Runemist34
Forum Replies Created
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The Oatmeal is an AMAZING website for laughs! I also like notalwaysright.com, for those of us who work, or have worked in customer service!
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I understand the budget problem! I've had my Lil Mynx for four years, and I love it to bits… but I was overcharged for it quite a bit. Paid about $400 for it, or thereabouts. I'm now looking into a spinning, powder coated one 😉 Just have to save up for it!
But, I would really recommend the Xpole- as Veena said, you get what you pay for with poles! And I've heard very few complaints about them. People who use them use them for a LONG time!
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Unfortunately I've not seen the Lil mynx friction mounted poles- do you mean the fully portable ones? I've danced on one of those and… well, let's just say I wouldn't be inverting on one! It was a bit… less stable than is desireable. You also run the risk of drilling the pole itself into your ceiling, since you'll be swinging your weight on it, and if it's pressing into your ceiling, it may shove into it harder, and create marks and even holes.
Otherwise, I would NOT recommend putting a pole in a doorframe, if that's what you're thinking! You'll either destroy the frame, or yourself… and I'm pretty sure squishy human bits would lose against strong doorframe bits. Lots of bruises from spinning and such, it would be a bad idea. If you placed your pole in the middle of the doorframe, you're looking at… what, 2.75 feet on either side? Dunno about you, but my legs are a bit longer than that!
I'd say, take a look into an Xpole. Even a freestanding pole would work! They tend to be tall enough, they've got a good stage/base, and are quite strong. Most of them (if not all?) can do static or spinning.
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I have dreams about poling, usually when it's been a while since the last time I've danced- almost like my subconscious misses it just as my conscious does! My dreams tend to get some things wrong now and then, though. Such as, instead of a pole, I end up with a tree? Or something that's bent at a strange angle. It provides an interesting challenge, though!
I've only had one "effortless dancing" dream, and it was awesome. I'm gonna get that kind of dancing one day!
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Chem- that's actually pretty cool! Though, I don't know if it would work for my pole? It's just the replacement parts, so I'm not sure if they'd even be built the same way and just need the coupling and base? Because I know that the top of my pole sure doesn't rotate!
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I totally understand where you're coming from! I've felt that way a lot, but… it's slowly starting to fade. Y'know, after four years 😉
Honestly, sometimes your body doesn't work the same way other people's bodies do. I know that mine will just "forget" to use certain muscles, which is why I NEED to do strength training targeted to certain muscles- once they are being used and are getting stronger, my brain goes "Oh yeah! Let's use those things!" and it's good, but… yeah, that's also why I have messed up knees 😛 But I'm working on those!
Watching other people dance, it's sort of like looking at a painting- you can go to an art gallery and think "Wow, I could never do something that intricate!" and, when you go home and attempt to paint, you probably won't. You're looking at that other painting, the one in the gallery, with the kind outlook of someone appreciating art, the expression of another person. However, when you're looking at your own, you get the double-whammy of having somewhat less experience (my paintings look like they were done by a three-year-old, because that's about my skill level), and also having that big ol' critic in your head who only feels comfortable giving YOU the harsh critiques!
So, here's my tip: Only watch other people's videos for two reasons. First, for inspiration, as in "Wow, that's amazing! I'll keep dancing so I can do that move!" Or, secondly, for analysis. Such as "Hmm, I see how that person moved from one-handed to split grip! That was very nice, I'll give that a try next time."
Once you've gotten yourself out of the habit of comparing yourself to these other dancers, who are in different places in their journey, you can start watching just for the fun of it again 😉 I'm still trying to teach myself those two mentailities for watching videos. It's tough, as I really enjoy watching just for the art of it… but, I'm very harsh with myself on critiques, so I'm trying to stop!
Honestly, keep at it! You'll be amazed at how your body reacts once it's done fighting you, and how much more you learn, all of a sudden!
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I've never thought about it 😛 I'll give that a try, too. But… for me it's kind of like if I just shoved my hand, flat, onto the pole and tried to lift without wrapping my fingers around it- I don't get any grip! It's not effective. Where's the counter-pressure to make my back actually stick?
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Hey ladies!
I'm trying to keep it lower than my armpit, but I'll double-check.
Kyrsten- That's an interesting way of thinking about the hold! I'll give that a try. I'm trying to do it from the floor, since I don't trust the grip and I don't want to fall.
I do try to roll my shorts down, get maximum contact through my back, but I'm finding that not much of my back does any gripping, or holds me up much. I'm not really able to push into it with the strength that would cause any grip with my back.
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I think it really depends on what your body responds to! Try all kinds of different stretches, and see what gets the most results! I think that having a wide range of different stretches is best, rather than just a few.
