[carriej]

I GOT IT! I took a couple of days off, wrote a list of exactly how many attempts of each new move I wanted to try in tonight’s practice session, and played some hardcore music and guess what…I GOT THE SHOULDER MOUNT ON MY FIRST TRY. Then later in the practice, I was going to work on a forearm or elbow aysha ten times AND I GOT THE ELBOW GRIP AYSHA! I thought I was still far away from getting the aysha! This had to be the most productive practice session ever. My shoulders and back muscles are killing me (in a good way).

Stellar, your post for the SM about tilting your hips to grab the pole with your legs instead of just continuing to lift your torso along with everyone else’s post that it’s scary but just to trust my legs is what helped me to finally get it.

Thank you everyone. With the fine tuning of everything that is required to finally accomplish each move, it’s a good thing that we have each other for input, ideas, suggestions and encouragement.

[carriej]

Steller, you wrote: "In other cases, I relied on my body weight counterbalanced against my palms on the pole, so that once I had come out the upside of the Shoulder Mount there was less weight on my palms and therefore less friction, so my grip did not feel safe anymore. In this situation, I would do the same as before, grab desperately with the legs in a way that was ugly, uncontrolled, and not really even efficient in terms of balance or safety."

This is exactly my problem. I’ve got such a great counterbalance on the way up and then when my legs go for the pole, I can’t get them wrapped on without feeling that I’m going to slip with the hands due to less pressure on them.

What do you mean "Then I can tilt my hips forward/upward some more, without rolling my torso up any further, to secure my leg grip." Can you describe it for me another way or can you link me to a video? I understand you to say that you don’t just keep rolling your torso up and up and up until you’re flat on the pole but that instead you are doing something with your hips but I’m not sure I’m following what it is. Are you saying to put my hips closer to or farther from the pole?

[carriej]

I’ve gotten much further and think this might be the next big move that I get. I can do the lift in a really great V and can wrap both legs (one on front and one on back). So, I think I’ve almost got it.

The problem is I’m not sure how to get a good grip with my legs before my hands start to feel unsecure. The more upside down I get to secure my legs, the less secure my hands feel and then I just quit and roll down cause I’m afraid my hands will slip before my legs are tight. I’m using the cupped grip, which feels the best for me. I probably just need to keep playing with it and it will come but can anyone put into words any extra tips on it?

[carriej]

uh…i wanna pole in jeans!!!

[carriej]

I’ve been working to improve my hip hold so I may not be the best at giving advise but when I do it, it is a lot of groin AND side. You know how much side you use to keep you on when you do a scorpio? That’s pretty much how much I am using when I do the hip hold. If anyone disagrees, please say so ’cause like I said, I’m still working on making mine better.

[carriej]

Pretzel with the good arm?
Teddy?
Cupid and knee hold?

just make sure you don’t wander into using the hurt arm! We want you better!

[carriej]

Thanks everyone! It’s so hard to order boots online ’cause you’ve gotta get the shoe size right and also the leg size right! I’ll give it my best go and see how it works out!

[carriej]

Tell me about it! My husband asked what the loud noise was and I told him I kicked the door and he asked if I broke the knob off or anything! Umm…no, just felt like my foot was gonna fall off, that’s all! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[carriej]

Thanks all! Moonflower, isn’t it funny that the knee hold is easier when you’re horizontal and your hips are forward but I can’t get horizontal and my hips forward until I do the move! Haha! It’s like which came first: the chicken or the egg?

BUT GUESS WHAT! I JUST GOT THE TEDDY TONIGHT AND THEN COULD DO IT 4 TIMES ON EACH SIDE!

There have been several posts about doing it from tiptoes to sink into it. That was the trick!

To everyone who posts tips on moves: YOU ROCK! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif

[carriej]

My calf is like 15 inches around.

[carriej]

Oh thank goodness someone else has bigger calves! I’m a great size but my legs are just built thicker!! I went to the store today to find PVC boots that lace and zip and none of them fit my lower leg!! The laces were kind of just for show I think. If anyone does have thicker legs but have found kick ass PVC boots, PLEASE let me know.

[carriej]

I just kicked my doorknob. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

[carriej]

All I can say for now is: Crazy a** caterpillar climb! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif

I just learned to do a couple of crappy ones in a row on one side. That’s about it.

[carriej]

Trophy-
Good point about the level thing. I got most all spins on the first try. I got most inverts, climbing, crucifix, scorpio, gemini, butterfly, extended butterfly, superman, and tons of others all within a few practices. Now, I’m trying stuff that is taking longer and everything has slowed down significantly. Plus I had no idea how less grippy the pole would be when it is truly cold outside. I was hoping the poles at the studio would be better but no luck. Everyone in my class was sliding and there were only simple inverts.

