[Hazi411]

Congratulations!  I tried it for the first time yesterday….I now have massive bruises on my inner thighs!

[Hazi411]

That is soooo cute!

[Hazi411]

I am in Oz, too, and also have an x-pole.  My 82 year old Mum helped me put mine up.  I think that in Oz, joists are about 12-13 inches apart.  I didn't have much luck with a stud finder either.  I used a combination of a stud finder and tapping the ceiling with my knuckles to find where the joists are.  My pole itself is between 2 joists. One edge of the dome part is below one of the joists, and the other edge is below the joist next to it, if that makes sense!  If you happen to have ducted air-con in your house, the ducts will be between the joists, so I used that as another way of checking the position of the joists 😉

[Hazi411]

Hi Vivienne

I'm in Oz too – but in Perth.  I've been poling for just over 18 months, loved it right from the start 🙂

[Hazi411]

My x-pole slipped a while back – the ceiling end of it shifted several inches whilst I was doing a spin.  I usually test mine before every time I use it, but only by tugging on it a few times!

[Hazi411]

I use my pole to help me 🙂  I sit in the straddle position, facing the pole, so that the pole is directly in front of my torso, but ever so slightly out of reach, then lean forward and try to grasp the pole, and use it to help me get my chest closer to the floor.  I do this at least 3 or 4 times.  It seems to help.  My straddle is still a long way off though 🙁

[Hazi411]

It's never too late.  I am lucky enough to be fairly flexible as far as touching my toes, and doing the side splits (ie one leg in front, one leg behind me)  is concerned.

With the side splits, I'm about 2-3 inches away, but my middle (center) splits is a looong way off 🙁 

I am 55, and started doing flex training about 16 months ago, on and off.  I think maybe flexibility is hereditary to some degree.

[Hazi411]

Lyme Lyte – thanks so much for explaining what the lunchbox is – I think that's what Veena calls the "broken pencil"?

Beingalex – well done for getting the shoulder mount.  Once I get a smart phone, I am looking at starting from scratch with Veena's fab videos, too 🙂

[Hazi411]

StudioVeena, thanks so much for your very encouraging post.  It really meant a lot to me.  I'm not expecting to be able to do the Iguna and Shoulder Mount for a while – one of the women I sometimes see at the studio I go to, says the shoulder mount took her 2 years to get!  If I can beat that, I will be happy 🙂

[Hazi411]

Thanks ladies.  Lyme Lyte – yes, that's the one, the iguana mount.  What's the lunchbox please?  Chemgoddess1 – I know what you mean about the moves that I work hardest on are the ones I'm most proud of – being able to invert was a *huge* thing for me.  I still have to kick up into it though 🙁  But I *will* get there!  I also know what you mean about "do them until you don't have to think about them".  That is starting to come 🙂

[Hazi411]

Big congrats 🙂  Well done!

[Hazi411]

Thanks Amy 🙂  Knew I'd seen it somewhere 😉

[Hazi411]

Thanks ladies 🙂  I wasn't thinking of trying it to lose weight as such (although I wouldn't mind dropping a few kilos!), but more from the point of view of learning what to eat pre-and post- my pole sessions……there is a nutritionist at my local Doctors' Surgery, so I might make an appointment there.  https://www.studioveena.com/users/view/bc7089ce-d89d-11df-ab19-12313b090e12  I will take a look at the Tone It Up diet.  I agree that "diets" as such aren't a good long-term plan for losing weight.  Just mainly I could use some info on "eating like an athlete" and thought maybe "the Pole Diet" book might help with that.

[Hazi411]

Sexygyrl – I think that's what happened to me (except my studio calls that move the "hello boys").  I don't remember anything about the fall or what happened in the hour or so afterwards (short term memory loss due to concussion).  I think I must have lost my grip with the top hand, and just gone backwards off the pole, landing on the back of my head.  I had a couple of days off work, missed one pole lesson, but went back to it the following week.   Determined to "get back on the horse" 😉  I've posted elsewhere in this forum about it.  Husband and Mum wanted me to give up pole "cos it's dangerous", but I told them it's not negotiable and I'm not giving it up!

[Hazi411]

Re 1:14 – I think she probably actually has quite a lot of both legs in contact with the pole, which would help with gripping the pole, plus if she has her arm hooked around it as well.