There are a lot of DVD's out there, too, such as Pure Splits and Flexibility for Pole, Felix's flexibility training, and such. Take a look around!
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I've been watching you for a good long time! I love it!
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I do agree with Hookedonpole, because I've also found that thinner does not equal stronger; I've known a lot of ladies that look large, but are as strong as an ox and could probably kick my butt on the pole!
However, I've found that basic exercises really work for me: lifting weights, crunches, push ups, and planks. Veena's strength training on this website are a great resource. I highly recommend trying NOT to get stuck with lifting weights, actually, unless you really find nothing else works for you! They only target one part of your body, and for me, that's very necessary (I've got some big muscles on some parts, and some really wimpy ones in others, so the targeting really makes me balance out). However, doing something that speaks to many areas of the body, and keeps your core engaged, will probably show faster results and better overall co-ordination!
As for weight loss… well, the best I can say is keep at what you're doing, and what you're looking to do! Strength training has been one of the best ways for me to lose some fat, and I welcome the muscles (I take myself to the gun-show now and then!). More muscle will help you burn fat a little faster when you're working out, and will help you reach that fat-burning place during workouts a little easier.
That said, definitely don't over-do it. Seriously. If you're getting sore one day or less after a workout, scale back a little bit. You should be a bit sore the second day after a workout. Don't forget to stretch those muscles, too! It helps with the soreness. And, take rest days. They will help you build up more muscle because it gives your body time to catch up… and you can even do a little bit of light stretching on those days, too!
It's all about learning what works for you! Good luck on your journey, and keep at it!
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Awesome! I've been needing to stick to a workout routine for a while now… what's your secret? 😉
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Eva X- I think we do actually understand what you mean. You want to know why we don't give advice when we comment to videos, and why we always tell the dancer that they are sexy, doing well, and such. Compared to some people (such as, in my opinion, Felix Cane) some people here may not be even CLOSE to that level of skill and beauty when it comes to movement, but that doesn't mean that we aren't doing well.
It's more about perspective on that- we're telling the person that they are doing well for where they are in the journey of dancing, and especially when we've seen their progress over time! Many of us struggle under the idea that we will NEVER be good enough, and that's our own opinion of ourselves. Other people may think that we are ALREADY "good enough," and it's nice to hear them say so!
For a lot of people, that little bit of advice can be devestating, and could possibly put their self-esteem and progress back by months, even years. It could be totally fine, like "Hey, I think you need to work on pointing your toes," but you don't know what that person is going through right now. They may have once had a great toe-point, but had a recent car accident, and had so much damage that they can't do it anymore. They are working hard at it, but from our perspective, it's not what we're used to looking at. Your comment could make them so self-conscious that they might give it all up completely! They might still be recovering from that accident, and you've just set them back, by that little comment.
A quote from you: "and believe me, if i'll post my videos i 'llwant to know what you REALLY think, not that i'n sexy when i don't etc.."
What if what we REALLY think is that you are sexy, and doing really well? What if that's all we can offer? Are you going to get fed up, and decide that everyone is hiding what they truly feel about your dancing?
As I said before, if you want the advice or constructive critisism, you can ask for it! And, please do! But most of us just aren't ready for that kind of scrutiny.
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I've not found many- it's harder to find for me, I've got some specific tastes… However, these are some of the best I've found for me!
Blue Stahli- Premeditated
Massive Attack- Inertia Creeps
Collide- Beneath the Skin
Pendulum- The Island (part 1)
Lords of Acid- Glad I'm not God (WARNING: Almost anything from Lords of Acid is very Dirty!)
Katy Perry- E.T. (Oh, the shame!)
That's pretty much all the ones I've found, actually! I hope some of them speak to you the way they have for me 😉
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Generally, this is considered to be a "supportive" community, and the best way we can do that is by encouraging each other. We post comments about what we liked, which is usually the overall feel, or a particular move that the person did in their video.
On the topic of critisism, unfortunately not a lot of people are able to accept it from strangers, and not many are able to give critisism constructively. It takes a special kind of discussion that both people are open to in order to work through the idea of improving something as personal as a dance or other artform.
Generally, advice is given in private around here- someone asks someone else to help them work on a particular move, or on achieving a feeling, on what to do with something. Occasionally we will ask for advice on the forums, such as myself- I have asked about what to do with my free hand, as well as for help with certain moves.
Just because we don't see it doesn't mean it's not there. When I start posting videos (I say that often, and haven't yet done it, but it's certainly one of my many goals), I would like to have advice from people… but it will likely be very carefully-asked-for advice, rather than just a bunch of people telling me what they thing, all willy-nilly.