Krabbette
Forum Replies Created
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Hi PoleAdventures!
I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through. I had a herniated disk a year ago and I couldn’t exercise for almost four months. No exercise at all, no yoga, no stretching, no riding a bike… even going shopping for food was difficult because I couldn’t carry anything. No typing on a computer, no writing by hand.. my body felt useless. The first few weeks were really bad, I felt like crap, was in a bad mood all the time and started fighting with people I loved… but once I started to accept the fact that my body was trying to tell me something it got better. It was a hard time, that’s for sure, but looking back I am grateful for the experience because I learned a lot about myself. I learned that my body is smarter than me and that I should listen to it. I learned that I can be good to other people although I’m in pain all the time, and I learned that there are good things to worship even when you feel everything is falling apart. I missed pole a lot, and also exercising in general, I had thought before that I would go insane without it, but I didn’t. And when I could pole again I was surprised at how fast my strength came back. It is hard, facing your own barriers, but in the end you don’t lose. You win because your experience makes you grow if you let it and don’t fight with it. Be patient, be humble. Call people you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Read books. Make yourself a cup of tea an listen to music. Go for a walk and observe how the trees change during autumn. Grab your chance. You don’t need your body to dance. Dance with your heart.
I wish you the best of luck,
Krabbette -
I have no great medical knowledge but I had a herniated disc last year. I couldn’t move for several months and went seeing one physical therapist after another (I didn’t want to have surgery or injections) but noone could help me. UNTIL I found the right one. An osteopath. And after the first appointment the pain was almost gone. What I understood from his explanations was that our bodies are such miracles in the way everything is connected to some other part, everything like a ‘net’ so you pull on one end and it has multiple effects on all other ends, that you can injure a part of your spine (a herniated disk, for instance) and the muscles and the tissue surrounding this disk will try to ‘compensate your loss’, start doing work they are not supposed to do, tense in consequence, and hurt. And they can stay tense and continue hurting even if the original injury is fully healed because they got used to all the compensating. So this is what my osteopath did. He found the tissue and the muscles that had shortened and tensed in reaction to my injury (and also some disks and ribs and lots of other litte things I don’ know the name of that had moved a bit due all the compensating) and taught them how to behave properly.
So, maybe your problem is similar. And what I actually want to say is: don’t give up looking for a good therapist. They are few, I know, but you will find one who can help you. Because if you are in pain, it cannot be the case that everything is fine with your back. This is bullshit.
I wish you luck! -
Ah, I just saw you purchased the lessons!
Have a look at this intermediate routine from Veena: https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/52f98a8c-4dc8-448b-9554-50120a9aa0eb
Lots of ideas in this that you can use, also for transitioning to the floor and back up. Just take out the sexy bits and make them ballet-like, because of your mom… π -
Of course! Stretching counts! :)))
Saw your video, I love it. Moving around and up and down the pole seems to come naturally to you. You will be doing great, just keep practicing on this track.
If any questions come up during your creating a routine, be them general or specific, feel free to ask… and don’t forget to film your ideas, this helps sooo much! -
Gemini! That’s awesome! So you could try going from v invert into gemini, then into inverted crucifix and plank out. This is not super easy but you could try… Looking forward to seeing your video!
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Hi Wennajo!
I agree with LabCobra, I would focus on the tricks I have and make them beautiful instead of trying to learn all kinds of new stuff.
Have you watched this?
https://www.facebook.com/studioveenacom/videos/vb.166223364441/10154123153364442/?type=2&theater
If not, watch it. It’s a video from Veena about making basics beautiful and you will see how impressive fundamental moves can look if executed with care. Also, practicing this will be excellent for strength building, I tried yesterday and I’m pretty sore now… π
As you have a history in ballet I’m sure this will sound quite familiar to you. Use your ballet lines and everything you do on the pole will look beautiful.
As for combinations, there’s lots of potential using the tricks you can already do. Try going from a pole climb into a well executed pole sit, then into basic plank followed by ckr and handstand out, for instance. A wrist sit is always impressive, you can combine it with an advanced plank afterwards… Those are just examples, but I’m sure as you work on polishing your moves you’ll come up with ideas yourself, just see what feels good…
Considering the switch from 50 to 45mm, I wouldn’t worry too much. I switched from a 50mm to a 40mm last year and everything I could do on the 50mm I could do on the 40mm right away. LabCobra is right, you need to squeeze with your legs a little more and maybe your legs will hurt a bit more, but nothing unbearable. If you can try the 45mm out beforehand, try the advanced plank, I think that could be the most tricky one regarding the change of diameter.
