[Runemist34]

Lainey, if your doctors aren't taking you seriously, I would suggest a new doctor! It really sucks when professionals dismiss you out of hand, or in my case, don't bother to get all the facts. My doctor prescribed me some exercises that made my knees freak out really badly, and it was because those exercises only work for short-term patellofemural syndrome, not long term.

I've got new exercises now, and they don't damage me anymore. I have to learn to keep up with them, though!

And yes, with the pole dancing, it's getting slightly easier, and it helps to work on all different parts of my body…so it never happens anywhere else 😛

[Runemist34]

I'm an owner of a Lil'Minx pole, and I certainly find that it fits my needs. I could wish for it to be slightly taller…but then, that would also mean raising my ceilings 😉 They work  really well with carpet, if you have it (which I do for now, but I'm moving and the new place will not be carpet), but also have feet on them if you don't. I've never had my pole fall down on me…and trust me, I whip around that thing pretty fast! I'm 175lbs, and I don't budge it!

It's stainless steel (or chrome, I can never tell which; whatever they sell) and I don't find it overly slippery or overly sticky. I know they also sell powder coated ones, and I've not tried them yet…though I'd like to!

Lil' Minxes, as far as I know, do not have spinning poles. Mine doesn't spin, at least!

I've heard a lot of good things about the X-pole, of course, though I wonder about the very wide base on it. I suppose I would get used to it! 

I hope that, whatever you choose, you are incredibly satisfied! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

 

[Runemist34]

Hey LoneStar, do you mean an advanced form of patellofemural syndrome? Where the kneecap is rubbing on your thigh bone? 'Cause I've got that! I'm still not too far, so I can treat it with physiotherapy…but it still frigging hurts! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif

My thing is that my knees hurt when they're bent, and I have weight on them. This includes sitting down, or standing from a sitting position, and things like that. Obviously, this also causes problems when getting up from the floor when dancing!

My trick is to try to exaggerate the getting up, so really push your butt up first as much as you can (looser hamstrings really help with this, too! I've been working on mine https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif) And, also, when I'm feeling slightly less graceful (though I'm doing my best to make it more graceful), I use my arms to pull me up!

I hope your knees get taken care of…chronic pain really screws us up, I noticed, and when I finally had a few weeks without the knee pain…I couldn't believe it. I was so happy. So, take care of yourself!

[Runemist34]

Yay! I'm excited for you! I know the feeling, when you finally get that move and you go "Oh my god I think I might actually be improving~!" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

It sounds like you've got lots of strength to hold that one! I'm still working on it…but I've seen some improvement! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Runemist34]

I can totally understand…It seems like every time I make some great progress, I stop. I just stopped the last couple of weeks, due to moving house, getting sick, and having elbow issues (which I assume is pole elbow!). It's frustrating, because you know it's good for you, but you just can't seem to get going again!

I think this happens to a lot of artists…and I consider dancing of all forms an art. We get burnt out, and have a hard time getting back to it!

I think you should be kind to yourself; quitting smoking is a huge leap in and of itself, and smoking is an appetite suppressant…you'll gain weight, because suddenly, you feel as hungry as you should have been feeling in the first place! Think about all the energy you'll have once everything reaches equilibrium again! 

And, besides that, I like women with a little meat on them…and all the guys I know (seriously, every one of them) do too! Those wobbly bits can be put to good use https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Just try to think of all the good things, instead of all the bad things. It's not that you're ignoring the bad stuff, just choosing not to dwell on it…and choosing to dwell on the good stuff, because it's good!

And, if you like, you can do things around pole dancing that isn't pole dancing, perhaps to bring yourself around to it again. Perhaps try choreographing to a song? Polish your pretty shoes? Think about ways you could jazz up an old move? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Runemist34]

I've not tried a few of these styles, as I wasn't terribly athletic in highschool…I did take a dance class though, so we tried things like hip hop and ribbon and such. 

I would say, go for belly dancing…it's a lot of fun! I took it though the parks and recreation centre here, and I really enjoyed it. It really helped me learn what my body was doing, and some of the lessons I still use even today.

It's a good workout, and you might be surprised when everything starts hurting after! There are also many styles of belly dance, so you could check out which you like, too. 

[Runemist34]

Minicooper, I do the same thing with the walking! It's getting better, but I still do it sometimes 😉

As for what I meant bout counting my spins, well, I never can seem to get spins to integrate with music. I love spins, as they are mostly what I've been doing for a few years. I do really like them, but rarely can I find a place in music where it works.

Most choreography I see is aerial stuff, and inverted stuff, so I don't have a lot of example for things like adding spins into a routine and such.

[Runemist34]

Hey ladies!

