[Veena]

Foam rolling can be amazing for muscle strains!

[Veena]

You're very welcome!

[Veena]

Princess Buttercup, it's not about hating your studio, but about keeping your well-being in mind. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif Before moving on the any inverted Split Grip moves make sure you're comfortable with your upright Split grip work, that will help too. If you're not sure what moves use Split grips you can always look on our gallery. https://www.studioveena.com/galleries

[Veena]

Sadly it's common….

Learning from other instructors is a great thing! If the studio you're going to offers quality instruction and fair pricing, then there shouldn't be any reason for them to get upset about students supplementing their pole practice elsewhere. I find the studios that know they're teaching might not be the best, tend to get their feathers ruffled if students look outside the studio for instruction. This doesn't mean all studios who dislike students poling elsewhere have poor instruction, I'm just saying it's one of the more common reasons. Owners having bad relationships or one studio feels the other has unsafe practices are also possibilities. 

As Sparrow mentioned, there's always an option of home poling. I would hate to see anyone stop poling because of studio drama!

[Veena]

Hmm it is very odd that they would not have taught an extended butterfly before Cartwheels. It also sound like you haven't done any split grip inverted work at all. What inverted split grip moves have they taught you? 

[Veena]

I really didn't pole too much during my last pregnancy (with the exception of the 1st trimester) because we moved across the country and there just wasn't time! But when I did have a chance this is how I approached it. I stuck with moves I was totally comfortable with. I stopped inverting and climbing high when my 2nd trimester came around. If you have issues with your joints feeling loose, (do to hormones) then you might want to back off on the spins as well, but I was fine. I focused on "dancing" and not so much tricks. I did squats with the pole and worked on maintaining pretty feet and hands while dancing. I only pole danced through my last pregnancy because I hadn't discovered pole when I was pregnant with the others.  But with any exercise while pregnant, keep hydrated, don't over heat and BREATH. Avoid doing exercises on your back after the 1st trimester.

Anyway…..As far as getting back into it after baby, once your given the ok from your Midwife or DR for exercise, I would totally recommend the 30 day take off program! https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/50e4694e-a85c-4fa0-8e66-61940ac37250 If you have abdominal separation you'll want to avoid any ab work like sit ups and crunches. 

I have stretch marks and extra skin, it's part of having kids for many women, and for some they stick around. I'm ok with my marks https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif I did a video called your belly after baby that has tips for "hiding" the extra skin and puckering from stretch marks. https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/d650d310-c3b4-11df-bc90-001b21721e0c https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

[Veena]

Hi robinb, When you are new, poling everyday can lead to excessive bruising, overuse injury and excessive muscle soreness. Time off is just as important as practice time! New dancers think that practice everyday is what should be done, but that is not true. You'll be more likely to stick with it and prevent injury by following a schedule. 

You might find these videos helpful

Tips for Success http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSYHrZjzSnU&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLyXWQXP3dueofybLatPPuLCbvfSPF2oSF

30 day take off program http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4KzMIIbZH0&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLyXWQXP3dueofybLatPPuLCbvfSPF2oSF

[Veena]

I take my SV pole up and down usually 1-2 times a pole session! It's totally fine and one of the big reasons I love it! PS you should get the SV pole, it's super pretty. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Veena]

Oh I should add….The foam roller is your friend too when working on splits http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPGzgRzFv4U

[Veena]

VirginPoleGirl. I tell you how often in the lessons. 

This a video from the flexibility training section of the lessons, it might answer some of your questions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1ZZE2GTBiQ&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLyXWQXP3dueofybLatPPuLCbvfSPF2oSF

[Veena]

You guys have a great resource for splits training right here. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif There are about 35 individual stretching lessons and 3, twenty minute routines. 2 of those are for splits. There are also foam roller lessons to help bring those splits even farther down! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif https://www.studioveena.com/lessons

[Veena]

Welcome to the site! Feel free to upload your progress here as well. We’d love to see it.

[Veena]

Hi! Flexibility is not a very big part of the V invert. Things that will help are: a strong basic invert, knee tucks, pole rows, core and upper body conditioning. Have you tried the lessons here yet? There’s a lot I important info in the lessons that can help you achieve this move. You can try them for 3 days if you like just use this code GET3FREE

[Veena]

I agree with you guys about booty stuff I would say that it isn’t “sexy”! However, it’s super fun for a lot of us and seen as “sexual” by most. My guess is that’s why the girls include booty moves in the sexy category. I think sexy is slinky, smooth and raw! Booty moves are sexual so I can see why they’re included in this thread.

[Veena]

Yes it’s a club.

[Veena]

Casino pools tend to close early all year, my guess it’s so you’ll be more likely to go gamble at night 🙂

[Veena]

Hi! Have you tried taking the lessons here? I’ve made the very easy to follow and everything is placed in the order to progressively build strength! 🙂 Use the code GET3FREE for a trial of 3 days full access to the lessons.

[Veena]

I LoVE booty moves!!!!! Remember Sparrow we even did a booty challenge!!

[Veena]

Butterfly balm was something Jenyne Butterfly was working on, but I don’t think it ever came out.

[Veena]

The sexy may have been “stripped” from some pole styles and competitions and that’s fine for those who like pole fitness.

Pole DANCE is alive and well here on SV!! We had a sexy challenge last month and our members often post sexy videos! Sexy is not gone 🙂

[Veena]

The Studioveena pole has the most consistent grip out of any finish I have!! I’ve used it when it’s been cold and super hot and it’s always great! I only have the old brass xpole, and it’s very temperamental. Works great when im super sweaty! I have tried other brass too and again I couldn’t grip well if the weather was cold, until I warmed up my body to the point of sweating. 🙂

[Veena]

In the lessons on the site, there are some great pole workout routines that are full body! You could check those out! Also, I list the muscle groups used in the description of every lesson so you could take a look at that to see what muscles are working during a specific move! 🙂

[Veena]

The main issue Other than poor technique is over training. It’s so tempting once you’ve advanced a bit to dance every day. Training for competitions is intense and not how most of us should approach our pole practice. If you are training for an event then then you risk injury because of the amount of time needed to train. If you pole because you love it and it makes you feel stronger then be kind to your body and don’t over do it. So keep your goals in mind. As metioned earlier everyone is different and it’s most important to listen to your body.

Here are my suggestions:
Don’t over do the split grip work.
For your pole sessions do a mix of strength based pole work and spins and dance. So if you pole 3 times a week each day you would focus on one of those things.
Stretch at the end of every pole session. If you are pressed for time then at least stretch the forearms!
This video has some tips for stretching. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B1ZZE2GTBiQ

For heavy flexibility work 2 times a week is a good number.

[Veena]

This is a video from a Chair workshop I did. You can hear how I both count and give cues instead of only counting. It's the final run through btw. https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/4ddee0b1-c610-43c5-b4cb-32160ac37250 

I teach chair in sections. We learn all moves needed for each section, then go over it with the music. Then, teach any new moves in the next section followed by dancing again adding on to the first section. So on and so on. Teach, add, teach add. I think it's important to "teach" (break down a move) if there are tricky moves you'll be using so someone doesn't fall off the chair! If it's super easy choreography, then you can just add section by section without "teaching". If that makes sense. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

[Veena]

Don't forget that having a pole that is warm and warming up yourself can really make a difference! If you sweat a lot you'll slip, if you have dry skin and a cold pole you'll slip. Climbs are not easy and are totally strength building, most people can't do a pull up right away or even after a week, same goes for the climb. Keep at it and give it time.