muroo
Forum Replies Created
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I agree with everything said here. Just one more thing I'd like to add though (something I used in an argument).
I have a guy friend who touts himself as super progressive 'n open-minded and whatnot. Talking to him about pole dancing was always fine. Then one day I mentioned chair play lessons and stuff. Out of nowhere he was like "I can see how you can pull off pole dancing as exercise, but chair? Come ON. this is only destigmatized because it's for 'fitness'."
The point that got across to him was, no matter what the dancing or exercise, it's not "just stripping lessons" if it's for you. Sure, we might post videos because we're proud, or want some constructive criticism, but there's no audience we "need". And maybe we use this on our sig others, but haha, really, you should have some arsenal for that in the first place. =P (Hopefully!) The viewer has no power over what we do. And because of that, choosing to do pole dancing instead of any other hobby is just that — a hobby, an art form, a passion — that has to do with no one else.
Even if I were stripping or dancing for money or an audience…as long as I'm the one who wants to do it, and that's common knowledge now, destigmatize it already!
Anyway, a bit off topic, but I kind of had to get it out there once I was reminded of this friend. Who I'm not really great friends with any more for other reasons. Reasons including that thinking about him always gets me worked up and angry!…which wastes a lot of my time. =P Energy vampires, begone.
Allll thatttt said, stalkers are scary. But avoiding stalkers means avoiding any public exposure of even any pictures, so…impossible. =P
My boyfriend is supportive of my pole habit, even though I have a rule that he can never watch. 🙂 (Maybe one day, for a special occasion…)
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yes, same! this might motivate me to do my first challenge and video! if only I still had pink hair highlights… =P
one of the first songs we did a mini routine to when I took live classes was "Tear Away" by Drowning Pool. I think it was a good intro to pole since I love that song and I was like "this is so much more awesommmme than I thought it'd be".
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ps – I don't feel like I'm getting "good" yet. 🙂 to each their own
pps – I need to cut down on my response lengths…I try to prune them down until they seem short enough but then I click save post and it's so much longer than everyone elses. =P
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aww, that hard on yourself after a SINGLE class? 🙂 I guess you're driven at least. =P
first off, yes, record yourself. it seems vain, or only for people who clearly intend to post themselves on youtube to show off, but it really isn't. (okay, maybe sometimes. =P) but it really can be a good tool.
also opposite of everyone else, I wasn't a dancer but I did have a good strength base and I thought it'd be easy because of that. SO wrong. =P I probably did have an easier time with some things (I was climbing by the third class and attempting to invert*) but I'm sure I'm still lacking in the gracefulness department. =P
my biggest problem was, and still is, even though I haven't taken a live class in forever, is letting go. maybe you're just ridiculous-looking in your head! I remember watching myself try and do things like snakes and hair flips and I was like "wow, what a poser". Poser or not, once you start having fun, you start thinking you look better too. 🙂
* – before you blame the school for letting me do that it's because my schedule didn't really fit well with the beginner classes and so I e-mailed the studio asking if it was okay to try a higher level class since I didn't want to wait another few weeks until the schedules matched up again. I think especially since I was going to a class with an instructor who remembered me and could keep an eye out for the newbie they said I could go for it. she called me "the strong girl" because at my first class she showed us fan kicks as a bonus strength building move and I apparently did them really well. that little strength didn't get me too far though… =P
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As my picture shows, I'm a fan of martial arts. 🙂 I haven't really been practicing it for a long time (I still teach once a week or so though) and it's not really pole-specific at all, but it's kept me springy and strong. I'm sure it's helped with some pole moves having that strength base (holding out kicks and stances during class must be doing something), and it's the only reason I'm anywhere close to splits. 🙂
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Is your pole new? I feel like people say that there's a coating on it that you kind of have to work through or clean through before you can get a feeling for the real grip. 🙂
Are you definitely slipping because of sweat? Maybe you just need to warm up the pole. 🙂 I have the worst time gripping in the winter even for two-handed spins, and then in the summer, it's like…one walk around the pole and I'm destined to do just climbs and tricks for the rest of the session.
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definitely makes sense to me! I know what you mean…planks I can feel the abs and core working…for handstands I can't tell I've worked at it enough until…I've worked at it enough and one day it's just much better. (I was working on elbow presses against the pole and one day I just sort of accidentally did it without touching the pole in the end.)
I'm not sure if what Tara said about negatives is what I think it is…but like I tried to mention before, I think doing the opposite motion (e.g. dismounts instead of mounts) helped me a lot.
And if knee tucks get a little boring, maybe do some of the ab intensive spins like a chair spin or V carousel so you're engaging your core while moving…not the kind of dynamic exercise you're looking for, I know, but every little bit helps, right? 🙂
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Thanks for the replies, everyone! 🙂
I guess people would mostly post freestyle videos that they were somewhat proud of, but they're usually intimidatingly good, like they were planned meticulously to the music. But it's a skill like anything else, I guess. Aaaaand I'd be mostly doing it for myself so I don't have to worry about looking good yet. 🙂
And Lyme Lyte, I would only hope that I would naturally do things I'm comfortable with, but I've definitely gotten too enthusiastic about spins and moves when music gets going! =P Nothing too bad, but tweaking muscles here or there with instant regret of "oh well that was dumb". Haha but that's more a matter of choosing my pole music library more carefully…staying away from the dance hits for now.
