Runemist34
Forum Replies Created
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My "wobbly bits" are my belly, thighs, chest and upper arms.
And, I love them.
Areas of fat are decided by your body, based on something I don't think we fully understand in the fitness world. Maintaining at least 11% body fat is considered healthy for women, but your body may decide that said 11% should be stored, say, in your thighs, and not in your bra. I've noticed that a lot of women keep it on their belly, which probably has something to do with having children.
However, to get rid of these kinds of areas you have to understand how the body uses fat. Fat is a very efficient way of storing energy, or "calories," and that's why we have it on our bodies. When we go into the "aerobic state" of exercise (usually about 20 minutes into a workout, when we suddenly feel less like we're struggling and it all works well) we are able to burn that fat. Fat can only be used by the body in the presence of oxygen, or the "aerobic state."
So, if you want to get rid of those tougher "wobbly bits," you need to work your whole body. Spot-toning doesn't work, because you're only working the muscle- the fat doesn't have much to do with which muscles you're using. So, you're going to have to work hard, work your whole body, and try to bring your body fat content lower.
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I've moved a lot, too! My pole always manages to follow me though (I'm quite adamant that there must be SOMEWHERE to put it!).
Moving can really change things up, and some people don't take that change very easily! So, be nice to yourself and give yourself a bit of time to settle in… not too much, but just a bit!
Figure out what the best parts are for a workout for you- do you like the freestyle dancing, working on new moves, or is it the strength and flexibility you enjoy? Try to emphasize those in your routine, so that you feel a bit more inclined to go and do it all, with the reward of your favourite in there!
And, one of the bigger ones that my boyfriend keeps telling me (that I am slowly listening to!) is this: Say to yourself "I WANT to dance," rather than "I SHOULD dance." Makes things less of a chore, and more of what you actually intended it to be; a want, a hobby, something fun to help you feel good. Sometimes just changing what you say to yourself in those little ways make a huge difference!
And, otherwise, you're used to the idea of having a class- so, make up a class on your own! Set aside some specific time, and tell people "Oh, sorry, I can't do that thing- I have a class at that time." Seriously. You are the master of your own time, and if you've decided you like the routine of having a class once a week, keep it up!
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I have Felix's full 5 DVDs, and I've tried Jamilla's first two DVDs.
Honestly, for learning new pole moves and just starting out, I would definitely say get Jamilla's DVD's. She explains things a lot better, breaks it all down very well.However, for things like putting a routine together, and for flexibility, Felix is Queen. Those two DVD's in her set are irreplaceable for me.
I personally find Felix to be more "inspirational," but that's mostly because I'm a huge Felix Cane fangirl. Jamilla's routines are… impressive, but they don't quite excite me the way I think they're meant to.
Oh, and for conditioning… Jamilla will kick your butt. She will. I don't think Felix does anything for strength (a whole DVD devoted to Flexibility, though!).
So, I suppose it depends on what you're looking for! You could always buy a couple of one set, a couple of another, and see what you think!
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My Ellie's fit me perfectly! I'm normally a size 10, so I got a 10… and they are absoultely perfect. I've got slightly wider feet than most, so… probably they are true to size, but just a bit wider than most!
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Tovah- BDSM refers to "Bondage, Dominance/submission, and masochism" I believe. I've heard a couple of other ways of unpacking that one as well.
Generally it's what is used to be an umbrella to refer to the "kinky bedroom stuff," usually also referring to skimpy leather outfits (sometimes with metal buckles, spikes and such).These kinds of relationships, specifically the Dominant/submissive ones, are often misunderstood by general society. Considering it is the Submissive who is actually "in charge," and not the Dominant, and there are HUGE amounts of respect and trust going between both parties, it's a fascinating subculture.
I personally don't find 50 Shades to be an accurate portrayal of the intricacies of these relationships. </Rant>
ANYWAYS I can't really do an "opposite side" challenge, so perhaps a November/fall kind of thing?
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Honestly, I find that any thick, opaque (not-see-through) conditioner or product is best! If it says "curly hair," then it had BETTER be moisturizing! That's the worst thing for curly hair… it's so dry, and gets so dry if you do anything not nice to it.
Try some stuff out, see what you like better, look for a pattern in the products that you like, that give you the hair you want!
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I currently use Lush products mostly, so their R & B leave in conditioner is great- however, it only comes in the little tubs, so… I can't use it too often, or things become expensive 😉
That said, I don't personally notice a lot of difference between one brand and another, just the product really- like I said, the thicker the stuff is, the better, for me!
The rats' nest thing will go away a little more as your hair becomes more moisturized. This is what often happens with curly hair- it's so dry, as opposed to straight hair which can get oily. Dry hair will tangle a lot easier, and a lot more, so try to keep your hair from getting overly dry! I also find that, if my hair is more dry, it is also more frizzy.
And, having actual ringlets is not necessarily the way to tell if you have "curly" hair- there's a whole system out there for describing your particular type of curly hair, ranging from barely any wave to craaazzzy curly, like african-american hair!
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Hey CapFeb! I've had curly hair all my life, and it's taken a while for me to figure out how to make it work…
So, first thing I'm gonna say… DON'T brush it! It creates a lot of issue for curly hair, results in epic frizz, and I found that it promotes tangles in the long run.
Next- How often do you wash your hair? Like, with shampoo/conditioner? Because you'll probably want to not do that so often. I "wash" my hair about once a month, because of how dry it is, and what happens when I do wash it. I do, however, shower every day and get my hair wet- this allows me to reset it after sleeping on it, which also causes great frizziness.
