Hazelnut
Forum Replies Created
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i think one of the other girls said something about this the other day but i can't remember who… but when you're putting your arm into the elbow grip try turning your wrist so you're "looking at your watch" and making the fist! ok the fist doesn't look pretty but it helps when you're learning and apparently your muscles are automatically tighter if your arm is rotated so your palm is away from you (and you could see your hypothetical watch face). it worked for me!
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ahaha lyme lyte you read my mind! congrats on the splits i still haven't got mine!
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here's what to do 🙂
1- buy veenas lessons
2-buy a pole
3- have fun!
seriously that is all there is to it…. the beauty of pole dancing/fitness is that you don't have to already be flexible or muscular or any of that to start. it all comes as you go along and learn. alot of us on here are not dancers/gymnasts (as in, didn't do dancing or gymnastics or anything like that before this) and it doesn't stop you at all! besides some people are stronger whereas others are more flexible, or some people rock out the stripper heels and sexy moves whereas others just use pole for tricks in a sports bra… everyone is different and dont feel you have to be a certain way or a certain level to do it 🙂 and there's lots of moms in their forties here as well!
welcome!
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@Youngs7 : before you get discouraged that you don't have a studio to go to, remember not all studios or "instructors" are equal! I used to go to a brilliant studio, the classes were mixed ability and they always had at least two instructors to concentrate on the different groups of girls. we warmed up, cooled down afterwards, they spotted us and made sure we kept our points of contact and were safe all the time, showed us strength exercises, etc. Basically were amazing and I would never have progressed without those teachers (I hadn't discovered SV at this point, btw!) But I have been to other studios in many cities and alot of people don't do all those things, and simply called themselves "pole instructors" and the girls I met there hardly progressed at all (and weren't safe). So really…. you're not at a disadvantage just because you're not attending classes!
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i haven't had anything like that but as RoseMay said – I definitely found when I started that although my actual strength was increasing pretty quick my wrists and joints took longer to get used to the whole pole thing. My instructor suggested those wrist ball rollers – I didn't get end getting any but I know other girls who have them; they are like weighted balls and you just roll them around in your hands and they build up resistance and get your wrists used to handling heavier objects, I guess. Alot of girls who get tendon pain use them. Can't remember what they are actually called though sorry! hope it helps a little though, just an idea 🙂
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i've never been to one in bradford, so i can't comment on that! i go to two: pole diamonds and zebraqueen. both have their advantages… i'll send you a private message so i don't block up this thread lol! we'll have to start a wider-north england group!
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the worst ones are from teddy's or yoginis (or stag/ballerinas) in the underside of your bicep… honestly i spend most of my time at work fending off questions as i look like someone has grabbed me and left handprints! they get better, once you're better at climbing you'll use less pressure and not bruise at all.
Then you'll start bruising in other places instead as you learn new stuff!
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Wow I didn't realise there were so many polers from North England here! (and elsewhere in the UK!) it's good to see! maybe we should have a pole jam one weekend!
@Debss Did you go to a studio here? I have tried a few and one isn't very advanced which is frustrating and the other is good but a bit out of town which makes it hard to fit into my work schedule. I like having other polers around for a bit of banter and learning off each other and it's hard here!
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always good to see another northerner around here! Good on you for joining up and let me know if there's any amazing pole things happening around your area – they're scarce on the ground here in yorkshire!
Group classes are great fun too and don't worry the braveness factor – everyone is scared at first and if it's a good group of girls you'll soon be giggling your way together to pole awesomeness! just be able to laugh at yourself and you'll have a ball 🙂
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Don't worry! But i know exactly what you mean. I don't have a dance background but certainly never thought I was a "bad" dancer either. When I first started pole I knew I wouldn't be strong enough for alot of it but was pretty smug about the prospect of being able to dance sexily around a pole, and swing and spin my legs about and be all fluid and graceful right from the get-go…. OH MY GOD I was so wrong! I stood in front of it, held it with one hand to the side like the teacher said, and had no idea what to do. It felt so unnatural to have this THING next to me that I was supposed to interact with! how do I walk again?! how do you turn with this thing in the way? it's too slippy to spin on! my legs don't fit! etc etc!
it took me (and others I know too) about a month to "trust" the pole and get used to how it feels, where and how it fits in with your body angles and how much grip to use for the most basic, basic moves. so don't worry! you're really not alone.
Think of the pole as a dancing partner (ok, a really inert one!)… you wouldn't expect to be able to dance brilliantly with someone new right away, would you? it takes time to learn how to fit with each other 🙂
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good point! tiffany is pretty damn impressive and doesnt seem too tiny.
Also Jenna I just read your blog and trust me, for a newbie you are NOT sucking, rather it appears that you are kicking ass if you're teddy-ing it up already! and dont worry about having no background in this stuff, i had never done any exercise at all before pole and one year later i'm doing stuff i never thought i would be able to! us exercise amateurs are more common than you'd think 🙂
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No way are you too tall! I'm 5'10'' too – lol just realised how conceited that sounds, because i am in no way a role model or anything like that, but i've never found my height stopped me learning tricks. i think your body ratios (eg height to torso length, arm length vs leg length, etc) may play a role regarding how easily you can get into some positions but you'll be fine! the only thing that is annoying is if you have low ceilings you cant really climb much without hitting the roof quickly. but find a high place to stick the pole up and you'll be fine!
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i have never been in a competition so good luck! you're incredibly brave. personally i'd be worried that if it's on a strange pole (any idea if you can get a practice on the real thing before the day?) then that combined with nerves would make it alot harder than usual. so maybe you could just alter it slightly in the middle to include a few resting moves? nobody would know the difference except you and maybe it'd make the whole thing a bit easier to prepare for.
Re: food advice, protein won't help much with stamina whilst you are actually on the pole – if you are building strength etc with weights it is obviously needed then, but your body uses carbs for energy while you are exercising. a mix of long and short carbs before getting on might help – in theory that should give you a boost of accessible energy for your muscles and also allow them to keep working for awhile. eg peanut butter and jelly on wholewheat bread!! 😀
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Wow!!! I am SO going to do that pole squat, never seen that before and my ass has been feeling a little less tight lately so I was wondering what to do to get it a little more bootylicious!
Re: your question, I know zumba is the craze of the moment (at least it is here in the UK!) but I found when I started doing that twice a week my legs and bum toned up fairly quickly. I can't go to the gym unless it's a dance class (HATE gyms!) but I reckon that zumba (IF it's with a really good instructor and has alot of real dance moves in it) is a pretty good mix of cardio and leg/bum toning.
Also – never seen your site before and just had a look and LOVE the stuff! 😀
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I haven't had any boyfriend issues but my parents were mortified and convinced I had found an alternative stripping career, until I showed them videos of Anastacia Shukhtorova… (however you spell that!) and they saw how beautiful a dance it can be without any sexual moves at all. Now they are cheering me on!
But boyfriends are different… I could see his point if he didn't like the idea of other people (and how does he know they aren't men?) seeing you in tiny outfits, but this is probably because he is insecure about how how much you fancy him… ie if other people pay that much attention to you, you may ditch him for someone better! But if you explain to him that 90% of the time it is a group of chicks jumping around together having fun, then he will probably calm down! So yeah, show him some shots from class!
if after all that he is still convinced you're a stripper in disguise, I'd ditch him. Life is too short to be with someone who isn't 10000% proud of you!