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I remember aerialamy emphasizing the awesomeness of the yoga plow. 🙂
Are you trying to improve on the inverted V or trying to get it in general? When I'm at my bf's place and away from my pole I like to get on his pull up bar, pull up halfway (arms at sort of a right angle, like on the pole when you begin your invert) and do a knee tuck or leg lift and then pull into an inverted position so I end up upside down in a pike position as slowly as possible without ending up swinging. (Kind of like something guys might do on the still rings in gymnastics haha.) I guess it'd require being comfortable with inverting in general, but I think it might be easier to do since the grip of a bar is easier than a pole.
Oh and when you're doing the elbowstand/handstands, if you can't get lift or press up, do your best to control your way down in a split/V position!
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Oh those are cute!
I was going to add that runningwarehouse.com until the end of today 7/28 (PST?) you can get 25% off liquidation apparel.
In general, I love runningwarehouse…free 2-day shipping…and reasonable prices.
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The hardest part for me is remembering which leg goes where once I get inverted on the dark side. 🙂 also my V is lopsided on the “other” side. Everything about pole is a struggle. 🙂 good luck!
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my name is amooster on skype (I think). I might just sit and watch sometime if you organize one so I know what these pole jams are like. =P don't worry I'll wear questionable pole clothing while I watch so you guys don't feel weird haha.
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not sure how many spins are static only, but I personally think that spin combos on a static pole look more impressive than on a spinning pole. 🙂
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Can you clarify your question? If you look at the lessons for spins there will be a static pole part and a spin pole part (at least in the newer/remade ones). I don't know what you mean by "true spins".
My pole gets real sticky real fast (and I like climbs and tricks better anyway…hey, it's for exercise and I can do what I want!) but in the beginning before it's too warmed up, my favorites are the cradle, carousel, standing fireman, and when I'm feeling awesome I attempt reverse grabs and chopper spins. 🙂
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haha easy moves that turn into killers…I nominate the side V to superman. it's just too awkward for me! and not very enticing to practice if it goes wrong. =P dang sticky legs!
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hmm yeah there has to be something with the cupid/star, shooting star and side V!
I'll say
Gemini –> Side V –> Shooting Star
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Hi, emmye! I'm not sure what "from standing" means, but you can always do the reverse handstand thing when you walk your feet up into the handstand position so you know the feeling before you kick up into it.
As far as fear goes, invite a friend over to spot you! 🙂 And do it against a wall first.
It sounds weird but if it works for you, learn a good cartwheel first! Better yet a roundoff. Channel your inner child. 🙂 If nothing else it'll be fun. Slow down the cartwheel, get used the handstand feeling. I'm not sure if it's the same for everyone, but handstands for me are easier than elbowstands (without the pole/wall) since you're more manueverable in a handstand to help balance. But as far as a press goes, I'm elbowstand all the way. Don't see the handstand press happening anytime soon. 🙂
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ohhh hyperextending. I don't know how that didn't occur to me. loose joints run in the family. I'll pay attention to that, thanks amy!
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Just remember to have fun!
When nothing works I just pump up the music and take "sexy breaks" when it's all hip circles and pole turns and hair flipping…
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speaking of the split grip…when does the bottom arm stop hurting? I don't even do full bracket grips (except the carousel spin) since I remember them hurting a ton but just doing advanced planks and side Vs cause an ache right after disengaging. And it's hard to know when to stop doing them since they only hurt afterwards. 🙂
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You're very welcome, Lyme Lyte! 🙂 Now that I've seen your profile, I'm even more convinced you're in the role model category. I read the "I spend a lot of time traveling" as "I spend a lot of time time traveling" and the realization that you don't time travel is the only detraction. =P
Kyrelle, yeah, I pretty much am going to settle for the fact that it will be a reasonable massage if it does nothing else. =P I've never had a professional one so my standards are low. I have The Stick for my lower legs which did a lot and I can only imagine what a foam roller would do for me.
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nice! I hope I can be such an amazing lady when I'm older! 🙂
and I guess we can both strive to be like that 86 yr old German gymnast…
http://www.nesn.com/2012/04/german-woman-86-shows-off-gymnastics-routines.html
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I agree that aerial inverts on a short pole will be rough. 🙂
I don't know which other tricks or moves you want to do, Cammy, but sometimes I do just do a invert from a squat, if that makes sense, to have more room up top. Haha it's not pretty, but it works for me!
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Yeah…I haven't really perfected that Superman yet. Sometimes I get stuck in a spot where I can hold it and it hurts no more than the actual superman, but my legs are not actually fully together. Awkward…(especially when the cat shows up below the pole and you're afraid of landing on him!)
Oh and my Jade looks so sad. I almost got floor splits but there's a long way to go…
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I'm a cyclically overweight person. In college when I sparred I was a lightweight once and a heavyweight once. =P One thing that I had to remind myself of when I was trying to lose weight was that % body fat matters too, besides those charts that BMI stuff. If you've been poling for a while, you probably have a reasonable amount of muscle. 🙂 My bet is that to get to a "normal" weight, you'll have to lose some muscle with that too. Somewhere down the line or now I'd suggest getting a reading and calculating how much weight you could/should realistically lose by finding out how many pounds of you are fat. (Hmm, that was phrased weird.) Anyway, you might be surprised!
I'm a short asian girl who always felt like a gummy bear compared to the others I knew. But I know now (without deluding myself too much, I think =P) that I can never be 120lbs without sacrificing some muscle, or choosing to have below normal body fat.
And I agree with everyone else. All that matters is how healthy you feel! I lost weight recently in all the wrong ways and I wouldn't mind gaining some in exchange for feeling better about myself. 🙂
