[Colleen]

I use rubbing alcohol. Also, I learned from Veena that I can use the hot steam from my iron to warm up my pole. (Steam hits it. Then I immediately wipe it down.) That’s a way to clean it too. That’s what I did today.

[Colleen]

Great! I’ll look for that handstand lesson!

[Colleen]

Do whatever you can. The 69 bucks is so worth it. You pay so much more the other way.

[Colleen]

His feelings were hurt, but he’ll get over. Just keep pole dancing and getting on with your life as best you can.

[Colleen]

Veena, you may just have the flu. The flu is going around too. Please keep us posted, and get better soon!

[Colleen]

Yikes, Veena! Are you sure you’re okay? We’re all worried about this damn pandemic going around.

[Colleen]

Also, I use the Lose It! app. It gives me a way to count my calories and record my workouts. https://www.loseit.com/

[Colleen]

I don’t bother with Keto or any of those. I eat a healthy diet and I exercise. That said, I went to California, pigged out on junk, and gained five pounds. To lose those five pounds, I’m reducing my calories and exercising. I’m 57, and my common sense approach to losing weight still works.

[Colleen]

Today, I’m continuing with Veena’s Caterpillar series!

[Colleen]

I believe mine are medium. They run small.

[Colleen]

I use pole dance knee pads from Mighty Grip. I got mine on Amazon. They’re a little bit expensive but worth it. https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Grip-Knee-Climbing-Pads/dp/B00AD9W196

[Colleen]

Despite the pandemic and despite Chicago under a shelter-in-place order, I’m happy. My husband and I make sure we support our local restaurant with take-out orders. When I have to go out, I make sure I wear gloves, use hand sanitizer and wipe everything down. ~~~ My left shoulder is slightly sore, but that’s getting better. I exercise five days a week with two days off. I’m currently doing Veena’s Caterpillar program along with other workouts and cardio. 🙂

[Colleen]

Veena, thank you for sharing your struggles. It helps to hear that even a professional such as yourself has struggles. I’m not a professional, but I used to be able to shoulder mount no problem. However, I didn’t practice it enough after accomplishing it, and now I’m struggling with it. So I know now that if I don’t continue to practice a difficult move, I may not be able to continue to accomplish it.

[Colleen]

Thank you so much for the free month of lessons. That was very kind of you. Today, I bought a year’s worth of lessons from Studio Veena. I’m looking forward to continuing my pole journey!

[Colleen]

I’ve started Veena’s Caterpillar 30 days series. My Caterpillar sucks. This should help it.

[Colleen]

I use a regular pole at home and a stage pole at my summer home. Yes, the stage pole is a pain-in-the-ass to set up and there’s not much room for floor work. However, my husband and I are moving out of our winter home soon and moving to Florida. I don’t know if I will have a suitable place to put another standard pole. So I may have to buy another stage pole. No excuses. If a standard pole won’t work, you make a stage pole work!

[Colleen]

1. Front Splits
2. Improving dismounting from Superman
3. Working more on Caterpillar Pose

[Colleen]

When I injured my shoulder, stretching exercises brought it back.

[Colleen]

Happy New Year, Veena, and Happy New Year to you all! ~~~ Veena, thank you for the advise! Also, I started your 30-day flexy program today, and I enjoyed it! (As you know, day 2 is a rest day.) Looking forward to continuing your program for the 30 days and then continuing on from there! ❤️❤️

[Colleen]

Hi, Strange Fox. 🙂 Thank you for suggesting the 30 Day to Flexibility program. I’ve been a member of Studio Veena for years, but I forgot all about that particular program. So for January, I’ll ditch my original plan and start out with this program instead. I know Veena puts a lot of planning and work into her programs. So I trust that her program will be a good start. (I’ve been stretching for years, but the consistency is not there. I know that’s my problem. So starting fresh with the 30 Day and then moving on from there is a good move.)

[Colleen]

Thanks Dust Bunny. 🙂 I’m going to limit my plan to twice a week. ( My week also includes strength training, pole dancing and cardio. I take Thursdays off.)

[Colleen]

Susanna, I’m 57.

[Colleen]

I have as much (or, in some cases, more) energy than the younger women in my classes, but I *can* relate to not being able to remember things. In other words, it’s hard for me to remember routines when I’m first learning them. I always need the instructor to call the moves out as we do them. I attribute that to age!

[Colleen]

I do Studio Veena in conjunction with pole dancing classes at a physical location. And when I’m on vacation for months at our summer home in Canada, I’ll just be doing Studio Veena. So Studio Veena is a great source whether you take classes at a physical location or not. ~~~ As far as being older than everyone else in class, often that’s my situation. However, once you get your strength up, that won’t matter. You’ll be on the same level as them, or more, with regard to strength.

[Colleen]

I’m 56 and started at 50. My age is not a factor. I’m just as strong as the younger pole dancers. My struggle is that I entered this with no dance or flexibility training. (For example, I still haven’t mastered the splits.) I recently finished running a marathon. I’m an excellent runner. I’m just a so-so pole dancer. But that’s okay.