ottersocks
Forum Replies Created
-
Yep, shaking means you have tightness in the muscle you’re stretching (not weakness.) When you get the book and are trying this, if you shake, back off on the resistance. You don’t need as much as you’d think. Good luck!
-
Resistance stretching just refers to the stretching technique that’s being used in Cooley’s book/dvd and Dara Torres’ dvd. Basically, it’s the idea of contracting the muscle you’re trying to stretch while you’re stretching it. It both stretches and strengthens the muscle.
No special equipment needed. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Think about "making a muscle" (flexing your bicep.) Now think of someone gently pulling your fist down away from your shoulder while you try to keep your fist at your shoulder. If you RESIST and let them ultimately straighten your arm while you’re keeping tension in your bicep the whole time, you’ve just done a resistance stretch of your bicep. -
Hey Sascha
I’d say of the two, go for the DVD.
However–and I keep forgetting to tell everyone this–the resistance stretcher I did the session with **highly**recommended the DVD Dara Torres and her trainers have put out. They do resistance stretching, and she said it is very easy to understand and explains the work very clearly. -
I will say that my powder coated ‘lil mynx can be horrible sometimes, especially when it is warm.
Goddess, can you clarify what you mean? Horrible how? I have a Lil Mynx stainless and have been thinking about getting a custom powder coated to put in my room with 15 foot vaulted ceilings. I thought I’d read that they are much better for gripping, which is what I’d like–not worried about spinning being difficult. I’d love your thoughts. Thanks!
-
Come to think of it, it will be easy for you to spot me. I’ll be one of the ones in the "Amber Rocks the Pole" t shirt!!
-
Amy, that is AWESOME!!!!! I can’t wait to hear all about it. The person I stretched with is Doran Christie, if you feel like mentioning it to him. Have a great time!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
-
Woohoo! We should all wear nametags with our SV names so we can spot each other!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
-
ok, tracee & i will be in row K, seats 101 & 102! see you guys there! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif
Right next to me!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
-
Thanks Amy! I actually grew up in Westchester so am really familiar. I don’t do public transit, I’m a taxi kind of girl. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif I just can’t stand JFK. I flew into Newark 3 times last year and had good success zipping into the city in taxis. I land at 8 pm on a Wednesday so it really shouldn’t be too bad (famous last words, I know!) We actually can’t fly nonstop from SFO to LGA, believe it or not. For nonstop, it’s JFK or EWR only. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif
Thanks again for your post, I really appreciate it. Looking forward to meeting you! -
I’m row K, 103 and 104. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Booked my flights. Nonstop SFO to Newark RT for $238—-YEAH BABY! In on Wednesday evening, out on Sunday.
It was cheap last year too. Who the hell wants to go to NY in March? -
Yes, they did have an official hotel with discounted rates last year. I’d assume they’ll do it again. New venue this year though, so I’m sure a new hotel as well.
(BTW, hi Cricket, I’m Ellen, I teach at Poletential with Fleur, was in the audience in LA, you were great!!) -
GO AMY! GO AMY! GO AMY! GO AMY! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
-
I think I’m coming. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
I lived in DC for years, best friend is still in the area and is having her 2nd child in late Feb. I need an excuse to come to the area to see her, and darn if this doesn’t seem perfect!
I’ll meet you all at USPDF in March too, but it will be fun to be at the conference together too.
Ellen -
Love Gator’s explanation!
We call these "porn taps," and we also were taught that girls on stage do these to get attention.
Webstwe and Luckygirl dance at Brassy Butterfly in Portland, where my good friend Freya is one of the owners. I don’t know if they’re on here. coco_coquette is on here for sure, and she’s one of the other owners. -
I’ve just posted a blog with my report of my one on one resistance stretching session. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
-
I’ve just posted a blog with the report of my one of one stretching session yesterday. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
-
Hi Sariy,
How great that you’re coming to NorCal! Absolutely take Veena up on her offer and go jam with her! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Poletential is located in Redwood City, and is about 30 minutes south of SF. Fleur and I are both teachers there. We have 10 20-foot poles in a lovely studio, and have classes all week that are all drop-ins. We don’t do levels or series like many studios, so you would be welcome anytime. Take a look at http://www.poletential.com and let me know if you want to know more. Safe travels!! -
Now my question for you all is this.. I find Bob Cooley’s book a little hard to interpret also. Is he saying that the muscle should be contracted and the stretch resisted against as the joint is taken through one’s current full range of motion, and then the only relaxation part that comes into it is when the relaxed flexibility of the stretched muscle is tested afterwards, and gains noted? It seems really hard to take a joint through the whole range of motion whilst keeping the muscles in a hard contraction all the time.
