[Runemist34]

Thanks TropicalPole! I really love this move, and I’d love to start practicing it, or at least know what I need to do to get it!
Hopefully someone has some other tips, but yours are super helpful!

[Runemist34]

I found two fairly good examples of this spin:
Here is Eva Bembo, in her early days, doing this spin at 1:29-1:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdR7ScyfZDQ

And another video by someone I don’t know, doing just a very basic demonstration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UctcJcpP-Kg

Hope those help with identification. Also, is there a proper name for this spin? I guess a Teddy Spin?

[Runemist34]

I’m shocked by all the things linked in this thread. Wow. I’m so fascinated by the abilities of the human body!

[Runemist34]

Yeah, we had a long rainy spell for a while, and I was getting pretty bad through it. Keeping up on my exercise and my journal have been really helpful, but sometimes, I just want to cry when it’s dark out!
Which is weird, because I prefer the rain. I like the sound, I like not having to deal with the glare and pain from the sun… I guess biology isn’t on my side on this one 😛
I hope yours doesn’t get too bad this year!

[Runemist34]

The Jade split was my very first “gravity defying” pole move I’d ever seen. It was the move that showed me what could really be done with Pole.

At this time… I think, the Titanic, and the Russian Split!

[Runemist34]

In my experience, this is simply the nature of the beast. Few, if ANY people put “weight” or fat to their shins, thus leaving the shin bone directly under the skin, for almost every person anywhere. Climbing, for me, is and has usually been a painful thing! And I’m certainly not “skinny legged” by any stretch.
Best thing I can recommend is to do what you can, practice up to your pain threshold, and it will become tolerable, eventually. Your body adapts, but only if you give it reason to!
If using a lot of your upper body strength to climb works for you, however, perhaps this could become part of your style- I’ve found that creative ways of getting around problems makes way for even more beautiful forms of expression!

[Runemist34]

“”Imperfection” means there is an object of perfection, and that is just not true.”

This one hit me pretty good. I’ve been struggling against the idea of “perfection” for a while, and I just couldn’t put into words why I felt like it was incorrect!

Thanks for sharing, Veena!

[Runemist34]

Wow, you guys work out a lot! It’s awesome to see that we all go at this in our own way, and that so much can work for so many different people!
I know we’ve had lots of discussions about rest days and how many times a week to pole on the forums here… I’ve actually found that pushing myself too much can really mess with my enthusiasm, and I become disheartened, and eventually stop for a while. At current time, I’m poling 3 times a week, and running 3 times a week. One of those days overlaps (wednesday) so I do a run in the morning AND pole in the afternoon. That way, I have two solid rest days so my whole body can recover!
It seems to be working well for me, though I do occasionally feel like I’d like to pole more often. I’m trying not to push myself too hard, though.

I have a follow-up question to all of this: With all the strength training, trick training, and everything else we do in a structured (or unstructured!) workout, how do you ladies translate this into the beautiful, polished pieces that you would put up as a video, or as a performance?

[Runemist34]

I have seen the issue come up time and again since Pole got more into the mainstream fitness industry.
“Someone thinks pole dancing is shameful!”
Whether it be a city who has to decide whether to “allow” a pole studio to set up shop, to certain people’s brothers making lewd and unkind comments, all the way to “How does your husband let you do that?” and even being shunned by one’s friend group, or family, because of a hobby.
I’ve even heard from a UK university that “women are being tricked into thinking that pole dancing is empowering, when it’s really not.”
All somewhat insulting, all frustrating, and all things I could get rant-y and political about (accepting women as actual business people, proper boundaries between family and friends about certain comments, assuming someone is “owned” by their husband, and all-around trying to keep women down, and desperately trying to keep them away from taking up space, being sexual, and being empowered), I’ll try to refrain.
In reality, we have to accept something: Pole dancing, in the western society, is strongly linked to stripping. This is where we first learned of dancing upon a pole, this is what we associate naturally with pole dancing, unless we’ve been conditioned not to for a very long time. Even I, who does not go to strip clubs and only has connection to poles through fitness, still think of it as “a stripping thing.”
And, we continue to enjoy the sexual nature of it. In many ways, increasing your “flow” and getting in touch with your sexy side is taking advantage of that western-world history of strip tease and womanly power on stage.
In my opinion, this is nothing bad. We’re using this sexual energy, this internal energy, in a way that empowers us, that encourages us to “take up space” and be ourselves, to live and breathe something that all people know to be powerful, engaging and brilliant.

Otherwise, in the real world, “dealing with it” is something very personal, and depends on you, and your relationship to the person who is doing the shaming- be it overt or covert.
Your mom made a comment about taking the pole down because of company coming over, so, there are some questions to ask yourself: How comfortable are you being upfront about the issue, without being insulting, attacking, or confrontational? How aware do you feel your mom is, in order to conduct such a conversation in a way that will not result in either of you coming away feeling unhappy, insulted, or attacked? How much energy are you willing to invest into the conversation (as in, is it worth having, considering the expended emotional and mental energy)?

I will say this: The issue could have nothing to do with you, and everything to do with her. Many people these days worry about what other people think. She could be thinking more about the judgements they place upon HER about how she’s raising you, and whether she is encouraging you toward values that are against the values that she, and these guests, hold dear.

And, it might be entirely as AllysonKendal said: It may just be a little bit in the way, or distracting to some guests.

[Runemist34]

Hey there!
So, I’ve had Lil Mynx poles for the whole time I’ve been dancing. I also rent, and each time I’ve moved, I simply patch up the hole they leave in the ceiling. People tend not to look up, so they don’t notice. Worst case was… I basically ripped a hole in the drywall and it was too big for just some goo from a tube, so we got a patch thing from the hardware store! Worked perfectly.
However, X-pole might be more toward what you’re looking for, as it’s only pressure mounted and won’t leave a mark on your ceiling. Even if you have the popcorn-type of ceiling, I don’t think anyone will notice!

