[RoseMay]

For me having a crash mat really helps to get rid of the fear factor. I actually don't invert at all without it at the moment. Not that I ever needed it, because I still try to be very cautious with the moves I try. Mine is 5'' thick btw.

When I took the pole down and set it up again I always worry at first because I'm never really sure whether it's set up correctly, too tight or not tight enough, is it really flat on the ceiling … But when I have my first training session I start slow and then when I see that it holds up in spinning mode I gain more confidence and finally I feel confident enough to invert. Oh and my pole never came down *knock on wood*

I think I'd be more worried to invert in a studio without a crash mat and on a different pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[RoseMay]

Meh, I should have listened to my own advice from this thread. Got a new 45mm pole a few weeks ago and already have some new monster calluses from not paying attention to my grip while being inverted. One of them even ripped open the other day and now I got a bunch of dead skin hanging from my hand. I hope it will fall off soon, looks kinda gross https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif  I was in a pharmacy and they gave me some cream to soften the skin.

Never had a problem with calusses with my 50mm pole..

[RoseMay]

If you have Veenas lessons you don't need the dvds from Leigh Ann. There are no new moves in there. Also the combos aren't that good. E.g. you probably already thought of doing a spin and a floormove together..

The style of dancing that they teach is very sexy and she uses the word: "stripper move" quite frequently https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif In the warm-up section are some floor moves that aren't covered by Veena though.

The Bendability Collection isn't that good either compared to Veenas lessons https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif In the foam rolling and injury prevention dvd are a lot less exercises than in Veenas conditioning lessons. About the stretching one I already wrote here:

https://www.studioveena.com/forums/view/4f499133-faf4-4295-b6a1-32d00ac37250

The strength dvd is better and I used it several times.

Hope this helps 🙂

And thanks for starting this thread, I've been thinking about buying Felix dvds as well 🙂

[RoseMay]

With the Bespun series do you mean the Leigh Ann ones or the one with Amy Guion that is about conditioning, foam rolling and flexibility?

[RoseMay]

Not a dance tip, but a 'how to show your family' tip. I usually show them only clips of all the tricks I can do, or am working on. I record my practices and the clips I like I cut together with a video editing program, choose some fun music … that way they see the athletic side of it and are like "wow" when they watch it.

Usually even if I tried really hard NOT to dance sexy they will still consider it sexy. Not sure if it's because I'm on a pole, or because they didn't see the sexy stuff and can't see the difference, or because "my style" is always a bit sexy. It doesn't matter, but I just don't show it to family anymore.

[RoseMay]

Thanks Chemgodess! I belong to the group of 20 something polers but I'm still interested in knowing which moves I should be careful with 🙂

[RoseMay]

chemgoddess, which moves aren't good body positioning that can cause problems? Apart from twisted grips of course ..

[RoseMay]

Just noticed that the big pics on the discussion page made SV a bit more NSFW https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[RoseMay]

Yay, so I'm gonna work on getting that caterpillar higher up (when I did it in the video it already felt REALLY high https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif ). It should be easier when I feel more secure with the grip.

Thanks for your help guys! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[RoseMay]

So in today's practice I tried to keep your tips in mind and this is the result:

https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/4f4ff504-d938-4a67-b176-4f400ac37250

Painfree! 🙂 At least in the shoulders … I did manage to squish my boob though. You can even see it in the video. Any tips on that? I tried to bring the pole closer to my side but that was difficult.

Also, how would I enter an elbow grip caterpillar? Do I switch hand positions on top or does the upper arm start out in a different way than for the forearm caterpillar?

[RoseMay]

Thank you all for your answers 🙂

Veena, thanks for offering to help in chat, but I don't have a webcam 🙁
Your grip looks different than mine …. um, so I gotta ask, where does the pole sit at the top of a caterpillar: on the boob or on the outside of the boob? For now I've been holding it between the boobs .. didn't want to squish anything https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Amy, yes I can hold a handstand for quite some time, without pain. I can also hold free elbowstands without my head resting on the ground until I get bored without pain. And I'm very comfortable with the handstand butterfly (been working on your tutorial for the spinning chopper dismount :-)) So I think I *should* be strong enough for the basic butterfly …
I think tucking the chin would make it more comfortable, I'll keep that in mind for my next try 🙂

Dustbunny, I've been thinking the same thing and therefore I'm doing Veenas shoulder stretching and conditioning exercises after every practice for quite some time now  🙂 When I go from a gemini to a butterfly I end up holding most of my weight with the hooked leg – which makes the butterfly easier (but also more painful https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif), but doesn't solve the problem I have with the elbow/forearm grip ..

[RoseMay]

Veena, a few months ago I was able to caterpillar comfortably (unlearned it now, cause I took a break from poling  https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif ), but the problem with the shoulder was there too in the top position, and also in a butterfly from a caterpillar. That's why I try it now without the caterpillar, to understand how I need to engage the shoulder, without actually placing the weight on it.

Yes I have the lessons 🙂

[RoseMay]

Yes that sounds exactly like what I'm doing! When I hang there in the position like in the video I'm trying to figure out how to engage the lower arm … If I place weight on the lower arm in a caterpillar it does hurt.

Is my positioning correct? I don't feel like I could carry my weight with the upper arm in the forearm grip, it feels like it would just slip off. I didn't try to hold an elbow grip butterfly away from the pole yet.

[RoseMay]

Not sure how strong you are, but I practiced the shoulder V and (half) super invert until I felt comfortable with them before I actually did the full shoulder mount. From the shoulder v I can put the legs on the pole as slowly as I want to while making sure the grip is secure. Also it looks better 😉

I can't shoulder mount from the floor because the thought of having my head that close to the ground freaks me out.

And like the others said, try the Veena grip, it's easier to hold the weight when you're up there. Although for me that only works on a 45mm pole. On a 50mm the veena grip feels very insecure for me.

[RoseMay]

I hope it's that easy! 🙂

Here's a video: https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/4f4de0a3-d670-4381-8af2-2a9f0ac37250