mizvix
Forum Replies Created
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as far as lower body goes, i do weighted squats and sumo deadlifts as my main exercises. To supplement, weighted lunges.( I do other leg exercises as part of my pole and flex classes.) i do these at home – hate gyms – and don't spend too long on them, but do something most days with no more than 2 days rest if i can manage it.
saying that, it's my arms and shoulders, not my legs that i feel i need to work more!
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you can also get mika products in the UK. I like them as they are a slightly thicker material than primark style shorts/boxers. To be honest though, they were quite expensive for all they are when you can get underwear that provides enough coverage for a couple of pounds. Also, i pole 3 times a week at a studio (so need proper coverage) so need lots of shorts – cheap ones do fine! i would recommend getting a larger size. I'm normally a 8-10, but even in my 12-14 primark knickers the waist band is less than flattering to my tum and love handles! lol!
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you aren't the only one!! i can handspring into straight edges and ayeshas and can do them from elbow grip, but can't do them very well (or at all on a bad day) from invert. No clue why – still working on it, but you aren't alone!
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I'm going to second what has already been said – rest and diet!
Rest days are important, but also days where your training is just not as intense also; light weights, walking not running, light stretches, floorwork not tricks. Sometimes i feel too energetic to rest so i'll do gentle work, knowing that another day might be too much.
Another tactic is to rotate exercises. i tend to pole 3 times a week at a studio and i also do strength and cardio training at home. i rotate my exercises so that i have legs days and upper body days, ensuring that my upper body days don't clash with my pole days, and if i'm planning on doing a lot of running (i take notions….) i make sure that i leave good time between it and leg weights, otherwise i don't achieve to my best in anything! My exercise routines are fluid and adaptable so that i can adapt to changes to my schedule and body, rather than strictly sticking to a pattern.
diet is also vitally important. I calorie count, but the quality of my calories is important to me as my focus is conditioning not weight loss. I do try to limit junk. I'm a carb fiend so have a few portions a day. (i tried a low carb diet once as part of my conditioning and after a few weeks i had to give up on it as i felt like i was going to die, even though i was hitting my calories each day.) i make sure i have a couple of small portions a day rather than one large meal – like Veena said – quite a number 'meals' will help keep your energy levels level and avoid those dips that lead to bad eating! Protein is important for muscle health. I keep protein powder and bars in the house if i need it as a supplement. And i take a multi-vitamin (i know my diet should provide all my vits and mins, but i'm a picky eater and know there are things I lack).
one thing i have discovered is that everyone is different with their training and recovery times and there are no hard and fast rules. it's a case of trying things out for a reasonable length of time until you find something that does work for you.
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Best bet is to google search pole comps. There are some big annual ones so once u know their websites u can keep checking for updates or sign up to their mailing lists. UKAPP will be back in 2013. Search UKAPP and u’ll find some links to other comps. The PDC website is regularly updated so is a good resource too. aside from that, search for large studios and keep an eye out on their fb pages. It really will depend on the area u are in tho and u may have to travel.
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i dont want to be the one who over reacts, but it would be a very good idea to see a doctor, preferably someone who specialises in orthopaedics. as a poler, you NEED your wrists to be in good condition, and so you need to take care of them. you need to know if there is damage there or any reason for weakness, and you need to know what you are and are not allowed to do.
I had a bad injury last October that left me barely able to move my hand. After seeking medical advice i splinted it, iced it, took painkillers and rested. Finally got an appointment to see a specialist who told me splinting was making it worse and i shouldn't be resting too much – advised me to get back on the pole. I still get pain, but it's lessening, and after chatting with the specialist I know what good pain and bad pain are. An MRI showed me what was going on and gave me more information about the condition of my wrist.
so… every injury is different, every wrist is different – you need to get it checked out.
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We’re not in the states – UK based -but frequently do charity fundraisers and have often been asked as a studio to provide performers for charity events. Most of the charities we have raised money for – and the total is in the tens of thousands over 5-6 years- tend to be those that we have contacts in, that way it’s not just a group of ‘pole dancers’ but rather ‘Mr Smiths wife’ who wants to donate money. Our part of the UK is small, only about 1.5 million, so local charities tend to struggle to get funds – that’s where a lot of our money goes as they are less likely to refuse. Hope this is of some help!
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also interested if you still have them 🙂 FB is http://www.facebook.com/vicky.thompson.754 – prob easiest way of contact xox
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I used to slip and slide constantly because of sweaty hands, no matter what grips i used, but the stronger my grip has become the fewer problems i have. I still have to use a lot of grip aid – tite grip and liquid chalk at moment – but rather than hands sliding straight off the pole, i can control my slippage more. because of this, i am more confident to try moves that i never woud have in the past. saying that, pole finish is also important – me and my chrome pole do not get on well, but i'm ok on stainless steel and brass is my favourite.
so try not to let your frustration take over! keep trying all your anti-perspirants and grip aids and keep working on your grip!
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it has given me so much more confidence, not only with my body but in my day to day life as well. I have also met some fantastic friends thanks to pole and it has improved my social life! I've always had a tendencey towards very dark moods, and work stress and lack of confidence have always added to these – pole has helped to give me a focus outside of work which helps to lift my moods and make me feel a lot better about myself; so much so that my BF insists that regularly pole even though he never sees me perform!
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high school English teacher. Did BA in English and Modern History, then PGCE. Worked in bar and as a pharmacy assistant to fund studies. Technically i'm registered on an MEd, but thinking of dropping out – won't advance my career, costs a lot of money and takes a lot of time. Don't feel like i have enough time as it is – especially to pole and do other fitness training and travel! we'll see… lol! most of the staff in school know about pole, but kids don't. every now and then there's a whisper but because they see me as so prim, proper and straightlaced they laugh it off before i have to say a thing!