I do, however, highly recommend things like leave-in-conditioners. My hair LOVES them, and the thicker the better! Your hair may not need as much, or it may need more- it all depends!
If you really feel you must de-tangle your hair, it's best to do it when it's wet. With your fingers. That's the very best way I've ever found, and I will never take a brush to my hair again, unless it's being styled up (which I can't do yet, it's too short!). I've had everyone and their dog tell me that if I do that for too long (no brushing, only with fingers, only when wet, etc.) I'll end up with dreadlocks. Well, it's been like five years, and no dreadlocks yet!
Lastly, handle your hair as little as possible, especially when it's drying. Handling will also cause the hairs to come out of their little curls, and form frizz.
Every curly-haired person is going to do something very different with their hair- I've even heard of some people needing to watch the PH balance of the conditioner they use!
I've also taken to using a little gel in my hair- keeps everything staying nice, and keeps it DOWN when it's raining out (which it is all the time, because I live in BC). I've tried mousse, hair spray, and all sorts of other things… lots of them work, but I enjoy keeping it simple, and it works just as well as all the others. Little bit of gel when it's wet, then let it dry by itself, without fiddling with it.
I wish you luck! Curly hair is a very different kind of creature than straight hair.
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Hey hon!
My suggestion would be DON'T RUSH IT.
Work on the spins and beginner lessons, free dance a whole bunch, and just get to know your style of dancing. Inversions are NOT something you can "jump" right into. In fact, you should never jump into them… and if you rush it, you might, and you will cause yourself a lot of damage.
That said, Veena also has a lot of strength conditioning exercises on here, and flexibility ones, which are super helpful.
You can also look up a few other strengthening exercises on Youtube, such as from Dirdy birdy.
I've been dancing on and off for about four years, and I'm still working to strengthen my basic invert, as well as just gaining some of the moves in the intermediate section! My strength has also been catching up recently, and I've been working hard to make sure it does… but there are so many other moves to work on that don't involve that inversion!
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I totally agree, and you're totally welcome 🙂 It helps me to reiterate, too, since I've got myself a little motivation issue right now 😛
And the tattoo is going well! On to my second week! Just gotta wait till next friday or so… then, I shall tentatively start dancing again!
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I have this issue pretty badly, too- I keep thinking "I can do lots of stretching, get my splits, be healthier for it, too!" But I never do manage to do any stretching, since my tattoo has me off the pole for another week or so…
However, I've been trying hard to break through, and I've gone through this cycle a few times, so here are my tips:
– Don't beat yourself up! Seriously, the guilt trip you put on yourself will only demoralize you more.
-Instead of "I should pole," say to yourself "I WANT to pole!" It IS true, and will actually cause you to feel a little more motivated to do it… because you are acknowledging your feelings, and not the rules you've placed on yourself.
-Looking at the mammoth task that is training for an hour can be daunting, and doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun! So, just do a little dancing. Play around. Even if it is for 15 minutes, or 10 minutes, or even one song… just get yourself touching that pole!
-Remind yourself of how amazing and great you feel after a good workout- I know I get quite the endorphin high from it!
And, finally:
-Put pole in your head. Watch videos of moves you're working on, or moves you might want to work on! Watch videos of your pole idols, too, and marvel at how good they are, and remember why you wanted to do this in the first place! Write down some fun challenges to yourself, think about ways of getting that challening move you've been working on… all that stuff!
It is really hard to find motivation to do anything fun when you've had to move away from your family, your home. When you're feeling down, it's not easy to pick yourself up and give yourself permission to feel good again!
So, be gentle with yourself. It's alright if you've got a bit of a rut going on- it'll pass. Mine always have!
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Please be very careful about stretching! If you push it too far, you can actually cause yourself to become less flexible- I've had this issue trying to stretching my hamstrings, and ended up worse for the effort and pain.
You should feel tension, but certainly NOT pain when you are stretching. Give it time, breathe, relax. It will come in time.
As Alethea Austin says in her DVD's… it took her 3 years to get to where she is now.
Give your body the rest it needs, and please be gentle!
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Alright, clearly it's a lot about practice and taking time while upside down…
I CAN do a basic invert, but usually while I'm there I'm trying very hard to figure out my leg position. This is certainly something I'd like to work on and practice in other ways, obviously.
However, the reason I say I'd like to be more flexible for elbowstands and handstands is because the idea of fligining my legs up against the wall sounds… well, frankly, loud and possibly destructive to my fragile drywall walls 😛 My thought was that, if I could get into them with more control, I would be a lot more stable.
Honestly, I have never successfully done an elbow stand, or handstand.
I will take a little more time while inverted to focus on breathing, though, and see how long I can stay in that pose, instead of trying to just move through them.
If you guys have any tips on elbow- or handstands, I would very much appreciate them. I have no idea how to tell if I have the strength without actually doing it, and the only way I know how to do it is by throwing my legs up over my head… and I don't have the skill yet to balance. It's a strange kind of catch 22 right now.
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Good point! I never thought about breathing- I'm pretty bad at breathing in general, and I could see it being an issue while I'm upside down.
I'm actually not yet able to do any kind of hand/elbow/shoulder stands… I've been wanting to learn how, though. Just feel like I need to be a bit more flexible in order to do it safely!
Any other thoughts?
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Seriously, glitter will just stick to everything. Like, if you put glitter on yourself, it'll just stay there… and get everywhere!