So, here’s what I’ve gathered from working with my Rolfer (who is the one who taught me this concept and originally lent me Cooley’s book.) The contraction/stretch begins when the muscle is at its shortest. So let’s take the example of sitting in the straddle position and pulling your face over toward the floor. You begin to resist the legs inward and push them backward down into the floor while you are sitting fully upright. You exhale and continue to resist the legs as you pull yourself over toward the floor. You never stop resisting until you reach your fully stretched position, and then continue to resist as you hold there briefly. You then relax and return everything to its starting/shortest point.
There is no time when, per se, "the relaxed flexibility of the stretched muscle is tested afterward and gains noted." When I asked my Rolfer, how do I employ these techniques when I am on the pole and trying to do a jade, for example, her answer was, you don’t. You will just find that from having used these techniques you will have gained flexibility and be able to move deeper into positions on the pole. And that is indeed what I have found.
You are correct, it is really hard to take a joint through the whole range of motion while keeping the muscles in a hard contraction all the time. The balancing act is figuring out how hard you need to contract. If I contract too hard, my arms can’t possibly pull my leg toward my face when lying on my back, for example. Trial and error seems to inform how hard to contract and how hard to pull. But yes, this is very hard work, and it is normal to be tired and sweating from doing it.
The concept of contracting the opposite muscle (antagonist) is really not addressed by Cooley from what I can tell.
I hope to be able to tell you a lot more after Wednesday, stay tuned! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif -
Hi
I’m the one who started the first thread on this book. I have been doing the stretches (from the book) for a few weeks now and have seen big gains. From what I’ve learned from the bodyworker who introduced me to this, as well as from the info we got direct from the company (via another SV member), it is ALL of the leg and hip stretches that are helpful for the splits–not just the ones that look like they would be for splits. The muscles on the outside of your legs have to be strong and be able to shorten in order for your inner leg muscles to be able to lengthen. Hip flexors are just as important too.
The other thing is, it is really easy to not do these stretches correctly. It requires a lot of concentration and you really have to focus on which muscles you are trying to contract.
I have a one on one session on Wednesday with one of Bob Cooley’s disciples who has a stretching studio out here (http://www.stretchworks.net) I will report back with any insights after I work with her. -
I’m so happy that this is turning out to be useful for so many people! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Here’s my update:
I’ve been doing the stretches a few times a week for the past two weeks. Noticing big gains in everyday flexibility. Yesterday my jade was as close to a split as I have ever gotten, which was super exciting.The big news though is this:
Bob Cooley has his home studio in Massachusetts. He also has one out here in NorCal, called Stretchworks, run by two of his disciples. One of them does private sessions out of an office very close to my house. So next week, on December 2, I have a 90 minute private resistance stretching session scheduled! She said that at first she will do assisted stretching with me to assess my flexibility and my limitations from my old hammie injury. And then, we will work to develop a home program that will specifically target the moves I seek to be able to do well. WOOHOO!!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gifI promise to let everyone know how it goes. I love that the woman from the company took the time to read this forum and provide recommendations for all of us. Score!!
-
Bob Cooley’s "The Genius of Flexibility." See if your library has it. Resistance stretching is changing my life and body totally, Roxy-Pink’s too from what she says.
-
Sissy and all you other ladies with piercings in your ladybits—
(First of all, well done! Braver men than I am for sure!!)
If you do tail sit the way Fleur describes, going from pole sit, leaning over to one side so the pole ends up on one butt cheek lodged behind your sitz bone, then drawing knees in to chest and opening legs out into a v from there, your ladybits should come nowhere near the pole. This move takes a lot of abs and your arms need to be straight when you do it.
Same with bum slide. In the handstand, open legs out to a v, then MOVE YOURSELF OVER so the pole is in your inner leg cord, not your bits. Then roll your pelvis to bring feet toward the floor. I love this move and do not have super flexy hamstrings. Give it a try!
-
Wanna know a funny story? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Poletential is very proud that we have a part-time fill-in instructor named Jasmin. Jas is from Australia, used to teach at Bobbi’s. Really, we’re so blessed, she’s just stunning.
Anyway, Jasmin showed this move to Fleur. She didn’t know what to call it, but said that a dancer from Australia named Allegra (who just won Miss Pole Dance Australia) did it. So Fleur decided to call it the Allegra.
And Fleur did it in her winning USPDF routine!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
It is funny how it has been popping up all over the place the past week or so. Call me biased, but Fleur does it best! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif -
Tine, the book has a few great stretches for hip flexors. I’ve been doing these stretches inconsistently for the last 2 weeks while I’ve been fighting a virus and already I notice a huge difference in my every day flexibility. Buy the book and give it a try! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
-
"Freya, who co-owns Brassy Butterfly in Portland with me, can attest to all this. I highly recommend the book and the method."
Coco! I had no idea you were on here! I’m Ellen, Freya’s friend from Poletential in NorCal! Nice to see you here!! I’m so excited to hear you use these methods too. xoxo
