[Runemist34]

“Like a lateral shoulder roll,” so is this move requiring you to roll over as in a backwards somersault? Or is this just a leg-only kind of move? Is there something specific about this one that is unlike a shoulder roll, or is that the basis of the move? Are you rolling over your shoulder, or something else? Are you laying on your back, or front? What are your start and end positions when it comes to hips, back, head…?
Is there possibly a video you could do, or show us, in order to clear all this up? Are you wanting to learn how to do the move?

[Runemist34]

Looks like there are a couple of Pole studios there, and that would be a good option.
Having one-on-one training from someone is often very, very expensive! Classes are a good way to go because you’ll get some direction and that social aspect, and if you have a pole at home, you can mirror the classes at home, and also work on some other moves that the studio may not do, or work on transitions and flow, which some studios don’t focus on.

[Runemist34]

Hey we almost share a birthday! Happy birthday!!

[Runemist34]

Veena’s got some really good advice.
Other things you could check out are some good yoga routines online (I really like Yoga with Adrienne) to keep yourself strong and flexible. There are a lot of paralells with pole and yoga that I’m enjoying right now!
You can also see if there are some ways to get to a gym and do some lifting. It may not be as exciting or fun as pole dancing, but it will at least keep you fit and strong till you can return to it!

[Runemist34]

There are a whole lot of threads around on the forum of people talking about their splits- in fact, there was a “Splits in 2015” thread that sort of died somewhere around August, but was quite full of interesting tips.

Mainly, you have to check to see if your hips are in the right alignment. I know Veena put out a video with some tips about that some time ago (sorry, time for me is a weird thing, it could have been one or two years ago?) and it would be worthwhile to check out, specially for your second question.

Mainly, you want to be as warmed up as possible while stretching, and being gentle. You should not feel pain while training for flexibility, just a sort of discomfort. Take it slow, and don’t push yourself too far.

Alethea Austin, in her Pure Splits DVD, talks about how it took her 5 years or so to achieve her splits in any way. People are all very different, in strength and flexibility, in what their bodies will allow, or take to easily. You may see a faster result in achieving your splits, but you might not.

Best advice is to be patient, and also consistent.

[Runemist34]

Can you link it for us? Is there a website to check out?

[Runemist34]

Everyone expresses their need for freedom differently! I think it’s great that you feel confident about showing off your skills, and that you’re confident in your body!
Just be warned that money is not often made through pole dancing, but through lap dancing, for most strip clubs. I’m sure there MUST be some out there that don’t do lap dancing, but they are very few. I know that I, personally, would be uncomfortable giving lap dances (especially having heard the various horror-stories that go with them), but if you want to try, then more power to you 😉
Some women LOVE stripping, love doing their jobs by dancing, and I think it’s awesome that they found their niche 🙂

Go forth, and explore! Confidence is one of the most sexy things in the world 🙂

[Runemist34]

What are your intentions for doing the audition? Do you intend to dance for people in a strip club, or simply audition, simply to say you got sexy on stage? Either is fine! Just being clear, for our sake and yours.

Sounds like fun though 😉

[Runemist34]

Nope, what is it?

[Runemist34]

Hey there!
I’ve noticed that a lot of people find a lot of benefit from going to classes in person, as they are a way of being held accountable- you go, even though you don’t really want to, and often end up having a really good time anyways.
And, this is the plight of “motivation.” Motivation, as a thing that applies to any hobby or activity, is an emotion. It’s not going to obey you, and it’s not something you can have every single time you look to do that activity. It’s something that is a bonus, the icing on the cake, that gives you a little extra energy, and helps you come to the activity with excitement, even if you aren’t doing anything exciting.
However, it’s not something to rely on when you want to pick up something as a hobby, especially exercise. Exercise is served best consistently, it’s something that we benefit from when done often. You need to put in the hours. This is also true of most creative hobbies, but most people aren’t looking to get strong or “lose weight” with a guitar. These results you will see from putting in the hours, and making sure you put them in.

So, even when you don’t want to get on the pole, if it’s time to get on it, just get ON it. Put your pole clothes on and do some things you like. Put on a song you’ve been jamming to lately and just move your body, however awkwardly, to it. Get sexy, or sporty, or rough- whatever you are looking for that day. Do it, because the hours you put in when you don’t want to are the ones that will pay off the most.
And, chances are, you’ll come away from it happy, or at the very least, proud that you fought your way through and finished it when you said you would. You’re making a promise to yourself, and then you’re keeping it.
No more racing driver’s excuses, no more listening to the emotional self (which, more often than not, just wants to rest or cry or watch cat videos, or whatever else), and get on that pole. Work it. Say good things to yourself about your working it. Tell yourself that sometimes it’s okay to be gentle if you’re getting tired early, or that you don’t ALWAYS have to work on the toughest moves. Work it because you know you want to, because your long-term goals are greater than short-term gratification. Work it because you said you would.

And yes, I’ve found the lessons on here to be more than sufficient for learning pole dancing 😉

[Runemist34]

Sounds like a frustrating situation.
I was totally going to suggest working on flow and stuff, and it sounds like you’ve got that part figured out. You guys can also try stringing moves together that you wouldn’t normally put together, see if you can come up with new transitions and such.
Personally, I never found other students doing more advanced stuff to be distracting. I was always too far into my own work to notice!
And, remember that drilling moves like that can be useful, too. If you reach a plateau or something challenging, those drills can really come in handy to get you over a hurdle, and increase your strength enough to push you farther.

[Runemist34]

I think this is true of any creative art, and it’s simply something that we need to realize… and, we have to understand that it doesn’t matter.
As a writer, I understand that there will likely be writers who are better at plot, or character, or grammar, or scene… writers who will sell more books than I will, who will get more money for their books, or who will be better-known than I will.
As a musician, I know that there are people with faster fingers, better understanding of how to read and write music, and with more expensive harps than mine.
As dancers, we need to remember that there will always be people who are “better” at certain things, or whom we admire.
But you also need to remember that all of these things are creative expressions of the self… and your SELF is totally unique, incomparable, totally special, and something everyone will love and enjoy seeing. You will never know anyone who is better at being you than you are. There is something that lives in you that deserves, longs, wishes, and requires to be heard… and you can give it to the world, through dancing.

You cannot be “behind” anyone, if you aren’t competing with them. And, you aren’t. Your journey is your own, your journey is exactly what it needs to be.

[Runemist34]

Kimmaaaaay – You’re not alone. I’m about a 34 I and it sucks, because I can also never find nice tops that fit- either you fall out the bottom or your boobs are being squished out.
I actually did a whole big post about larger chest sizes a while back, and had some links to some great sports bras and stuff that could pass for tops, especially in a pole class.
But trust me… you are definitely not alone in this!

[Runemist34]

I’m not really seeing anything on here that would work for me. All the shorts look like they hit below the hipbones, which means for me I’ll be uncomfortably showing off too much in the back, and I won’t be able to bend down at all. And, all the tops don’t really work for someone with a small ribcage and large bust- if I go up to an XL for my bust, I’ll just fall out the bottom.
So… unfortunate, but I hope you find someone who can wear it.

[Runemist34]

Looks very interesting! I would be curious to see what kinds of things they send out, month to month! I wish I had the money to subscribe 😉