Katherine McKinney
Forum Replies Created
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I learned it coming down from my twisted grip handspring. The best advice I can give is to not think of yourself as lowering so much as twisting around. When you're in the twisted grip handspring, you lower a bit and then twist your body to the side. This is what gives the illusion of the Iron X. You can just lower down into the Iron X with your body straight out, but it takes a lot more energy that way.
Hope that helps!
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Watt?? Funnily enough, I just favorited a video of hers last night because it had some awesome floorwork!
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Thanks, Chemgoddess1. I checked out the website, and Allison especially is a sublime performer! I am definitely going to try to get in on that action!
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I'm sorry–I don't mean to bump this up because I'm impatient! I just wanted to add that I'd also love some advice on pole studios in the Orlando area or to meet polers from the Orlando area.
Thanks!
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Just saw the price, sorry! Can't wait to see a link!
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I am a size 6 and I loooove really tall heels. Would love to see a link and know your price!
Thanks!
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The pink Lil Mynx was my first pole! I now have a 45 mm TG Xpert, and I am iiiin love. Although the powder-coated was great for beginning, I found it tough to work on when I started trying to do Superman. I kept tearing up my skin because of the grippiness.
With that said, the over-grippiness could have had something to do with my big, Hispanic thighs. 😉
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I recommend OkCupid. I was an early adopter on the site–from 2004 until now. I think the key is not to see it as captial 'D' Dating but to look at it as a chance to network and perhaps meet someone you like. Over the years, I've met guys and girls from the site–made some good friends that I still chat with to this day.
I also met my current guy on the site, and he's the bees knees, to say the least. I've had roommates that I met on the site, and the longest I dated someone I met on the site was about a year.
Have I met duds? Absolutely! But have I also met duds at the bars and when I was in school, in my classes? And at work? Absolutely!
Bottom line–the stigma from online dating is pretty much gone from where I'm setting. As long as you keep your expectations casual, you can have a lot of fun and meet new friends and (possibly) a significant other.
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This is really timely. I've been incredibly critical of my work lately. Thanks, Veena!
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Four in the morning seems like a pretty normal bedtime to me! 😉 Is there something special you have to be up for in the morning?
Thankfully, I don't teach until six at night, so I feel that four am is a pretty reasonable bedtime. I've always been a night owl, so I've just stopped fighting it.
Also, do you find that after you take a break, you come back stronger when poling? Because of moving and buying a house and teaching doubles, I had to take almost a month off of poling, and while my first couple of practices were miserable, a lot of moves I'd been trying suddenly clicked–like the TG handspring and the dangerous bridge.
Basically, I agree with everyone. You're being way hard on yourself! I hate strength training, too, so dancing is my strength training. The reason I pole in the first place is to have fun. That's why this is the only form of exercise that ever worked for me. I'm with you–strength training is the pits.
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@Chem:
Would the vinegar be okay on a powder-coated Lil Mynx? I have no problem gripping with my thighs, but my hands are iffy on it.
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4 PM on a Thursday? It sounds like they tried to pick a time when the club would not be busy at all. I've worked at several clubs, and at 4 PM on a Thursday, I would have to say that there's a good possibility that the only people watching you will be the one giving the audition and maybe one or two girls and a manager who open. And honestly, they may not even watch you. If there are one or two customers, those one or two girls will be all over them, I assure you!
Not that I'm encouraging you to go! If you don't feel safe, then don't go, definitely! Your safety is the most important issue here. Just letting you know that from my experience, they did pick a time when you would be less likely to be bombarded with the male gaze. 😉
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PS. Thanks, Veena, for being supportive of all types of pole dance. That's what keeps me coming to this site. You are very much appreciated!
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"Aside from this, I am absolutely disgusted that a so called "pole champ" wouls want to portray pole dancing this way, and basically confirm to all our critics that we are all strippers with no artistic or athletic ability."
