[polergirl]

My side climb into Superman opened my eyes as to how much trust it takes to flip your hips over and know your leg grip will help catch…and HOLD…you. I figured from side climb I was already sideways, and it was still hard.

There’s a reason I see it being referred to as a nemesis so often, LOL.

[polergirl]

Yep!! Close to the ground=good. At least until you reconcile yourself with the pain, LOL.

[polergirl]

I would def. recommend practicing this one from the ground for a while, and make sure your pain threshold for things like pole sits, etc., is up there. It HURTS (and that doesn’t just seem to be my opinion, lol), and if you fall, there is not really a way to do it gracefully, I don’t think.

My first attempts were from a handstand. I slid my legs down and walked my hands out as if to do a "pushup" (don’t know the official name) dismount, then reached up and back with dominant hand and took the other hand off the ground. After I realized that 1) it hurt and 2) I could work through the pain, I did it from side climb just a wee bit up the pole, because you have to flip your hips over and catch with your legs at pretty much the same time. The hip flipping, for me anyway, turned out to be a little tricky and will require some work.

[polergirl]

I got into it yesterday from a side climb because I am off inverts for a few weeks, but it took some finagling, LOL.

[polergirl]

I had really *hoped* it would feel a little like advanced plank since it grips in a similar spot……but no. I have a passelful of new bruises on my legs LOL. I was surprised at how secure it was though, and hopefully I can start dropping into it a bit more efficiently because wow, that was NOT pretty.

[polergirl]

I have a Droid and am not able to watch the vids on my phone. Pics and everything else show up fine, but not vids unless they are on youtube or some other video hosting site.

[polergirl]

Those leg strings are hawwwt….but do they stay up well without having to be so tight that they create squidgy bits in between the diamond pattern? Please say yes lol.

[polergirl]

That is so PRETTY, and SEXY at the same time. Glad you mentioned that about the bra, because my first thought was that I have never, ever, ever, ever found a strapless bra that stays up. What brand is it, if you don’t mind my asking?

[polergirl]

There really are so stinkin’ many variables, lol. Some days I am sticky as can be, and those are usually the days I don’t want to be sticky. Then, on days when I want to be, bleah. No luck.

Something you can do to give you the feel for where and how you’ll need to squeeze–after your climb, take whichever leg will be your front leg, and swing it around the pole and down, so that your front leg "locks" across the front of the pole. From here you should have a good enough grip in your thighs that you’ll be on your way! Hope this makes sense!

[polergirl]

Congrats to you!!!

[polergirl]

I made a vampirish burlesque outfit for halloween that turned out to be a prizewinner, and I am NO seamstress. It was washable fabric glue and velcro, baby. Took a regular cami and glued awesome beaded fringe to the straps, then another strip as a loose strap that would slide down my arms. Then I wore an underbust corset I already had. I made a skirt (again, glue and velcro) that was all short and drapey in the front, and had a tulle bustle that I tucked into the back. Bustles are so incredibly easy to make, and require no sewing, no glue, no nothing at all. Just fold, scrunch, and tuck, then repeat until happy. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif Last but not least, I wore a pair of booty shorts that had garters attached, so I was covered but not puritanical, lol.

And definitely check out the I WANT thread!!!

[polergirl]

Back onto cheekies, just because as I said I love them so.

I have this pair and let me tell you how awesome they are. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GK-245063&page=2&cgname=OSPTYCHKZZZ&rfnbr=4707

And these are the lace-ups that I mentioned. Rocking hawtness.
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GK-213644&page=2&cgname=OSPTYCHKZZZ&rfnbr=4707

[polergirl]

How, oh HOW did I not think to check Fairy Gothmother? It is one of my all-time favorite sites. Those are EXACTLY what I want!

Re: cheekies. They do something magical. I don’t know what, but they do. My favs have little corset-esque lacing up the back. Sexy? Oh, yes ma’am, SEXY.

[polergirl]

Amcut, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the VS cheekies, but I don’t know that I could pole in them. Floorwork, probably, just standing around looking uber hot? Sure. Pole might have a little too much crotch action right up front and center.

I am looking for something very specific now, folks….burlesque style silk undies. They are loose-ish fitting shorts, for lack of a better descriptor, and they have elasticized leg openings with a little ruffle. Look KILLER with a corset, which is how I plan to wear them. Help?

[polergirl]

I am so very lucky that most of my friends think pole dancing is the coolest. thing. evar. And those who don’t are wise enough to keep their big yaps shut.

Little does she know that you could break her in half with your strong poling arms and shoulders! Mwahahahahahaaaa!!!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif

[polergirl]

Ohmygosh, that is beyond exciting! I have been looking for a studio around here that does silks work and haven’t had any luck yet. I’m sure there is one, I just haven’t found it.

