StrangeFox
Forum Replies Created
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I have laminate flooring in the room I’m doing this in and parquet in my other poling room, so my chair slides around a lot. I was actually waaaay too nervous to attempt a sexy layback on the chair (instead I got into a lying down position in a much sloppier, much safer way!) I had to take a lot of fan leg videos due to the chair scooting too much!
I am definitely going to try to put my chair on a yoga mat next time. Not sure why I didn’t think to do that! LOL!
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Thank you for your kind words Treesy! I love that bar you made! It was a big deal for me just to set up my x-poles and install my mirrors so I really admire that you can build something like that!
LOL! Veena – I’m always so envious of taller girls and their long legs! You tall ladies always look so graceful and flexy. There are benefits both ways but you’re right – we always want what we don’t have! 🙂
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It was only the first 3 I hadn’t tagged you guys in so I went ahead and edited the description to add the tags. 🙂 Thanks so much!!!
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Oh my gosh… this post totally speaks to me! Treesy – I’m quite short and it has only been recently with watching what I eat and exercising regularly that I’ve been able to cut my weight down. I have a large derriere and thick thighs and sometimes I fret that I look “stumpy.” To make matters worse, I’m not very flexible so I don’t have very nice lines.
I agree with AllisonErin that it’s really hard to just let go of your insecurities and love your body. It does happen, and I found pole has made me love some of the things I’ve really hated about my body, however, it’s not something I can force and it takes a long time to get to that place. I used to refuse to wear shorts because in addition to a thicker bottom half I have cellulite, stretch marks, and really bad spider veins all over my legs. I’ve made peace with my “stumpy” legs because I’ve found being short and having thick legs has made certain things easier for me in pole. Just a few things I can think of off of the top of my head: laybacks and leg hangs are more secure, and due to my short stature I don’t struggle all that much with shoulder mount. Plus, it’s more comfortable for me to pole in a smaller space.
Everyone’s suggestions are awesome! Def. second the pole clothes shopping as that makes a huge difference. Here’s some additional things that have helped me:
– Get some fun lights in the room you’re poling in. I find fun lights are better than blinding fluorescent lights that highlight all of my flaws!
– Work on flexibility – the more flexible I get the better my lines.
– As painful as it is watch and keep all of your freestyles/pole vids. When I first started I was disheartened that I didn’t look as sexy and graceful as my instructor – and I still don’t, but I’m gradually looking better. I just watched a couple of videos of myself walking around the pole and posing from back when I started in April and it was cringe-worthy!
Veena is right about the haters and IG. I have a phone filled with HUNDREDS of pics and vids. In fact, for Veena’s IG challenge I have filled up my phone twice in 3 days just trying to get a halfway decent vid!
I just sent a request to follow you! 🙂 I’m: x_ceej_x
Whew…sorry that was so long!
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Question Veena – on my earlier posts I added #januaryveenaflow but didn’t tag @studioveena @auraheels or @kupmykakez…do those posts still qualify for the challenge or should I go back and tag? I have been tagging in later posts. 🙂
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Thanks TropicalVertical! I’m working on a bunch of knee pit moves to see what “clicks” – I’m having some issues with really gripping with my knee pit when I’m upright or to the side. Oddly…practicing this move helped me figure genie out – lol! I’m going to start stretching so I can maybe reach my foot when I finally nail this one!
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Welcome! I’m not over 40 but I hope it’s still OK if I comment on this. There are a lot of 20 year old girls at the studio I go to but there are also girls in their 40s and 50s that are incredible. Age doesn’t make much of a difference. The body awareness and attention to muscle engagement that comes with weight lifting will be immensely helpful. Veena’s lessons are excellent and the community is so supportive so you’re in a great place.
It doesn’t sound like the studio you went to is very good. 3 classes is FAR too few to have climbing figured out, in my opinion. There will be some girls that can climb on their first class, but the vast majority of us weren’t climbing until at least 8-12 classes in and even then it was so clumsy – we had to go over it a lot.
Also, check Greta Pontarelli out! She started poling in her late 50s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enfPSJlZxzQ
She’s amazing!
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Thanks so much AllysonKendal and TropicalVertical! Your replies are much appreciated!
AllysonKendal – that happens to me with brass, too! My skin is dry and cold and tends to produce its own dusty grip-aid so I find brass can be slippy for me at times.
TropicalVertical – That python variation looks so cool! More incentive for me to get flexy. Heck, I don’t think I’m flexy enough yet for a regular python but it’s something to work on.
