Maria-Elena Kadala
Forum Replies Created
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There are at least half a dozen:
I’ve been going DL Fitness Studios in Worcester, and in Boston there’s also SuperShag (who hosted a showcase for the local studios headlined by Pantera Blacksmith) and Gypsy Rose Dancing, there’s another on the South Shore, I think there’s one in RI, and theGirlSpot (jayjay here is one of the owners) in CT.VERY curious about the "Cougar Dance" — what is it? I’m almost old enough to be one, although I was planning to limit myself to younger men only. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
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Will you be coming to New England this year?
and what is a Cougar Dance? (inquiring kitties want to know …) -
There are so many booty songs I don’t know how I will pick! lol I better do some squats to beef up the bum!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif
Thanks for putting up the booty videos! they’re excellent. When I was trying to learn this a few months ago, I just went searching on youTube, and there was nothing this clear (although PoleWaxers has a helpful one). Here’s one from Russia that just made me giggle (very European!!!)
Queen Svetlana Booty Pop ClassStill completely ignorant on "booty songs"! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif
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It doesn’t hurt, Joel, truly it won’t!
Gonna have a pole jam for your party? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
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I went to Home Goods where they have an abundance of mirrors at good prices. It also gives you the opportunity to try out different mirrors before you buy to see what will — and won’t — work for you. Even if you go with the custom mirror, you’ll have an idea about dimensions. I keep mine propped against the wall so I can adjust the angle depending on what I want to see.
Sliding mirrored closet doors might be the solution! -
Another possibility for Teresa, and I didn’t realize this until reading more about her, is her first performance was on June 20 (or thereabouts).
Athletes train to "peak" for an event, and it would make sense to "peak" for a performance like that … after which there is a natural & necessary let-down, mentally and physically. There’s a cycle of building (physical training & mental preparation) to peak, event performance, rest &relaxation/maintenance, and then begin again.Learning about the performance, it makes perfect sense to me that afterward the body and brain demanded a rest period! if you haven’t had the experience before, it comes as a surprise that after this big achievement suddenly you can’t do diddly!
Give yourself at least another week of relaxation/maintenance (ie, enough to maintain your current level) and then return to building more strength and learning new tricks. And be sure to post of pic of that next big trick that’s been eluding you these past two weeks!
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There are booty songs?
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Is there a pole out there just for vaulted ceilings? I have a pole but I lack the proper space because of my ceiling. I really need more space in order to start doing spins.
Platinum Stages has a pole for which you can buy vaulted ceiling attachment.
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I would like some of your opinions on the improvement in pole when you body ratios are proportionate. Also, I have a question on weight. I’m 5ft7, 130 lbs. I’m in a healthy weight range but I have found that my lower portion of my body (with muscle tone) is a little less proportionate than my upper body.
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Would it be more productive in my pole work to lose weight even though Im not overweight, and concentrate on my upper body strength to improve my spins? Or should just building upper body strength do the trick in the end without me losing weight? I figure the less to throw around the easier right?What do you mean by proportionate? We’re at the same height and weight, but our bodies are differently proportioned — whose proportions are "better"??? Seriously, we’re all complaining that we can’t find jeans!!!
It’s natural that our lower bodies are relatively stronger than upper bodies, even if we’re not runners. For our own well-being, it’s good to have balance, but that’s hard to achieve unless you train for it. As for genetics, work with what you’ve got — what you see as a disadvantage for some moves may prove to be an advantage for others.You’ll get more value from building strength than losing weight (all you have left for losing is curves, and you really don’t want to see those curves laying softly pleated against your bones).
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Something else to consider, Teresa, is that you’re at the age when women’s bodies are experiencing Change, and let me tell you, weird stuff happens! Some of the changes are conspicuous, like hot flashes https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif, but there is a full spectrum of subtle changes. The changes don’t happen at a steady rate, they are cyclical. Both your brain and your body can go wonky.
"That ship has sailed" for me, so I’d forgotten!!! it can create frustration in normal life, but when you’re trying to progress physically, as you are, that must heighten the exasperation factor. You’re doing the best you possibly can for your body & brain, so don’t be too hard on yourself if your progress doesn’t always go according to plan, it’s just Mother Nature’s last reminders of the joys of being a woman (right before she stops reminding you …) -
Looks like a good plan, be sure to record your level of soreness the next day to see if it improves over time.
Adding in some of the therapies (of those suggested here) should accelerate healing. Don’t try new tricks until you’ve recovered to "normal".
Your experience will be invaluable to other instructors (and over-achievers). Keep us posted! -
New England Showcase in Boston … we wished we had performed!!!
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My chiropractor recommend MAGNESIUM. 1-3 tablets at bedtime. I also get weekly massages, and try to soak a lot in the tub. Is it a matter of building more muscle? Or not overdoing same moves?
I’m trying to find a way to teach and not burn myself out at the same time. Any formats working for other instructors?Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate, so throw a good dose of that into the bath … it’s like a giant transdermal patch!