What classes do you want to take with them? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif

[polergirl]

I agree with ChemGoddess–teaching exit strategies is HUGE. My own pole injuries include the following, beyond the normal bruises and soreness:
–broken toe
–stabbed own knee with shoe doing an attitude spin (that was a fun one)
–bruised rib from coming down unexpectedly out of a chopper

There’s also one thing I’ll say with respect to spotting. I’ve had great spotters, and I’ve had not-so-great spotters. It seems to me that the great ones were there to deflect and direct me/help me fall safely, not to catch me (which could be a big ol’ mess for both of us!). The ones who made me nervous were the ones who hovered underneath me like they, rather than my crash mat, were my fall-breaker.

[polergirl]

Such great news! Congratulations!!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[polergirl]

My wig came today and I LOVE IT. I went from short hair to boob-length hair in t-minus 30 seconds. Sweet. It needs to be trimmed up a bit, and I’m not sure I’d be comfortable inverting for a long period of time, not because I’m worried it would fall off (I have done some serious head tossing and it’s secure as can be), but because I’d be worried the cap would show through.

Hooray for hair flipping!!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif

[polergirl]

I should clarify my post–I still absolutely think that classes and safety training are crucial, especially for beginners. BUT, they don’t necessarily have to be in-person classes/training. Jamilla’s DVDs are safety-oriented and explain proper technique, and I have heard Veena and others discussing her online lessons and it’s clear that they are very safety-oriented and that they also emphasize proper technique.

I guess for me the key is to learn safe techniques for pole and for understanding the muscle groups of the body and how they can work with a person instead of against. To my mind, if a beginner learns those, then as she/he advances, she/he will have a good understanding of how the body works and supports itself, and the advanced moves are less likely to end in disaster.

Watching pole dancing on youtube is often such a study in contrasts; either the dancers are very good and many times (not always, but a lot of the time) are doing things newbies shouldn’t even think about (not good for self-taught dancers, IMO), or the dancers are unsafe and/or unaware that what they are doing is beyond their personal level. That’s not to say there aren’t vids on youtube that are very helpful, because there are some GREAT tutorials. It’s just that I find them to be the exception rather than the rule. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places.

[polergirl]

I think classes and safety training are crucial, at least until one gets to a certain point. Building a good base is, IMO anyway, a lot tougher to do when you don’t have someone explaining hand positioning, making sure you’re not throwing yourself into moves, etc.

Regular class time maybe isn’t as necessary after a dancer reaches a certain level, but this is where pole jams and the like are a huge positive.

Plus, as you mentioned, classes are fun and inspiring!!

[polergirl]

OMG, from that link amcut just posted…..ARGYLE undies!! Must. have. them.
http://www.thelittleflirt.com/Honeydew-Intimates-Glitter-Argyle-Cotton-Printed-Boy-Short-466-ZXpZX6677

[polergirl]

Pasty yes? Pasty yes.

I believe the phrase you’re looking for is "PERFECT alabaster skin" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Seriously, could your skin look any more beautiful?

Lovely pictures, one and all–easy to see why you’re happy with them! And I love the "guns" shot.

[polergirl]

Thanks! I’m going to have to get out the old pen and notepad and start making meticulous entries. Everyone’s obviously got different things that work differently for them… but right now I feel like too many options are available. Getting some perspective is great. Really appreciate it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Trust me, we have all been there! There is a whole universe of pole coolness out there just waiting to be experienced, OMG! But I don’t mind saying, and I’m betting a lot of folks here would agree with me, there is a lot to be said for taking it slow, and truly experiencing each option. I used to learn a move and then think "great, checking that one off, moving on to the next" and so on, just building a catalog of tricks without taking as much time as I should have exploring each move and transitions, etc., but now I’m learning to enjoy the journey, so to speak. Yay!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[polergirl]

Being inverted can be really disorienting, so if I were you, I’d go down into handstands. Handstands are GREAT for helping you increase body awareness while upside down on the pole–without being wayyyyy up on the pole. You can play with leg hooks, and figure out which leg seems to be your dominant one. You can stretch from here. You can work on different leg positions and dismounts/slides down. Plus handstands may help hone your balance and allow you to isolate muscles in your core (at least they did that for me), which I still find tremendously helpful when I’m trying new stuff.

ETA: the dismount stuff is really important. You should always have an exit strategy, and if you’ve practiced sliding down out of an invert to the point where you can do it without even thinking, it’s probably not a bad thing. I consider it my "safety" position, lol.