portableninja
Forum Replies Created
-
Random strangers (at the supermarket, at the post office, etc) whisper when you walk in. Then you realize it's because it's summer, you're wearing shorts, and there is a 6 inch technicolor bruise on your thigh.
-
You can also try using plain ammonia diluted with water in a spray bottle. Ammonia is the active ingredient in most commercial glass cleaners, but those often have extra ingredients to make the glass shiny, which will get on your pole. You just want the ammonia. It works well for pole cleaning because it breaks down oils. This includes both the protective coating on the pole, and any oil that is generated by your hands or body from using the pole. (Source: my husband, an organic chemist.)
Also, I can't imagine why you'd do this for your pole, but the usual warning applies – never mix ammonia and bleach. The gases produced can kill you.
-
I agree it's tough not to skip ahead. I want to do more on the pole today, but I know I have to go to yoga tonight. So I'm saving my strength.
I'm impressed I've made it as far as day 8 without skipping. Now the streak is what's keeping me going. Though to be fair, I did skip the wrist strengtheners on Day 7 (a rest day). I wasn't feeling well and just curled up on the couch instead. I'll do those tonight after yoga…. maybe?
-
From what I have heard, Pleasers are great but they run quite narrow. If you have narrow feet, they might work great for you. If you have wide feet like me, you may prefer Ellie Brand shoes.
-
Welcome! I am also sort of in your boat. I poled at a studio for about a year and thought I was pretty good. Then I moved and stopped going to classes. I got a home pole a few months later and started using the lessons here. I can do a lot of static spins, some intermediate tricks and even an advanced one (superman) so I thought I was "intermediate". But over time I realized that my moves needed a lot of tuning up. I couldn't do them nearly as cleanly or consistently as many members of this site, and I also wasn't using proper body mechanics. So now I call myself a beginner again, even though I can do a superman on a good day.
The terms beginner – intermediate – expert are so relative, especially in pole where there are no official standards. I've taken some "intermediate" level workshops where I was embarrassed to be there, and also some where I was far from the most novice dancer. What matters is what you can do, what you want to do, and how you plan to get there. If there's a trick that terrifies you, and you never want to learn it, that's ok too.
Also, if someone in your class has previous experience in yoga, gymnastics, dance, etc. they may be able to do some things more easily. Even if they haven't used those muscles in a long time, the memory is still there. I poled with a couple of former gymnasts and dancers and it was hard not to feel discouraged around them. But it's not fair to compare. You seem focused on what you have achieved for yourself, and you should be proud! 🙂
-
I started on New Year's Eve. I am currently on Day 4 (a rest day).
So far I really like it. I found that piecing together my own fitness plan from Veena's lessons was challenging, so I really appreciate having the structure. It's awesome to just go to the day's lessons and do them, without having to think about what to do. I've also been taking yoga classes regularly for about a month, which has prepared my body better to start poling seriously again.
I want to make sure I have the right muscles in place before I work on aerial tricks again. I was doing too much, too soon in the past and was using bad body mechanics in order to achieve the moves. To do things with good form, I need stronger shoulders, legs, core, wrists… pretty much everything. It's humbling to go back to the basics but also really important to get them right.
-
I don't know if there's a thread for the Take Off, but I started it on New Year's Eve, so I'm on day 4. So far I love it! I do it in addition to 2x week vinyasa yoga classes. It's challenging without being discouraging.
-
Echoing nearly everything that chemgoddess said. I started pole in an amazing studio that was just like she described, minus the floor to ceiling mirrors. Tasteful lighting, classy colors and seating, clean, beautiful. When I moved away, I tried a few pole studios near my new hometown and was very disappointed in all of them. Problems like what chemgoddess listed are what led me to become a home poler.
Dealbreakers:
Confusing class structure or curriculum. It's ok if you switch it up, but at least be consistent in your class descriptions versus what is actually taught.
Getting ogled by men as you walk through the weight room to the studio in your pole fit wear. I love when men actually take pole classes, but I'm not a fan of the catcalls
Having cold fluorescent lights to highlight your flaws. Get some mood lighting and shut off those overheads unless you're mopping!
Having tacky decor like a cheap strip club, or like someone was having a sale at Bachelorette Parties R Us. Less is more.
A disgusting bathroom with no lock on the door (yes there was a locker room available, but it was on a different floor. Having to walk down 2 flights of stairs in order to use a clean toilet is a problem).
And the worst thing is a dirty floor. If you don't feel comfortable even touching the floor, how can you feel sexy while doing floorwork?
-
Thank you Veena and Webmaster! I already love your site, but this was exactly what it needed to feel complete. I appreciate all your hard work to make poling from home with instructor guidance possible.
-
There are a lot of really good answers here – thank you. The reason I asked is because I don't attend a studio regularly, so I don't have an instructor watching my progress. So it's tough to know when I'm ready to work on a new move. Working on new things is a confidence booster, and trying novel exercises develops strength and coordination in a way that doing 100 repetitions of the fireman spin won't. I'm just afraid of overestimating my abilities, especially when I do drop in at a studio.
