[nilla]

I had my neighbor over a while back to play on my pole, and I had to keep it really simple for her.  She liked pole pirouettes and pole poses like the flamingo.   The extended leg spin was a stretch for her, but not for my SIL who picked it up really well, and even did a pretty good back hook.  Guys tend to like the strength moves like the flag, maybe a split grip hold where they can lift their feet off the ground…

[nilla]

I'm sorry you feel that way!  That does suck, and it is hard not to compare.  It would be a tragedy though if you let it stop you from poling.  I really admire people who do things purely for the love of the activity, whether they naturally excell at it or not.  And I think it will mean more to you in the end because you have had to really work for every trick.  You have every right to enjoy pole dance as much as your friend does.  And don't feel silly for wanting to get a pole at home.  I think it just shows how dedicated you are.  Plus, if you did get a pole at home I think you'd be surprised at your progression.  You'd be able to hone in on the tricks you struggle with and focus on your own strengths.  Do as Veena says and track your progress by recording yourself.  It's SO helpful.  Then maybe share your successes with us 🙂  DON'T STOP POLING

[nilla]

I don't particularly like screaming rock.  I have kids who throw tantrums i don't want to listen to grown men doing it.  But I know how to mute, so it's all good 🙂

I think it's great when a vid of a dance just takes my breath away, and i think the music chosen can have a lot to do with that.  One thing is for sure, if the dancer doesn't like the song they're not going to be able to rock it, so the dancer has to consider their own preference without forgetting about the audience because this is after all a performance art.

If I'm just dancing for myself I tend to like Indie rock.

[nilla]

I totally agree with Webmaster…

I really thought the article in PoleSpin made the pole dance community look bad.  If we all reacted this way to being misunderstood as a community it's no wonder there would be a bad taste in peoples mouth about pole dancers.  The writer of the article probably felt she was sticking up for herself and her sport, but she presented her feelings in an unprofessional way.  I don't think that's the way to change anyone's mind about Pole Dance.

[nilla]

Girl https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif I am enjoying her so much.

…and I am excited to report that I only look 4 months pregnant now. So a week later it’s already getting better!

[nilla]

*raises hand* I run!
…well, when I’m not preggo or recovering. I started running in high school x-country because all my friends were doing it. I’m glad because it’s been something I’ve fallen back on many times as a workout or just mental therapy https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I’ve run two marathons but I don’t know that I’ll run one again. The training runs just take up sooo much time. I’m definitely glad I did them though, and I encourage anybody with the desire to go for it. It’s amazing how your body adapts to the distance as you slowly add more and more miles to your long runs until a 20 mile run feels like your 5 mile run felt a few months ago.

Before I got pregnant I was doing more trail running than road running but I think I’ll have to do road running as I’m getting back in shape, just because of convenience.

Good luck if you decide to do a marathon, I’m sure you will love it! There are lots of good training schedules online to follow, basically when you start you just run your normal distance 3-4 days during the week and have a "long" run once a week with a day off after that to recover. Add a mile or so to each run every couple weeks until the long run is up to around 20-26 miles and then taper off a few weeks before the event.

[nilla]

Oh man I needed this. I just had my baby on the 25th and the day afterwards I was like "d’oh! I still look 5 months preggo!"

It’s so nice to know I’m not alone. And it’s nice to see the pics of moms who’s bodies have made comebacks. SO encouraging. Thanks for posting this link!

[nilla]

I’m so glad things worked out https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif Having your husband come support you if you perform in October is a great idea. Even if you don’t perform it would be great for him to see you get excited about watching your peers perform. I hope the studio posts info about the October performance (recital?). I wanted to come watch the one in July but I couldn’t.

[nilla]

The other instructors are amazing as well! Personally, aside from Fawnia I love love love Trixie and would recommend taking her classes as well. She is just as amazing and hilarious as all get-out!

…now I’m even more anxious to get back to classes.

[nilla]

Get a pole at home. Best thing I have done so far (in the pole dance aspect of my life)! If you have to skip pole classes for a month in order to afford your own pole, it will be worth it. Of course that doesn’t solve the "getting out of the house" issue unless you continue to take a class on the weekends or something. Good luck!

[nilla]

Yay Fawnia! I took like 5 classes from her before my preggy tummy got too big. I’ll be making the 2 hour drive for her classes again starting in December. I’m actually reluctant to progress beyond lvl 2 at her studio because I might have to take classes from another instructor if I do. She was always teaching the lvl one and two classes at the times I could be there. I’m sure the other instructors at her studio are stellar but she just had such a warm comfortable vibe.

And yowza, I gotta say she has such a rockin bod. That’s cool that she wants to start a family https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[nilla]

I’ve heard this product is a pretty nice antiperspirant, but I haven’t used it myself. The FAQ says you can use it on other parts of your body besides under arms and it’s supposed to last for a week before it wears off…
http://sweatblock.com/

[nilla]

As far as the song and pole dance goes…I think the song is more a celebration of the sex industry in general, like someone else already said "the male fantasy" of a woman doing his sexual bidding for money. Pole dance came from that industry. There’s no getting around that (and who am I to judge, I’m not tough enough to survive in the sex industry). This video shows exotic pole dance in its original form.

There are still a lot of people who don’t realize there are other forms of pole dance. And there are also people who turn their nose up at pole dance regardless of what they know about it. I’m not gonna spend precious energy trying to convince judgmental people that my hobby is "legit" or "not slutty". Some poeple think simply dressing attractively or exploring sensuality is slutty, and those are two fun parts of pole dance for me. But I do try to inform people that there are different styles of pole dance, that for a lot of people it’s just a fun hobby or workout. Not because I’m offended at being labeled a stripper, but because the notion that pole dance and stripping are the same thing is no longer accurate. It’s like assuming everyone who practices yoga is a Hindu or Buddhist monk (that’s soooo 4000 years ago).

