Mirrors on top of that, plus sound system, client management system, rent, telecommunications, EFTPOS / merchant fees, student training material etc….

I’m not trying to put you off, but hoping to give you a realistic idea of what it costs to set up a studio.
If the math works out for you, then go ahead and do it!!

[Rouge_LAmour]

50mm is club standard.
Chrome v titanium is your choice, http://www.xpole.com.au have a really good range.

Yay on getting a pole – you’ll have so much fun!

[Rouge_LAmour]

we’re all allowed to brag if we make an achievement.

Congrats!!

[Rouge_LAmour]

Healthfood shops, homeopaths, pharmacies.

It’s pretty mainstream now.

The bruising won’t stop, as you get onto more advanced moves, you’ll get more bruises.
I have some great ones on my arms from practising elbow holds.

[Rouge_LAmour]

It’s one reason I’d like to try a class, if one were available for men here. I think I would be more focused.
Joel

There’s a pole at our studio with your name on it if you’re ever in Wellington, NZ!
We teach co-ed classes so we have no issues with boys in class.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Rouge is right about the index finger!
Have to say it was one of my tutors who learned this and passed it onto us, so not my own learning. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
She is our Technique Queen and I learn so much listening to her teach. Can’t take that credit away from her. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Do Veena’s wrist / forearm exercises, these will help immensely. I’m training a pilates instructor in pole and she thought these were wonderful.

Keep away from that split grip for a while. I got the technique by doing the goddess using split grip.
But you do need to have good strength.

If it’s not resolved by taking downtime, then see your Doctor or a Sports Medicine Practitioner. If you were in Wellington, NZ, I’d suggest Dr Gyenge, who is a GP with a masters in Sports Med. Great guy!

[Rouge_LAmour]

We don’t let the split grip loose on our students until they’ve had at least 10 lessons, it does vary as to how strong they initially are too. We find that they’re then capable of holding themselves up a bit better.
I’d leave off the split grip until you’ve got the normal grip under control.

Also when doing the split grip, have the index / pointing finger following along the pole, this helps to keep wrist bones and such like in alignment and prevents carpal tunnel and other injuries. Ergo, keep it in alignment with your forearm, so they are in one long line.

I know pole is really exciting at the moment and you want to do really well, but don’t compare yourself against other people on here. Take your time to get your strength up before trying some of the more crazy moves, like inverting etc.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Yeah I tried that and it said I needed a code. Weird you think since I purchased the music they would let me use it. My husband is a Mac user also and thinks my PC is lame. Right now I agree! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_question.gif Thanks for responding https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Steal your husbands Mac!!!
Load the song to iTunes, capture the footage and edit in iMovie then post!!
Or make him to it for you.

[Rouge_LAmour]

Would love to say drag and drop from iTunes.
Should have some import ability. I’m on a Mac so have no idea apart from trying an import.

[Rouge_LAmour]

I’m nearly 38. (bloody Geminis!!!)

5’9" and my weight is irrelevant as I develop muscle really quickly and easily, but have lost about 5 dress sizes since taking up pole, but the numbers didn’t change as dramatically as I thought they might https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif squishy puku is still there, but slowly going.
5 kids: twin girls 3, and 7 and 8 year old boys. (all go meow) and a 24" blue tongue skink.

Ooooh, and a husband! Who gets bored of my pole obsession, but very sweetly ensures our x-poles are secure at the studio and does all the "manly" stuff. Most of our single students want to clone him.

He’s also the one who I bug with video questions…

edit: ooops, forgot to count Hermes as one of the kids!!

[Rouge_LAmour]

Oh hahah I just tried posting the above and saw that Rouge had written about it already. So there’ll be more posts to this thread next week.
Did that on purpose for the smarty pants factor. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_tongue.gif

[Rouge_LAmour]

Piece wasn’t run tonight as they ran out of time, however they did show a few little shots of Sonia’s studio and a few moves.

Sonia looked so pretty on camera and seemed to be doing a really good job of maintaining coherent thoughts while being interviewed.

So it’s next week it’s on the telly god…

[Rouge_LAmour]

😆 too old!! great that must make me achient!! ha ha ha!
If you think you’re ancient, how old does that make me!!!! More decrepit????

