[StrangeFox]

Thanks Veena! I thought maybe it’s not under a joist, so I checked again tonight. There’s a hole in my ceiling (I think the previous owner was having issues finding a joist – lol!) and I measured out and felt around with the stud finder, which is lighting up so much ’cause it’s finding electrical wires too. I am pretty sure it is under a joist, but if it slips again I might re-arrange my poling room so my pole is under the joist I can see through the hole in the ceiling. I think maybe it wasn’t as tight as it should have been.

I did order the permanent mount because I think it just looks so slick and I’d love to have the extra support. Despite the slippage, I still love my new pole. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Awesome! Thanks for your replies TaraLee and Kash. I was able to get most of the gook off and use my pole, but tonight I had bit of a scare with it. I was doing chair spin and the first couple were OK, but my X-Pole dome slid across the ceiling!!! I had the darned thing tight enough that I could climb up on it and hang from it, spin, etc… How did it get loose? I do periodically check it. I have popcorn ceilings, if that helps, and although it’s hard to tell I do think I have it under a joist (stud-finder lit up like a pinball machine so I had to do the ol’ tap and guess, as well as using a light fixture as my guide).

Honestly, I’m quite leery of the dome/pressure install. I’ve had to tighten it a lot. I’m thinking of getting the permanent ceiling fixture. Does anyone else have this problem? Has anyone else needed to constantly re-adjust their X-Pole? 🙁

[StrangeFox]

Spoke to x-pole and they were super helpful – I’m getting a 500mm extension to replace my b-pole in the mail. Can’t wait! 🙂

[StrangeFox]

I’m glad your first class back went well and that you retained most of your strength and skill!

I hear ya on finding the sexy piece emotionally challenging and yet still being drawn to it. By the nervous giggles in the few classes I’ve attended I think there are quite a few women who struggle with this. Kudos to you for taking yourself out of your comfort zone. That takes guts! It’s a long, slow climb out of the shame pit, but we’ll make it. 😉

[StrangeFox]

Thanks a bunch for the fantastic tips, ladies! It comforts me to know everyone started out somewhere and that things do get easier. I used to be pretty easy to discourage and hated how I could never do anything, but I’ve learned the only reason I can’t do things is because I never try. I’m actually looking forward to challenging my body, and I’m super excited for that day my heels lift off the floor while I’m doing a seated pole hold! 🙂 I love that moment where things click and something you’ve struggled with suddenly becomes effortless.

I’ll be setting up my pole soon so I can do some conditioning at home, which is really going to help. I don’t feel like we get enough conditioning in the classes, and maybe I’m weird but I really enjoy conditioning. I’m definitely going to get a membership and check out the lessons. 😉

[StrangeFox]

Just an update: I’m still working on back hook spin but after 2 more classes and 1 practice session I am finally getting the hang of it! I can even do it on my bad side. I’m just working on consistency and making it look graceful now. (I still flop around like a walrus when trying to do a sexy get up, and sometimes I miss hooking my leg and hit my butt on the pole!)

In the introductory pole class back hook and fireman were the only spins we learned and in the third class the instructor acknowledged back hook was tricky. In the practice session the instructor showed me an easy way to gain momentum by going into a front turn and told me I need to open my hips more. Apparently I’m getting anxious about falling and I scrunch up which is normal for a beginner. With practice I’ll build strength and confidence. I’m looking forward to that.:)

Veena – thanks for the videos. They really helped and I find your way of getting into back spin easier than the way we’re taught in class. One of the other instructors at the studio I attend recommends doing the back spin your way, too. I’m planning to get a membership to the site when I get my pole next week so I can review spins at home.

[StrangeFox]

Hey! I’m new here so I wouldn’t know you from before, but welcome back! 🙂 And congrats on ditching that negative ex from your life and taking back your pole! How was your first class? Did you get sexy with it? 😉

[StrangeFox]

Thanks for your input everyone! I just bought a pole today and I’m going to be getting it sometime next week. I went with the brass 40mm. I really feel like having a thinner pole might help me learn and build strength a little quicker. I have large enough legs that I should be able to grip on when I get to doing leg holds. I think having a thinner pole might help me with some of my “death grip” issues when I’m spinning, too. I can’t wait to be able to practice at home!

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much! How do you find climbing, inversions and leg hangs on the 40mm? I was told they might be harder to learn on a thinner pole. I was also told one of the reasons it was taking me longer to get my spins was because my hands were tiny (they cannot wrap all the way around a 45mm pole) and it was going to take time to get confident and learn what grip worked best.