I think you ladies are right about sad girl drop – the hand placement we use is different but that’s more for safety and security, I think. I’ll post a vid of me doing a small drop to show you what I mean.
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NettieMarie79 – your floor jade is gorgeous and I love the sweepy leg movements you do before you get into it! Mine just looks like a Picasso painting (never done this one before and I don’t yet have my full splits!) 🙂
Veena – thanks for making a challenge that encourages floor work practice! For me it’s a very neglected part of pole.
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Oh – if you’re in Canada: Hey Hey and Co. (might ship internationally – not sure) She makes custom pole wear for competitions, too. I’m very small busted with a very tiny rib cage and she made me a top that fits perfect. I find it’s a good mix of sexy and function. Their shorts have the best coverage of any pole shorts I’ve ever worn without compromising skin grip.
I’ve tried Bad Kitty and their customer service is phenomenal. I love the look of their clothes, but I had to wait a long, long time for them to ship to Canada. Not sure if I just got the wrong size but I found I had issues with the Bad Kitty competition shorts and retro shorts slipping out of place (yikes!). I only wear those at home now.
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Thanks Veena!
Mine is: x_ceej_x. I’m pretty new to IG!
Also…Veena – I tagged a couple of people in the original post, but no one on my re-post. Should I also tag folks in my re-post? -
YES! Added my first post for the IG challenge! Hope I did everything right… Those sexy pikes are a nemesis of mine, but I was thrilled to discover I could even sort of do them considering I couldn’t get them at all when I last tried them (while working on the invert program a few months ago). Can’t wait to learn more and see what else I’m capable of! Thanks for this fun challenge, Veena!
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This couldn’t have come at a better time. I have actually made it my new years pole resolution to work on flow and floorwork. I also want to learn more spin pole and how to dance in heels so this is very helpful. I LOVE the aura heels. What size are they?
Definitely going to check out the flow program, too! 🙂
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Update: finally started to break my new pole in and it’s awesome. Chrome is a weird metal, though. It feels almost “greasy” when it’s cold but it sticks pretty well when it’s warm. I find hip holds are less pinchy and thus easier to do on chrome, however, split grip is really hard. I’m glad I went with having 2 pole rooms. The one upstairs is not all that great for freestyling in (a bit cramped) but much better for inversions and climbs. The one in the basement is better for freestyling but a pain to do inversions on due to the low ceiling.
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Good luck hottielolo! I get pretty nervous when I install poles. I’m not very handy and I’m always afraid I’ve done something wrong. I’ve emailed X-Pole a few times asking questions, and I’ve asked on here a bit, too. Their customer service is magnificent and the techs really know what they’re talking about. Can’t recommend them enough… Even though I know there are other reputable pole manufacturers, I wouldn’t buy another brand of pole. 🙂
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The butterfly is such a milestone move and it’s so exciting to finally nail it! Awesome job! I love that shape. Also, I love your Batman curtains!!!
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I know!! That’s the sleekest mount I’ve seen yet! Augh…I have a mount for my 40mm pole but the fi won’t let me put it up! He caught me conspiring with a friend of ours and nearly had a hissy fit (and then I had one!) I have no idea why he’s so against the mounts. We own our house and he still won’t let me put them up. I think he’s worried about damaging the house before we move (probably within the next 5-10 years). He’s got an idea in his head and no amount of proof to the contrary will change it. 😛
I’ll bet in addition to ease of installation and security they also make it less likely that you’ll over-tighten your pole! I waaaaant it! LOL!
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LOL! I think I could make a side business out of this, dustbunny! XD
So, X-Pole got back to me and they said as long as I’m not bothered by the cosmetic aspect of it, and as long as the areas aren’t abrasive, there is nothing to worry about. They said if the spots start getting rougher or bigger/bothersome at any time I can contact them since they have on file that these dings were not caused by usage.
Honestly, I’m the type of person who doesn’t mind buying something pre-damaged just ’cause I know it’ll probably get damaged anyway. (I have 4 very destructive cats and I’m a klutz). I considered re-sale and maybe I’ll be kicking myself for that very reason later, or maybe my love of thigh-high boots will result in more dings. *sigh* I was more worried I’d have to return the pole because of the rust/chipping hazard in the chrome coating.
