[amelia2000]

I train on average 4-5x per week and usually train between 60-90 minutes (warm-up plus conditioning 20 mins, pole work with combos and individual moves, freestyles, then stretching 10-15 minutes)
I personally don’t enjoy “normal” workouts so I do bodyweight or weight training as part of my conditioning straight after my warm-up.
I work on moves generally until I can nail them every time and until I’m happy with how it looks (pointed toes, extended legs etc). But depending how hard it is, I might put it on the back burner for a while. It’s hard to say, because some moves need a lot of flex or strength or lots of grip… Basically a move is nailed when you can do it every time and hold it for long enough for it to look good in a combo.

[amelia2000]

I find Dancing Dust “Make me dusty” helps me in summer not have sweaty legs. I use Tite Grip or Envirogrip for hands in summer.

Never tried a brass pole but I love my powder coated one.

[amelia2000]

Important is the specifications and weight limits, like it’s not supposed to warp or anything under pressure. I personally would trust a big company for this more than a seller on Etsy.
Also consider whether it should be single/double tabbed or tabless?
For the record, I think my Lyra from Firetoys (Europe) cost 200$

[amelia2000]

So although Veena has fantastic programs for specific stuff, I prefer to dip in as needed.
I like using some of the workouts as a warmup (eg ticktock legs routine) and then for learning new moves/ revisiting old ones pick 1-2 things to work on per session.
Watch videos before your sessions, I find I cool down too quickly watching during the session. Only watch what you are actually learning during the session (eg you watch various videos beforehand and you choose to work on martini and jasmine, so favourite them beforehand)

[amelia2000]

Welcome back!
I find, putting off makes the beginning harder so, buy a new sports bra so you aren’t waiting to lose the weight.
Also I never fit in in physical classes

[amelia2000]

Hi! Thanks for sharing your story!
I started initially aged 21 in a very small studio and sort of made very little progress. I spent ages learning fan kicks and struggled with static spins etc and similiar to PoleAdventures stopped going after a while, partly down to circumstances and bought my own pole and started learning via Youtube (I was a cheapskate and poor student and hadn’t discovered SV).
I felt much better learning at my own pace (even though I was actually “young” enough, but I was very unfit and 10kg heavier than now) and having no one watch and potentially laugh was great. I focussed on what I COULD do and not what I couldn’t. So I skipped static spins and learnt them later.
With hindsight I didn’t make much progress to start with, it took me probably 2 years to get an invert, but I trained maybe twice a week and didn’t do much conditioning or cross training.
In the last 4 years I’ve made the most progress, probably because I train more often now (4-5x/week) and I also do conditioning exercises and circuit training on/off-pole. I’ve also learnt to grip the pole better (warm skin/warm pole) so I’m more motivated, I now have a 40mm powdercoated pole, whereas I used to have a chrome 45mm.

So pole-wise, I totally feel your frustration!

I can also understand how difficult it could be for a studio to cater for different needs while also running a business. But it’s a shame they aren’t managing to cater to yours.

Also beginner is a very wide term in pole. Is a beginner someone who has just started, or someone who can’t invert but may have been poling for 6 months? It’s a tricky one, also regarding other levels.

[amelia2000]

Everyone progresses differently so don’t pressure yourself!

When I first started I took ages to get good. I took lessons to start with but didn’t really like being watched XD It took me a while to progress to start with, but when I started cross training it really clicked. I didn’t use SV at the time so to start with after quitting the studio I was only using Youtube videos and this was 8 years ago. Anyway, after a while I started progressing at a level I’m happy with 😀 but key is making sure you are doing enough strength training/conditioning

[amelia2000]

Such a cute idea!

[amelia2000]

My ultimate goal is to open a studio too!

Veena is probably right about the certification BUT consider your audience will probably appreciate you having some form of certification, also insurance providers would probably like it.

About me- I started poling 7 years ago now and didn’t make much progress the first couple of years for various reasons and pole 4-5x a week, also no studio here either, and it’s quite rural (12,000 inhabitants).

I’m very nervous about the upfront costs of a studio (rent, buying the poles, ideally safely installing rigging points for lyra too- I do lyra occasionally) and we have two small children. I was a freelance fitness trainer specialising in pre- and postnatal exercise so I have basic fitness experience but I’m worried about not covering my costs soon enough/my studio being an expensive hobby etc.

I don’t like training flow imo or routines, I always find I take too long working out the elements and it usually frustrates me. I like playing around with entries/exits, or taking one or two elements and working that into something. But you don’t have to do flow straightaway in your studio.

