[HannahElizabeth]

I think I had this a bit too at first. Not counting but just "preparing" myself before going in for the kill!

I’ll echo what the other girls have said in that practicing the dead lift will help but if you havent quite got the strength to do that yet, try to train yourself not to jump or psyche yourself up too much but doing it more slowly.

So just rock forward once… then rock forward but not so much…. then eventually, with practice you will be able to do it without rocking at all and the dead lift will come https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

Ok girls I’ve had lots of attempts buying comfy pleaser shoes so here goes!

My first three pair of pleasers were bought at the same time. One was closed toe ballet pump style, one was open toe with straps round the whole foot (both 2inch platform) and the last an open toe mule with a 1.5 inch platform. I bought size 6’s as thats my normal size and they were all too small… but in different ways!

Close toes were too small length ways but comfortable width ways
Strappy sandles were ok but my toes were pushed forward so much they looked ridiculous hanging over the edge!
The mules were unwearable as they were far too small and far too tight.

The closed toe are my photo shoes as I can’t walk in them at all as they cripple my feet but I can put them on and the open toe mules cant even be used for photos as they are so uncomfortable to wear https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

I then bought a size 7 and they are purple 2 inch platform mules which have two large straps across the front to hold your foot in (great for grip when climbing). These fit much better but they are very slightly too big so I didn’t feel too comfortable flinging my legs around the pole. However, I put half insoles in these and now I can pole in them.

After that I bought another pair (size 7) of mules similar too the size 6 ones I had, thinking that because the first pair were sooo small, the 7 in theory, should fit perfectly…. but no! The 7 were huge and so big even insoles made no difference. I have since given up on lower platform mules https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif

So I bought yet another pair of pleasers thinking that somehwre out there, there must be a pair that fit (and also I managed to pick them up cheap from ebay https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_albino.gif). These ones were black size 7 with an ankle strap. They actually fit (yey!) although the strap round the toes digs in a bit after a while but I can still pole well in these so they’re keepers.

The next pair were size 7 showgirl style (the ones in my profile picture). I bought these because I wanted the security of having my foot fully strapped in and also the grip at the front from the clear material. These are the most comfortable shoes ever! I finally found a pair of pleasers I could genuinely walk about in all day. They dont even feel like your wearing high heels because of the platform. I dont need insoles and I can swing my feet around as much as I like without thinking my shoes will fly off. I would highly recommend the showgirl style to anyone wanting they’re first pair of pleasers. I would however, recommend getting ones with a completely clear platform as that means the strap where the buckle is will be the same plasticy material as the rest of the shoe (my platform is silver and the strap was also silver and was a different, flimsy material which consequently broke…. luckily I managed to fix it with ribbon but it’s best not to t=get these to save you the hassle!)

So despite the broken buckle strap, the showgirl shoes are amazingly comfy.

To conclude (lol https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/alien.gif), I would definitely get a size up if in normal shoes you are edging towards a 6.5 but all in all…. it seems to be a bit of a guessing game when ordering over the internet. I actually posted a topic similar to this a while ago asking if anyone knew of a shop where you could try pleaser shoes on but as far as I know there doesn’t seem to be one….. do let me know if anyone finds one!

(NB: I’m from the UK so american sizes are different but the theory of this essay should be the same https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif hehe)

[HannahElizabeth]

Thanks stardust

very helpful https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

Hi

I’d like to submit some images to Pole Spin. What are you licensing terms for images that are published in the magazine? As a photographer, I do not want to give away copyright as I will want to use these photos else where in the future and I have seen that a small percentage of magazines sometimes want to keep copyright of any images submitted, hopefully you guys don’t!

Many thanks

Hannah Elizabeth

http://www.redbubble.com/people/hannahelizabeth

mailto:hannahelizabeth-photography@hotmail.com

[HannahElizabeth]

Thanks for all the replies girls

also please note that if you try to keep your hips square, it may take you longer to reach the floor in your splits. that’s where you’ll need to make the decision on whether you want to ‘cheat it’ a little by opening the hip, or go for the technically pure square hips split.

Jay jay I’ve heard cheating can damage you? Not sure but thats one of the reasons why I didnt want to cheat anyway. I dont mind the challenge of it being harder https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

Aha thank you, I see what you mean

Thanks https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

I must admit I have only been able (and brave enough!) to do this a couple of times and like everyone else it took ages!

One thing that really helped me was ‘walking’ down the pole with your hands. If you go into the advanced plank position but keep your top hand on the pole, you can edge your bottom hand down and slowly get down far enough so you have to take your top hand off. If you make sure your legs are up as high as possible, so they’re in position as they would be as if you were in the final position for the CAR, you can lean back and when you feel comfortable take your bottom hand off. Be very careful to release back and NOT to just fall back otherwise you could fall on your head and seriously injure yourself

I also find that putting the big cushions off a sofa onto the floor helps you feel more comfortable doing it because there’s a soft landing underneath you just in case!

Hope that helps. Also search for CAR on here and read through the other replies in different threads as these are what helped me https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

that was incredible!

Some of the comment do make me laugh though… fools! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

Thanks girls https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

I wasn’t sure whether to post because it provides another link outside the site and some websites don’t like that but glad it’s ok https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

Spread the word… Spread the pole! lol https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

Ooo wish I’d seen this earlier!

I did a pole workshop with Josiah today though so I think I might break in half if I do anymore stretching tonight!

Will this be happening same time next week? I’d like to join https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

Great points https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

I wish there were more showcases so people who didn’t want the pressure of competing could perform without having to worry about being judged on whether they are a "winner" or not https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

Fingers crossed I might be out there at that time https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
How much is it for a shoot and how many photos do you get?

[HannahElizabeth]

It took me ages to be able to hold the crucifix, I could invert before I could hold the crucifix so I thought I’d never be able to do it! But it did come the more I practiced because each time I did it I could feel my grip getting slightly stronger, so all though it took a while, I got there in the end https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif I didn’t try it when I was learning but a friend told me that hairspray can sometimes help with grip too

Good luck!

[HannahElizabeth]

Make sure your toes are always pointed and try and keep your leg more still when doing the floor work (1:14) otherwise if your leg is moving around a lot it can look a little sloppy

Great floor work at 1:30. Looking forward to seeing the live performance https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[HannahElizabeth]

Hi Hannah, I’ve used nitelife too, and all but one pair actually have padded soles so perhaps it’s worth phoning them up and asking for recommendations?

Hello https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Yes I have seen shoes form Nitelife that have padded soles but because the other ones I bought were so huge I’m not to keen on buying another pair in case they’re massive again! Do you buy yours shoes from a shop or online? x