Runemist34
Forum Replies Created
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For those interested, my Skype name is also Runemist34, and I’ll always turn it on when I’m poling 😉
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Denixxom, when I was in a studio I had a similar situation- I learned the Fireman spin, and then two of it’s variations, and then the back hook spin (moving forward), all within four weeks. It was very difficult, and I think that if it was slowed down, or taken at a more beginner-safe pace, I would have been easier with it.
My advice would be, if you can, to go to your studio if they have some “free pole” time, and see if you can practice. It really does help to practice your spins!
Otherwise, you can also ask the instructor about what you might do at home for more strength, and impart to her that you’re having issues and, perhaps, reservations about doing these moves so soon after beginning pole.As I said, I started learning spins very early. My first week was the fireman spin- not much else, either! It took me ages, and quite a while after the studio closed, before I learned to climb. They aren’t necessarily related, but I can see where it would be a concern.
For actual spinning, a lot of these moves require strong shoulder engagement (think about pulling your arm and shoulder down toward your hip, engaging the lat on your side, so that you can keep your shoulder from over-extending). Gaining momentum can be really difficult for a lot of spins, but I find a long, extended leg-swing can really help get me going (unless you’re on spinning pole!). It’ll take time, but you’ll definitely get there 🙂
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I’d love to get together on Skype and have pole jams, as well! I’m pretty much fully-self/home taught, and I’m not terribly advanced, so no worries about me saying something like “Yeah, I’ve been working on this combo with the true grip handspring and the dragon tail…” Nowhere near that yet! Haha
Let me know what your timezone is, and we can find some pole time! -
My twitter: Runemist34
https://twitter.com/Runemist34 -
Actually, I just tried it- warming up the pole a bit higher, and adjusting my grip to places where I KNOW I’ve got a good grip (because it’s warm) and had way better success! I can’t hold it for very long, but… I AM holding it for a brief pose, so that’s good 🙂
Any suggestions on how to improve my strength for this grip, too, are welcome. Working a lot more on my one handed spins 😉 -
Dustbunny, I have considered that maybe that area of the pole may be a little less warm than where my lower hand is. I don’t have/use any kind of grip aid, as if I did, I think I’d just end up taking some skin off instead (generally, my pole and I are super grippy, and I’ve had some really bad skin burn from it if I do too much :P).
I was thinking perhaps it was an issue with my own positioning, perhaps I was just putting too much pressure going down on that hand, or something else I may not be aware of.
As for one handed spins, I can do them fairly fine if my legs are still on the pole. So, things like front hook spins and fireman spins I do well with one hand (and have fun!), but I’m not quite advanced enough for something like a chair spin one handed (I’m working on it, though!) and I’ve only recently felt strong enough to work on my reverse grab again 😉 I’ve missed that one lots! -
I’m not working on any particular moves, actually. Just trying to build strength, and understand the hold, until I’ve got it good enough that I feel comfortable doing moves that require split grip.
During my studio days (a very long time ago) I was taught a split grip V-kick, just from the floor, which you could also use as a hold. In general that is what I think of each time… but things like a Carousel spin, or even using that position as a pose, are fairly attractive to me. I just can’t seem to keep myself up to do them 😉 -
It can be a slow process if you don’t trust your grip at first (which is entirely normal!), so the way I did it was to get into the position, and really anchor into my legs, and then relax my hands. Not take them off, but just feel where and how the weight goes when my hands aren’t actually supporting you. If you feel the weight shift at all, you can lock your hands back on in a moment and be safe. Eventually, I worked on taking one hand off, and then the other, though I’m not very good at bringing them back behind me- I still prefer keeping them in front, as the balance is still the same.
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Oh man, there are a BILLION different tips one could give for both performance and competition! Best thing I could possibly say is this: Do something YOU are proud of!
My best example of this is thus: I have never won anything, quite literally. I’ve always been one of those “consolation/thanks for trying” sort of prize winners. I never believed in being proud of myself, because I was crazily afraid of being prideful. I’m weird, I know. BUT, recently for a class we had a “Pitch your story” competition, in which we could win a very nice portfolio. I looked at that and said “I’m not going to win that, so… instead, I’m going to make something I am proud of!”
I won the thing. I was shocked.
Also, another good example: Felix Cane is seen saying, before her performance that she won the first Australian competition she competed in, “I’m not really here to win, I’m just happy to be in it.”I agree with JSheridan on all the other points. 🙂
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I tend to suffer a kind of fatigue when I’m not doing a lot of stuff during my days. I think I’ve pinned it down to a couple of things:
First, how much food are you eating? This can play a huge role, and I’ve struggled with it for most of my life. If I’m not doing anything, I tend not to eat- don’t feel hungry, so why bother? But, I get into an unfortunate cycle of using sleep to restore my energy, rather than food, and that in turn causes me to feel more tired more of the time, and have nothing to give to life when I’d like to be more active.
