[thesoulstudio]

Thanks, dearies!  I'll keep you posted!

[thesoulstudio]

Chemgoddess1 – Thank you for all the info and the link to yet another pole page where I can isle away the hours reading and thinking about my new obsession.  ;o)

AmiSue and StudioVeena – Oooh!  Great Question.  And, thanks for the link.  I am fanned!

Empyrean – Thank you for the information on the upcoming event.  I’ll be sure to stay tuned for more details.  It is heartbreaking to hear of a kindred injured and reassuring to see such support from the poling community.

[thesoulstudio]

Greetings!

I'm a baby poler from Wisconsin and have a few questions.

1.)  What occurs at a pole jam?

2.)  Is it open to everyone, including people who are brand spankin new?

3.)  How do I keep up-to-date on local jams?  I understand the February one is not happening and the next likely won't be until May or beyond.

Many thanks!

Nayana

[thesoulstudio]

The stepping stones didn't line up very well so here they are in list format.

Starting Pose:  Stand at the apparatus with both hands holding it at eye level maintaining both of my feet firmly planted on the floor.  Note each of the following steps requires the use of upper body, rather than feet/leg, strength and I will only progress from one step to the next as my upper body strength allows me to do so without strain and fatigue.

Step 1:  Pull body up so heels are off the floor.  (Arms are supporting some body weight but much the weight is still resting in the balls of feet.)

Step 2:  Pull body up so balls of feet are off the floor.  (Arms are supporting more body weight but some weight is still resting in the feet which are in point – different than in the balls of the feet.)

Step 3:  Increase upper body muscle use by slightly bending one knee causing one foot to be slightly off the floor while the other is still in point.

Step 4:  Increase upper body muscle use even further by slightly bending both knees causing both feet to be slightly off the floor.

Step 5:  Increase bend in the knee from slight to full 90 degree angle to fully resemble Prayer Pose.

[thesoulstudio]

Dyvo – Thank you for the tips.  I can assure you I am not going anywhere near inversions until I have a solid foundation of floorwork, arm/core strength, and spins under my belt.  The idea of being upside down without anything underneath to protect me down right frightens the daylights out of me!  ;o)  I am grateful for your explanation of the basic pole hold and how to do it by engaging my arms/abs.  I’m adding it to my list of daily pole plays.  (Plays because “work” is just not fun enough!)  With regard to warming up, its importance is always a welcome reminder.  I’ve been bellydancing for about a decade now and I am very familiar with the impact of skipping this most important step.  I actually really enjoy warming up my body by just dancing to a song or two and then following through with a song or two of stretching.  After practicing bellydance (and soon pole moves), I typically use one to two songs to cool down my body with softer movements and more stretching.  Mmmm…my entire being relaxes just thinking about it!

[thesoulstudio]

Hookedonpole – Thank you for the welcome.  I can see how these forums can be very addictive!  I also greatly appreciate your advice of picking one or two things to focus on rather than attempting to get better at everything.  Let it be documented here and now, my present focus is being able to sit straddling the pole and pull myself up (we’re talking butt off the floor at least a smidgeon) as well as increase flexibility to reach a full split.  :o)

Virgopolechic – Welcome as well!  It is encouraging to hear you’re seeing progress after only three weeks.  How exciting for you!  It would be fun to share our experience via webcam.  I believe my computer has one, although I have no idea how to use the crazy thing.  Technology, isn’t it grand!

Cherry87 – The enthusiasm of others is very infectious.  Every time I read someone’s response or post on another discussion board, the fire in my stomach burns a little bit deeper.  :o)

[thesoulstudio]

I am looking forward to embracing the "splits" challenge and progressing through the stretches.  I think when I'm done with some other obligations this evening (or perhaps I'll wait until this weekend when I have some concentrated time), I'll create a list of all the stretches and pole strengthening excercises I'd like to complete on a daily basis and then start tracking my progress with charts and pictures.  Squeeeee!

[thesoulstudio]

Ooooh!  I have been jonsing to get into the splits for years.  I did them once upon a time back in high school, and even then it was only a few times.  I'm looking forward to giving this stretching routine a go.

Since I'm new to the forum, can anyone advise if there is a "challenge" or "progress" board?  If so, perhaps we could create a Splits in Six challenge.  Just a though…

[thesoulstudio]

Here's a copy of a blog I posted from just over a year ago when I recieved my first hoop.  These are definitely beginner hooping tips.  Enjoy!

Hooping Tips and Tricks for Beginners
(from a newbie)

Tips:
1. I once read people in a regular hoop class cheer new and continuing hoopers when their hoop falls to the ground. This is to keep them from feeling ashamed, embaressed, discouraged. I incorporated this into my own practice. If my hoop falls, I cheer the time it stayed up rather than focusing on the fact in fell.

2. Remember YOU do not need to rotate for your hoop to rotate. :o)

3. Keep in mind your hoop only needs to hit two spots on your body to continue rotating. So you can push it forward and back with your abs or side to side with your um sides. You don't need to make circular movements with your waist/hips. In fact, if you do make circular movements the hoop will fall.

4. I found when I first started I would "wind up" my hoop really fast and really far to get it started. Then I wasn't able to keep the momentum so it would immediately fall to the ground. You'll want to experiment and find the "wind up" that's right for you. Try fast and slow and you'll likely end up adjusting to somewhere in the middle.

5. "Pumping" fast will make your hoop travel up your body. "Pumping" slow will cause the hoop to travel down.

6. If you hoop starts to fall, pump faster. If it's gotten farther down, bend your knees and then pump faster. Keep pumping faster with your knees bent until it pops back onto your waist. Then return to "normal" pumping.

7. Try to relax your neck and shoulders. Think about keeping your shoulders AWAY from your ears and squeezing your shoulder blades back. (This is a new thing I'm working on so I thought I'd add if for you as well. *smiles*)

8. Be sure to stretch before and after.

– Neck: drop neck to right shoulder. Hold. Roll down through the center and come up on the left side. Hold. Roll down through the center and come up on the right side. Hold. Repeat.

– Shoulders: Roll shoulders back a few times. Then roll forwards a few times. End with a few to the back.

– Sides: Reach right arm out to right side of body. Bring right arm up by ear. Bend at waist over to the left side. You should feel the stretch go through your side and into your hip area. To deepen the stretch…breathe and reach your right arm out further to the left side. Slowly come back up to starting position. Repeat on left.

– Quads/Thighs: Stand with feet comfortably spaced between your shoulder width. Bend both knees. Keeping left knee softly bent, bring your right leg up behind you. Hold at foot and try to have right knee pointed to the floor. You can hold your left ear with your left hand to help with balance (or grab a chair, or even use your hoop!). Hold. Release foot slowly to floor. Repeat on left.

MOST IMPORTANT: Enjoy and have fun!!!!

[thesoulstudio]

StudioVeena – Thank you for the very warm welcome.  I am so excited to have found such a welcoming community.  I am thankful for your creating and maintaining this amazing online resource!

 

Meaganoff – Thank you for all the great tips!  For pole cleaning, my husband actually recommended it (prior to my reading your post) to just get the dust and stuff off from shipping.  I couldn’t believe the vast difference it made.  I will, given your awesome suggestion, clean often and try out different products. — What type of grip exerciser are you referring to?  Would I simply search “grip exerciser?” — Apart from sitting on the floor in a straddle (or split V leg) position and attempting to climb the pole from there, were there other pole climbs you used to increase your strength?

 

Tiggertail – I appreciate the reminder about warming up and stretching.  I found myself, in my over exuberance, jumping right in and my muscles are so not happy about it.  Rest assured I will be warming up and stretching and cooling down with each dance, spin, practice, and play session. — Taking a day off is difficult.  Poling, even for a baby poler like me, is so much fun.  Each spin around the pole is like a return to childhood freedom.  I will trust your wisdom and try to alternate by passions with one day of  bellydance practice followed by one day of pole practice. — As for knowing a move before doing it, I tend to be a perfectionist and worry wart so I won’t be attempting any moves until I feel like I have a strong handle mentally on them.  If there is something that doesn’t make sense, I’ll be waiting until I can get with a professional instructor for training.  :o)

 

Polefairy – Videos from me…  Well, we’ll all be waiting a while for that one!  ;o)  I’ve been bellydancing for ten years and I’m still all goofy about videos from that.  Poling, um, yeah. — I appreciate your honesty about keeping at it and not giving up.  I think it is so easy to get discouraged when trying something new, especially if you don’t have a local support system.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to connect with others through this site and to learn from your wisdom – whether you be an experience spin/climb/trickter or a baby starter like me.

 

Runemist34 – Welcome back!  Bellydance is my first movement love so I would, of course, encourage you to pick it back up again.  There is something so empowering and sensual about it (much like I expect to feel from poling).  If you need any inspiration for movements, check out my free online bellydance dictionary at http://www.thesoulstudio.net.  It’s a work in progress, but a solid start. — I’m so with you on being notoriously bad for strength and cardio.  I frequently joke I’m “allergic” to sweat and am only “allowed” to glisten!  ;o) — Thanks for the musical recommendation.  I’m not familiar with either of the groups and I look forward to giving them a listen in the near future.

 

EvaRut – Thank you for the recommendations on strength moves.  For pull ups on the pole, do you grasp the pole in a “prayer pose” (I believe it’s called) and then lift your feet off the ground behind you?  Or is this something completely different? — For the back strength, hmmmm…  I’ll have to give it a try.  Thanks!

 

Jivete – I am sorry to hear about your pulled muscle.  Allowing time to heal, although difficult with enthusiasm to get moving, is best and before you know it, you’ll be back to spinning in no time.  :o) — I am a fusion dancer.  I started with class Egyptian for about two or three years and then moved towns.  The only instructor in the new town was a tribal based dancer but she was more of a fusion than a hard core American Tribal Style (ATS) dancer.  I like to think of myself as very electic.  :o)  I can hold my arms up in ATS stance for a lengthy period of time, but the actual sustaining of my own body weight or lifting is problematic.  This has been something I’ve always struggled with…even in high school I remember having trouble with pull ups and rope climbing.  Oh well, that just wasn’t fun.  A pole is way more motivation! — Poi and hooping, too!  I have a poi video and really want to learn.  It’s on my ever-growing movement wish list.  I’m also an “experimental” hooper.  Experimental in that I can only do a few moves and I don’t spend a great deal of time working on them. — Thanks for the warm welcome!