[Casi]

Thanks for this discussion. I was confused about whether these were two different moves, both legit variations of one move, or if one was “wrong.” My school is usually asking for the short one, so I get corrected when I instinctively extend into a long version because it hurts less. As some others have said, I find the short version the most painful move I do. In learning other moves, the pain quickly fades and I stop noticing it at all. But Scorpio still hurts like a mother%#|!

[Casi]

Hey guys, thanks so much for sharing what you know about this type of injury. It’s good to know how serious even the mildest form of AC strain can be, since it doesn’t hurt all the time and didn’t seem that bad. I also appreciate the info about lack of blood flow making healing a challenge. You’ve convinced me, and I’ll try to see a doctor tomorrow. I really hope it doesn’t require immobilization, since I won’t be able to work. But, it’s true that because I have to carry heavy equipment on the job, I do keep accidentally irritating my shoulder injury, and before that my back strain (I did go see the doc for that after a week, and now, two weeks later, it feels healed). I want to recover as quickly as possible, so I’ll make an appointment ASAP to confirm diagnosis and see what steps I need to heal. Maybe with luck it could be some more minor form of injury that affects the same area. Thanks!

[Casi]

Hi Raven, I don’t know if it will help, but I can relate when it comes to certain moves. For me, the problem was anything involving a back arch. Even the slightest arch would just feel so intense to me, I would completely stop breathing. Working on my back flexibility in stretching classes helped a lot, especially being forced to hold stretches and learn to breathe into them. After working on it, I can now relax more and breathe (except in Janeiro, though! Maybe someday?). If your problem is one of being too tense and too unaware of what your body is doing, you could try getting into a static, somewhat strenuous position and just holding the move while taking a few controlled breaths. Depending on what you are working on, it could be holding yourself in a pole pullup, a layback, a back bend, a jasmine, etc. When you are working on moving between positions, it’s easy to forget to breathe, so making yourself hold one static position for three deep breaths could help you to relax and learn to breathe in to the position, making it steadily more comfortable. Good luck.

[Casi]

So they haven’t gotten back to me yet with answers to my questions, but unless something changes, I won’t be participating. Really, it seems like what this comes down to is that they are selling packages of eight or ten private lessons with a show at the end. But, if that’s the case, they really should have marketed it that way and not as a school-wide show with exorbitant prices for participation.

As for the details, they will need to rent a space, but they shouldn’t need poles or any other equipment. They already organize shows for other people and have all the sound and light gear and portable x-poles. I went to a Christmas student show they managed for another pole school and that is what I was expecting: low key and fun, with student and teacher performers, and only about 30 spectators who were all friends and family.

It’s a pity they aren’t doing the same at our studio, because I do believe those of you who said performing is empowering. As a shy person, I think it would really have been a good step for me. I love pole so much and am proud of the skills I’ve developed, so it’s the first thing I would have risked putting myself out there to perform publicly(cellulite and all!). I guess I’ll have to wait for a better opportunity. Cheers.

[Casi]

Thanks everyone for the feedback, good to know I’m not crazy. This just doesn’t seem to make sense at all. I really like the people who own my studio, and their classes are some of the cheapest around if you buy the annual packet, so I keep thinking I must be missing something. I don’t think they would just be trying to scan us. But surely the venue rental doesn’t cost more than a couple hundred dollars.

I’ll wait and see what they respond on the private lessons, and on my question of whether I could pay for those with multiple class credits instead of cash. I’m still baffled that my Mexican classmates are fine with paying this!

[Casi]

Thanks for your input. Yes, they must be renting another venue because our studio is very small. And if they insist every participant bring ten guests, it’s going to need to be a giant space. The instructors will just be our regular class instructors.

[Casi]

Sounds like something worth trying. If it’s a lack of potassium, could you eat the banana beforehand? Being well hydrated is probably good too.

This doesn’t happen to you on any other moves, just Scorpio?

[Casi]

Whoops, don’t mind the weird autocorrect.

[Casi]

Hey. Could you be squiezing your toes and feet really tightly when you are pointing them. I haven’t had this problem in pole, but I did when I first started surfing. I just had to learn to relax them more, and no more cramping. Thinking about pole, I think I point my toes by squeezing my legs and straightening my feet, but not squiezing them, if that makes sense. But I’ve only been poling for a year, so I’m no expert and my legs and feet could still be a lot prettier.

[Casi]

I wish I could do the splits! Regardless of age, you have a leg up on those of us who are super unflexy. Have fun getting started!

[Casi]

Ooh, I’m also going to try dividing them up by type of move (strength, leg hangs, floorwork, etc.), so I can remind myself not to do too many of the same type in a row and overwork those muscles. That will also give me ideas at hand if I want to switch to a different type. Eg. enough handsprings already, but remember you wanted to work on yogini… (God, I am a spreadsheet dork.)

[Casi]

A spreadsheet for pole moves, fun. I’m playing around with it. One thing I’ve added is separate columns for right side and left side, so I can track what still needs work on the weaker side.

[Casi]

Hi Serzi. That’s really a shame that you keep running into such people. Who are you thinking of at the moment? Are they people at your pole studio? If so, it might be time to look for another one. The incredibly supportive, non-judgemental environment I have found at most pole classes I’ve been to is one of the things I love about this sport. You shouldn’t have to settle for an environment in which people are rooting for others to fail.

Like you, it always amazes me that there are adult women still behaving like high school mean girls. But sometimes you do run across such people. As Strawberry said, their behavior is about their own insecurity and they aren’t worth your time or emotional investment. Maybe try trusting your intuition more when you first meet people? If something doesn’t feel quite right but you can’t put your finger on, there could well be something your subconscious picked up on. Maybe all their words are right, but there is something about their body language or their tone that doesn’t quite match. If people don’t reflect back the sincerity you put out, I’d be wary about investing your emotions into a relationship with them. Good luck.

[Casi]

Thanks lilbit. I’ll think about what I could offer as a suggestion. My instructors are great and clearly put a lot of work into preparing their warm ups as well as the class. I certainly wouldn’t want to offend them. I think it’s just a question of the latest research on stretching not having reached every corner of the Mexican fitness community yet.

[Casi]

I don’t think any of the regular lessons are free. The quick lessons might be. Why don’t you try the three day free trial and have a look around?