byrdgrrl
Forum Replies Created
-
I do something similar. I layer up and strip off as I warm up. I’ve also discovered the joy of space heaters. I have a pretty small room though, so it works. My main issue is the cold. I HATE being cold, and it’s really hard to get motivated when I’m freezing. That’s why the space heater is sooo nice. I live in the desert too, so I’m never sad that it’s raining. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif When it rains, we celebrate! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_nemo.gif
-
It’s really no more complicated than putting up the original version. It just seemed harder because it was new. I really like the upgrade. The key for me was no longer needing a ladder. I have ten foot ceilings, so in the past I had to wrestle a six-foot ladder off the wall of the garage over my mum’s car (or wait until her car was gone). It’s just me putting up my pole, so then I would have to scramble up and down the ladder to make adjustments to straighten the pole after I got it up. Putting up and taking down is as much a work-out as actually dancing. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif Now though,all I need it the little kitchen step-stool to get the extension on. Much easier. And I can check the alignment of my pole and then just step up and adjust it. I’m definitely not sorry that I went with the upgrade, but there are a couple of things that I’m not crazy about. One is that it is really important to make sure that the dome is flat and completely secure against the ceiling. It’s not at eye-level anymore, so twist the adjuster until the pole starts to give some resistance and really make sure you pull and spin on the pole several times before you call it good. The other thing is that the upgrade is noticeably heavier than the part it replaces. This is kind of a small thing, but I can’t really leave my pole up all the time and I move around a lot, so I’m hauling it a lot. I guess I need to work on my strength any way though. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif Overall though, I would say the new upgrade is well worth it.
-
Usually I pretty much eyeball it. I stand back away from my pole and get both it and a door frame or window frame in my line of sight. I know that the frame is vertical, so my pole should be parallel to the frame. I usually do it from a couple of different angles to make sure. I also discovered with the new system that I can look at the adjuster cover. When it’s open, it sits against the base. If the pole is not straight, then there will be space between the base and the adjuster cover. Gives you an idea of which way it’s leaning.
-
There are exercises that can be done with out a pole in the lessons. Some of the strength exercises can be done with a wall or a doorframe. Some of the body movement ones like hip rolls and body waves can be done without a pole.
-
I’ve used Windex wipes (like baby wipes but with Windex) regularly for almost a year. It doesn’t seem to be affecting the finish on my chrome pole, or my grip. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif
-
Continuing from previous. . .
This is what the top looks like when finished.
Complete Top.JPGThese are the pieces that I’ve found that I no longer need. From left of the photo to right and top to bottom: Main Pole A, Adjuster cover, little base piece, spanner, little base piece case.
Obsolete.JPGI hope that was helpful,and I’ll be happy to try and answer any questions!
-
The new adjuster cover is threaded, not spring clipped like the old one. In the photo you can see the threads below the hex screw.
New Adjuster1.JPGHere you can see two of the three hex screws that control the adjuster. Loosening them, as in the photo, allows the section to turn so you can adjust the height. You can also see the smooth section with no threads. The hex screws must align with those smooth sections to tighten the screws and secure the pole, in the same fashion that the Xs and screws must align when switching from spin to static.
New Adjuster2.JPGAfter the adjuster has been unwound enough to get the dome flat and tight against the ceiling, just slide the cover up and screw it into place. This is what the bottom of the finished pole looks like.
Complete Bottom.JPG -
These are all the pieces that I need to set up my pole.
From the top of the picture: 750mm extension, Main Pole B, Upgrade section, top adapter, base, hex key, tightening rods, upper dome.
Complete Pieces.JPGStart with the base. Don’t put the little separate piece on.
Base.JPGThe upgrade section will go directly onto the base. In the photo, you can see the bottom-most hex screw. There’s another on the other side. They work just like the hex screws on the old little piece to make the pole static or spinny.Upgrade Closeup.JPG
From there, Main Pole B screws onto the Upgrade section, and then I need a 750mm extension. The top adapter screws on to the extension and the dome goes onto the adapter.
-
Here are some pictures that I took that I hope will help clarify my previous description. I might put them over several posts so I don’t end up with the Great American Novel (and I discovered a limit of three attachments per post).
These are the new pieces. The conversion kit consists of the upgrade section and the top adapter. I should mention that the upgrade section is noticeably heavier that the Main Pole A section that it replaces. The shipping label said 13.5 pounds (lbs), and the top adapter doesn’t even weigh a pound.
-
I’ll see about getting some pictures of all the new parts.
Also, I still needed a step-stool to put the extension on top, but the little kitchen one was quite high enough, so no need to dig out the ladder
Not sure if you can answer all of these questions:
1. I don’t understand this part…why did you have to be on a step ladder? Couldn’t you just add the extension on top BEFORE you stood the pole up in place?
2. So instead of putting the smallest pieces at the bottom, the largest go toward the bottom and the closer to the top the smaller the extensions?
Does anyone else find this a difficult concept to adapt to after years of putting smallest pieces at the bottom for a more stable pole?
Maybe as long as the smaller pieces aren’t in the middle but either the very top or very bottom it’s still stable?
