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@Nat Oh you will be just fine without it. Not every move is for everybody type and I feel that is especially true of twisted. I also feel that back in the day it exploded in popularity and people didnt teach it properly so there were a lot of shoulder injuries,because in that grip it can be easier to dump your weight into your joints. I do it maybe once a month and I’m dont at all feel like I’m missing out or falling behind the other dancers who love it

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I dont think it will stop you from certain moves ad many moves has grip variations. For example theres a cup grip Phoenix. I will say it can be useful as a transition grip for colin certain combos. I personally do not really like twisted grip. It bothers my wrists but to each their own. I dont do twisted grip very often and i dont at all feel limited

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They just had a 40% off sale, so I’m wondering if they got cleared out maybe..? I have some of their stuff and its pretty solid for the most part. its a little pricey for my budget so I usually wait until a sale before a purchase. I really like the brazil bottoms and that starburst top. The spider back top rides up when I pole and I fall out of the v front top, but apart from that I don’t have any gripes…Oh wait! I do wish their tops would come with a lining so my nips wouldn’t poke out.

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Wow 3 days a week in the gym! Nice! ….maybe I should try that…anyway, what I did when I was getting bored with things but still wanted to consistently work on things was to switch up exercise that still targeted similar things. So for example when I was working on hamstring flexibility (which I will ALWAYS need to work on) I did some active stretches one week, then focused on yoga poses like standing head to knee the next week, and so on. Now for flexibility I think they say its best to continue to do similar things, but sometimes I had to mix it up. Then I would practice pole moves that dealt with that particular skill and see how far I was getting.

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I think its a great idea! I actually started off first doing aerial silks, then found pole. I was able to invert my first pole class, largely because of the strength I gained from doing silks. I think the two complement each other nicely and the best part is the pole stays still. I purchased my pole from X pole and it is a tension mounted pole, so it doesn’t (if installed correctly) damage the ceiling or floor. I would say the things to consider when getting the pole is first consider your space. How tall are the ceilings? Where are the studs in my ceilings (as the pole will be installed under a stud) how much space will I need laterally (a lot more than you would think) I would make sure that you have sufficient space and that the studs are where you need them to be, before purchasing a tension mounted pole. You could always buy a stage pole, which xpole also sells, to circumvent worrying about the ceiling. I personally prefer tension mounted poles as I hate doing floor work on the stage, and the stage can be rather noisy.

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Geometry is super important in an ayesha. You really have to make sure everything is stacked correctly and that you’re an appropriate distance away from the pole. Ideally you should be making a triangle shape from the lower hand to your bum and your legs (see photo), that way you can support your body when your trunk is away from the pole. Also really engage the core and make sure you are not arching your back as that will make the move feel unstable.

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Nope your wording was clear! I’m a derp sometimes. A bottle of dry hands (the one ounce bottle) lasts me a little over a year I believe. Dew point I think a little less than a year for the 4.5 ounce bottle. And this is with weekly poling.

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@LatinPoler…what the crap type nonsense is that?! No modifications??? No introductory steps in the handstands? Just a smirk? Wow. Well that’s just ridiculous! I’m sorry that nonsense happened. That is not a good instructor. Jeez. I’m glad training at home is working well for you though. I am so prone to distraction….or over training that the studio environment works all right for me, but I definitely have been considering doing more things at home.

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Oooh I recommend that ultra! It works really well for my rather dry skin. And I usually can get away with one application. However if I’m really doing something strenuous or nervous I’ll have to reapply on 2 or 3 times in an hour for my hands. My hands tend to need more to applications than my body. Usually one application is good for my body for an hour to 2 hours.

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Dry hands doesn’t make my hands super powdery if I do not overdo it. Dew point I feel is better if your skin is ever so dry and in need a little tacky moisture, like the tack you get when your about to start sweating. Sometimes I used and dry hands on my hands at the same time and that seems to give me the best of both worlds with grip and not looking chalky.

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Yup. Just reread my response too! Never once said your opinion was not welcome. Really not sure where you got that from.

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Oh not at all actually.I never once said your opinion was unwelcome. Quite the opposite actually. Maybe you should reread my response. Didn’t you read the first part when I said it’s good to have these discussion and diversity in opinion is a great thing? I was just saying that it hinders discussion when, as you insinuated in your first response, that someone calling something out about race makes them a victim, not an independent thinker, or not a proud black woman.

