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Thanks everyone for the input and info about the Platinum Stages, which I had considered at one point. I hope others get some ideas from this forum post too 😀 But I decided to go with the Chrome XPole XS and ordered on Tuesday.  Now the hard part is waiting! I've been refreshing FedEx tracking every few hours lol What a dork! Too bad it's supposed to get here tuesday and I leave for a wedding in AZ till Sunday! I'm gonna be dreaming about that pole all week!!!

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Thanks! You are so helpful! I might recruit you as my pole mentor lol I was actually looking into a mat and didn't realize they had ones like this that fit any pole brand. Not to mention in pink!!! I was just learning gemini, scorpio and pike before I hurt myself. Taking a break from those and relearning with Veena once I get my pole. When I feel ready to start tricks again, I'm really thinking I'll get this mat. Best price I've seen. Thanks so much! 

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Thanks also, Scimitar! You've been pretty handy with helping me pick a pole! That gives me some reassurance in choosing chrome. I had starting soaking my hands in sage tea before I hurt my shoulder/back and it seemed to be helping. Also, I think being at home and closer to the ground due to my 8' ceiling will also cut down the sweating a bit since I think it's a combination of clammy hands and nerves! Thanks for all your help 😀

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Thanks Veena, I agree that for now chrome is the best for me! I just ordered the chrome xs! Ahhh! I'm already dying for it to get here and I just ordered! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Once it comes I'm going to start your lessons. I hurt my right rhomboid inverting at a studio recently and they even said I could have easily bruised my ribs. After looking through forums on here, I now know it's because I was not taught proper form. There actually isn't much body awareness taught at all there and I think I progressed too quickly. I've been poling since mid-July and already started inverting the end of August. It was a pretty painful lesson! Can't wait to get my new pole and start your lessons! I'm so very excited!!!

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I'm new to pole, started back in July, and have already had several run-ins with pole stigma. Even from family! At first, I had instinctually wanted to stop sharing with people my experiences and passion for pole. But then I realized, pole is about empowerment! Women are so often taught to sit pretty and keep their mouth shut. I'm not afraid of my body or my voice like I was growing up, and I owe a big thanks to pole for that. People who make negative comments and refuse to see past their stereotypes are just plain ignorant. At the end of the day, I just remind myself that the way pole makes me feel and the benefits it has in my life and to my body far outweigh the static I catch from people who are close minded and negative.

Remember: it's not what they call you, it's what you answer to! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

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Jenn, I think you're right it does sound like there are so many polers with the same space restraints. I am definitely willing to make it work, after my shoulder/back injury and having to stay off of the pole for a few weeks I am feigning to even just have a pole to walk around! lol Glad you are finally in a place where you have more room and thanks for the reassurance about the 8' ceilings.

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Thanks everyone, I'm feeling pretty confident in my plan now lol Just gotta get the payment details worked out with my deployed hubby and order! I'm ecstatic! My pole can't get here soon enough!!!

Amazon, First, I love you're name 😀 I hear you on the climbing aspect, that was a concern but I was thinking I would just pay for drop in visits at the studio once a month so I could work on things that I want height for.

Runemist, good point about the security of being closer to the ground! Totally makes sense to me :D! 

Scimitar, not sure if you checked out my pic but I also have plenty of space in the 2 directions without walls so I will keep that in mind with RG spins! Thank you! 

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Thanks JLynn! I think fear has a lot to do with it. One day I was just having an awesome pole day, on a roll and did a few one-handed spins. I think it is fear. I am going to try your hints and focus on just one handed spins one day. Thanks so much for your feedback!!!

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Thanks again ladies, you all are just beyond wonderful! I will ask my girlfriend who aslo decided to get a membership to maybe snap a picture or video next session at the studio. I can't wait to share my experiences with you all! Plus, I know my husband would enjoy seeing what I've been raving about for the last 2 weeks. He is deployed to Egypt so he hasn't been here to witness all my bruises and glory first hand hehe
Paulette, I agree with you, that article and Natasha Wang is so inspiring! I hope to accomplish that much someday https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif

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You ladies are right, we all have to start somewhere! Honestly, you guys have no idea how much all these little pep talks have been reassuring me! Today I went to another class and I told myself I was going to have fun and stop worrying so much about comparing and expectations of myself. Tonight some of the girls from the studio I go to are competing at a pole fit expo, one of these ladies came in to practice and we watched her routine before class. She did awesome and the most amazing part was she only had one foot! She had kind of a base of a foot at the end of her ankle but that was it and she was up there looking so strong and graceful and I thought to myself I bet she doesn't sit around and beat herself up about how quickly she advanced. After that, I put on my new booty shorts (something I was so scared to wear in front of other people) and I rocked it! I mean I know I looked like a rookie up there but I just felt it and it felt amazing! Thank  you all so much for all your advice and kind words! I think pole is going to be more for me than a way to stay in shape 😀
PS I have been trying to add a lot of you as a friend but I can't figure it out, do I have to be paying for a membership to add friends?!

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Thanks to all of you! I guess I was just in need of a little reassurance. I see all these amazing bodies and tricks and women and sometimes feel like it's unattainable for regular old me. You all seem so nice and down to earth, you all seem like you have had your own journeys and that really gives me hope. I do love pole, at least what I know of it so far and I think that alone should be enough. I just need to stop being such a perfectionist, which I swear can be a blessing as much as a burden in certain situations. I'm glad to hear that needing a few days of recovery time is not only normal but beneficial! Makes me feel better about not going every day like I've been feeling like I would need in order to gain anything or as Reenie implied because I have an unlimited membership. Maybe someday I will try Veena's lesson, if I get a pole that is. I'm sure if they are as great as you ladies and this site, they will be worth while. 
Butterflies, I am truly in awe that you are a mother of 3. I looked at your pictures and you look absolutely amazing! Your response was what I was looking for, someone who could relate to where I am starting from! 
Reenie, I really like a lot of the girls/instructors at my studio but I too worry that maybe I'm kinda taking the plunge blindly here. I'm in NC, btw. And the pass is indeed unlimited. They go from intro-beginner-intermediate/advanced plus some other chair and such classes. But no, they don't really regulate. The second class I took, I had only done intro once and went right into a beginners. A little ambitious of me. They are pretty good at coming over and explaining things one on one but a few people I've spoken to have been a little surprised what I've already been attempting in class. I guess maybe I've jumped the gun there a little too unknowingly, maybe that's a factor too in my intimidation?
Well either way, I thank all of you ladies for the https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif and encouragement! I'm glad to have this resource, I can see it coming in handy in my own journey!

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Thanks everyone for the feedback. The skin is definitely on my palm, not wrist but I will keep all the suggestions about wrist safety in mind next time I'm poling. I am very new to pole but I think I'm already addicted! The torn skin on my palm occured (atleast, I'm pretty sure) because I overdid it on Monday. I did two 1 hour classes in a row. I wasn't on a brass pole but as Chemgoddess said thinking back on it my pole was really hot. I was determined to get a fallback spin and I just kept spinning and spinning repeatedly. Next step, I went to climb (which I am still having the hardest time with! GRR) and I slipped down a little and the skin literally just peeled off. I've considered gloves, but as a newbie I feel like I do need to build up some callouses, I guess I just need to take it a little slower! I talked to a friend who is an instructor in another state and after her suggestion I have decided to wait a few days until another pole session. The last thing I need is to lose grip because I'm trying to pole on a sore hand and end up with a much worse injury. I guess next time I won't push myself so hard. It was only my fourth class!