As for those shorts, I REALLY like them, too! But, I’ve only seen them at those websites, and I agree, they’re expensive. I only have a couple of pairs of shorts, so… I can’t really give good advice on that one 😉

[Runemist34]

Tamarinda, that sounds… surprisingly a lot like my running! It’s horrible, and painful, and I hate doing it all the time… but I feel SO AWESOME afterward! And, I see progress often and feel like I’m doing something really good for myself- and I am! I haven’t had pain in my knees for months now, and I can actually use them in ways that I haven’t been able to for over ten years.

I’ve considered working on routines and things for my pole workouts, rather than freestyle… or, I suppose, putting together combos and working on those at easy levels to warm up, and then progressively harder as I get all warmed up!

I love seeing how everyone’s workouts are put together, and how different it all is from the beautiful pieces we put together for showing off!

[Runemist34]

Motivation is hard 😉 I think most of us struggle with it! I know I do!
You’ll get there, not to worry! Focusing on the journey, rather than the destination, is one thing that has helped me to keep going.
Everyone here, I’ve found, is really positive… so if you need some positive encouragement, you can always put the call out!

[Runemist34]

I’ve had LOTS of ups and downs, and I still have them- the last two weeks I haven’t run or touched my pole, due to some pretty bad anxiety attacks. I lost a lot of time at school, a lot of time in general… but, I’m getting back at it now!
When it comes to uploading videos, I know how you feel. My current space doesn’t seem to be accommodating at ALL for recording, so despite my wanting to, I can’t post videos.
However, I must say this: The videos you’re likely looking at are finished products, and what you’re comparing it TO is work-in-progress. It’s sort of like an aspiring author comparing their first draft to a published book: They’re totally different animals, and completely incomparable!

Comparing yourself to others is something that so many new people here struggle with. I sure did! And, I still do, sometimes. I still look at other runners that pass me on hills and think “I’ll never get there!” Or, if you want a much more direct and in-your-face one, when I run with my roommate… he used to do cross-country in school. He’s so fit he gets 6-pack abs from thinking too hard. He’s just “one of those people,” and next to him, I feel like a giant, crippled T-rex, lumbering along, as he trots next to me like a lithe and graceful deer.
Not the image I enjoy seeing of myself, but… I realize I’m comparing myself, who has NEVER done cardio in her life, to someone who has been active constantly, who simply considers this to be a light warm-up, and who is doing it more for MY benefit than anyone else’s!
Comparing yourself to someone else, and especially comparing your journey to someone else’s, is sort of like trying to compare a tree to some lava. They’re not even remotely alike!
Your journey has seen you in the hospital, it has you on medication, it shows you different places in life than I could ever imagine. Your journey is one of ups and downs, like mine, but they are different! And, we’ll react to them differently.

Talking to a psychologist or psychiatrist is probably a good idea. In many ways, the challenge of accepting your body is far greater than that of trying to “lose weight,” but it can also be more attainable, and tends to make you happier, and it lasts longer!

Also, with that many steps each night, you must have buns of steel. Like, seriously, can you crush rock with those?

[Runemist34]

Hey there!
I have definitely noticed a difference in my weight.
About Two and a half years ago, I was about 180lbs, and was a bit larger than I normally am. Like, I was up to wearing large-sized shirts, for example, and I had more jiggle around the belly area. I wasn’t really working out, I wasn’t really strength training or anything… And then, a very stressful time came up, for about six months!
I lost about 20lbs. I was back to my “normal” adult weight, the weight I had been for most of my adult life, and a lot of it was size. I had stressed and starved my way into it, too, and I certainly don’t recommend that!
Now, though, I’ve picked up running and really gone for it with my pole dancing- lots of strength training, and running provides my cardio, which I have never had. It’s been super hard to get into cardio, but I’ve noticed a few differences. I’m happier, I’m stronger, I have much greater control of my breathing (this is really important when one gets anxiety and panic attacks), and I’m not in pain from my knees anymore.
I’m also up to 195lbs now (as of sometime last week when I weighed myself), and feeling awesome. I’m not wearing any of those large shirts though- not gotten any bigger!
Except for my calves. My poor boots can barely get over them!

Gaining weight because of medication is really frustrating, and though it’s not an issue I’ve had to contend with, I can see why it would be something to watch. 2 stone sounds like a lot. Have you talked to your doctor about it? Is there any other medication you could try that might work with your chemistry a little better?

Getting into pole dancing is awesome, and day 10 is further than I’ve gotten with the 30 day challenge! Haha. I’m just kind of wingin’ it on my own! I’ve also found cardio, of any kind, to be a huge help with both my mood and my body composition. Whether it’s swimming, running, step class, or anything else… cardio three times a week might really make the difference for you! I started noticing the difference about two months in- I started eating almost constantly (I’m not quite back to that yet, I had to stop during the super-hot part of the summer so I didn’t cook myself), and I was only getting stronger as I continued! I’m almost up to that point now.

I think, also, you need to be forgiving of yourself. You’re doing your best for your health and wellness, and you’re only just starting with pole fitness! Enjoy your own process and forget about the weight. It’ll go away, or it won’t, and you’ll just get stronger and feel happy with yourself 🙂

[Runemist34]

Hey there!
Welcome to the SV forums, to pole, and to the community!
It sounds like you pushed your hamstring a little too far, and in that case, I would say REST! Don’t try to stretch it any more, let it rest so it can repair itself.
The dangerous part here is that, if you continue to push it too far, you can damage your hamstring, and actually lose a lot of flexibility and possibly damage it. This can be a pretty big detriment to… well, life! So, please be careful!