I used to train in martial arts. People often hear "black belt" and think "master." But in reality, a black belt just means you have a good grounding in the basics and you are ready for more advanced study. A 20 year veteran will still try to refine basic punches and kicks. I try to think of pole the same way. Whenever I drop in at a studio, I have no problem taking a beginner level class, because there's always something new to learn about a move. I tend to prefer mixed level classes though, with a variety of ability levels, because it's good to be challenged.
-
I think mastered is the wrong word. Obviously it takes a very long time to master anything, and that goes beyond pole.
I'm thinking more like… if another poler asked you, can you do XYZ move? What would it take for your answer to be yes?
-
Another thing I hadn't considered is different entry and exit methods of the same move. I can do a basic invert into a gemini easily. But I can't yet drop down into a gemini from another move, or do multiple gemini/scorpio switches. So my gemini has a long way to go.
-
And if it makes you feel any better, I just ordered two minimizer bras to try (in an attempt to make a blazer fit properly over my bust) and I'll have to mail them both back. Not only are they uncomfortable, but they don't minimize at all… I think they make me look bigger!
-
You might consider a soft cup bikini or tankini top from Freya. They are the only bathing suits I wear anymore. They come in a lot of cute colors and are sized by your bra measurement. Also, you can wear them on the beach and in the pool… so it's easier to justify the purchase. 🙂
-
It's nice to know there are others dealing with these issues. Since we're all venting here, I find it hurtful when people minimize my complaints about these kinds of issues. Have you ever complained about this type of thing and gotten a lot of attitude in response? Like "oh shut up, I wish I had your problem" or "some people pay a lot of money for those." They are so jealous of my figure, but they don't have to deal with back pain, clothing alterations, expensive lingerie, etc. There are so many days I wish I could just take off a padded bra and be small chested. But if I say that, then I'm being ungrateful. The grass is always greener I guess – curly haired people envy people with straight hair, and vice versa.
We are all beautiful. It's hard not to get a complex when most of our role models don't look like us. But I've seen the pictures and videos on this site of many women (and men) of all shapes and sizes doing incredible things. I don't look anything like Veena, but when I see her videos, I don't think about how skinny she is. I just think, man, I can't wait till I can do that!
-
@corby Just big enough to be a problem… I hear ya! I'm 5'5" and 138 lbs (just checked, lol) and I happen to be curvy. I don't know on what planet that qualifies as being plus sized, but it sure feels that way when I shop.
I tend to like British brands for lingerie. They seem more willing to accept that real women have curves, and yes, there is a wide range of shapes between stick and beach ball!
-
Another thing to keep in mind (especially for us large breasted ladies, but this goes for any size) is to pay attention to the type of bra that suits your breasts the best. HerRoom has a great online questionnaire, with questions about not only the size of your breasts but the shape of them, as well as questions about your upper body. This helps you narrow the wide selection of bras down to the ones that will likely be best for your specific body.
For example, I have a pretty narrow space between my boobs at the sternum, so any bra that has wires going up the center, like this (http://www.biggerbras.com/productpics3/large/foe/fantasie-of-england-smooth-cup-underwire-bra-6500.jpg) is very uncomfortable for me.
I have to go for something with less wire in the middle, like this (http://www.biggerbras.com/productpics3/super/fry/freya-deco-underwire-moulded-plunge-bra-aa4234.jpg).
I've never performed in a pole showcase, but if I did, I would consider wearing a swimwear top instead of a pole top, for the reasons Pankake stated. A lot of the pole wear seems to be either made for petite people, or is stripper-ish (which is fine if you're barely an A cup, but can look really trashy if you're a DD).
It is pretty sad how all the specialty pole wear seems designed for leggy, size zero girls with no boobs – but that's probably because most of the famous pole dancers who run the companies are petite and have athletic frames. It would be fantastic for an average sized person to design a pole fitness/costume line – I would totally buy it!
And Pankake – my boobs sweat like crazy. Another reason I like the Fiona bra… it's good at wicking…
-
I have 32DD/32Es, depending on the brand. Believe me, I feel your pain! I have to buy all of my bras online or in specialty boutiques, since I've had sales clerks in regular stores look at me like I had 2 heads when I said 32E.
For regular exercise, I love the Moving Comfort Fiona bra. It's not the most attractive thing out there, but it comes in some fun colors, and boy is it supportive. I also have a Natori soft cup sports bra that has convertible straps – regular or X-back. I can wear it under racerback tops without it showing. I also have the Lululemon Ta-Ta-Tamer and I do not recommend it. It was OK when I first bought it, but after washing and wearing it is really uncomfortable. It does not hold up well over time.
I also have the Lynn top from Mika. I was really skeptical about it, especially with boobs my size, but I decided to try it, and it works! It seems so thin and fragile, but it keeps me tied up wonderfully and I get compliments when I wear it. I can actually breathe in it too. I wouldn't wear it out on the town, but for pole it's fantastic.
I only have one pole dance video on SV (and it's not very good), but if you check it out, you can see my Lynn top.
