[Serzi]

Thankyou, Chem!

I did consult my husband about it as well and he told me powder-coating is actually a type of acryllic paint. Much like the kind used on bicycles, some cars, and such. He informed me that using any form of acetone (nail polish remover) or even rubbing alcohol can wear away the coating and cause “orange-peeling”.

So, I have another question:

What can I use to safely clean this type of pole?

[Serzi]

Quick question (and my apologies if this has already been answered and I’m just not seeing it or if this is just a srsly silly question) :

What kind of metal/material is this pole actually made of? I see that it’s a beautiful jewel-tone purple metallic color and that it is powder-coated…but…what’s under the coating?

Thanks in advance. I ask because my skin has a sensitivity to certain metals/materials. I am srsly considering to puchase this pole. It’s truly an amazing looking piece of equipment! 🙂

[Serzi]

When I first started I was consulting (perhaps pestering) Karol Helms a lot. She was gracious enough to provide me w/ her very professional advice that I, to this day, praise and pass on to whomever I can.

The very first bit of advice she offered me when I got my pole was this:

“Pole dancing is a PROCESS, its not something that people just try and are immediately good at!! It takes alot of time, practice, and determination to increase your skill! Soooo, dont get discoouraged, keep with it, take your time to learn and perfect each move you try. And start slowly..!!
And my biggest peeve…. Spinning mode is fun, but you’re not really learning the right technique to the moves when youre working on spinning. So keep it on static when you practice and really learn how to do the moves correctly and safely before adding spinning to the mix. When youre doing them beautifully on static, then give spin a go!”

Of course…lol…curiousity got the best of me and I did try spin my first day. I justified it as “just making sure it works”. Well, it DID. I did a fireman so fast I swear I coulda flung myself right through my bedroom window! LOL That was not fun at all, it was SCARY. I put it right back on static. That being said, make sure to test spin mode when you get your pole, but do not throw your weight into it. Be gentle, it does not need much momentum or you’ll find yourself in hyper-drive. If you DO ever find yourself in hyper-drive DO NOT PANIC. The tighter you grip and the closer you tuck into your pole the FASTER you will spin. Hold securely, but try to put your legs out or lightly drag your feet on the floor to slow yourself back down. The further you hold yourself out, the slower it will go.

To combat dizziness, either look at your pole or hands and try to ignore the blur surrounding you. Do not strain your neck to do so. The key to controlling spin is to be calm and deliberate w/ each move.

But, I digress, just be aware that spin is an entirely different approach than static. I do recommend staying off of it entirely until at least your fourth month (if you are poling at least 6-8 hours per week prior to that). You will be much stronger, controlled, and confident in your abilities by then. Personally, I waited until my six month Polerversary before I attempted spin again and I feel I ROCKED that biotch! lol So much that I made 3 vids to celebrate. 😀

And, I will also say that I knew a girl who totally rocked spin her second month. Unfortunately, she did it too much too fast and too early. Srsly strained the muscles in her right arm/both wrists and had to take a month off to recover. I regard this as proof to Karol’s claim. Get strong on static first, rock spin later. You WILL get there. 😉

Shwew! Sorry, that was way too long as usual! Hope this is at least a little helpful.

[Serzi]

@ Kobajo

Do you mean the g-strings that kinda sit on the buttcheeks rather than above the hips or just thongs in general? Cuz I have been seeing a lotta the floss too, lol. I get kinda envious, though, I doubt that would be very flattering on me. Some girls have those cute bums that aren’t overwhelming to see. Mine is rather…juicy…so it probably would appear as though I were dancing completely bottomless if I wore that. lol

[Serzi]

I’m pretty sure that no one took offense to your preferences. Like I said, I totally understand how it may not be everyone’s cup-o’-tea. Contortion moves have very different lines from the elegant and powerhouse styles. We are all esthetic-junkies in the pole world it seems, and we often favor some forms over others. I can appreciate that.

