[Koidragon]

Well on that note, I think I am sold – I was looking at location, and Richmond looks fairly central… is there much of a difference between the studios?

 

Thank you again, you have all been very helpful 🙂

[Koidragon]

Hi AshleyD, welcome to poling 🙂

It is fairly normal for people to have sweaty palms, especially in the beginning – although some suffer from it more than others, and for longer. If your studio has different metal poles in the class, spend some time alternating between them as different people will react better to different metals. It is the same with grip aides – for me grip aides didn't really work in the beginning, but washing my hands with soap and then drying them right before class helped. As I gained confidence and my body got used to things, my sweaty hands became less of a problem, and grip aides did begin to work. I am finding now that I need them less often. Almost every one I have spoken to says the same – over time, the sweaty palms problem reduces.

Whatever lessons you do at home, don't rush into things – condition and strengthen, concentrate on engagement, core, and pointing your toes 🙂 The cool tricks will come, but if you get the foundations right then you will profit from it later on.

 

[Koidragon]

Ah thank you very much! 🙂 

I think that there aren't many places that do a membership rather than term option – perhaps something I will consider when I open my own school and take over the world! mwuhahaha!

I do want to compete, but more important than that, I want a great little network/society of fellow dancers – in fact this is more important than high level competing, although that is good too 🙂

 

 

[Koidragon]

The poles themselves are quite different – they are often covered in rubber, and so Chinese pole acrobats often wear clothing to stop the burn. Although it isn't always the case, there is usually a lot of jumping from one pole to another, flips and such. I have to say though as pole dancing progresses, we see a lot more of a similarity with some of the tricks done.

Chinese pole is very much considered and acrobatic style. One of the most obvious visual differences is how they climb the pole – they usually use their feet like a monkey, usually using Tabi boots (ninja toed looking boots) 🙂

 

[Koidragon]

Hi Kareno – I have also grazed a scar, and I (as I am sure many of us) have lost skin and received various levels of bruising, grazing and calluses. Your skin will get used to it though. It has happened a couple of times to a scar on my hip, and it heals and goes away. I have found it happens when the poles are particularly hot, it irritates the skin which then becomes more susceptible to grazing. You could try gloves, there are a few companies which make specific pole dancing gloves, but you need to choose if you want to grip or spin, and you will find as you advance you won't want to use them as they can limit you.

I use dry hands, which is similar to liquid chalk and it does increase my callus creation, so it might well be that which helped cause your graze on your scar. There are other grip agents you could try – I used rock climbers chalk for a while and that worked really well, especially in the beginning when I was still working on my grip strength and dealing with losing skin on my hands.

I would say though, let it heal and be aware of it, but not too wary – your skin will adapt and become stronger, and you will also learn to grip less intensely as your strength increases.

Don't give up! 🙂

[Koidragon]

I know this was a while ago but hey, that's what forums are for. 🙂

I think the point here isn't whether or not you should or shouldn't be comfortable with strip clubs, whether you feel jealous or not – the point here is knowing what boundaries are right for you and for your partner, and being able to communicate and aspire to them. Personally if my partner wanted to go to a strip club I would be fine with it, but then there are things I would not be ok with that other people in other relationships would be. We as a couple have our boundaries, which we have chosen, just as others choose theirs. Above all, communication and respect for your partner is what is key. The world is not going to end by your husband not going to a strip club, nor will it end if he does – but the first option is much more respectful to his partner.

[Koidragon]

Hi ladies 🙂

What would you consider “Pole-appropriate” clothing? What makes it pole-appropriate?

I would definitely agree with Chemgoddess1 on this one. I think it is also location specific – if you are pole dancing in a night club or strip club the 'appropriatness' of clothing would be very different to say a Sunday afternoon pole stage jam in a park with kiddies running around. My studio tends to lean more towards the booty shorts and sports bras, with heels if by choice but not taught that way except in the specific heeled classes. I am large chested and have plenty of hassle with bra tops, especially when I want to do moves where more skin is better. I also see a lot of girls just pin their t-shirts up, or learn to do tricks with more clothing (such as pole climbing in pants) to increase the difficulty.

The men in our studio seem to opt towards just boxer briefs style, which they seem to be comfortable in and is no more revealing than what the girls wear.

Is there a difference in "Pole-appropriate" clothing/shoes for men and women? Why?

No, I don't think there is a difference. Both men and women want to hide enough of themselves to their own comfort level, and also keep the bits that might dangle or wobble out of the way.

Do you think there should be restrictions/qualifications for shoes in competitions?

I think each competition with a restriction is their own choice, and that with so many options it doesn't' matter too much. Dancing in heels is a skill, and some would say a reference to the foundation and roots of pole dancing, however the different styles themselves are so broad that you can choose the direction best for you. I personally don't train in heels, but a lot of the girls in my studio do. As for competition, I can see both sides, but I definitely would prefer to have the choice rather than a restriction either way.

Is there a specific type of shoe that pole-dancers use? What makes this shoe “style” special? Why is it important to use this style of shoe?

Being a non show wearer on the pole currently, I admire those who dance in shoes, as it is not only a weight on the end of feet, but also an enforcement to land back down with control. Generally it seems the bigger the heel the better, but I am no expert on this one. Mind you, I saw a girl pole dance in ugg boots the other day and she looked fantastic.

