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Oh…my…god. Oh my GOD!! omigod….OMIGODOMIGODOMIGOD!!!!!

OMG!!!!!

Omg pennies going in the piggy bank RIGHT NOW!!

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I teach pole dancing anywhere between 4-15 hours a week. I still have calluses. The worst one is one my dominant hand at the base of my middle finger. It just goes with poling. Be proud of your calluses, it shows you are working hard at a fun and exciting sport.

Agree. My lil camel hump. When I practice spins, I see a crease in it from being pinched over and over. Then it peels.
So lovely. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

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I can’t cartwheel or handspring whatsoever. I don’t quite yet have the strength, and I super-definitely don’t yet have the balance. So I always work on split grips from the top down, going into a split grip straightedge from a standard invert, then drop it to one side into jacknife, then swing one leg around into an aysha. It’s not super pretty yet, but it’s helping me find the balance point for my SG aysha and split grip. Which will in turn help with the handspring.

But I am a weird freak like SissyBuns who got SG aysha before elbow or forearm grip, neither of which I can do yet, literally at all. But, I’ve always had a knack for the flag and its varieties, so I’m working on my flag invert because I know that grip will get me up and over in basically a forearm grip. For me, learning a new move that really challenges me is about transitioning into and out of it in ways which most take advantage of my personal strengths, then modify the move to make that strength more well-rounded and add new components to it. For example, when I learned SM the standard double cup grip was easiest and took advantage of my strong biceps. But then once I learned that I started working on grip variations, and my SM is better overall because of the new control I learned from each new grip and thus using different muscle groups to execute the same move.

That said, if you can’t do aysha or straightedge, think about the horrifying backwards fall that could result out of trying a jacknife before you’re ready and at least use a spotter and a mat or at most reconsider and spend a while working up to it. Of everything I can do in split grip, jacknife is probably the one I’m still least comfortable with, and I work on my split grip literally every heavy practice. (which has only been a little over a month, but still) One thing is for sure, I’ve never done it from a butterfly, but I’m definitely going to give that a try now.

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How about my graduation/official start of life as a big kid/first August EVER that I won’t be going back to school?

But I don’t know if that’s something to celebrate or mourn yet…guess it will depend on whether or not I get this job https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

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Aha that’s high praise from a warhammer nerd! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif You’re lucky to have a friend like that. That is one pretty enlightened male.

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Wow that makes me so happy!! I remember in the pole and sexuality thread I mentioned how much I wish we could remove the stigma in our minds enough that we could see what children would bring to the sport with proper training. Kids are so creative and focused in their playtime, I bet these children will really beef out the creative and gymnastic aspects of this art.

EDIT TO ADD: of course, if you read the comments on these articles, you see all kinds of parents perpetuating these pole stereotypes that say a woman can’t possibly be on the pole without it being sexually explicit. But you just know that videos of these kids will make it to the Internet. And once people see that what they are doing is a true showcase of gymnastic skill and not sexual at all, only the most bigoted will hold fast. I saw a lot of parents commenting that, while they know pole isn’t all about stripping, they still wouldn’t let their kids do it because of the stigma. So I think if this is successful it will be a step forward for all of us in the public eye.

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Oooh I’ll have to ask her to send me the info or put a post in pole jams. I just started deleting my facebook today. Their terms of use have finally gotten too intrusive for me.

And vdance, what about if you’re stuck with carpet? My landlord put this god awful patterned Berber all over the house and it eats my feet for breakfast. I was thinking about a leather soled slipper because I literlally can’t pirouette on it. *can’t* >_<

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Omigod YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! I promise you all right here, right now that nonmatter where I am, whether I’m working, or what I’m doing, I WILL BE THERE!!!! I don’t care if dates are tba you go right ahead and put me down as a "hell yes!!!!!!" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

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Hi There,

I manage the studio and am also an Instructor. What part of IL do you live in as I may know another studio not all of them show up in google. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Thanks for the kind words isisandshiva. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

How awesome of you to reply! I’m in Decatur, IL. It’s exactly halfway between Champaign and Springfield, with each being a manageable hour-ish away. If you know of anywhere in the area, I’m doing there tomorrow! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

The responses about your studio have been so awesome and sincere, I will definitely have to figure some means of checking it out.

