[Dwiizie]

Do they have DOTS in BC? I LOVE the "boy shorts" I got there. Stretchy, designs and solids, hot colors, and super super cheap. I'm wearing a pair in the only video I have up on this site. I am EXACTLY 40 around the hips, just measured this morning because I'm tracking for fitness/weight loss progress, so thats how they look on my butt lol.

I also usually buy a pair of black, white, and ruffles from Party City around Halloween. They're just really cheap, they aren't as soft or good quality as DOTS but they work and are great for under skirts.

I tried some cheap ones from Target that were cute teal and purple, but the XL must be juniors sizes or something because they will not go on or cover anything at all.

I would like shorts that will cover the butt and NOT have a lot of extra fabric in front. So often the back of the cheaper shorts sit where I want, but the front either bunches or pulls up to my belly button which is not cute on me at all. 

I do love boy shorts with higher cut legs in the front, you have to get just the right fit, but they look awesome. I've never poled in (or worn in public) a bikini, but I have one for "someday when" and the wide belted bottom looks really good on me. I wish I could find a matching tankini top to cover the tummy until I can go for the halter I picked to go with the bottoms. 

Good luck, I'll be watching this thread since we have the same measurements and I want more cute butt stuff too lol!

[Dwiizie]

If I had 14 ft to work with, I would USE IT!!! Even if you're not "there yet", you might want that eventually. Oh the glorious first time you tag the ceiling on a 14 ft pole. <3 <3.  I don't know how one would go about a permenant floor mount in concrete… Theres always X stages and things….

[Dwiizie]

I've done dances, but he can't follow club rules 🙁 No touching the dancers!! lol. Seriously. I will be focused on something, or even working out on the yoga swing, and he will come poke me or touch my butt or something, and I try not to yell at him, but when you're stretching, or inverted using specific muscles, it can be really dangerous to lose focus because someone came up behind you and poked you. Its caused some arguments for sure. So I haven't poled with him around in a long time, but I showed him my video I made yesterday, and he was completely shocked at how much I have progressed. He said I looked like I levitated when I did a chair spin, that made me feel good. He said seeing me on film was different than when I performed for him live. Sometimes he tries to act like he's not paying attention so I won't feel shy, but it just makes me mad because I think he's not watching, which MUST mean I'm boring and unattractive lol, but then he says "I didn't want to stare and make you uncomfortable!!!" "I invited you in here to stare jeeeeeeze!!" Its so silly and hilarious how it just doesn't work for us in the least. Maybe one day. SMH

[Dwiizie]

This happens to me, but only when I lock the knees in the stretch. My knee locks SO easily, so I have to be very conscious to let the "lock muscle" go. If it won't do it, I lessen the stretch, or go for straddles instead of body weight on top middle splits. I also find it easier to get the leg back when working on one at a time and putting it together once each have gained a little. Sometimes I wear a flexible knee brace because the extra support keeps the muscles, I think, from feeling like they have to lock. I dunno, but I'm glad its not just me!

[Dwiizie]

THANK YOUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is SO GOOD to see and read. I love the encouragement to have variation in the instructors. I can't tell you how many times I've dreaded a class because I knew I'd be the biggest girl there, and I'm not even considered "plus size" I've just got a little extra than most of the girls I meet. I've always wondered who was hiding out because they felt like I did. I wish they'd come dance too! <3!!!

[Dwiizie]

If you have or can get the lessons here on Veena, I would totally go for it, they are worth it times a zillion and give you SO MANY conditioning, strength, and flexibility lessons and routines. These lessons with a supplement at the studio now and then if I can't get something have been the best thing ever, the only way to make poling truly affordable for me at this time. 

[Dwiizie]

And to clarify, climbing the pole, just doing a "pole up" and switching which hand is on top and doing it again. Squats, lunges, side crunches with my leg hooked on the pole. Putting myself at an angle and pushing or pulling the pole. Kind of standard exercises and strength training, just polified. I think a lot of times its similar to barre, just vertical and so much upper body strength needed. When I started, I couldn't lift my feet off the ground. At all. By my second week, I could hold my weight for about 2 seconds. I get stronger all the time, but I'm much slower to progress than some others I've seen come through. They're doing spins and inverts and handstands and things within 6 months. I've been poling for 2 years and I can't do inverts. I can do a reverse handstand, that helps with shoulder strength.