[Serzi]

…and there is something other-worldly about contortion. It’s like black-magic or something. GO SHAPE-SHIFTERS, HOORAH! haha

[Serzi]

I just have to say, while I understand why some people are creeped out by contortion moves, I absolutely LOVE them! Maybe it’s because flexibility comes easier to me than strength (for some it is the opposite), but moves w/ a nice deep back-bend or twist or oversplit is just about the greatest trick ever in my eyes. Full extension and beyond are my personal future goals in whatever I do, so I am extremely impressed by contortion. To each their own! 🙂

[Serzi]

And Amber Richard! Love the Fleur!!!

[Serzi]

-Nicki Shaw
-Robbie “Star” Cribb
-Sarah Cretul
-Alethea Austin
-Pantera Blacksmith
-Anna Serikova
-Arlene “Arlo” Caffrey
-Felix Cane
-Shadow
-Marlo Fisken
-Probably a thousand others, including my pole buddies. lol

😀

[Serzi]

My first pole crush and favorite in all things pole-related is Karol Helms.

My other fav’s and influences are (in no particular order):

-Nadia Sharif
-Veena (of course! 🙂 )

[Serzi]

Epsom salt baths always do wonders for my soreness and bruising. Eat bananas, they heal bruises quicker. Also, unbelievably, this trick I’m going to tell you actually works. In areas where you feel a fresh bruise is going to form, pour a little 100% vanilla extract on the spot. Just enough to cover the affected area. The bruise either will never show through or it won’t be as obvious, although you may still feel soreness under your skin. Whether the vanilla helps make it feel better I can’t be sure but, esthetically, it works well.

If you are a new poler, yes, it takes time to “toughen up”. You will learn (most likely w/out even trying to or thinking about it much) how to apply the proper amount of pressure to climb or hold poses. Right now you are probably still slightly “death-gripping” or overcompensating to feel safer because you aren’t quite sure how it should feel. You will adjust. It takes hundreds of attempts and hours of practice but it does get easier…though…I wouldn’t say it gets very comfortable. You just adapt to it after awhile and, eventually, you get better and more awesome at it.

It’s like sex, actually. lol Think back to your first time. Yeah. It’s kinda like that. Takes some getting used to and a lotta practice before you can fully enjoy it. 😉

[Serzi]

Welcome to pole! Don’t be surprised if we are all extremely helpful, everyone loves “virgin polers”…probably because it takes us back to our own first day. 🙂

I would not recommend doing much on spin-mode except testing to make sure it works properly when you get your new pole in. Static builds more muscle and will get you where you wanna be faster. Took me six months to really even try spinny and, thanks to my strenuous static workouts, I rocked my first full session. 😉

As for your man, YES, if you workout faithfully on your pole then six months is plenty of time to develop your flow and be able to show off some cool tricks. I will say, though, don’t expect him to be as into it as you. While my husband respects my pole infatuation, he’s kinda more into peeking in and saying “That’s nice, honey.” than sitting in a chair watching a full routine. Says pole isn’t really one of his turn-on’s, he prefers when I lapdance him. lol Still…he appreciates the pole and helps however he can to support my addiction to it. Some men are turned-on by it, but I haven’t met many who really are by the awesome tricks. They either think “I bet I can do that…yeah, probably” or “I can’t do that…masculinity threatened by amazingly hot, talented woman…GRR.” 🙂

[Serzi]

Aw, thanks girl! You give me too much credit honestly. It is far easier to put my ducks in a row when I write than in real life, but I keep trying. Self improvement is an on-going goal of mine. I am only just recently developing some level of patience for others and stability w/ my overwhelming moodiness. I thank my daughter for that. 🙂

As for your advice, I genuinely appreciate it. Things seemed calmer and not so unfriendly today at work. While it seems unlikely I will be viewed as a person first and a woman second, really, I think my co-workers have just as much difficulty viewing themselves as people first and as men second. Gender roles in society suck. l

[Serzi]

I have heard no reviews of Alethea’s dvd’s unfortunately. 🙁

However, I have heard time and time again great praise of Jamilla DeVille’s Art of Pole series. Many awesome USPDF competitors have cited Fawnia’s pole vid(s?) as the foundation of their skills.

I have not had the $ for any of these vids, but I would definitely check them all out if I could. Hope this was helpful. 🙂

[Serzi]

And I am SURE you do not look like a rhinoceros, dear.