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I saw the difference in price…problem is Chicago is like, home home, where my parents live. So I could come up to do a class, but I live/work/educate myself about 3 hours south of there, so I don’t think I could use all 4 before they expire in a month, plus I checked their lessons and you have to do one of their intro to pole classes before you can take any others. I totally understand that, as a studio that’s a must to protect themselves legally, but it would mean I would have to plan like 5 visits to Chicago in a month, spending 6 hours in the car round trip each time. Oh my, the gas cost… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif I really, really, REALLY wish they didn’t expire in a month, or I would totally buy myself the 4 lessons. It wouldn’t be a problem if I were local, but there’s just nothing around here literally at all. I’ve googled half to death. And I don’t have anywhere at my parents’ house to pole, either not enough space or suspended ceiling, so every time I’m home I have pole separation anxiety.

I wish they’d make an exception for one broke student. 4 lessons would probably last me 2.5-3 months. I really wish I had the support and social interaction of a studio and classes to attend every once in a while without destroying my budget.

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What size are they? It’s my birthday in like 2 weeks and those are hot.

Sorry I’m useless for suggestions. Also sorry those didn’t fit you! It’s always discouraging to try something on that doesn’t fit, whether it’s a boot or a belt or a bikini. I hope you find the smokin’ hot boots that are right for you! It may take time but they gotta be out there.

*EDIT* found these boots on torrid. Might not be quite what you’re looking for, but their website lists the sizes by calf and thigh measurements, so if you keep your eye on it you might find something cool without having to worry as much about if it will fit.
http://www.torrid.com/torrid/store/product.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302035992&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442205992&bmUID=1272514306025

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Jesus that article reeks of judgement and paranoia of her own gender. Someone get this woman an xpole, a bottle of wine, and a bullet vibe STAT!!

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Omg….and I’m in Chicago…soooooooo tempting!!!

I do not need two poles….I do not need two poles…..*facepalm* I WANT TWO POLES SO BAD! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

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Well there you have it! I’m really grateful to everyone who took the time to respond. I guess a little obsession can go a long way! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

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I just got my first pole up yesterday, but I want you to know that I think you’re GREAT! In fact you’re one of my pole idols!

Once when I went for a photography session, the photographer asked if I was a dancer. I told her that no, I’d never danced before, and she told me a moved like a dancer. Naturally! I think you’ve got a lot more of that natural grace than you give yourself credit.

Keep on rocking!

Too sweet! Sweetness overload! /dies https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif That puts it in perspective for me…majorly. I never would have thought anything that I have done would be worthy of admiration, but I guess when I think about the first pole moves I EVER saw and was impressed with, I realize I can do most of them now. The things I’m struggling with learning at this point are, for the most part, things I didn’t know existed until I got interested in the art form.

I know I’ve been progressing relatively quickly for someone with as limited of an athletic background as I have, which has only fueled and focused my desire to find out if I really am capable of achieving my highest goals for polin’. But it’s easy to forget all that and notice my limitations more than my strengths. I’m a fast learner with most things, as long as I’m determined. I think that’s one of my best assets.

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To defend myself once again *sigh, why does everything I say get taken the wrong way* this is also not about wanting to "dance like" any specific person. There are a lot of "Jenynes" on my list, but she’s one of the only ones I could be guaranteed wouldn’t read this and I didn’t want to embarrass anyone. One commenter here is on it. I can’t "dance like" them all at once. C’est imposible.

This also wasn’t about wanting to be #1. Just about wanting to be able to achieve, with my body, what people who compete at that level achieve.

This was primarily about realizing that what I enjoy watching in a dancer might be things I couldn’t ever do.

This was just about being worried my body would be not physically be capable of dancing well on the whole, from tricking up top to licking the floor, like if I hadn’t done it by a certain age there would simply be no learning it.

