[moth]

Dunno if anyone else is as horrendously impatient as me but I emailled X-pole asking when these will be available in the UK. Looks like some time around the end of November! Perfect timing for the Christmas holidays https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

If I’d checked this thread first, I could’ve asked about solid vs plating too, sorry EagleSpirit!

[moth]

I’m super careful doing cradle spins, inverted crucifixes, etc after the top ball of my curved barbell popped into one of the holes in my X-pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif Luckily I noticed before I tore it but I was sort of morbidly fascinated by how far it stretched with no ill-effects!!

[moth]

Depends on the spin. I learn everything with the left hand first even though I’m right-handed. This is because I learn from videos and I mirror the instructors who typically work with the right hand! Some spins I do better with the right hand (RGs, fireman spins) others with the left (chair and reverse spins). I do work everything on both sides except for cradle. Whenever I try the cradle from the right-hand side, I can’t get my body in position–my brain goes all Scooby-Doo "ruh?" I’m working on it, though!
This is me, almost exactly! I’m right handed but my left is generally dominant, when it comes to pole. Some things I’m better at with my right hand though, and my cradles and corkscrews feel seriously wonky on the "wrong" side – I really struggle with my co-ordination during them. When I’m in practise mode, I consciously try to use my weak side but when I’m just dancing around, I tend to go with whatever side I’m best with.

[moth]

^ I don’t know the names of transition moves either!

First spin was a carousel.
First trick was a cross knee release.
First invert was a scorpio.

I was a wee bit ambitious. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t hurt myself. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif

[moth]

Oooh, exciting! I can’t wait to see the article, when he finishes it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

An hour seems like a really long interview? I guess you piqued his interest! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[moth]

Aww, I would have been chuffed to bits to get a gift like that!

I can’t believe their nerve, especially after that advertising campaign https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif
I’m emailing them to express my disappointment too. I hope you at least get an apology!

[moth]

I have not had those exact shoes you posted, but I’ve had similar ones w/ the glitter on top and just like everyone has said, the glitter does wear off after a while. Even just wearing them as regular shoes (no pole involved) the glitter stills wears off! =/
Noooooooo https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif I was eyeing up a pair of glittery boots, thinking they must have a coating of clear pvc (or something similar) over the top of the glitter. So disappointed to hear they don’t but very glad this thread was posted! Sparkly boots would be awesome but not if they’ve got no grip.

Sort it out, Pleaser!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[moth]

Mats are so important both for the physical and mental reasons. If you have a fear of hitting a hard floor you will not be able to give it your all to learn something new. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_shaking.gif
I do all my poling at home and, though my boyfriend has spotted for me before, bless him, he’s more of a hindrance than a help. I had a little leap in my proression when I got my mat – there were quite a few things that I thought I could probably manage but I was too scared to try without it! It definitely boosted my confidence. I wouldn’t want to land on the mat on my head but a few times I’ve fallen out of a superman or something and, for the sake of my knees, been very glad the mat was there!!

Like chemgoddess though, I don’t think it really works with shoes/boots. Though mine was advertised as being able to withstand them, I wasn’t entirely convinced my stiletto heel wouldn’t make a hole in it and it was almost too smushy and wobbly to walk on. It just means I keep the boots for dancing and doing stuff I’m comfortable with – when I’m practising new moves, I do it with the mat and bare feet.

[moth]

Thank you! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I love this move, but haven’t quite yet had the bottle to bring my body round the pole.
I kept losing my grip when I tried it with normal scorpio legs (er, when the inside one is wrapped around the pole, more or less vertical) but it was easy peasy when I stuck my leg out at more of an angle. While I was upside down, it felt like my top leg was so squint it was parallel to the floor but obviously it wasn’t quite that bad https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[moth]

^ I know exactly what you mean! I tend to deathgrip spinning poles because l feel like if I loosen my grip just a little bit to slide down, I’ll fly right off https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

I just assume anyone who says spinning poles are cheating has never tried to dance on one. I mean, I can understand why some people might assume so but I don’t know anyone who’d still think so after actually having a go!

[moth]

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s cover of Minnie the Moocher is one of my favourites :]

The only other one I can think of is maybe Blues in the Night.

[moth]

I’ve had a bit of a nightmare buying pleaser shoes/boots.

I usually wear a UK size 5 (sometimes 4.5). First shoes I ordered were like the ones you want but clear – initially, I ordered a US8 ’cause that seemed to be what the size conversion chart I was using suggested. They were miles too long – I had about a inch of shoe sticking out beyond my heel! Ended up swapping them for a US6, which are the right length but very snug around the front of my foot (and I thought I had narrow feet!). They do stretch out a little but not as much as I expected.

Ordered a pair of boots in a US7 and they’re wearable but I suspect a US8 would be a smidge more comfortable.
…Round in circles or what?! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[moth]

Happy birthday!! I hope it’s a good ‘un.

[moth]

That’s fab! He seemed like a really good sport too https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[moth]

I thought amateur nights usually brought in a ton more punters = more money making opportunities for the girls working there. I don’t get why they would be so catty?! Weirdos https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif

Congrats though! I’m sure you did deserve your win!

[moth]

Glad to see you lot love these! I don’t have the kind of door frames I could screw a normal pull-up bar into so I was looking at getting one of the iron gym things. I was put off by reviews that said it damaged the door frame though. I’m a teeny person and I did wonder if it was just hulking great guys putting more more weight on the wood than it could handle (?) but it was enough to make me think twice.

Think I’ll just go for it and worry about the wood if it does crack https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[moth]

Happy birthday! Hope you have a good day and and awesome pole session https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[moth]

Oooh, lucky you! It’d be nice if my boyfriend was interested in pole dancing, beyond taking a running jump at spinny and seeing how long he can hang on for/how fast he can go https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

Good for him too!

[moth]

Hi from Aberdeen https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

I’m not quite sure what/where the pole pal map is either though!

[moth]

I used to use my lovely big sofa cushions but I moved flat and now my sofa cushions are sown down https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

Sounds like I’d be best off with the thicker one then – thanks for the advice! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[moth]

Ooh, good for you! I’d love to read your blog for it.

I tried but quickly discovered you need to be at a certain level of fitness to even start it… and I wasn’t there yet. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif I found the strength based ones impossible. The guy who "presents" it is awesome though – just as cheesy as Mr Motivator but eminently watchable!

[moth]

I thought that video was brill too https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

I still stick when I try a pretzel in shorts though. In trousers, I spin well enough but, in shorts, I get about half way around the pole before my bottom leg decides we’re stopping. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif Seems like it’s just a case of reminding it who’s boss though!

[moth]

That’s awesome, bttrswtbeauty – congrats! You look so strong https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[moth]

I’m another one who found most stuff impossible to start with. I think I battered my legs up more, just learning how to do a fireman spin than I have anything else! I came at it with no co-ordination, no upper body strength and no flexibility in my legs. It only gets better https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif Soon you’ll be shouting your boyfriend over to show him the new tricks and spins you can do!

(My boyfriend jumped on the pole and did a shoulder mount the first time he tried. I banished him too and told myself it’s okay because it was the ugliest shoulder mount I’ve ever seen – legs flying out at all angles hehe – and mine will eventually look much nicer!)

[moth]

The first time I put my X-pole up, it moved after a few spins. I nearly swore off the thing forever but it just took a few tries until I got the hang of putting it up. My problem was that the dome wasn’t compleeetely flat on the ceiling – I blame it on me being so short I couldn’t really see… but I think I was just too impatient to get going. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

You’ll be fine once you get it sussed – they feel really solid when they’re put up properly, even on carpet! :]