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poledanceromance your not weird I do the cup grip too…the other grips feel weird to me…everyone’s different though https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

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Veena PLEASE lol…you could wear any of them…but I think the black and white ones would be great on you

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I am sooo looking forward to this…we must make a list of how many of us are going to we can all hook up https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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Yay… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

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okay i am buying my tickets now https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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Yeah I might have to go to this one https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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Happy Birthday!

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Everyone needs to make their own decisions when it comes to their diets but please don’t just take the word of the web site promoting the actual diet. Buyer beware…

Every doctor that I spoke to has said this is a dangerous diet. Any diet where you are NOT supposed to exercise (and that includes playing on the pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif ) and you are restricted to 500 calories a day is suspect. This *might* (and I say might not even really being sure) be something that if you are severely morbidly obese – might be worth it but otherwise I would avoid it like the plague.

Here is a link to a blog that has one persons – again just one persons experience on the diet.

http://fatlosschronicles.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-fat-loss-journey-begins.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and they did experience muscle loss as well as fat loss.

-again I am not saying it doesn’t work…but anytime you drop down to a 500 calorie a day diet you will lose weight – but not in a healthy way.

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The S factor DVD is great for dance…also here are a few things that have helped me:

Spend a few practices actually dancing and not doing any tricks on the pole.

-do floor work
-do chair work
-do wall work
-do just turns around the pole or slides or pole bends etc.

Spend some practice time doing a dance with just wall, just chair, just floor, just turns around the pole…this helps as well.

Doing floor work with your eyes closed or blindfolded (if you have enough room to do it safely https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif )and taping it is also a huge – no pun intended – eye opener…it allows you to move freely without thinking about it too much and helps you just let go.

Try thinking about your space and new ways to encompass it. It’s not just the space around the pole or up and down the pole but the space you have to dance in. Think of the different levels of pole space as well.. whether or not you are vertical on the pole or horizontal, top of the pole…on the bottom of the pole etc.

Take the pole out of the equation for a bit and transition moves that you are good at or enjoy should come out https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

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I make these wraps with baked sweet potato *fries* and my hubby loves them

Grilled Lentil Wraps
1 small onion, chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 pkg frozen Organic Brown Rice, cooked according to package instructions (about 2 cups)
2 cups Steamed Lentils
1 cup cooked Swiss chard or spinach
3/4 cup kefir or plain yogurt
1 cup shredded cheese
8 flour tortillas

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onions for 5 minutes or until translucent.
2. Add rice, lentils, and Swiss chard. Stir until combined and remove from heat.
3. Mix in kefir and cheese.
4. Heat ungreased griddle or skillet over medium heat. Assemble wraps by placing filling in the middle and folding all sides toward the middle. Place wraps, seam side down, on hot skillet. Place a bag of flour or some other object on top to achieve the effect of a panini press. Toast for 3-5 minutes on each side until toasted brown and crispy.

Serve with Tomato Chutney
Makes 8 wraps

Sweet Potato Fries:

4 sweet potatoes (or yams)
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400degrees F. Cut sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch thick lengthwise strips and toss with olive oil.
Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and arrange potatoes on baking sheets.

Bake potatoes for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown on bottom. Turn potatoes over and bake about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown all over Sprinkle with salt and serve.

The fries are kinda salty and sweet which is always good and the wrap is yummy and cheesy without having any meat.

Also 2 things that really help me are:

-my crock pot…guys LOVE stews/soups/chilli’s and you can throw a ton of veggies and/or meat in and whip up something easy and healthy

-I love this web site "Cooking With Trader Joe’s"…if you have one near you this web site is the bomb for quick meal ideas https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif http://blog.cookingwithtraderjoes.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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The thing about lotion is while it might feel like it has been absorbed by your skin and your skin might seem clean/dry it can still actually rub off on the pole and leave a residue so unless it is your own personal pole you are talking about and not a class you still should probably not use it the day of class…especially in an environment where the rooms are warmer. I have seen too many people wipe out on simple moves that they can do in their sleep because the pole had something on it.

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i started taking class at sfactor, and have been there for a couple years. one thing that i will say about sfactor is that they have a VERY slow progression, and my teachers have ALWAYS suuuper stressed crunching into an invert and not kicking. so, i took it for granted. a couple months ago i bought a crunch membership because i am exploring other pole tricks that are not taught at sfactor. the first time i walked into a crunch class i was aghast. they are teaching women who are gym goers, and generally very strong, but they teach choppers to a mixed level class and don’t warn beginners from trying the tricks, don’t coach about which muscles to engage, and don’t really give you very good step-by-step instruction in the mixed classes. then you combine that with a one-upsmanship kind of environment, where it is bright lights and mirros and honestly pretty competitive and catty at times, and you have an environment where women are recklessly trying things they really shouldnt be doing. i’ve taken advanced classes that are a little more closely monitored, and some teachers are better than others and are more responsible than ohters, but in my opinion, crunch is NOT a good place to go to really learn tricks the right way using the right techniques as a beginner. other friends from sfactor have tried crunch classes and been similarly shocked. one has been adamant that "someone is going to get really hurt there". and even more crazy– i have an sfactor freind who went to sue ann wee for a dermatologist appointment last summer. my friend mentioned sfactor and pole classes to sue ann wee, who was very curious to learn more. sounds like sue ann went out, joined crunch right away, and literally injured herself within a month.

The Crunch classes in LA seem much more controlled than the NYC classes but still not nearly as supervised as S Factor…for that matter I have been to multiple pole studios in LA and the ONLY classes where I felt there was enough spotting going on was S Factor and X-Polesitions all the rest were much less hands on.

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This is why studios have you sign a waiver before you take classes.

Just a point for those who have studios/are thinking of opening one up. Waivers will almost never hold up if someone sues you for negligence…

Why won’t waivers hold up? Why even have them?

Most waivers are unenfforcable. Or rather a waiver does not actually allow a company to take away a persons right to sue. A contract giving away your right to legal protection is unenforcable.

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Also If anyone has a powder coated they want to sell let me know https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

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Hello…Nope I haven’t sold it…I am in Encino so you could pick it up locally. It is their standard height which fits a 8-10 foot ceiling.

I got it for 249.00 so you can have it for 200…just let me know…PM me and we can set up a time.

here is the link to the pole on their web site

http://www.lilmynx.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=1_23&products_id=34" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;