I can’t do so many things, but the things I can do, I do well.
An amazing dancer we have at the studio told me she loved watching me dance because I was graceful and she found that a pleasure to watch. She’s got the most amazing tricks and I thought she was an amazing dancer!!
(Shoulder mounts up and down, completely controlled and at a snails pace to start…)

I feel completely useless and a failure sometimes when I see girls I’ve initially taught, do tricks like the Jamilla split like it’s a fireman! I don’t even invert, yet. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif well, I try, but I’ve discovered that I can now kick the pole upside down as well as right way up. Big toe is now purple. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif But I did beautiful aerials last night! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

Don’t give up, your muscles have to learn how to be used in a different way. They will build up strength for pole in their own time. Pole is not an immediate thing for everybody, a few are naturally talents, but then you’ll find they did gymnastics or martial arts for years.
BTW: I’m nearly 38 and I’m not the oldest here.

The woman who won Sonia’s competition last year was 55 and had been dancing for 8 months. She was incredible: graceful, strong, amazing to watch. So age has nothing to do with it. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_colors.gif

[Rouge_LAmour]

I’m trying to find it but I don’t know what section it would be under help! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif I want to see it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cyclops_ani.gif

It’s TVNZ, their site is badly organised. very cluttered. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[Rouge_LAmour]

Did you try uploading directly from the camera? Or from a file that you’d uploaded to you computer from the Camera? This is called a scratch file and can be crazy lady sizes. We have a 1Tb hard drive we use for our scratch file capture – and we do short stuff. Our Big Mac has at least 2Tb hard drive storage on top of that, purely for video capture.

My suggestion is to put it through a video editing programme to compress it. iMovie, Vegas, WMM (if you must).
And edit out bits that aren’t so hot, like wandering up to turn the camera on and / off.
The compression will shrink the file size to something more palatable for the SV servers.
It may take a while, but it’s worthwhile.

[Rouge_LAmour]

basic vegas is also on $55 USD… a good product to save up for.

We have final cut, but then we’re a geeky film house / production company.
We need Final cut to talk with Maya and Shake, so Mr Rouge (Dave) can edit and animate his modelling.
needless to say, he’s applying to Weta Digital as soon as his skite tape looks very hot.

[Rouge_LAmour]

The decrepit Aunty Rouge is going to get up again… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

When I was 21, I was in no position to have kids, emotionally I was the party girl out for a good time.
You’ve already made that huge sacrifice with your life to bring up kids.

To echo everyone else, is the relationship really worth saving. You’ve been together since you were maybe 15?
Think of how much you’ve grown since you were 15. And you really will keep maturing.
So, what I suggest you need to do, is to get an independent third party to assist with the relationship discussions.
But only if the relationship is worth saving. If not, then leave. Addiction is an awful third party in any relationship, especially if only one party is involved. I was terrified of leaving my ex and being single. but it was worth it. Then I met my amazing husband at 34, no regrets there! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif

PM me if you want a non-public discussion on living with addicts. Been there, done that have the healed emotional scars! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Rouge_LAmour]

He sounds like he has classic addictive behaviour. It’s never going to be his fault!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
I had one of those people for far too long, it was really hard to leave as I was conditioned to think I needed him.

A breakup is really hard, but if he’s treating you like crap and blaming you for everything, then it’s the best thing ever for you to get out of that situation and live a better life. Especially if he’s using / self-medicating. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mad.gif Hard advice and possibly not what you want to hear, but as someone who lived through that for 13 years, get out while you can. Have you been to al-anon groups? They are for families and friends of users and are great for bringing you back to where you should be.

If he’s making moves to leave, then let him. Once he’s out that door, he’s out for good. Don’t take him back for anything. Not even in a weak moment, be strong. I know I should probably be telling you to make amends, get counselling etc, but if he’s treating you like this, then sod it and let him go. You don’t need anybody treating you like this. He has no respect for you and that’s not right in a relationship. Let the ba%^&*d go.

And did I read right with Lamo?? Love the name.
loads of e-cuddles, Cali. The great thing about places like this is that people will share when they need the support, and people will always come through with great advice and support.