[StrangeFox]

Yikes! Hope you didn’t injure yourself, missyjac! Thanks so much for the info! Maybe some day I’ll get both widths! 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks missyjac! Would you recommend sticking with the standard 45mm then? 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks Veena!! Yeah, I wish I could try the 40mm before I buy! I guess it really is just a preference thing. It might be nice to feel more secure at home while I’m doing holds because I won’t always have a spotter. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

I’ve been taught to be ashamed of and repress my femininity and my sexy side, and one of the reasons pole appealed to me was because it celebrated sexiness and femininity. It took me a while to get up the courage to do pole. I told myself I wasn’t fit enough, pretty enough, or brave enough to do it. I wish I’d gotten sick of listening to this negative self-talk sooner. I’m an absolute beginner with only two classes under my belt, but already I feel better about myself just knowing I had the courage to try something new. Not to mention landing a spin or being able to hold yourself on the pole is a huge confidence boost. You feel so strong and sexy, and so impressed with what your body can do! I remember the first time I was able to run 10K without stopping, and it just gives you this huge sense of accomplishment and appreciation for what your body is capable of. One of the “personal” reasons I decided to start learning pole was because I noticed some of that negative body image creeping back into my life and I thought: “well, it’s time to impress myself again.” Now I’m training for a new race and poling. 🙂

I would love to be as svelte, sexy, and leggy as LatinPoler. 🙂 But I can totally relate to wanting to have smaller thighs and a bigger, more shapely chest. I used to agonize about it when I was a teen and it got bad enough to where I refused to wear shorts and debated getting plastic surgery. I did buy those bras from La Senza that LatinPoler mentioned and they did make my breasts look 2 sizes larger, but they didn’t make me feel more confident. They didn’t make me love my body. I just felt like I was lying to myself so those bras went to Salvation Army. Now that I’m training up for a half-marathon, my breasts are getting smaller and smaller and my legs are getting thicker and thicker but I’m less bothered by that and more proud of my body for what it can do.

I’ve never met an ugly woman in my life, so it saddens me to see so many women struggling with body image issues.

[StrangeFox]

Thanks for the advice, Mystical! My first instinct was to get the 45mm, but then I started thinking I should go for the 40mm. I’m worried if I get used to 40mm I won’t be able to do anything in class. I think I’m going to stick with the 45mm. Hopefully, as I build strength it won’t matter how small my hands are! 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much for the replies! The tips, vids and encouragement are much appreciated!

Aquarian Air – thanks so much for posting the video! You look gorgeous and so graceful! I can’t wait to get that graceful and natural looking on the pole. 🙂 Once I get stronger I’m definitely going to try that and see if I find it easier. When I do back hook I step forward into it and I find it difficult because I get all disoriented and end up leaning too far forward or bending my legs at the wrong time. I must have attempted the move twenty times and got it maybe 3 times. It was so rewarding when I finally managed to do it, though. Next class I might get a pole near the mirror just so I can see what I’m doing.

Veena – thanks a bunch for posting a link to the back hook tutorial video! And I’m definitely going to check out the strengthening exercises. 🙂 I think I already see a couple of things I’m doing wrong. I tend to lean really far forward when I step forward and then I get almost horizontal when I’m swinging the outside leg (almost like I’m going into toppling tree for yoga). That may be why I’m not getting enough momentum to hook my leg. I like that the video shows a slowed down version. It looks like she’s swinging her outside leg backwards in the standing static version. I’m stepping forwards and trying to swing my outside leg all the way around forward. I think the idea in class is that I’m supposed to take a full step and then extend my leg backwards. They’re trying to encourage us to walk around the pole a few times before spinning, but I like to do the spins from a standing position first so I get the feel for the move.

dustbunny – thank you for the encouragement! It’s hard to remember that it’s not an activity our bodies are used to and it takes time to build strength and confidence. Also, it has only been two classes (one per week) and I don’t have the option of practicing between classes so realistically I can’t expect to nail every move the first time. The back hook was the only spin we learned that class and I was so busy trying to get the move down that I didn’t notice if anyone else was having trouble. I am not sure how they select the spins for the absolute beginner class. Apparently we do stag/ballerina in the final class but I found that one loads easier and more natural than back hook. The teacher is awesome though and was telling us not to worry if we don’t get something right away or don’t look like the YouTube videos we watch. It all comes in time. 😉