[lilblondie]

OK … I am a perfectionist. I admit it!!!
I tried to take a picture of the joint that’s bothering me, and it’s impossible to even see the problem. At least I’m honest to a fault.

pole1.JPG

I have it listed on Craigslist for $200, but I will honor the price of $100 if someone from SV wants to buy it. Ok … I’m done! Someone buy my pole!!

[lilblondie]

Summer – I sent you a message https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Thanks for the encouragement all https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I tried to price it fairly. As I said in my message to Summer, I think the design of PS poles is flawed. All PS poles tighten by means of threads — the pieces screw together. You have to be careful not to overtighten the pieces, or the ends of the segments can begin to flare out. Because of this overtightening, it’s now possible to just feel the edge of the two largest pole segments on this pole. It’s not a problem for dancing and has not gotten any worse since I noticed it a year ago and reassembled the pole properly, but this is a reason I am selling this pole so cheaply. If you aren’t careful and continue to overtighten the pole, like I did, it will get worse.

Therefore, I’m trying to sell it at a gentle price that will make room in my house and send it to someone who will continue to appreciate it for the sturdy pole it is … but with a discount that takes into account this design flaw.

[lilblondie]

That’s weird. But I also have a PS pole (2") that’s incredibly slippery. It’s the older model with the adjuster on top.

[lilblondie]

I just came across this while researching to buy a new pole. I think some people are getting confused.

Aradia sells a 1.5" pole, which is exactly 38mm.
X-POLE and PLATINUM STAGES sell a 1.75" pole, which is 45mm.
Then, ALL of them also have the 2" or 50mm we all know.

I think some people are getting confused because x-pole and platinum stages offer a 45mm, or 1.75", pole as their small size. The "small" Aradia pole is smaller than that! They’re not lying — it says on their site 1.5". It’s the same 38mm used in Australia.

Hope this helps. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[lilblondie]

I always wear hot yoga shorts — I had a bunch from Bikram and found they’re perfect for pole! My favorites are the Mikaela and Betty shorts from Mika (mikayogawear.com) and the side string shorts from Shakti (shaktiactivewear.com.) I give all my workout shorts the "standing bow" test in front of a mirror for gaps. I have never been 100% happy with "boyshorts" for classes, just feels too casual.

[lilblondie]

Yeah, for "exotic dancers" the goal is to do as little work as possible to make money! Most girls do floorwork and dancing on their feet with a few pole tricks thrown in. You get sweaty but it’s all cardio. However, it’s worth noting that most dancers don’t work five days a week https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

However, I’m bad at resting too, so if I do a long practice one day or learn new tricks, I’ll try and alternate the types of moves I work on the next day if I just can’t stay off the pole. Like if I do a billion shoulder mounts on Monday, on Tuesday I focus on my leg holds. If I just do continuous freestyle dancing and don’t feel sore the next day, I have no problem practicing multiple days in a row.

Teaching pole classes on consecutive days doesn’t make me sore because it’s only a few demonstrations of moves that are now easy for me… But believe me when I first learned them, I had to take breaks!

[lilblondie]

Yeah give Bikram a try! I haven’t been going lately, but I went 4x a week all summer. It’s great for weight loss and allover flexibility (especially hamstrings, hips, and back). And you feel like a million bucks afterward. However, before your first time, make sure you have drunk a QUART of water that day — not a typo — and bring another with you. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

I actually love the repetition of Bikram yoga, but never found that it directly helped my splits. I also got frustrated with the lack of challenge and variety. I loved the heat, but I miss bird of paradise, inverts, crow, etc. Maybe I will start again over January https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[lilblondie]

I have a SS platinum stages and it is the most slippery pole I’ve ever worked on. Kinda sucks.

I have tried it in an unheated warehouse in winter, a really warm dorm, my current perfect-temperature apartment … doesn’t matter. I’ve tried lotion, every concoction mentioned on here, doesn’t make much of a difference. I only stick on it right after a shower and right after wiping it down.

At this point, I have to try and look at it as a benefit. *tries to make zen face*

[lilblondie]

Let me know if you have a specific question! I am in no way an expert, BUT I take classes at Simply Circus (the school linked above) and can ask the owner who is a professional rigger and has hung all of their aerial apparatus. I just ordered silks myself yesterday and plan to ask him about hanging mine. I have a large central wood beam in my house into which I can drill (but the top is not exposed, so I can’t make a sling).

[lilblondie]

I agree! I was always afraid of lotion because other girls slathering it on always made me slide off the pole (and really mad). Then I noticed that in the winter, putting on self-tanner and letting it dry before going on the pole seemed to make me stick better. It’s moisturizing, has vitamin E (like a lotion) but is a little tacky. Sometimes at home I use lotion though, right after the shower.

Thanks for the reminder, I’ve been sliding off my home pole like crazy, I should try this!

[lilblondie]

I teach at DL fitness in Worcester, MA now and we would be happy to have you https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I do privates and I teach all the advance classes I’ve been there about a month and have a well developed progressive pole syllabus for my advance classes and I tailor privates to the individual student…just a suggestion if you don’t want to go so far! PM me if you have any questions!

No way!! I’ll send you a PM after I get out of class today.

Thanks everyone else for the helpful suggestions! Yes I spoke with an instructor at NYPD there – I actually stayed for the open pole class. I can’t remember her name but she was a small Asian woman, very graceful, had background in ballet. I was probably kind of shocked and snippy with her but I was reluctant to ask Wendy because this woman suggested it to me — like "well, I just work here, if you don’t like what I tell you, you can ask Wendy yourself." But I guess I will try and email her if you guys say she’s nice https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I would also love to take some of the "celebrity" classes they host!

[lilblondie]

Just try practicing it from the ground. As in, every time you do it from the ground, do it without kicking. Grip the pole and engage your shoulders and pull yourself off the ground a few inches THEN invert. And don’t worry — you will gain the core strength eventually. I used to kind of kick off the pole to invert when I got tired — one day I just realized it didn’t bother me anymore.

[lilblondie]

I’ve been dancing 3 years and I still get bruises from doing too much/too enthusiastic floor work. You do get used to it though. You learn how to move your weight differently, and your knees toughen up. I used to look like someone was beating me after a weekend of work, now I just get the occasional ding. You’ll get there https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[lilblondie]

I absolutely LOVE my IKEA mirror. It’s called GODMORGON and it’s 4" x 3" (sounds small, but it’s massive). It was $39 and i bought two … but only hung one because it’s all I need!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50149131

Just be careful if you do buy one. They are extremely thin mirrors and the bending of the mirror from side to side if carried by the edges can crack it. They’re also wrapped badly in cardboard that slides off so be SUPER careful setting them down because you may shatter an exposed edge. We broke one carrying it to our car! But all the fuss was worth it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

If you can’t get to IKEA, I second a glass shop.

[lilblondie]

Nope, using the pole does not hurt your tattoos. Obviously, you do have to keep that particular area off the pole until it’s completely healed. Luckily it doesn’t take long.

I have one on my hip, one between my shoulder blades, and one on my right foot exactly where I climb. I promise you if poling hurt your tattoos I would have rubbed all of them off by now.

And funny you ask. A tongue piercing is the only one I can think of that has NO effect on poling. I had one for a while.

I also have a piercing in my "lady bits" and this one I would recommend against. I like to do my pole sit, CAR, etc very high on my thighs and my piercing is uncomfortable. However, I manage, so it is all up to you and your own priorities.