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i've only ever used one type – it's called a rumble roller http://www.rumbleroller.com/
we have the compact black one. My bf loves it – he does a lot of weight training and finds it's excellent. I find it's too firm for me, but do use it occasionally. The wee nodules are really good at getting into your muscles! I cant comment on ordinary ones cos i've never tried them, but have wrapped a mat around a wine bottle and used cricket balls!! lol! desperate times = desperate measures.
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The studio I go to sells gorilla grip and tite grip and has chalk and wrist supports for people to borrow. Did do branded clothing and accessories but I’m not sure how successful they were for a small studio. Any questions about sourcing clothing/ accessories are answered. With amazon and eBay and online shipping I’m not sure if there is much profit in it for smaller places.
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Elbow grip Ayesha. Took me a while to get it smooth and speedy. From there there are so many combos 🙂
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Elbow grip Ayesha. Took me a while to get it smooth and speedy. From there there are so many combos 🙂
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2 main things that help me…
food – i tend to snack a lot on biscuits but i'm trying to reduce this and eat more healthily. Doctor recommended protein at night to help me get more restful sleeps. I don't tend to have a protein rich diet despite doing pole / weight / flex traning so i do find that has helped me (protein shake at night after intense workout rather than biccies!!). i get few breaks in work so i keep foods i can snack on if i get 10 mins – cracker and rye breads, dried fruits, protein bars. Plenty of water and reduced caffeine intake. (i've been off work and pole this week and i feel like poo as i know i'm not being good with my food, even though technically i should be feeling good!)
snooze – don't hit the snooze button!! set your alarm for the time you ned to get up, and then get up straight away!
i suppose you have to consider your whole lifestyle. is the sleep you get good sleep? are you getting the most out of your exercise or are you too tired? sometimes relaxation is important too!
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i agree with all of the above!
knowing the pole space is important and whether it will be on stages. I entered a comp that said X-stage lite, and it turned out to be full x-stage so we (doubles routine) had to make contingencies for that. This feeds into the idea of not having every second planned. assume there will be some changes or issues and plan for them.
Our next comp has 2 x-stage lite poles but until we get there we won't know their placement so we have had to plan for running out of time and not having much room for floorwork. The key thing is to not panic and stress over things you can't change – work on what you can change and adjust. If things aren't as advertised or expected, don't panic!
footwear – find out about floor!! bare-footed i slip and slide all over x-stages, in boots there are some moves i can and can't do, ankle protectors rule out anything needing the sole of your foot (unless you wrap your feet in pvc tape – yep – that's my plan!!).
smile, point your toes, keep your head held high no matter what happens 🙂
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It is possible – i'm not a particularly gymnasticy person but have been working for months on being able to deadlift into a straddle elbowstand. i always do it away from poles and walls to ensure that i'm not using them for support (but my core is strong and i'm confident that i won't overbalance). i started by lifting one leg, then the other and then holding different leg shapes and straddling down slowly. i focus on is keeping my arms, shoulders and tum engaged and pull my legs up from my tum. one of my friends keeps her elbows wide to keep her more stable, as close to a 'tripod' headsand as she can get with elbows down.
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i've been toying withthe idea of Emile Autumn "i want my innocence back." its very creepy!
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a few people have posted in the past about writing papers on pole – if you search the forums you might find some inspiration, ideas or contacts for further help.
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shoulder mounting down from invert to standing – work on this until you can do it slowly and in a controlled way. Also, try SM from your knees (front hook position). Sounds odd, i know, but from standing it's easy to kick, even if you don't mean to and the same when you are sitting on the floor. i'm about 80% successful with my no-kicking aerial SM, but the more i do it the more comfortable it feels! good luck! xo
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i still do that if i rush into it – not so good at the top of a pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif lol! a friend of mine was at a workshop with alethea and the 'look where you're going' thing was her advice – it def made it a lot easier and much less scary! and don't forget to keep the tension in your arms until you've landed – that shuold help you stick close to the pole too. xox
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i use the cup grip too – i feel more secure with it than the others! flip advice? i'll try!!
with the flip, you need to be confident with inverting without gripping the pole with your legs; so V shapes and pikes. you need to have momentum in your movement to get your pelvis level with and beyond the pole, so superman practice is good here too. SM bounces would prob help too!
i'd advise a spotter with this one, or plenty of cushions! Whichever shoulder you mount on is the side you will be putting your legs to in a pike shape. when your pelvis goes beyond the pole and your legs are ready to bring you back to standing, look where you are going – i look over my right sholder to the ground (or to the pole if i'm fliping onto it). I don't let go until i'm secure on the ground or pole.
i hope that makes sense… i'm okay at showing, but not so good at telling unless someone is in front of me!
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congrats!!! you could practise your ASM into superman – it will help you prepare for your death lay (when you have a ceiling!) and it shouldn't take as much room as a brass monkey. You can aso practise your SM flip back onto pole – i was always ok doing it on the ground but the additional height and reliance only on your core make it that more daunting!
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Hey Sair,
Not from Dublin but I'm aware of a studio just outside of Dublin called Polekix. They are hosting Natasha Wang workshops, and have hosted other famous names. I think they might have hosted comps too, but don't quote me on that one! contacts for them are: www.facebook.com/PoleKix and www.polekix.com
there are probably a few irish girls on here who attend the studio, so you might get more info in the next couple of days! enjoy your trip and if you ever head up to northern ireland give me a shout! 🙂