Furthermore, this quote is utterly ridiculous. Without strippers, there would be no pole dance. I suggest you remember that next time you decide to take your venom out on hard-working ladies who already have enough to endure. Strippers and artistic/athletic ability are not mutually exclusive. I agree with what the others have said. You sound like a jealous, sore loser. 🙂
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Roxy, I am interested, but I have a few questions. I’ve heard that the tg finish rubs off–did you find this to be true? Also, my friend has an x-pole (I don’t know the model), and it has a couple of lugs/nuts sticking up about 6 inches from the bottom. Those things hurt when you catch them on the way down! Is the tg xpert smooth all the way down? And finally, it does spin, correct?
Thanks for the info!
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@MissKitty83 and Runemist34:
Couldn't have said it better myself. Hear, hear! And here's to all Veeners, too! 😉
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I'm not really worried about rhythmic gymnastics–that's already been killed. We're talking about pole dancing, and I'm worried about sports officials and gymnasts appropriating the moves and setting standards without giving credit where credit is due.
Distinguishing between what is "goddess" and "street corner" is a little tougher than simply deciding what you think–once you begin trying to pin down a sport that leaves so much room for interpretation, it is bound to suffer. Not in the hands of its true advocates, of course, but in the hands of those who feel it needs to be "cleaned up" for the masses.
I will never watch pole in the Olympics if it's simply a bunch of women pulling off tricks, and I will never stop getting the message out that we came from strip tease, and there's nothing wrong with strip tease. People can change it all they like and try to hide behind a set of standardizations so they won't feel queasy about seeing a little skin, but that belies years of hard work by underrepresented women in the sex industry. I guess each side will have to continue pretending the other doesn't exist–as I've unfortunately seen all too often in the pole-dancing world.
Pole-dancing is at its heart an expression of strength and femininity, but it is also a rebellion against social norms and an attempt to gain control over our own sexuality. Without that uneasy alliance, I agree that pole-dancing could be just a sport. 😉
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The founders of this sport are strippers, and we shouldn't ever forget that. Working in a strip club is the equivalent of working construction as a man–it's backbreaking and thankless. Legitimizing the sport is all well and good, but I don't think we should ever try to erase the sensual roots of this sport, which was developed by women working tough jobs who were villified (and still are) for working those jobs.
Wherever we end, we should remember where we started.
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Thanks for all the tips! I'm beat up from practicing the last few days, but in the next couple of days I'm going to start this scary-sounding process!
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Wow, I can see why you're an instructor! I don't think I've ever gotten such a clear picture from written instructions before. Thank you so much! I'll take it slowly and update this thread with my progress. Thanks again!
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@Amy: Thanks for the reply! I can go from a cradle into a butterfly, and I have a decent elbow grip and forearm grip aysha and pencil. Do you have any tips for beginning to work on the moves?
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I have a powder-coated Lil' Mynx, and while I like it a lot, it is extremely, extremely grippy. This can be great when you're trying new moves, but it can hold you back when you're trying moves like Superman/woman. My pole also spins, and I haven't had any trouble with it in spinning mode, other than it squeaking at times. A little WD40 down the shaft takes care of that problem, though.
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Veena's lessons are fantastic, even if you already take classes. They can help you get a move that you just can't get in class, and they can also remind you of how to do a move if you forget. I had classes with PoleKat, one of the most talented dancers I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I also have a really good support group of friends to work out with–I learn so much more quickly that way!
Do you have a spinning pole or just static? I find that the style of music can vary depending on which one you're using. For instance, for spinning, I might dance to Zed's Dead remix of a trip hop song. For static, I might go with something simple like Madonna's "Vogue."
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Yay! You're not that far from me!
What type of music do you usually like? I find that dubstep or trip hop really does it for me as far as dancing goes (also the blues), but everyone is different!
Target has a great sale right now on hipster boyshorts; I mostly wear those because they cover you up but give you great contact with the pole.
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I don't think you should take down the pole. I think you should offer them lessons. 😉
Seriously, though–you have an awesome hobby, and if they already think badly about you based on your age, it can't get any worse. They're obviously too passive aggressive to actually say anything to you about it, so I'm going to give you another motto to consider: if people are going to talk anyway, might as well give 'em something to talk about. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
Plus, since you've done nothing to them and that hasn't worked, you never know–your hobby just might pave the way for some real dialog between you and these sensitive ladies.