3. I wondered about the concept of pushing the dome flat against the ceiling before tightening the adjuster rod since that is also suppose to stabelize your pole better?
Answers, hopefully.
1. I could probably put the extension on before I put Pole B onto the base, but I have a ten foot pole and it’s just me putting the thing together, so for me it’s just easier to hoist the one extension.2. Yes. It was weird for me too, and I specifically asked where extensions go when I e-mailed Kimara. Because of the height of my pole, I use one fairly long (750 mm) extension, so it doesn’t seem quite as awkward. I haven’t noticed any difference in stability since switching.
3. This is where things get interesting. The old way, the dome was right at eye-level so I could see when it was flat and I could push up on it. Now, it’s five and a half feet above me on the ceiling. I found it easy to think that I had tightened it all the way, when in fact I had not. Remember, It’s just me putting up my pole. With two people, one could adjust the pole, while the other watches to check the dome placement, maybe. Or maybe one person could just hold the pole steady while the other person adjusts. After a couple of tries, I found that I could feel when one edge of the dome contacted the ceiling and I could shift slightly to make it flat. I also kept screwing the pole up until it there was some resistance to the screw (hopefully not enough to crack the ceiling!) I then spin tested it several times before calling it good.
I hope that helped a little. I’ll work on pictures tomorrow, and if anyone has any other questions, I’ll be happy to try and answer them!
-
So I got my conversion kit yesterday. Mine came with no instructions, so I had to e-mail Kimara at X-Pole US to find out how to get started. Then it took about an hour of twisting and unscrewing and rescrewing and hoping I wasn’t doing permanent damage to my pole to get it up. The upgrade section replaces Main Pole A and (depending on your model X-Pole) the little spinny base section. You also no longer need the large spanner (wrench) in the tool case either. The upgrade goes directly onto the main base and attaches just like the old piece. The screws on the bottom are still how you change between static and spin mode too. Main Pole B then screws on top of the upgrade section. Any extensions then go on top of that. There’s now a little adapter piece with a peg that fits into the upper dome that screws on top of the extension. The dome goes on that. Now, in order to adjust the height and snug the pole to the ceiling, there’s an adjuster cover near the bottom of the upgrade section that screws into place. That gets unscrewed and then there are three screws on the pole that you loosen with the hex key. This allows the pole to screw to adjust. Once the dome is flat and the pole secure, turn the pole so that the three screws line up with the flat spots on the adjuster and tighten them down. This keeps the pole from unscrewing while dancing on it. Then slide up the adjuster cover, screw into place and start dancing. Now that I know where everything is and what goes where, I imagine next time set-up will go much easier. One thing I noticed was to be very sure that the dome is flat and tight against the ceiling. It’s harder to tell now that it’s no longer eye-level. Also, I still needed a step-stool to put the extension on top, but the little kitchen one was quite high enough, so no need to dig out the ladder.
-
Awesome. Thank you!
-
I mean the back of my knee. Should have been more specific. I have been stretching my quads too, as well as the rest of me. I’ve been doing yoga mostly regularly, but this one spot seems particularly troublesome. Thanks for your help! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
-
I love yoga for both flexibility and strength as well as a whole body workout. I also train in Aikido, a martial art a lot like judo. As part of our training we work with boken, or wooden swords. Sword cuts are the best exercise that I have found for grip and forearm strength. I also do a lot of walking and hiking.
-
Some one else mentioned Vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight really helps your body manufacture Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also good for your immunity. I try to get at least 30 minutes a day outside in the sun. I realize that that’s pretty easy living in Arizona, but it’s something to think about.
-
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif Learn something every day.
-
Ordered my conversion kit today! Should be here within three business days. Yay! Now there are no more excuses. I don’t have to manhandle a six foot ladder out of the garage over my Mum’s car anymore!
-
Just make sure you leave me one! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
-
Hey Coco,
I live in Tucson. I don’t know of any pole studios, but my aunt has a gym, like just a regular gym, called The Training Zone. I can see if I can get the info if you like. -
I just heard from Kimara at X-Pole US and they have 50-mm Chrome conversion kits for $169.99 including shipping.
-
Pointe shoes?? That’s pretty sweet. Do you have any videos? If not you should post one! I’ll watch! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif
yep! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glGEp7InBx0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Im debating a song for my Dec. video, and one of the songs would really dance well to w/pointe shoes. The song is Snuff by Slipknot, my husband suggested it and im thinking of letting see the video early as a xmas gift before I put it on youtube.
I have to say I stole (or permently borrowed) the idea from a stripper I saw at a bar. She had her pointe shoes, a long romantic tutu and topless. It was for me, pretty.
Very nice! Are pointe shoes very slippy when climbing? I just might go see if I can find mine. Thanks for sharing!
-
Pointe shoes?? That’s pretty sweet. Do you have any videos? If not you should post one! I’ll watch! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif
-
Good to know. Thank you! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
-
Bare feet is where it’s at! Point your toes and use the balls of your feet. By using the muscles in your legs more, it’ll shape your legs up really nice and you don’t have to be afraid of breaking an ankle. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
-
Any idea when the new goodies will be on the website?? I just had a look and no joy.