Good luck to you! If you can, upload some videos of your ideas so we can give you more tips, if you like… -
I have been pole dancing for little over 2 years, have no dancer background and I also dream of doing the front splits. (I literally dream about it from time to time…. π I have done various splits routines too (including Veena’s), however, strangely I feel that I am progressing faster if I don’t stretch for splits at all. I stretch to maintain flexibility after each workout, and I think this and the work on the pole itself helps me most. I hear a lot that consistency is the key to splits, but my body seems to work different, after stretching for splits regularly my muscles always feel tighter than before. I am no expert, but maybe you could try and change your method and see what it does to you? I am really surprised how not specifically stretching for splits has made my splits improve, I have never been that close before… (I just bought ‘elastic steel’ because I feel his approach is a little different to the ‘standard approach’. Do you know that DVD?) So, to answer your question finally… a rough estimation, as I’m not quite there yet… 2,5 to 3 years.
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Not an expert either, not at all. But I’m working on improving my floorwork as well. What helps me is watching other people do floorwork and finding out what I like, then just doing it and videotaping myself. Mostly the things I feel silly about doing are the things that look silly in the end. What I found out is the effect of a movement is much more profound if you are doing it because your body feels good doing it and likes to be watched doing it compared to just showing off what you can do, if you know what I mean. So, take your time, play around and enjoy your body. Be courageous and let yourself go.
And yes, I too like straight legs and pointed toes, an archy back… also changes in speed and rythm, deliberate and confident movements… But as I said above, I’m not there yet, so if you come across any new insights, please share with us. Good luck to you! -
This is an interesting article, thanks for sharing. I’ve heard similar things before, so maybe there’s some truth to it… I think what you are ‘missing’ in the shown ‘correct’ way of stretching is that the picture shows only the starting position for the stretch. If you’re more flexible your back leg will be further back. This is how I understand it. BUT you need to make sure you are squeezing the glute and activating your core to prevent your back from arching and your pelvis from tilting. This is the main and very important difference to the ‘wrong’ hip flexor stretch, I think.
Here is a hip flexor stretch I like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bWQGIm9raw
Also in this stretch the tailbone is always tucked and the back never arched….. -
I have never taken a pole dancing class in a studio. I am perfectly happy with learning from Studioveena exclusively. Everything is covered, everything is so thoroughly explained, the lessons are in progressive order, you can ask any questions that come up… I have never injured myself and also feel I am making good progress. I wouldn’t worry. If you feel you can motivate yourself without someone around pushing you, go for it!
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Yes, let’s stop ranting π We both agree… We love pole because it is hard, because we have to fight for it, and we take it seriously because we love it. And we don’t want anybody dancing in front of our noses telling us it is easy, or that we have to do aerial straight leg inverts to consider ourselves real pole dancers with fundamental skills. Because we are. And the aerial straight leg invert will be ours one day. Yay!!!
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You are right, Phoenix. I just read her explanation and the video makes more sense to me now. But still, the word “beginner” is very misleading. If not dangerous. “Fundamental” would be more appropriate, but then you don’t necessarily have to be able to do a straight legged invert to proceed with upside down tricks, just to name one example. Thank you for discovering her explanation below the video, I am less angry now π But still very happy to have Veena and this community and to not learn on youtube…
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Seeing videos like this one makes me so damn angry! Is she making fun of us???? Thanks for posting though as this reminds me again of what an awesome pole teacher we have. Veena, you’re the best!!!!
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Don’t stress, this is pretty normal. Hormones have a huge impact on your body and mind. HUGE. When I started pole dancing a year ago I was confused like you are now because I noticed I could do certain things only during the first half of my cycle but not during the second. I didn’t know what was wrong until over time I realized it was a monthly pattern. I’m not a specialist when it comes to medical questions but I think all this ovulating and bleeding and preparing for conception again and again is a lot of work for a female body. And I feel we should be kind to our bodies and listen to what they need. So when I notice that my hormone levels are changing and I am lacking strength and motivation I don’t fight through this. I take a rest because I know my body will be grateful and surprise me with a new trick when I get back on the pole a few days later… π
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No, I’m not exactly tall. Not at all. Thanks Veena, your reply is very helpful… π