The second thing… well, what do you do in your day? When you’re in school, and when you’re working, you have things to get up for, and reasons why you feel you NEED to get out of bed. If those things don’t exist… why get up at all? Because of this, I find myself oversleeping, and wake up exhausted and headachy… I also tend to nap a lot, trying to just pass the time.
Strangely, I feel more energetic the more I do, because I’m taking care of myself, and I’m demanding things of my body. I know it sucks 😉 -
Thanks Laura! I’m impressed you have the energy for all of that! You must eat all the time! How do you… well, find the time? 😉
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Haha, that’s actually how I get used to some of my more “normal” heels! I wander around the house, doing chores and whatnot. I am super not used to heels of any kind… my pole heels are like a different world for my feet!
I’ve really noticed that, since running, my ankles are much stronger, and I can stay on my toes for a lot longer. However, my heels are still wobbly! I do dance on carpet (nowhere else in the house I can go, sadly), so I’m sure that’s not helping! -
I have one, but unfortunately it’s not well lined-up with my actual pole- I have doors in the way, and other things (like a bookshelf).
However, I do know this: Watching yourself in the mirror is WAY different from video taping yourself. Both can be extremely helpful, but they are so for different reasons.
Also, my mirror is quite large (I was going for a full-length mirror without the frame, got something a little bigger because I’m not great with measurements) and it was less than $100. I got it at a glass place. They do things like auto glass, as well as other glass stuff in frames, but… just for a straight mirror that you’re gonna hang on the wall? Super cheap without a frame! They even gave me the brackets to hang it up! It’s like… 5′ 5″ tall and like, 1.5′ wide? I’m totally guessing, but… it’s big for me, anyways! -
Hey!
Yes, I have something of a… “healthy respect” for heights, especially when I’m upside down. I’ve also got a thing about being upside down.
In this case, I think the best thing you can do is take it slow, remember to breathe deeply, but to learn to get used to it. As you said, you weren’t previously having this issue, so it sounds like a natural, human-type response to being at height. Same thing as you get when people take a Theatre program in school and get up on the catwalks the first time: They throw themselves to the “ground” because they can see where the real ground is through the grating, and their brain just FREAKS OUT. It takes time, and patience, to get through it… but you definitely can get through it!
As I said, take it slow, do what you can, deep breaths. Push your limits as far as you can, but if you feel you need to take a minute (or just not push that limit again for a class) then do as you must. You’re teaching yourself something new.
Breathing is really important. -
Hey MD!
So very many of us have these thoughts- Am I just not able to have that kind of strength? Am I being dragged down by something? Am I not as good as everyone else?
I would say that, probably, your muscles are helpful! Any muscle is helpful! It’s possible that you may not have the correct technique (which is a HUGE part of pole dancing, and can really make you feel like you don’t have the strength), which takes time and practice and, for many of us, proper tutelage!
The other thing to remember is this: Do NOT compare yourself to anyone else! Those skinny girls may have totally other challenges that you don’t know about, and even the fluffier girls will. Each of us has our own struggles and our own triumphs. We are incomparable as people and as pole dancers- one day you’ll be something that none of us has ever seen before, just as everyone becomes something we’ve never seen before, because that is the true nature of people!
And the whole idea of “Everyone is special, therefor no one is” is just silly. Of COURSE we are all special! That’s why we gravitate towards some and not others, why we have preferences, and why we are amazing.
Keep at it 🙂 -
I dance on carpet, too! I’ve got a Lil Mynx (Veena pole) 😉
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Amazing on both dances! I found David’s to be quite moving, and quite beautiful. I don’t think I’ve seen a pole dance to the spoken word before!
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Specifically to your post, I think it’s really unfortunate that your brother is being that way. In these cases I prefer the “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything” sorts of behaviours- from him, I mean. Obviously this hasn’t been his way, but perhaps you could speak to him about it (depending, of course, on your relationship with him and your level of comfort having that conversation), because it is not appropriate for him to be saying hurtful, stupid things about something that you so obviously love.
On the “leaving my pole up” topic, I actually love leaving my pole up in public spaces of my house! Currently, my pole lives only in my bedroom- it’s the only room that has enough space for me to dance in, so… it’s rather unseen at the moment. However, the very first pole I got eventually was called my “stealth pole,” because it was quite literally in the middle of the living room of our apartment… and NO ONE noticed it! They’d be over for a couple hours, and then all of a sudden “Hey, is that a stripper pole?” And I’d laugh, say that it is, and ask when they noticed it. Usually they would ask because they had only just noticed it! They’d do everything from walk around it to see me leaning on it, and not even figure out that it was there!
I think I’ve only ever taken it down for some very elderly landlords who came to see us once, while we were in Victoria. I didn’t take them as the “open minded” type about these things, so the pole went under the bed for a little bit.I strongly agree with Veena- if we take them down, we’re perpetuating that they are something to be hidden, something we don’t want to show others because we’re ashamed, or shy, or somehow not very proud of them.