2a. You do not need a dance and/or gymnastics background to be as good as them.
2b. You only need it to be as good as them AS QUICKLY AND EASILY as them.

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 fuggin heart you.
I fuggin heart you more. <3

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something that makes their dancing aesthetically pleasing to me. I don’t have any of that. I know if I ever have to confront the notion that I can’t ever be as good as I want to make myself happy, I won’t do it anymore.

This was intended to mean I had not realized, until recently, the typical background behind the aesthetic that I like. And therefore worried that the appearance that pleases me is not attainable. Obviously that’s not what I conveyed with my post, since the resulting criticism seems to imply that there’s something wrong with my outlook, and I really don’t think there is. I was asking about physical potential. Perhaps I should have put this in health and fitness.

The short answer, yes, I want to see exactly how far my body will let me push it while I am young. I had eventually competing and performing in mind from the very first second I considered purchasing a pole. And I don’t think there’s one single thing wrong with that.

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Hola Coco! Si te quieres hacer un regimen de ejercisio, bailar de pole es perfecto! Vas a usar todo de to cuerpo. Las lecciones aqui son buenisimos, y tienen muchos ejercisios para fuerza y flexibilidad.

Lo siento porque mi espanol es muy malo, pero yo quiero practicar mas y hablar con las personas en StudioVeena que hablan espanol. Bienvenidos a StudioVeena!!

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Johnny Depp. I want him. Bad. Oh the dirty things…

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I love it… we are pole dancers and Martha Stewarts rolled into one. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

Not me so much. I throw a rug over it. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

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I try to take a lot of inspiration from fleur, because not only is she  tall like me, which can really be a disadvantage. 

Oooh really? Is being tall a slight disadvantage?

I only ask because I am a bit worried about how I look pole dancing because of my height, I’m tiny, like under 5 feet, I really am a fairy in that respect! :p But I was worried because all the great dancers I see seem to have legs that go on forever and they look so cool on the pole. Does height really make a difference?

(say it isn’t so! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif )

BTW – My pole crushes are Alethea Austin and Felix. They give me goosebumps!

You’d be suprised at the height of some of the pro dancers. I thought Karol was tall from her videos but in actuality she’s a tiny little thing. Takiela too. They’re little fairies. Like you! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/alien.gif

So many of my favorites are itty bitty teeny tiny "suddenly I understand" small. You always want what you can’t have, right?

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Thank you thank you! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif I don’t need, like, mormon coverage or anything, I just don’t want them to bunch halfway up my butt when I try to cover the top end of things https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

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Sissy you are between M and L?? Never would have thought that!!

I guarantee you it’s height! I am pretty small, but I wear a medium in most things and actually have a few larges that fit because I am really long everywhere….long legs, long torso, just long!

Sissy I have one question about those shorts….I bought a few with a similar cut from target. They look good and they work okay, and they don’t have a center seam which I really like, but…they’re technically a boyshort. They’re technically supposed to sit from the small of the back to just under the booty around the thigh. But my butt is so technically enormous for my frame that I’m technically obscene when I wear them. I have two options: gratuitous crack or gratuitous cheek. This is why I hesitate on boyshort cuts.

Reassure me that if I buy these, my butt won’t hang out of them. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

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For beginners it is a good idea to hold your foot as you learn to control those muscles. So grab the foot of the top/crossed leg with the arm that is on the same side. SQUUUUEEEEEEZZZZEEEE your thighs and calves and lean back all you want. I did that trick in one of my videos, it helps when you don’t have super strong poling muscles yet.

A good tip that will become extra important with moves like the brass monkey and marley: always be really careful when holding the foot. Pulling on it too hard puts a lot of stress on the knee. Just listen to your body. If you feel strain in the knee, go easy. It’s a little safer to grab around the shin above the ankle.

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Woohoo! I finally feel confident enough to use a grip aid to practice new tricks without worrying I will become dependent on them. I’ve really wanted to try one out, but my budget is pretty tight, so a good deal and a chance to support your business endeavor was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. You’re really speedy, thanks! I’ll be sure to leave positive feedback.