[Koidragon]

I agree with NinaPoles – the strength required for things like an aerial v shoulder mount and boomerang hold takes time – and rushing into advanced moves can mean you don't learn the fundamentals properly (speaking from experience). 🙂 Let yourself off the hook a little, and work on making sure everything you can do you do with absolute control the whole way, and that will help strengthen you towards other moves. Doing pull ups and benches are great – and that is a wonderful achievement! 🙂 However things like shoulder mounts take a lot of core, especially to do it controlled. You are doing really well with how far you have come, don't rush yourself 🙂

[Koidragon]

Oh wow everyone, thank you so much for such speedy information 🙂

When I was in Australia the studio I went to was spin pole only, and then of course came here to Vancouver which is predominately static… lots of unlearning and relearning to do for that 🙂

I presumed that most studios did the 'term' system, I have been a bit spoilt here I think with the membership system 🙂

I love Melbourne and absolutely agree that I should find a place near a studio for travel accessibility – I know no one here will think less of me for choosing which suburb I move to based on which studio I choose to go to – which is exactly why I am asking this question. Because I am in Canada still, I won't get the chance to try different studios in Melbourne before deciding where I move to, so want to get as much information as possible. I have no real problem living away from the CBD if need be, but would ultimately prefer to be in access of trains and such as my partner will more than likely need and vehicle transport for work.

Ideally I would be looking to stay at the studio of choice for many years, as I plan to compete (in the future) – would you say that all three studios recommended here (pole divas, vertical fitness and arena) have the facilities to lead to that?

Seriously, thank you so much for your help, you are all wonderful 🙂 https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif

 

[Koidragon]

Alright – I better get on board with this too as I think it is fantastic

 

age: 33
location: Vancouver and Australia (traveller)
stage name: None as yet
lessons or self taught: lessons
spin or static: both
shoes or barefoot: barefoot, however I am not closed to shoes
favorite pole move: Iron X. Even though it is currently out of reach
day job: many things indeed
your best/sexiest feature: sharp tongue
how you got into pole dancing: I saw a girl do a pole sit on a street post on a busy friday night and thought – yep.
how you found out about studioveena.com: general trawling through the interwebs.
if you were a pair of underwear would you be a thong, boy shorts, bikini cut or granny panties: 'Cause I'm free! Free ballin'!  (just kidding :P)
 

[Koidragon]

I think what is interesting about this is that the word 'athlete', whilst has fairly clear dictionary definitions (thanks sparrow 🙂 ) it means different things within the world of exercise. We are all definitely classed as athletic, as well as a whole mess of other wonderful terms, but generally within the protein powder and enhancer world, supplements aimed at 'athletes' are for those who train 3 times a day type deal. When I was competing in martial arts, this was what I needed to do, and I took some of these types of supplements. I do disagree though in something the supplement guy said – that it is a hobby rather than exercise. That is just a bit ridiculous to think that, however I think he did steer you in the right direction away from the 'X' – that is crazy stuff 🙂

I tend to think of myself as an aerialist. That is just my personal preference, and I often love to hear where others like to choose their own terms for themselves. Pole in itself is so diverse that we can choose our own direction, and thus our own definitions. 🙂

[Koidragon]

Oh, and a slow song I love could be 'Jar of Hearts' by Christina Perri. 🙂

[Koidragon]

Hi Glamourize,

What about something like 'Watch out' by Alex Gaudino?

One day I would love to be so incredibly flawlessly skilled I can do a routine to 'Guy on a Buffalo'. There are really no highs or lows in that, but the lyrics are magic.

 

 

[Koidragon]

Hi AriFerrari,

Well done on the legless silk climb by the way – I can do it on pole but haven't tried silks, I imagine that is even harder 🙂

I have used chrome, brass and powder coated poles. Mostly brass as it is what has worked best for me – the grip on powder is amazing, but in my experience, it will limit your static spins. As for the 'tearing' of skin, I didn't get that, but I did get burns – I imagine though over prolonged use that diminishes just as the bruising on brass diminishes once your skin gets used to it. Drops would be a no-no, and so would quick transitions from one aerial trick to another where skin contact happens. Now, I haven't used a powder coating extensively, so perhaps others can give more info on this.

However, as you already have an x-pole, perhaps you could get (once they come out) the powder coated extensions (as a suggestion I saw somewhere) to mix around on your pole. That way, you could swap out the chrome when you want to do some crazy grip things, but then put it back in when you want to work on spins – and the strength in your hand grip you get from working on the powder pole may help with your sweatiness on the chrome. 🙂

 

[Koidragon]

Ack – sorry about the last post, who knows what happened there 🙂

What I was going to say is that my partner is supportive, but he is supportive because it is something I love. He can't stand the sound of the skin scraping down a pole (like in a drop) but other than that, he is the first to kiss my bruises and rub where I am sore. In general, whilst he is very strong, he doesn't agree with a lot of the physical hobbies around today because he thinks that it puts too much emphasis on how we 'look' rather than personal development. Regardless of this, he is always supportive of my choices and at the same time offers balance to make sure I am doing things for the right reasons (ie, my own, not those of others). I think in the end this is what a partner should do – be supportive and at the same time provoking of self growth and development. I don't want to sound out of turn, but it seems that some of these guys mentioned here are too caught up in how they are feeling about things – whether it be pole specifically, being de-masculinised (is that even a word?) or worrying about what other people may think instead of being there and focusing on their partners.

One of the things I love about pole is that it is about skill and strength – you can do any kind of style you want – sexy, cheeky, demure, graceful, trick oriented… with this diversity I can't see how any person would have an issue with their partner doing it as it in it's very nature inspires growth. I have been an avid gym goer, and I can speak from experience, lifting weights is far less 'functional' in the real world than the strength from being able to lift your own body and do the things we can do. Standing in a gym and watching yourself in a mirror while you flex biceps and check out proportions is far less impressive to me than someone who can, time and time again, lift themselves up that pole to put their bodies into aerial dance. Ladies, I truly hope that your partners can open themselves up to what pole (and any style like it) can do in such profoundly positive ways. And above that, I hope they can just open themselves to be supportive of you, and see that having a strong, confident partner actually makes them more of a man, not less.