I've got an odd question for choreography…how do you "count" spins, or find places for them? What if the music that really moves you doesn't really…um, rise and fall much? 

When I choreographed a burlesque dance, it was easy, just a basic strip…no spins that take a while, no fancy stuff like trying to climb a pole or whatever, because I was on the ground. And, the music I chose was of the big-band style, which usually isn't my thing (and thus took forever to find!) so it worked together well.

But…that's my issue. What if I want to put a crucifix or a layback at one part, and need to climb to get there? How do I work that in? I don't like the idea of "Oh, gee, hang on, I just have to climb up here and get to where I want to be for this next part…" that some dancers do. 

And, since a lot of my music is electronica, there isn't much rise and fall with the beat…at least, my kind of electronica! It tends to be constant, and that's why I like it! The beat gets me moving, but it also doesn't change. I can think of one song in particular that Husband describes as "Too repetitive," and really…it IS rather repetitive. But, I like dancing to it. I suppose I'm a little odd, eh?

So, any thoughts?

[Runemist34]

I really like Ginger's idea, since I'm VERY fond of french music. I'm canadian, but I don't speak more than about two phrases in french…lol! But, they have amazing music, and I love listening to it!

Cynthia D…Um, you know I was born in the 80's, right? Do you REALLY want to hear some kind of horrible 80's rock ballad for an entire dance? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif I'd do it, though. If I could figure out a good song!

Otherwise…how does one do a "spring break" themed dance? For my University, spring break was in February, and it was cold and boring (and now I get a second one, because my Uni is on strike, and it's been 3 weeks! >_<), and NO ONE wanted to go into that ocean! My understanding of Spring Break as per the USA colleges and such is…a lot of gratuitous nudity and such, getting drunk and crazy. 

 

…Actually, that kind of gives me an idea! I would like to do any of these, though, really 🙂

[Runemist34]

I like a guy with a good body wave, to be honest, and I think that if guys want to get into pole, it's all the same, men or women. Learn spins first, work up your strength and body awareness, and then go into climbs, inversions, and whatnot. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Runemist34]

I used to think that I would never improve, but I asked my physiotherapist about it…particularly the hamstrings, because mine have always been very tight.

He said: Put your foot up on something that isn't too high (like, the tallest would be the seat of a chair) and lean forward from your hips till you feel a stretch. If you need to, keep leaning forward so that you continue to feel that stretch. Hold it for 30 seconds, switch legs, and you're done.

Very simple, very easy, you can do it in the shower (which I do) and I've shown a massive improvement! I can touch the ground with my hands when my feet are at shoulder width apart! I've NEVER been able to do this before.

So, my though: Keep it simple. You don't need books or yoga or splits in 6 weeks (which, I maintain, sounds very dangerous to me), just listen to your body and stretch. Do it once a day, because that's when I found the most improvement. You don't need to kill yourself trying to stretch, just do it nicely.

Yes, I've been frustrated with the fact that I can't seem to get any splits right now…but it's for different issues. My hips seem a little…weird.

And yes, I tried yoga, I tried resistance stretching, and I got nowhere. This worked, it's safe, comes from a health practitioner, and I recommended it highly. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Runemist34]

I was introduced to it because of a friend's bachelorette party…and all four of us were hooked. Only two of us have really followed it up, though, one having gone on to teach it, and then…myself 😛

I wanted to check it out because it seemed different. I was tired of trying so hard to get to the gym, or trying to get out to walk when I didn't want to. I wanted something I could do on my own time, in my own home, but also go out for lessons, and such. I wanted fitness, sexiness, and fun. Most importantly, fun.

My whole world of Pole expanded when I went on the internet…and so much more when I joined this site the first time!https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Runemist34]

I should have checked their Brassworks website…because I just confirmed they're in Langley, BC. Lol! I always like local stuff 😛

[Runemist34]

Just for fun, I e-mailed them, telling them I was in the market. I tried to think of as many things as I could concerning safety and how it works, so hopefully I'll get an e-mail back, and I can let you know what they say. I asked for pictures of their base and how it all connects to the ceiling, as well as a possible video or reviews, because I don't know how well they work in action!https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

Also, looking at their shipping page, it looks like they may be based in BC, so that's interesting. If I get good information from them…well, who knows, they might end up being my next pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif One day, when I'm swimming in money, of course! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif

[Runemist34]

I've not heard of Action poles before. They seem to be new…and, of course, I'm sure they are finding it difficult to compete, as our trust gets placed in a pole so rarely!

The company that this is "offered by" which you can find down at the bottom of the picture is called Brassworks, and they look relatively legit. Clearly, they are trying to keep poles and the rest separate, but they claim to "know brass" and it seems that they do.

Unfortunately I can't find any reviews on it, either, so I would say…these guys are very new.