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This also happened to me. I think it gets easier the stronger your upper body gets. One thing that I was doing that made me spin super fast was pulling up and into into the pole too quickly. The further away from the pole you are the slower you’ll go, and the closer you get the faster you’ll go. If I’m struggling to climb on spinny I always make sure I stick my butt out extra far and really exaggerate and slow down my climbing movements (ie, extending my arm and leaning back a bit before grabbing higher on the pole to slowly pull myself up, which makes me spin faster).
Climbing on static always seems like more of a power move to me (I just haul my butt up that pole!). On spinny I have to be more flow-y and elaborate with my climbs. Once I got used to climbing gracefully and slowly on static I was able to do it on spinny.
They just introduced spin pole as part of the curriculum in my level. I love it, but I don’t understand how I’ll ever be able to do anything on it. Even a Gemini on spinning seems to take way more strength and concentration than it does on static. It feels like I have to learn everything all over again – lol!
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Thanks so much!! Those look so slick. I’m going to show my hubby and see if he’ll budge. He seems to think our joists are too small to fit the mount. How large does a joist have to be? Ours appear to be 1 and a 1/2 inches if the stud finder can be trusted, although they may be a little smaller.
Also, installing the pole with the dome causes minimal damage/disturbance of the popcorn and we’d be leaving it up permanently so… it’s probably a negligible risk either way.
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Thanks AllysonKendal! That is something else to consider – re-sale. I know for a fact I’ll probably end up dinging this pole myself ’cause I’m a bit of a klutz – lol! 🙂
I’ve contacted X-Pole and they got back to me pretty quickly asking for my invoice #, etc… They’re super helpful and they really wanted to get it right. I’m just disappointed (not with X-Pole…they’re awesome) that this happened, ya know? I know it’ll be all right one way or another.
I feel like if we want to sell our poles we can put a positive spin on this somehow. “Comes pre-dinged for your benefit! No need to worry about making that first, heart-wrenching scratch on your X-Pole – I’ve gone ahead and done it for you!” 😀
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Thanks so much, XPole! Your reply is much appreciated! I think screwing something into the ceiling might disturb it more, but I do love the idea of having a permanent mount (if only my hubby would let me install one!).
This makes me feel a bit better, although I’m still kind of freaked out by this. My husband thinks there is nothing to worry about as he’s quite certain the previous owners did a lot of renos (created a back door onto the deck, finished the basement). The popcorn ceiling in some of the rooms looks different (fresher, and without a border) than in other rooms, so there’s a good chance it was replaced at some point. I’m still a bit scared but I tend to be a little anxious about this kind of stuff. I’ve worried myself sick already!
Thanks again for your reply. 🙂
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Thanks AlisonDawn! Hopefully I can get this figured out soon. I just tried again with 1 pic and it’s doing the same thing. I don’t feel comfortable posting them if they’re going to look off. I don’t think it’s fair to the photographer. I did post them on my instagram: x_ceej_x. Even there I had some issues though. I had to cut off portions of my photograph to make them fit.
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Dustbunny – totally going to try the hair dryer thing and let you know how it goes! 😀 I can’t stick worth sh*t in the winter.
AlisonDawn – I live in Ontario! Man, I feel bad complaining about our lack of sunlight. I don’t know the exact times the sun rises and sets but I know I go to work in darkness, and I come home in darkness. Most winters I am really, really bad… I practically hibernate and usually drown my sorrows in not-so-healthy habits (mainly wine and over-eating). This year I haven’t taken a heavy hit and have even been able to keep my spirits up without indulging in these unhealthy habits. I have pole to thank for that. 🙂 You’re not alone…I’m also intimidated by floor work!
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I feel ya! I suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and that combined with the cold pretty much kills my motivation. Last night I had my pole class and it was so cold none of us could stick to the poles! Talk about demotivating… The challenge for me is not just getting warm but keeping warm because my pole and I cool down so quickly. But yeah… -35C? I’m living in a tropical paradise compared to you! 😀
A heater definitely helps, and so does doing something fun to warm up. I like to do Veena’s hard core workout or practice burlesque/strip tease style dancing before getting on my pole. That way I can peel off the layers as I get warm from dancing. It also “encourages” me to practice floorwork since I can’t get on the pole if I’m wearing all those layers.
Oh man… this is the pole warmer, right?
https://x-pole-canada.myshopify.com/collections/shop/products/the-pole-warmer
I have been drooling over this for weeks! I hear you can use a hair dryer to warm your pole, although I imagine that is more work. I usually just point my heater at it for a bit.
