[Kyrsten]

I've been poling a little over a year (started last August, so 14 months to be exact) and I haven't looked back since! I started out taking class on and off when I could, then I finally got my own pole up last November and it's been a full on addiciton since then.

[Kyrsten]

Thanks guys!! I never realized I had hyperextendable knees, but reading into it a little more, I definitely do and it explains a lot… Looks like I will have to make a conscious effort to keep them slightly bent. Hard because I’m used to pointing and straightening as hard as I can. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Thanks Emotioncatcher for the tip… My oversplit is 4 inches and my knee is still flat on the floor when I do it lol
🙁

I also have noticed a lot of rhythmic gymnasts have this… It explains why I always found their legs sort of off looking… The extension just doesn’t look graceful to me with the extended knees. Looks more contortiony.

[Kyrsten]

Start now! It's a completely different technique and dynamic… actually, I sometimes start people off with the spinning pole (if they're strong enough to hold their weight, that is) because it's easier to focus on correct positioning when you don't have to worry about generating momentum, imo. Especially combination spins – I find it much easier to try them first on spin, then take them to static once I have the feel for what my body needs to do.

As for inverts, those tend to be harder on spin, so generally I will start those on static and move to spin once I have the fundamentals. But the only way you'll learn is to practice, because again, totally different technique. I don't really think there is a certain point where you should "start" learning on spin, provided that you are comfortable enough holding your body weight (which you should be if you are spinning anyway). If you have a static/spinning pole, make use out of both at every opportunity.

[Kyrsten]

http://www.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/article_photos/gabbydouglas-2-467.jpg

(try that again.. lol)

[Kyrsten]

And as a counter example: Gabby Douglas… her leg has a very slight bow, but it isn't like Felix's:

http://www.rutgersprep.org/kendall/7thgrade/cycleB_2012-13/04_gd/gabby

[Kyrsten]

The spinning scorpio always gets a good reaction for me!

(Scorpio, thigh hold, then Scorpio on the other side)

Jasmine to Gemini is another favorite.

[Kyrsten]

The spinning scorpio always gets a good reaction for me!

(Scorpio, thigh hold, then Scorpio on the other side)

Jasmine to Gemini is another favorite.

[Kyrsten]

Emotioncatcher yours looks amazing!! I doubt I’m flexible enough to pull this trick off nicely but I’d like to try it… I can do the diva dive and pull my foot overhead, but I never realized it was meant to be the opposite hand! Hmm…

[Kyrsten]

I always do it at the end of a long session, personally, because I'm really warm, flexible and sticky (I have dry skin so I have to be super sweaty to stick to the pole lol). It does come at the cost of decreased strength, but I sacrifice it for the flexibility and not having to use a million grip aids.

After you warm up but before class is probably a good idea if endurance is the problem. The good news is, your endurance should improve greatly just from doing those freestyles after class every week 🙂 Long sessions have been the key to building endurance for me.

[Kyrsten]

Mine all goes right to my thighs. Lol.

[Kyrsten]

I can do a few, but they aren't my favorite exercise… I can do about 10 on the pole and maybe about 4 on a bar? I'm kind of bottom heavy so I don't really like pure arm strength exercises lol.

[Kyrsten]

Personal favorites are the BK gogo short then the Mika mikaela shorts. I have the BK brazil ones as well and don’t really like them, but I think I may have just gotten a size too big… They’re kind of saggy looking and feeling to me lol.

[Kyrsten]

That's helpful Elektra, thanks. I want to start working on this but I'm terrified of anything shoulder mount… I hardly ever use them because I feel like I'm going to break my neck, even though I know I'm just being silly…

[Kyrsten]

Small feet here too! I would recommend trying Pleasers… they seem to run small, at least the classic ankle-strap platform stripper shoe type shoes.

I wear a 5 in most dance heels, but Pleaser's I wear a 6. The non-platform ones don't seem to run as small though — I have a pair of shorter stiletto pumps from Pleaser in a 6 and they're pretty roomy.

[Kyrsten]

I got the split Marlo is doing… I’m going to try and see if I can’t figure this one out tonight, hmm. My back isnt that flexible though…