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I have 3 cats!! But after getting my German Shepherd 2 years ago I am a dog person moreso now (don't tell the kitties) haha

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Yep I recently just got comfortable with the caterpillar and it is all about gripping and pulling with those legs! Think of the arms as guides, that just push you away from the pole as your legs pull you up… I do it in one smooth motion, I push out with the arms and at the same time pull up with my legs.  I had trouble with the Caterpillar for a while and felt I would crumble down on myself but then I focused on my legs and now i'm fine with it

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is there a lesson on the Yogini, chemgoddess? or are you learning it yourself? I want to learn it but don't know how to get into it (I can almost do teddy but it's ugly I'd rather learn Yogini lol)

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I could only pole sit, climb, and do basic spins and basic invert (barely) with no other accomplishments and thats onlly 6 months ago… keep at it.  Also everyone learns at a different rate, and practises more or less than each other…so if you take longer, that's fine! It's all a journey 🙂

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Don't give up!!! Late last year when I started poling I was horribly jealous of everyone elses photos and videos!! Terribly jealous.  And I felt so weak on the pole.  But you know what, the beginning is the start you have to get through…. because not only are you learning to pole, climb and spin etc… but you are leaning these things without appropriate body strength!! Once you build up the strength in your upper body, abs etc, tricks will be easier to learn and you will be learning harder tricks in no time (cos you will now have lots more strength), so you have to fight through the beginning and at the same time you will build strength.  It's totally normal to be at the level you are at now, keep practising, believe me, and over months you will suddenly realize how strong you are and will learn much quicker!!  🙂

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Yay good for you Michelle!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's fab!! I think elbow grip looks cooler, I will try elbow grip closer to knees as you say, I haven't focused on that yet!

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omg akkis!! i must have been lucky!! i remember landing on my butt (in a sitting position with knees bent and my arms still above my head) maybe my hands stayed attached to the pole longer than I thought and eased the fall impact!

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polergirl I did the same but from an elbow grip straight edge v attempt, lost my balance and fell right backwards and down! I thought it was going to be a very painful/dangerous fall, I remember thinking that at the point  where I was falling back, but I ended up sitting on my butt and there was no pain, winding or any ill effect… suffice to say I am a bit more careful now lol

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This info is very helpful ta, my friend is trying to tighten an X pole in her home but it's a rental so she has to be very careful.  They found the joist with a stud finder and went to tighten it more but heard a little bit of a creaky sound when tightening so they stopped, is creaky sound bad I wonder or sometimes just the ceiling bending a bit (but still safely on the joist)

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Thanks! Hope I’m doing it right, it felt comfortable and I found a balance point and held it for a while

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Not yet, will let you know if I do! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_ugeek.gif hehe

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I get into a Superman from the Gemini like in Veenas lesson for the Superman.  Maybe it's similar? I end up with one hand over the top bent hanging on leg, and the other below it, and I found what clicked and allowed me to spin the body over and down into position was to put weight on the lower hand and push out with it at the same time I twist the legs to facing down and stretching out (if I don't use this hand as an anchor type thing I can't get the legs to twist around and drop, I just end up getting immense groin burn from "Trying" to turn over and down). Not sure if that helps, just thought I'd rattle on!

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I know a few people who had trouble with this but I found this one OK cos I find split grip quite easy and comfortable.  What part are you having the most trouble with?

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I'm about to add the Knee hold into my practises and so far it seems impossible (I had a quick go the other day and was like whatever!!) so it will be interesting to say the least! Also going to try the Marley but it seems scary to "get into". Yogini  .. is there a Veena lesson on that one?

I think the moves that will take me forever to get if I ever do are the handspring and cartwheel mounts, I think mentally I won't "get it" for a very long time and that sucks cos they are so impressive 🙁

Ah well I can't complain I managed an Aysha comfortably today so had a breakthrough, I'll try the Knee Hold next week and I'm sure I'll be tearing hair out in frustration (and soothing sore shins and knees)

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I managed a better Aysha today with forearm grip, my first one ever!!

Veena – Any suggestions to improve it??

Balancing was much easier than last time, there wasn't really a fear of falling back for me yay!

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180137_10150193211183206_532948205_9007524_1013118_n.jpg

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Thanks Amy! I got on the floor and felt what hollow seems to mean, now to see what it means when I'm upside down! I don't remember much when I'm up there, just hoooold onnn haha

Thanks Polefit!! It's not at all a pro looking elbow grip but I was just stoked to get the legs off and to feel my body hold itself up…. to be honest it felt easier once I was off the pole than lots of the times I have been in Caterpillar! Weird! Now with practise hopefully I will get used to that feeling and do more with it…. I wanted to show hubby how I got my legs off today but I am too sore from the other day and couldn't even hold up into Caterpillar with my sore bruised upper legs 🙁

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How does Itac compare to Tite Grip? I don't really find Tite Grip helps make my grip tackier at all 🙁

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Thanks!! I just figured out while being random how to get from a cradle V spin into extended butterfly… I Wonder of thats similar? While in the position I get my upper ankle against the pole and push up and twist my entire body around (while still in split grip) and end up facing the pole in EB… sounds similar! If it is, its FUN FUN! haha.

I shall try Inverted D tomorrow… hubby is home with me so can spot me so I don't fall back haha

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Veena – Thanks! When you say in a straddle do you mean… instead of my legs how they are in the photo, straight up with the pole, have them bent forwards like this photo?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5255406708_7b6aa12810.jpg

 

Momma – Wheres the post on stacking weight? Sounds worth a read! 🙂

 

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I feel more comfortable in my split grip but can only do extended butterfly so far (can get up into it from a v cradle spin, which feels cool!) but haven't gotten both legs off in it yet 🙁 In your profi8le pic you look like your legs are almost off! I must try the inverted D

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ps be careful you don't fall back once you take your legs off, the body seems to want to fall that way!

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Thanks Hannah! I know it's not a proper Aysha or even really pretty but hey I got my legs and torso off the pole and held myself up!! The feeling was phenominal, I was up there like hoooooooooooooooly crappppp your doing it biatch!! (in my head).  I wonder if I'm doing anything wrong, before I keep on doing it and trying to get straight edge and a better straight edge v one day..

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I got my legs off the pole for the first time today!!

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181671_10150189379463206_532948205_8961275_1690459_n.jpg

 

However I am sure there is a lot to critique so feel free to tell me where to improve! Too scared to try legs straight and together for a straight edge or extend them out further, I was letting out shrieks of happiness in this pic, glad you can't see LOL.

scarlett – Yes it is very easy to tip backwards, I did once but managed to land perfectly fine and without any pain or anything! So be careful! I'm gonna get hubby to spot me while I get better at it.

All I can say is WOW.. when my core took over in this pic and I realized I was holding myself up like that it was an incredible rush!!!!!!!! I hope I get better and better 😀

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Veena! I got my legs off wahooo!!! Am I a bit more to the side now?

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181671_10150189379463206_532948205_8961275_1690459_n.jpg

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Thankyou, shall do!! I'll try both and see which one decides to work for me first https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif