HyperHorsegirl
Forum Replies Created
-
My studio won't let students invert until they've been poling for 4 months. They just won't teach it until then. I learned it, but I wasn't ready. This particular instructor taught us to kick into it. Big no no! Other instructors at the studio would have told me to wait. I could DO it, but only with kicking and with poor form. Needless to say, I ended up straining my intercostal muscles. I had torn them in college and to feel that pain again was something I had hoped would never happen. The intercostal muscles are the vertical ones between your ribs that expand when you breathe. The pain was horrible and affected that whole side of my body. Even lifting my left arm (which would stretch my ribs) was hard, and I certainly couldn't put any weight on it for a spin. So, then I became lopsided. Even though I stopped working on inverts to do it right, I was forced to do everything on the right arm! I am still struggling with strength. Worst of all, I used to be fairly balanced in my spins, right and left. Now, I struggle with spins to the left after having to wait for those muscles to heal.
It's really not worth it to invert too early. I'm waiting until it's right. I'll do one every now and then, but only one and I do my best not to kick (even though I still do), and it's not an exception I often make. The injuries from inverting too early have held me back even more and even stunted my progression. Don't give up and keep working toward it (safely), but don't let yourself compromise your health for this accomplishment. It's not worth it!
-
I like mini instructor bios. Nothing too serious. A picture and something like "favorite stage name" favorite inverted trick, favorite floorwork, favorite music, etc. It helps to get to know who you might be having class with, even if it is just a photo and a name.
-
I just bought some today that I have already fallen in love with. They are thick material, but still cool. Best yet, because they are thicker, they really seem to hide any panty lines I might have. They are just stretchy and supportive enough and don't ride up. They have ribbon side ties, which is cute. They are reversible and so I have a turquoise side and a black side. Essentially two shorts in one! They also fold over at the waist, making them able to be as high or low as I want. They cover ALL of my booty, and I'm not lacking back there. They do have a center seam, but it hasn't been a bother to me. Then again, I'm not typically bothered by center seams. The brand is DV8 Couture, but they are not showing this particular style online. It's a trial that an area studio is doing with them to see how they go. She got her logo on them (both sides) and it's so cute. They most closely resemble the Stephanie on their website, though not exactly. I can already tell I'm going to LOVE these shorts.
-
@Aluna – She posted them yesterday in an album on her profile.
-
I wonder why, if she is not trying to be deceptive, that she photographs the pole portions inside their tubes. And, when they are outside the tubes, why she puts the tubes on top of the poles themselves so you can't see them as well. That, to me, is odd.
-
I love getting thongs from Charlotte Russe. They frequently have sales for 5 pairs for $10, pick your own pairs. Sometimes it's hard to find something cute in your size, but I always come home with new, cute underwear after I've dug through the bins enough. The good thing about that is that you can pick a variety of styles, material, and sizes without spending too much on them. Quality may not be the very best, but I have some pairs that I still wear several years after I bought them.
-
@Youngs7 – Thank you. It was never my intention to sound as if I was putting other girls down. I was one of them too at one point! I get compliments on my spins now, but I was at Open Pole practically every time the studio had it in order to work on it. I struggled so bad at first and still do when it comes to strength matters and new things. Pole does not come easy for me either. I just would not give up, so I kept working and practicing. Once, I practiced so much, I rubbed a quarter-sized chunk of skin off of my wrist (which I know now is indicative of bad form). I know what it means to struggle to get things.
At my studio, we have classes that are supposed to be for girls with at least two months experience. Inevitably, a girl who has never touched the pole before will sign up without reading the class description or requirements. I always feel bad for her because, although she gets to see some amazing things that the experienced students are learning, there's no way she can keep up with that class. The instructor will either dumb down the whole class or spend extra time with her teaching, but no one wins in that situation. There have been times where those girls never come back.
I just don't want to see something like that happen at a party that is supposed to be fun.
(I've always heard that KISS stands for Keep it Simple, Stupid.)
-
Some people who are new to pole are really apprehensive about taking their feet off the ground (both at the same time). Not all, but some. I've seen enough beginners in drop in classes at the studio to know that some just won't get it. Many won't have the strength to do a proper fan kick. In our pole fit classes, fan kicks are a common exercise and I'm surprised by the number that struggle with it, even ones that look fit.
I don't want to seem like a downer, but a "simple" beginner routine might just be things on the ground, like hip rolls, maybe a "step around" spin when one foot can stay on the ground to help them feel more secure. If they do well, offer the fireman. The ones with strength could even do more. I just wouldn't go in expecting everyone to be able to catch on to "easy" stuff like the fireman and fan kicks. If they fail on their first attempts, they may be too embarrased to try again. It takes guts to get out there in front of people. Stick to easy things. Like really really easy, to let them get a feel and get comfortable while you gauge their abilities.
You might just want to show them a few things as examples and give them all 30 seconds of fame to do whatever they want. Hook your leg around the pole and do some hip roles, do a sexy walk, ballroom dip, hip rolls, hair flips, booty bouncing, etc. Most will probably just grind on the pole, but it releases that nervous tension and gives them a good first experience.
I think that it would likely be well-received but you want them to succeed and give them no reason to think "I can't do that" or have them try, fail, and ruin their first experience. Set them up to do well, give them some free reign, push them out of their comfort zone, but don't challenge them too much at first. At least, that's what I would do.
Disclaimer: I've never taught any class or hosted any pole party. I'm just speaking from what I've seen of some beginner classes and any-level drop in classes. Some of these classes go extraordinarily well and the instructor adjusts accordingly, but some are kept very very basic.
-
It's kind of the same thing, but I haven't tried this with heels.
When I was taking country/western dance lessons, they recommended wearing boots with leather soles so your feet could slide properly. My boots have rubber soles to help with grip while working in them. The last thing I want is to be sliding around outside. But, their recommendation was to put masking tape on the bottom to make them slick. It works. Masking tape (and painter's tape – though I haven't tried it) is not too slick, not too sticky, and it peels off without residue.
-
My studio teaches a "freestyle" class and I have a love/hate relationship with it. It focuses on mainly transitions, not tricks or spins.
Examples of what we do in class is she will show a floorwork transition, like a way to get up from the floor. Then she will put on a song and say "Okay, now incorporate that transition somewhere in this song. We will be using the floor and the wall only. No chairs or poles." And then we go. We usually will learn three such transitions (not all floor or pole, etc) and dance to probably 5 or so songs with different variations on what we're doing.
She's done "Don't touch the floor" (for the advanced girls), "chair and floor", "pole only, don't go on the floor", "just floorwork", "no spins, feet on the floor", etc. She's even brought a strobe light once and put on fast music and told us to dance slow. The strobing really helped us see how fast we were moving. She's a GREAT instructor.
This class sets parameters, but also lets you make things up as you go along. These things aren't really planned, but the guidelines she gives also helps everyone to focus in with a goal.
I recently had to freestyle when I went with some friends to an intro workshop. Being one of a handful of students that happened to be in the workshop, coupled with an ankle injury of the instructor, we were asked to perform the demo with her to give variety for those watching. I'm so glad that I have taken those freestyle classes otherwise I might have frozen. I don't particularly like freestyling because I worry too much about what to do and looking silly. It's hard for me! Still, I got up and did it in front of my friends and they said it looked really great even though I thought I was floundering. I think you just have to go for it.
A tip that I have heard repeated over and over from my instructors is that when you're tired, or you need time to think, don't underestimate the usefulness of some "break" moves like hip rolls, hip dips, walking to and from places, stopping to touch your body, etc. These moves take little effort, little thought, and gives you time to cool off or think without stopping altogether. You still look good while you're thinking!
-
I know some have posted about it before. I believe I got some suggestions on that topic when I asked about having exactly 9 ft ceilings with the X-Pole. I have carpet too and I don't think it's bad, but if you pole in shoes, it's certainly not ideal. I can't practice in shoes at home at all.
I'll try to look up that link to my old discussion post. We were trying to make my floor a little taller to have enough tension on the pole to cope with the max height of the X-Pole, but I haven't had any problems with the pole not being tight enough.
-
I completed my 47th Day of Insanity this morning. I have not seen any drastic results in appearance, but I have seen an increase in my cardio abilities. The dvds do get repetitive. You just have to keep pressing play. Some mornings I absolutely hate it. This morning, I felt triumphant. It varies. You get out what you put in and it is easy to "cheat" and not give it your all. My boyfriend started it with me (lasted one week) and his idea of jumping jacks didn't even involve his feet leaving the floor. It's hard on my knees, one of which needs surgery.
I do not follow any specific diet plan because I have odd diet requirements that prohibit me eating many things. I have not been eating (or craving) fast food while doing Insanity though.
-
My 45mm TG X-Pert weighed about 40-45 lbs in the box. I've never taken it down to move it, so I don't know how easy it is to carry.
-
I still don't feel comfortable with letting go (inverted crucifix). I've done it a grand total of once. I do have a bit of fear. I can't even bring myself to lay back in a CAR or CKR, not even with a spotter. I won't let go. I didn't continue with Level 4 (Level 3 is the first inverting level) because I didn't feel comfortable enough with my basic invert to do anything more intense than that.
I'm fine with taking my time most days. Other times I really wish I could just get over it and press on. I'll get past it someday. My practice on it has been limited lately. Maybe it's because I'm avoiding it. Once I start working seriously, I'm sure I'll feel less fear over time.