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That’s great that you feel that way. I think it’s important to have these discussion and for people to feel comfortable expressing their opinions. We learn from diversity and from diversity in opinions. But I just don’t see the connection between saying “Oh hey this is inappropriate” and being a victim. Or saying “I don’t like this” and not being an independent thinker. I understand encouraging people to express their dissenting opinions, but insinuating that finding something offensive makes you a victim or a drone type thinking actually does more to stymy the discussion.
I too have traveled the world and even have citizenship in multiple countries, and while I do agree that there are cultural differences, for me some things are basic decency that transcend geographic boundaries. I did a routine where I played Mulan, and I decided not to paint on slanted eyes or paint my skin white for the routine, because it wasn’t necessary and that would be wildly inappropriate. But to each their own. Like I said before, you have the right to not be bothered at all, but it is completely acceptable for others to not like POSA or the dancer’s actions.

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…calling something you seem inappropriate does not make you a victim. I too am I proud black woman and not a victim. We have that in common. Good for you not being offended. I happen to be, because I don’t see my skin color as a costume. I would be offended if it were another race as well, because making a caricature of someone’s ethnicity to me is not cool.I also don’t think it’s appropriate that an organization that uses title such as world would do something that so many would perceive as disrespectful. To me it’s distasteful. You have the right not to care just as I and many others have the right to care and call it out.

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I agree. It all seems pretty tone deaf to me. I really just do not understand it. And this is one of the organizations who is pushing to have pole as an olympic sport….well I got news for you, if one of your competitors pulled that crap during the Olympics, the sport itself and you would be in big trouble. The fact that they refer to themselves as a “world organization” and then allow something like this to happen is beyond troubling.

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I agree wholeheartedly, Veena. So many people underestimate the joy, beauty, and FUNCTIONALITY of the basics. We don’t all need to fonji or rainbow marchenko, or spatchcock. (I mean that would be nice, don’t get me wrong.) But pole should have a strong focus on individuals’ personal development.

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….Not to be a creep, but Ive watched many of your videos. I’ve yet to see any belly wobbling there! Just saying…

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Wow Veena, those are some really profound points. I agree that assuming everyone has to do everything is over complicating something that should be beneficial and most importantly tailored toward the doer. I’ll probably never spatchcock or rainbow marchenko, but thats a-okay in my book. Also it is shocking and dismaying that people would be so catty, petty, and jealous toward you. I’m glad you created your own space away from that nonsense. I really like how pole has changed, but at the same time part of me feels that some of the overarching competitive edge (I don’t just mean competitions) but the notion that we have to master everything takes away from individual joys. Also social media may have increased that edge. Than you so much for your insights!! Super illuminating

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Do you think there was more emphasis on sexy along with the fluidity? I love love love fluidity. Im terrible at it but I love it! I think that was something missing from my very early training.

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Stage poles are not my favorite! Especially on spin pole. They loose spin so quickly because of all their wobbling. And it sucked. They said they misquoted my rate as lower than it should be so they kept a significant amount of my security deposit. Ooh I was so mad. Argued with them for 40 minutes at check out then had to leave to catch my flight.

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I would say bring lots of grip aid. They crank the AC in Vegas and I was too cold to stick a lot of the times. Also allot time to do your own warm up. In my experience, the teachers do warm you up bit it’s not as long as in a studio setting. Also expect to share a stage pole. They’re many people in a lot of the workshop so you may not always get your own pole. Also if staying in the hard Rock check you statement when you check out. They mischarged me and STILL won’t refund the difference.

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I think the teacher should have done a comprehensive assessment of your strength BEFORE asking you to invert. To me that is only logical. That should be the first thing. At the end of the day its your body, and you have to live with it if you jack it up. So don’t feel guilty. You can push yourself and look out for yourself at the same time. What made you walk out, if you don’t mind me asking?

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The small/medium was actually almost too small for me and I wear a small in cleo bottoms and bad kitty bottoms. You should be fine

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Based on what I’ve seen, there seems to be a correlation between attempts to make pole more “mainstream” and the lack of sensuality. I think some people believe people will take pole more seriously if it isn’t ultra sensual. I recall that when I first started pole, my teacher said we don’t wear to much for grip, its not that we’re trying to be skanky. To which I thought, so what if you were! Why should I care? its your body and your expression not mine. For some reasons, some people think that sexuality delegitimizes something, which is not at all the case.

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Happy to help! I wish more pole clothes would take the hip/waist ratio into account. We’re pole dancers! We’ve got butts!