[Dwiizie]

I used the pole for conditioning… Pull ups don't strengthen quite the same muscles, but the workout is good anyway. Hand strength is important. The spins I learned are pretty much the order I learned them in from here on Veena, but missing the hip hold spins like the cradle because I am having a very hard time grasping thoose. The little half squat turn around the pole is the very first "not even" spin I learned, to understand the body and momentum. Then I think the fireman and variations, straight leg fireman, things like that are what people usually go for first. The ankle attitude and front and back hook were the next things I learned. I think its different for everyone, and some pole studios (or websites :)) have a very nice cirriculum to get you going. I know the 30 day start up here on Veena will get your muscles toned up for poling while giving you moves at the same times. I liked working through the beginner section and some of the intermediate section. Some people go for spinny mode first, but everyone has their own opinion on that. I kind of wish I had incorporated more static poses on spin mode pole during earlier strength building, I think it would've added a bit of grace to my dance. The most recent spin I've been working on is the side spin, very very fun, but the placements and momentum concepts have been hard for me. But what clicks for some will be hard for others and vice versa. When you look at a pole, if you could do ANYTHING, what does your natural inclination lead you toward? I always thought the inverted v spin was soooooo cool,  and I'm not even inverting yet, but it kinduh speaks to my style, whereas, someone else might thing the floating pencil is the coolest thing they've ever seen. I think you will have a lot of fun experimenting when you get a pole at home if that is your plan 🙂

[Dwiizie]

I do think it is better to get strength first. Otherwise you just drop on the main "hanging" arm and it can cause injury, and if you haven't strengthened your core at all, its hard to bring the knees up too. I definitely feel like this is very close to a one handed spin, and I trained with just pole ups and climbs and various things with my pole at home to get the strength for it. I'm sure my form isn't perfect, but this is one of my favorite spins to do, and it is NOT easy. I've seen this thrown in the beginner course, and unless someone had poled to the point where they were comfortable with spin momentum, they were slouching into it, jumping and hitting the pole, death gripping the pole. I did Fireman and variations, attitude, front and back hook, and several other spins regularly with pole conditioning before I even attempted this. The carousel is another I see that it seems you should know right away, but its really hard to understand the momentum and use the proper grip. Don't be discouraged, just keep getting stronger, and if you feel something is above your level in class, you can always ask for a variation. Good luck!

[Dwiizie]

I check for vertical level at two points laterally perpendicular to each other. Or, once from any side, and once again in the exact same fashion, 1/4 of a way around the pole from the first. That way its level side to side AND back and forth. It can show level side to side and be at a slight angle back to forth if that makes sense. Usually once it is level, I check it again at a random 3rd point somewhere else on the pole. If they all come out as level, I'm there. 

[Dwiizie]

I <3 chrome lol. I like it better than any of the finishes I've tried.

[Dwiizie]

This happened with my x pole, turns out the dome was warped, and that was making the problem appear to be on the base. X pole figured it out when I sent them photos of everything. They had video of the pole rolling to prove it wasn't bowed, they could tell it hadn't been overtightened from the pictures somehow. When the pole was upright and BARELY tensioned, the wobble wasn't there, but when put under proper tension (putting the warped dome to the ceiling) the dome was causing the whole pole to wobble, and where the base is supposed to wobble a little to absorb natural variances from being not 100 percent perfectly level, etc, it wasn't able to absorb the problem. I couldn't even really see the dome warp until X Pole showed me in the photos where my level was across the part of the dome that touches the ceiling, it was more of a gap under one side of the level than the other. In hindsight, when tightening the pole, the first few turns where the dome isn't securely on the ceiling yet, the dome wasn't making solid contact all the way around. Replacing the dome fixed the problem. Not saying this is your problem, but it was mine, and I always thought it was at the base. X Pole identified and fixed the problem after I sent them videos and photos of everything top to bottom, closeups, levels, etc. They were really REALLY great, I would have NEVER thought it was at the top had they not identified that. 

[Dwiizie]

Never thought of fondling my hair before. I have a bit of a mohawk going on lol it feels odd to have most of it buzzed off and the top is like a bird feather, but I am gonna try playing with that and see if it works. Good idea!

[Dwiizie]

Usually I tighten it until there is tension, then I tighten some more with small tug checks so I don't pull it out of being level with tightness but can kind of feel how much contact its making. When I can do a nice tug check without fear, I go by 1/3rd turns, to put just enough tension to make it safe on static and spin mode, but not overtightened. Its a bit tedious and probably unneccessary, but it works for me. I, of course, spot check it before poling eacg time to make sure nothing settled or expanded, so usually a tug and a basic spin. If it feels loose or tight, I can go up or down a 3rd turn. Just make sure you aren't warping the dome or bowing the pole (typically what happens when overtightened…) Good luck!

[Dwiizie]

I can try 😀 I have tried many a time and can't seem to even get my feet off the ground for a millisecond. Can a goal be "to try"? lol