So keep it up, and shove it in your brother’s face >_> -
The hoop that I have can collapse, but generally circles like to stay circles. If your hoop has been folded or bent in any way for shipping or storage, it will take some time to get back into normal circle shape. You can just kind of bend and stretch it a bit, allowing the places where it’s slightly warped to reseat into their natural, circular position.
And, as Goddess KK says, many hoops that are collapsible have a small gap. This is because they’re intended to twist within those connection points, and if they touched together perfectly, that twisting into a collapsed shape would be extremely difficult.
I’m not sure if I agree with heating it up, though. This can be effective, but you’d have to be very careful with it. I’ve seen enough heated plastic and Polypro stuff to know how super easy it is to damage, break, or irreparably bend in the way you don’t want. Though, if it is really just a shaping issue and not a seating/settling issue, then yeah, heat will help you bend into the shape you want. -
I think most people prefer to start with static, and then move into spinning once the have a few aerial moves under their belt. I poled on a static-only pole for a long time, and not that I have one that can spin, I find I don’t use it as much as I’d like, and the dynamics for it are very different for me… so personally, I’d say start off with static while you’re getting your strength and everything up, and then get into spinning slowly, but do it early-ish? Maybe in a month or two?
I’m sure Veena would have some clearer advice though! I know that she has a discussion on spin mode in her lessons. -
Yeah, the different types of yoga can be kind of confusing! I suppose I sort of don’t subscribe to any of them in particular, though my book is specifically Hatha yoga, I purchased it more because it has pictures and explanations on how to get into and hold the moves, as well as some routines in the back with pictures.
I’ve been meaning to get into yoga more, as I said, but I just haven’t figured out a way of integrating it into my schedule! Getting up super early is not easy for me, and usually I just want to wake up slow, have my shower, and go at it that way. Yoga seems like exercise, and I tend to do exercise in the middle of my day… and I have a LOT of exercises to do! Running, rock climbing, dancing… we’ll see how it goes 😉
I wish you luck, though, in trying it out! Let us know how you’re getting on! -
Heyy! I’m interested to hear what people have to say about this, too!
Also, I found this website: http://www.doyogawithme.com/
I haven’t had the chance to try it yet, but it looks pretty cool!
I took a class or two, and found it really nice- I think I prefer Hatha yoga? I know that some people prefer other kinds, though. From my understanding, the different kinds of yoga deal with different beliefs- Hatha yoga is more gentle, focuses on helping the body to become strong and flexible in a slower way. Ashtanga (I think?) yoga is a little tougher, believes that the body should bow beneath the spirit, so they tend to push harder.
I should go get my yoga book and check my information though 😉 lol -
I sort of agree with Veena- one handed spins are NOT beginner spins! The reverse grab still is difficult for me… and I’ve been poling a long time.
My favourite spin for helping me “let go” is the front hook spin… but, again, it’s not a beginner one. You can do it two handed, though, so that’s helpful.
Best thing I could suggest is taking it slow. Even the fireman spin can test our trust! -
Veena- As far as I can tell, the spin mode pin is all the way up- I tried screwing it down, but it remains quite sticky. Possibly moreso.
What happens for me is when it is fully down, or halfway down (but not between the two, or from halfway to the top) it gets stuck. It just stops, I have to push hard! I’m often worried my fingernails can’t take it… and sometimes I don’t have much for fingernails, so I have to find something to get in there and really wrench to get it up. It ONLY happens when going up, though. Going down, I just push down hard and it goes down. It feels a little sticky that way, too, but not as bad as trying to push it up!
Any thoughts?Also, Shellie, yeah it squeaks a bit! I’ve heard that liquid graphite will help that, but I can’t remember where to put it. I barely notice mine squeaking anymore!
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I’m really open about my pole dancing. For most people, if we get into hobbies or fitness, I say “I dance,” and if I get the “what kind of dance?” question, I’ll tell them!
For dates… I think that being casual about what you do will help other people to understand how they should react to it. If you are really shy and don’t want to talk about it, then they might think that you’re ashamed, or that you do it in a really sexual way (which, obviously, isn’t bad but most people in our society are shamed and shy about sexual things).
However, if you just mention that you dance for fitness if the topic comes up, or that you dance as a hobby, and they ask “Oh, what kind of dancing?” you can just say “Pole dancing. So, what do you think of the steak?” Not a big deal- sort of like going to the gym, or running.
Obviously you’re going to get the occasional freak-out, the “You POLE dance?” Some people may get into the whole feminist talk, the “that’s what sluts do” mentality, the “you gonna give me a lap dance then?” sort of thing… but those people are probably not the people you want to continue dating!
Or, maybe they are, and they just need to calm down and become more educated about it… and I’m sure everyone on this forum is awesome about educating the ignorant about pole dancing!