What happens with over-training is that instead of building muscle, you’re breaking muscle down. And/or over-stressing ligaments/tendons. Muscle grows over time, but needs rest to achieve that growth. Once you have it, you need to maintain it, or you lose it. So you probably need to back off a while to let your muscles recover, and over time you will learn what is "too much" in terms of particular moves and repetitions.
Professional athletes train every day, but vary the nature of their workouts. Ballet dancers dance every day, but they’ve worked for years to get to that level of performance.
We’ve had problems with our instructors getting injured from doing too many classes, and working on advancing their own skills at the same time.
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I’m happy with my PS pole, which I had to get because of my vaulted ceilings. I liked that it was adjustable and I could move it around.
The only problem is that the vaulted ceiling attachment needs to be affixed to the ceiling, it doesn’t move around, and I wasn’t entirely sure where I wanted to keep it. So at the moment I have it in a room with flat 9′ ceiling, and it’s working out fine, but I may move it into the room with the vaulted ceiling (but installing the fixture will be a project that high up!)I had a problem with the pole getting increasingly slippery, and called PS; they told me to use 409 (or any type of cleaner that wasn’t "streak free"), instead of alcohol.
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Consider, Teresa, that you’re already at an advanced state, so each of the "new" moves is relatively more challenging, so you can’t expect to keep learning at the same rate.
If it feels like a brain/body disconnect, perhaps take time out to just refine the "old" moves, until your brain/body are ready to learn something new. Remember that rest is an important component of growth! Take a break from frustration for a week or two, keep doing what you know already, and then give the new things another try.
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I was using alcohol on my pole and found it increasingly slippery … so I called Platinum Stages, and they said alcohol would make it too slippery, to se something like 409, not anything called "streak free".
It definitely makes a difference! I spray the cleaner on the microfiber cloth, I rarely spray directly on the pole.
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What we all have in common is that we’re all embarrassed about our lack of flexibility!
So let’s get over it — it’s not where we start (I’m 89 degrees short of a split myself) but that we progress — and Just Do It!!!
Does anyone have a recommended program?? -
…PLUS when I pole at home I do it alllll dayy…kinda. Like sometimes 11am-4ish pm
Yeah, that definitely could be over-training. Rest is an important component of muscle growth. Weight-lifters rest muscles 48 hours or more between training them, and runners vary speed, distance, intensity on different days. Elite athletes may spend hours a day training, but they vary the nature of their exercise, and they know how to train to achieve peak performance at a predetermined time. Marathoners, for example, don’t practice by running marathons every day — they train for that peak performance once.
Consult a trainer to create a training regimen to give you the variety you need to maintain the level of performance (and absence of pain) that you want. In the interim, perhaps devise your own plan for varying your training … maybe alternating between spins one day, and strength moves another — ask Veena!!! she can give you a better idea of what constitutes variety for poling.There are other good suggestions here: massage (those foam rollers are great for self massage, but a professional therapist will give you better results, and also teach you self massage techniques); soaking in bath with Epsom salts.
To be having this much chronic pain & stiffness means that you are putting yourself at risk for an injury!!! get some professional training advice soon!
PS. Since writing this, I did "ask Veena" by looking at her Lesson on strength training … she explains that rest is needed for muscles to repair and recover, also that "rest" doesn’t mean inactivity. So I would still ask Veena to recommend a general training schedule.
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I got an folding mat at Target :
Embark Vinyl Fitness Mat – Black $29.99
It’s great because I can use it for the warm-up/stretch & cool-down we do on yoga mats (my bony old ass needs two of them!). I can fold in half or quarters, depending on how much cushion I want. I can carry it easily with the handles.
There are similar mats at Target, thicker and higher in price accordingly, $79.99 and $119.99.This works when I can plan where I might be falling!!! doesn’t give 360-degree protection.
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Love Potion #9 was a R&R hit in the 60’s, but Sally Kellerman (of TV Mash fame) made a slow, steamy "torch song" version".
Black Velvet … don’t know if it’s 60’s, but it’s about Elvis! -
Hope you’re not going to charge me for the consult!
I’ve shared it with others thru facebook, and I’m taking a copy to my physician (who knows I do this) when I see her for a follow-up on Thursday. Also shared with my divorce attorney, who has seen my evolution since I first contacted her 3 years ago.
Perhaps we’ll meet up when there’s an event for us at the Senior Olympics, LOL!
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I hear ya … I’m about 89 degrees short of a split myself!
I think we just have to give more time to it.
Try some yoga moves, and look up PNF stretching.
My flexibility has improved, but still least flexible person in my classes. -
I am in my 50’s as well. My pic is from a photoshoot at our studio 8 months ago. Not much has changed, just my hair colour, lol. I am a pole dancing instructor and love every minute of it.
Oh, you are gorgeous, you should have more pictures!
How long have you been dancing?
I just started last year. -
Hey, keep us posted, we’re considering offering a "vertical fitness" class for men. Our instructors hubbies can do all the moves, and I think a lot of guys would love to be as buff as we are!
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Oh and where is Pantera performing!!!??? I love her and would love to see her live!
In Boston, FELT club, 5/22
If you are on FB, check her page, it should be there.