-
I definitely have a sweating problem, but it's not just my hands… it's my whole body. I sweat a lot whenever I exercise, which is great for cooling me down during a run. But it's made me wonder if I will ever get beyond basic pole skills. Sweat just drips off me, and if I am depending on my skin to keep me in the air, then it's terrifying (which makes me sweat more of course).
I have a chrome X-pole, because my old studio had stainless steel. It's ok, but not amazing. It seems like as soon as I've warmed my body enough to stick to the pole, I start to sweat, and then it's all over. I've tried brass in other studios. If my hands and body are dry, then brass is amazing, but as soon as I start to work hard and really sweat, a brass pole might as well have grease on it. Sometimes I wonder if my body is just not meant to pole.
I've wondered if I should try a powder coated pole (like a Lil Mynx) for aerial tricks, and keep the chrome for practicing spins and slides. I tried lyra a few weeks ago which is coated in rubber and is super sticky. It was amazing! It was like sweat didn't matter.
-
I'd say, go ahead and wear whatever shoes make you feel fabulous. My good friend is 5'9" and loves heels. She towers over certain men when she wears them, but I've never heard anyone complain. I think it just makes her look like a supermodel!
As for me, I have always worn flats until very recently. I'm like Verticali – I have weak ankles because I never wore heels before pole dancing, but pole has helped to strengthen them. A lot of it came from growing up as the only girl in the family aside from my mother, who wears sneakers or flip flops every day. I tend to lean towards comfort since I love to walk, but as I've begun to dress more girly, I've learned how important it is to wear heels with certain outfits (especially skirts.) Wearing a skirt with ballet flats or flip flops just makes my legs look so stubby! I started out with low wedges and I've been trying to introduce higher heels over time.
Another problem was that I was always buying cheap heels, which produced blisters and a lot of pain in my feet and knees because they were not properly angled or balanced. So that discouraged me from wearing them. But after getting into heels through pole, I finally splurged on my first pair of expensive everyday heels: Kate Spade Karolinas in black patent leather. I got them on sale for about $160, they normally retail for around $300. Man… I cannot believe what a difference it makes wearing well made, well balanced heels. Suddenly I don't feel like I'm going to die – I can actually walk in them. I added gel insoles and now they are nearly perfect. I'd rather have one pair of good heels than 10 cheap pairs from Payless or Target.
-
Congrats! It's no small feat!
-
What worked for me was doing lots of controlled "kick ups." From either a headstand or handstand position, pick up your feet from the ground as far as you feel comfortable, and hold them there as long as you can. Continue to do little kick ups like this for as long as you need to. It will help to build the core strength and wrist/forearm strength you will need. Another option is working on crow stands. They are more difficult, but for me they felt less scary from an inversion standpoint. You can start crow stands by putting a yoga block under your feet and gently tipping forward.
-
It's perfectly normal. You will get bruises in the beginning (even the pros get bruises when learning new moves!) As time goes on, it takes more and more effort to bruise in a certain area. So in the beginning you might get a nasty bruise from climbing or from a pole sit, but eventually you will build more muscle in the area and you'll be relying less on your skin to hold you there. Then eventually you'll build up tolerance, and you won't get bruises from it anymore! And then you'll learn new moves and you'll start getting bruises in new places! And so on and so forth.
Bruises are a way of life with pole, but after a while you just learn to laugh about them. Other polers will certainly understand, and truthfully the bruises usually look worse than they feel. I tend to bruise really easily, so it's a little awkward in the summer time when I wear shorts and skirts. I sometimes worry that strangers think I'm ill or that I'm a victim of violence! Nope, just a poler…
-
Hi Pankake! Nice to meet you, and glad to hear I'm not alone. You make a lot of really good points.
I think focusing on a theme for each workout (instead of a specific activity or a muscle group) is a great idea. I don't usually like the typical gym routine of breaking down workouts into body parts, like "legs day" and "abs day." It seems to go against the idea of training the body as a whole. But having a dedicated strength or flexibility day sounds much more appealing.
I also think you make a great point about trying to do shorter, tougher workouts. I also sweat a lot, and I spend a lot of time cleaning my pole and taking breaks to stop the sweating. If I only practice pole tricks for 30 minutes, that's still probably about as much actual pole time as I would get from a more leisurely hourlong pole session.
I really want to start doing yoga classes twice a week. I love the positivity of yoga and the fact that no one judges me there (well, maybe they do, but they stay quiet!) It's easy to develop body image issues when pole dancing, and yoga helps keep me grounded. Maybe I can plan to do cardio in the morning on the days I take yoga classes at night. Then I can do strength training and pole practice on the other days.
-
Thanks chemgoddess. I will definitely check this out. I know pole/yoga fusion isn't a new idea. In fact the first pole studio I attended taught classes in this manner and I really enjoyed it.
I guess what I'm saying is, I like the idea of having a traditional yoga practice in addition to pole. I love the mind body aspects of yoga as well as the yoga community. But I'm not sure I have time to be a full fledged member of both communities. I'm wondering if anyone else has.