I want to also offer general fitness classes (eg cross fit/HIIT etc) in my future studio to bring in some “normal” people who maybe wouldn’t be interested in pole/aerial.

Anyway, that’s lots of my thoughts- me and my husband have agreed I will save up now and plan courses and in 3 years time when I’ve hopefully finished my degree (I’m training to be a kindergarten teacher atm for safe money and child friendly hours) I can open my studio and maybe work part-time in the mornings to help pay the bills (Or maybe not work, that part is flexible XD)

[amelia2000]

I have a 40mm and love mine too XD

[amelia2000]

Since getting suede boots (no grip), my climbing has improved a lot, I rely so much more on my knees and less on the feet. It means you can point yourfeet better.

But Veena is right, socks would do the trick too XD

[amelia2000]

qpoleadventures I watch tutorials too in my free time, then I rewatch during training if necessary. It means though I don’t spend time watching stuff that’s out of my league during training

[amelia2000]

Omg I never knew you could slow down speed of youtube videos haha
Thanks Monica!
I try to write down the elements I recognise so I don’t need the video, then try to link the elements myself (and stuff I can’t name or remember watch over and over and try until I’ve got it)

But struggling with choreos is why I prefer to freestyle

[amelia2000]

Can’t remember when exactly but it was earlier this year

[amelia2000]

Hi! On Insta, Chloe Anderson Pole had a Low Flow challenge in April or May with lots of transitional moves in, was really helpful
https://www.instagram.com/chloeandersonpole/

[amelia2000]

I have a similiar system to PoleAdventures.
Short warm up, then I do 4 strength or mobility moves on circuit for 50-60secs before moving to next exercise, repeat twice.
Then I usually do one or two static or exotic freestyles, then I work on something new or weak, then I do freestyles or combos, then stretch.

[amelia2000]

So sorry to hear about your injury! Giving up pole would be my worst nightmare 🙁
Also when you’ve recovered a bit, might be worth checking out pole/aerial specific physiotherapists, who know about the demands of pole and aerial on our shoulders.

Bendy Kate has a book called Prehab and Rehab (or something) and it’s about preventing injuries. I don’t have the book myself though but it might be worth checking out. Also The Pole PT has lots of good off-pole exercises to strenthen shoulders and other stuff and there are are checklists to test your abilities etc (eg minimum strenth/mobility required for certain stuff). Obviously recover fully first though 🙂

[amelia2000]

I try to do arms only pull up pole climbs with straddle legs regularly, this is a fantastic strength builder (and energy killer haha I can’t do many reps). You can go into a pole sit between pulls if you’re not strong enough for arms only

Big achievement for me is that I can get halfway up the pole from the floor without going into a sit between pulls.

[amelia2000]

She wouldn’t be able to take it apart anyway if it’s stuck on spin, it has to be on static to get it out.

Anyway, on the stage pole, you don’t have to align anything (not like on an xpert), just screw the X screws in. Both have to be screwed in as far as possible. I would also recommend tightening the little screws too, just to make sure everything is secure.

[amelia2000]

I’m terrible for bad sides but what helps me is gemini climbs. Great strength builder and it means you have to use your bad side too.

I also have the Pole PT like Strange Fox but I would like to add that sometimes combos need us to train our bad side sometimes. I was working on a scorpio to brass monkey transition recently. I had to go from “good” scorpio to “bad” brass monkey, or vice versa.

If I want to first invert and then go into an aerial shoulder mount, I also have to start with a bad side invert too. So for certain combos it’s good to be able to do both.

Recently I set myself a target of a static freestyle using mainly mz “weaker” side- was actually good!

Plus little motivation- my “bad” side elbow ayesha actually looks better than my good side- think because on my bad side my right is the pushing arm.

Regarding documenting it, I find generally it helps to post stuff on insta. Great visual diary!

[amelia2000]

Maybe try a peter pan sit, where you bring the shoulders around the pole, this gives you an additional contact grip. Plus try (no-handed) crucifix and twisted crucifix, these are thigh grip moves too

[amelia2000]

Lol how big was the extension she was using? Looks barely bigger than the A pole XD

[amelia2000]

You’ve probably already bought your shoes but I wanted to add, matte leather does grip a little bit. Boots support the ankle more too.
I personally like clear heels because I feel the texture is more robust, the colour doesn’t chip off. But I only have one pair of solid sandals (I feel I have to be more careful with them though)

[amelia2000]

I’d prefer flow, it’s my biggest weakness XD

[amelia2000]

I have the Xpole one, I’m 5’4″. It’s easy to set up though even on your own.