Maybe I’ll get some good old tall vinyl boots to stick better for now. Anyone else have tips on sticking? I know the typical wipe the pole, wash hands, warm up yourself and pole, pole grip stuff…

EDIT: After writing this, I discovered the magic of mighty grip. I had tried it back in summer and I felt more slippery. Just tried it again and I got all my moves back! Hurray! Thanks yall.

[carriej]

I’m glad to hear that everyone hits a rut every now and then (not that I’d wish it on anyone lol). jayjay-thanks for mentioning things that have been different. I think part of my problem was that we had an open house at the dance studio last Saturday and I poled for like 4 hours on and off (mostly on). I didn’t think it was a big deal because I’ve had long sessions before and took off for a couple of days after but when I went to pole class tonight some of the other girls said that they were feeling that they hadn’t fully recovered yet so I felt a little better about that. It is so hard to take a break but I’ve just got to!

I do really need to work on transitions and floor work. I avoid them cause I love the tricks so much! It will look a lot better to mix it all together a bit better though!

This is my first winter poleing. Do we just stick less in the winter or am I imagining things?
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_santa.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rendeer.gif

[carriej]

Yeah, I think the shouldermount is the next one that I’ll end up getting. The thing is that after a couple tries on each side, my shoulder hurts and my abs won’t engage as much as in the first few tries. I guess there are moves that I should be perfecting. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif After pole class tonight, I just need to take some time off I think. My mind and soul are telling me to pole because I love it so much but I think my body is begging for some rest. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif

[carriej]

whoa jc! What great videos! Your moves look great and I can see your excitement to be poleing! I hope that I can stay as positive and excited as you when I get into some of those moves! Looking good! BTW, everytime I see one of your vids I’m so glad that a guy is poleing. What a perfect combination of grace and strength you’ve got!

[carriej]

Great suggestions so far ladies! I start feeling like crap usually in January and February. I never noticed the trend before my pointed it out to me one winter. I was complaining and depressed and she said, "Well, it is February you know!" When I asked her what she meant, she reminded me that I get this way every winter. It hasn’t hit me yet this year but I know the feeling. I have found that light (natural, tanning, whatever) helps. The tanning is great for me since my dermatologist recommended it for my skin issues anyway (my skin probs can get really severe without it) , it feels like I’m on a 15 minute vacation at the beach, and it has the light factor. Plus, just recognizing the depression can help.

[carriej]

I just signed up for the strickly tricks workshop!! Charlottesville’s only an hour and a half from my house! As it gets closer, let’s all talk more about what workshops everyone’s taking and maybe plans to meet up before, in between, and after! I’m so excited!

[carriej]

Wow! Yeah, that was a great vid. I just got into the pose from swinging around but not able to spin! That was cool.

[carriej]

hey junglecat,
i just got the caterpillar tonight! It’s so funny to me how everyone is so unique! You use the elbow and I can’t figure that one out for the life of me! I got the forearm! I’ll work on your way next! hehe

I’m just glad I finally got it at all! Now I gotta figure out how to do more than one without being exhausted! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_pale.gif

[carriej]

Yay, yay, yay! So, I put on a great song, wiped the pole down, washed my hands with dish soap, pointed my magic finger and GOT IT (kinda)! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif Now, if anyone else had seen it, they would have seen my legs move up the pole ummm about six inches but hey, at least I’m not superglued to the pole. No way I could go up more than one time though. I’ll have to keep with it and go back through the posts in previous caterpillar forums to see which grip folks prefer. Maybe I’ll get some hints there too.

Why is it so funny to me that the positioning of one finger can mean the difference between getting a move and not? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

It always helps me to talk out the moves with you all! Thanks!!

[carriej]

I’m trying forearm. I got further than ever tonight by pretty much just working on this move over and over and actually slid my legs up once! I think you’re right, once I nail the caterpillar I think I’ll be able to move on kinda quickly (and safely). Thanks for the magic finger tip. I’m about to try it, never heard of it before. When you use the forearm grip, does your hand turn as far as it can inward and do you also use skin on the bicep?

[carriej]

Hey wanders! I agree with the last post. I can’t yet caterpillar climb and it’s exactly right that I don’t feel good enough yet to let go with my legs so I haven’t done a regular aysha yet. I’m trying to think of the next moves for you … maybe a butterfly and extended butterfly an iguana mount and a superman (unless you’ve already got those!!) I also recently got a reverse aysha so maybe you could go that way.

Next step for me…learn to caterpillar climb so I can start to leg go with my legs some!!
Happy poling!

[carriej]

Aw crap. I’m right down in Virginia and I had thought about how fun it would be meetin everyone when the thread began. I’m doing christmas with my stepkids that weekend though and can’t be missing for a whole day. Please please please keep me in mind next time everyone gets together. Have a blast! I’ll be thinking about you all.