[Rylonn]

Thanks 🙂 and yeah, I was talking about the one with both legs on the same side

[Rylonn]

For sitting up, it is definitely ab strength, but you get to hang on to the pole with your legs for help. If you can sit up from a CAR or CKR, I think you should be able to sit up from a brass monkey. Sometimes it’s just kind scary with this new kind of grip. You have to really really really squeeze your knee pit, and dont forget to also engage the other leg.

[Rylonn]

I used to not be able to lift at all, and it was because my shoulders/upper back wasnt strong enough, and my shoulder/upperback flexibility was terrible. But mostly because I was too weak. It helped to do lots of planks and pushups as well to strengthen that area, and handstands/forearm stands to practice pushing up through the shoulders. Even while doing something like downward dog, really push push push out of the shoulder. It should be really really tiring. It took me a month of that sort of training to be able to push into a bridge form the ground with no assistance

[Rylonn]

Hmm, I cant compare to Mika or BK because Ive never owned any, but I have a 34 bust and the Elena and Amanda bra tops in size 4 fit me like a glove

[Rylonn]

If you havent already, you can take a look at these ones from light activewear http://www.lightactivewear.com/shorts/

Theyre not as cheeky and the bad kitty ones, but they’ve got good thigh exposure. The owners/designers of the brand are pole dancers themselves, so they know what theyre doing 😛

[Rylonn]

Oh my bad, I thought a V invert was a tucked invert. Definitely start with tucked invert if you want to progress from the sweeping invert.

Anyway, its also really important to learn how to come down in a controlled manner. Coming down uncontrolled(or more specifically, un-engaged) can be dangerous too, I pulled an intercostal doing so 😛

The trick is to reeeaaallllyyy use your muscles to continuously pull your shoulders back and down as far as they can go while descending. It hurts your muscles if you come down and youre not engaged through the shoulders as well as abs (what I did). I admit, this can be really hard. Again, I would suggest working on your pulling strength since thats what will help you pull your shoulders back and down when lowering (and going up!).

[Rylonn]

Actually I think it smells like orange scented windex, its actually kinda offensive if you put your hands too close to your face, or you accidentally apply too much haha

[Rylonn]

Inverts are really hard on your arms, in a pulling down motion. You need to pull down really really hard so you can lift your feet off the ground with control, and also to hold the open v at the top. I would work on things like pole ups, and pole climbs/scissor climb to strengthen the pulling down motion,. You can also try practicing lowering down out of an invert with control until you have the strength to lift into one. Also, I think its important to try a few times during your practice to lift into an invert — even if you go nowhere and your feet stay on the ground, you are still using the right muscles and thus strengthening them, and one day, your feet will lift 🙂

[Rylonn]

I agree, I think Prince is worth a try, but in my preference, I Iike the lighter texture of dry hands better for sweaty hands

[Rylonn]

yeah, extending on the warm thing, you should be very lightly sweaty, and it usually doesnt help if the pole is cold either, so you can try warming it up with spins, or maybe a heater in the room

[Rylonn]

Is your skin too dry? Or are you sweaty?

[Rylonn]

Ahhh triple post, and Heather005Poles, do it!! 🙂

[Rylonn]

If I had the skills and resources, I would get on this right away. But I dont, so hopefully I can inspire some others with my post to take part in this idea, and maybe one day it will be a thing that people send to their friends to watch and not have it be received with caution.
You know what I’m saying? I’m terrible with words.

[Rylonn]

I love that. I’ve always wanted to watch that video since I found out about it, but I dont know where I can find it.

I think we need more of things like this, repping pole and telling its story, letting the voice of pole be heard, even if we can only reach other polers. I think those aspects of pole dancing (the physical and emotional struggle, taking care of families at the same time, having to hide it from co-workers or family, etc) are just as much a part of pole as the dance itself.

[Rylonn]

I also have really dry skin, especially in the winter. I would buy , which is made for dry skin, but the shipping to canada is like $50. A good alternative that works great for me is to buy 100% vegetable glycerin and mix a bit of it with a bit of water and put it in a spray bottle. Cheaper and more accessible than and works wonders once you let it dry thoroughly.

Although is shipping prices are not an issue for you, I would just get . Sometimes lotion wears off in the by the time morning comes round.