So yeah, I don’t think there is a double-standard. I think there is diversity within the pole dance world, and I’m glad there is. And I thank the ladies who pioneered pole dance in strip clubs.

Btw, the song doesn’t appeal to me. I think it’s generic and boring. It’s cool to see the tricks in the vid, and the outfits are hot on some of the girls, but the overall style of the vid is just like the song… generic and boring to me.

[nilla]

Aw I’ve been out of town so i didn’t see this till just now! Thanks for posting this update. I was really excited to see what they’d do for a follow up to their last performance.

[nilla]

Aw thanks glitter! Ditto to all the moms https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

And to all the ladies who may not have kids but who have that nurturing spirit…You deserve a happy mother’s day as well. I know I had several "surrogate moms" growing up. My 4th grade teacher Mrs Jones who was more than a teacher, My aunt Lisa who took -JUST ME- out on the town without my brothers for "girl time" when I had a really bad day at kindergarten. My "surrogate grandma" who lived down the street from me growing up who made treats for me on my B-day and took care of me when my mom was on bedrest pregnant with twins. You know,"moms" like that–you are important to somebody.

[nilla]

We have met and spoken with so many who have started up their pole business and established practices which are illegal, unsafe, or just plain wasted time and money. (Big example…studios that open under an LLC! Don’t even get me started!)

Business newb here. Why is it a bad idea to open a pole studio under an LLC?

Poletrickster I’m kind of in the same boat as you. I’d like to teach pole fitness classes someday but I live in a big mormon community also. I think the marketing/business image will have to be planned out with careful consideration for the community. I’m sure there have been pole studios opened in more conservative communities than ours https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

I’m actually leaning more toward doing bachelorette parties that people host in their homes, or introducing pole classes at already established local gyms, or at the community center. Most likely I will try to start teaching a pole class where I currently work (a fitness/weight loss retreat). I have thought of opening a studio, but I don’t feel I would have the experience necessary to start with that. I think these other things would be a better entry into the business for me, and if I do become more experienced and decide to open a studio later on, I think these things will have helped me prepare a bit more for owning a studio.

[nilla]

Have they done any more performances on AGT, or do we have to wait a while to see them in the next elimination round?

[nilla]

They put together a crowd pleasing routine, that was crazy fun to watch. Thanks for posting the link! Yay for pole fitness!

[nilla]

Woot! Another one! I’m from utah too. Are you in southern or northern utah?

[nilla]

Utah represent!! I’m pretty new too, just got my xpole for (early) christmas present in october. Welcome! and I’ll be looking forward to seeing more posts from you https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[nilla]

My husband has a pull-up bar too! I’m so proud that I can almost do one. I thought I could do one, and then i realized I’d been cheating by not starting from a limp hang https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif So now I’m working on that. I’ve been using pull-ups to measure how much strength I’m gaining in my upper body from pole dancing. So far so good.

[nilla]

And yeah, I also agree with stellarmotion (and whoever else expressed so) that sex or sensuality shouldn’t have to be synonymous with pole dance. A lot of times it’s the more subtle choreography that really draws me in.

[nilla]

I tell my family it’s for exercise and for fun. I don’t mention "sexy" to them. Partly because I don’t care to discuss that aspect of pole dance with them (it’s my personal thing) and partly out of consideration (don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable). I do think it is a shame that pole dancers feel they have to present pole dancing as strictly a fitness thing in order for it to be accepted, because it is so beautiful as an erotic art. But then again, I’m still not at a point where I’m fully comfortable letting loose and showing that side of myself to a whole bunch of people, even though I love watching and being inspired by others doing so. Who knows, maybe I’ll get there someday soon https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

It exasperates me sometimes that people are so judgmental of pole dance. Even if the choreography is tame without any of the signature booty bounces or body waves, there are still going to be people who think it’s scandalous, even though ballet can be just as sexual. So yeah, no point in trying to change it to please anyone but yourself, just take from it what you love.

I do like to be an advocate of pole dance tho, so when people ask about it I tell them there are different styles of pole dance, giving cirque de soleil as an example, and I mention the efforts to make it an olympic sport. They’re already familiar with the sexual aspect of pole dance so why go on about what they already know? If they don’t find that part of it beautiful like I do it’s their loss https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[nilla]

Are you able to do a CKR without that trick now, or is that just how it works for you?

I still do it that way, but it happens so quickly i don’t even think about it. I imagine that someone watching wouldn’t really notice it. Now that I think about it a lot of people probably keep their thigh grip loose until they’ve settled into that tilted knees up butt down position. It’s probably not something you can see in a vid, especially on skinny chicks because their grip is probably a bit more loose to start with (less thigh meat, lol), it seems like they just pivot into that tilt like lightning.

[nilla]

I know what you mean about how when you watch other people do a ckr their butt is lower than their crossed knee, I remember thinking about that when i was first trying it and wondering why the heck my knees weren’t higher than my butt and thinking that might be the trick to it. So try this, instead of trying to tilt your legs and hips back after you’ve got hold of the pole with your thighs, have your butt and legs tilted before your thighs fully "grab on". Try to keep those legs pointing up and your butt low as you settle into that sitting position so that your crossed knee is engaged with the pole or almost engaged with it before you even lean your upper body back. Then when you feel secure in that tilted grip all you have to do is let your upper body lower back.

I hope doing that helps you, it helped me!