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I’ve never used one, but I think they may help w/ people like me who are wimps to the tongue-numbing pain of stretching. It could possibly ensure I stay in position longer. I know I would absolutely love partner-assisted stretching as the cold dry-wall makes me do all the work myself and, therefore, goes too easy on me. lol

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Aw, yeah, you’re probably right. I may have to get a pair just for the Hell of it (hubby will like ’em, I’m sure), but I have to at least try it out. Dream was too awesome to not at least try a variation.

And thank you for the suggestion on fingerless gloves, but they would not work w/ the concept behind this particular routine. I may try fingerless for something else though so thank you! I love gloves and fetish-y kinda stuff, it’s so fun. Haha

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Barefoot is definitely easier for inverts in the beginning. The first time I tried w/ heels it looked and felt so bizarre. lol I started w/ knee-high matte leather boots w/ a 4″ heel. Although they were my fav boots, well broken in, and fitted perfectly to my feet/legs they did not play well w/ inverts. I got used to them, but they got in the way at first and slipped a lot (matte instead of vinyl is a bad idea on the pole, but they were my fav boots).

My first pair of actual pole heels were 6″ chrome Pleasers. Amazing shoes, but heavy for early inverts. Had issues trying to clear my ankle past the pole w/out hooking the heel and it took a few weeks to get it looking decent. Kinda changed my approach to inverts and took some time before my feet didn’t look weighted down. Shoulder-stands (I think that’s what they’re called?) at the base of the pole while rotating my ankles and doing leg-work w/ my heels on helped a lot.

I’m certainly not the greatest or most graceful dancer to ever wear a pair of heels, but I love them. I no doubt rushed myself into inverts, but I was never injured because I was very aware of my points of contact. I will say that if you try it and can’t get your leg around the pole right away don’t panic or struggle. Just gently exit and come back down. It takes more than a few tries to be comfortable inverting in heels. Use caution, but do not get discouraged. Make inverts a four-step process, take your time, use your muscles, don’t do what I did the first times and just swing your legs up there. Slow it down and utilize that core strength. 🙂

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@ Raven, I’ve never heard that before but it would explain why it cures my foot cramps after pointing my toes too long.

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…you have made-up and memorized full routines in your head to all your favorite songs.

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When I started in ’09, my practice sessions were insanely excessive. I had just moved into a new home, was between jobs, had no children, and found myself averaging about 6-8 hours a day on the pole at least 5 days a week. My first month I looked beat to Hell! I was bruised in places that had never felt pain before, lol.

Two months later, I started a new job full-time. My pole sessions were reduced to about 2-4 hours a day, 3 days a week (if I was feeling up to it which, usually, I wasn’t very often).

It stayed that way, give-or-take, until December of 2010 when I found out I was pregnant. Pretty much all pole practice came to a halt from that moment on for a full year. I didn’t want risk injuring my baby or myself and I had a pretty rough time handling all the changes I was going through.

Sometime in January of 2012, I began something resembling a practice routine. It became very spontaneous and scattered throughout the day. I’d say I only average about 1-2 quality
hours a week on the pole now, but it’s usually spread across 4-6 days because I am fighting so hard to keep pole in my life. Juggling work, motherhood, and having to move everything in my bedroom just to set-up and take-down my X-Stage every time I want to dance…well, it’s a labor of love. lol

Someday I know it won’t be such a struggle. I just keep doing what I can to keep my pole handy. Time changes everything. 🙂

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No offense taken! I just have problems w/ clarity and end up going on-and-on w/ details. Just wanted to make sure people knew I was talking about the type that piss in your cereal and then expect you to sit there and eat it. Those who just prefer Wheaties to Lucky Charms in their own bowl are okay in my book.

Ughhh…there I go again! Fruit Loops are in my bowl today, obviously. haha

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Then forgive me as well. I’m not denying the humanity of people that believe they’re untouchable and godlike, but I sure do find humor in the irony of it all. My toes are always out of line when I’m trying to make a little point. I can’t defend that.

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Then I doubt you’ve had many of them cut you down publicly or attempt to make you look inferior by comparison. It’s even worse when you do call them out on it and you have people basically scold you for trying to make light of their BS.

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Yup. I have the grammar-twitch too when I see it. (particularly for improper use of “there”, “their”, and “they’re”. Or w/ “here” and “hear”.) Still, I know I’m not exactly perfect myself and because I can still understand what they’re trying to say I refrain from insulting or correcting them. My teeth, however, can’t stop grinding when I see those errors. Just a reflex from being an English teacher’s pet for too long.

Nazi’s, by my definition, are beyond perfectionist. They are evil, soul-sucking, elitist sociopaths who lack any form of compassion for humanity. All true Nazi’s are bad. They’d shoot their own mother if she got a cramp in her foot. lol

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You may as well take a shower curtain rod and use it as a pole. Pretty much the same concept and quality. Be patient, young grasshopper! 😉

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Well, my absolute fav slow-burner of sensual arts was Gypsy Rose Lee. She said “My mother, who got me into this business, always used to tell me ‘Make ’em beg for more and then don’t give it to them’…but I’m not my mother!”

So, to answer your question, have fun w/ it! Be stunning, take your time w/ it, love every second and every step like it has its own identity. The heart guides the hands that create art. Let what you’re feeling express what everyone’s hearing and seeing. Own it, guide it, but don’t hold it back. You will be glorious. 😉

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Foot-Nazi’s don’t compliment or care about anything but feet in my experience. If you slip up once you’re dead to them. They are relentless, self-serving morons and usually a hypocrite.

Professionals, on the other hand, can see the forest for the trees even if they don’t like the shape of every leaf on the branches.

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@ JayJay, having a personal preference and choosing not to watch is one thing, but when a person chooses to watch and then shits all over the place about it is another.

And I agree w/ the idea of competitions but, still, some people take it beyond acceptable levels of scrutiny. You can’t help but feel like there’s more hatred behind it than just about toes, you know?

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Ahahaha!! x’D Okay, I officially love this thread now! Imagine someone doing this vagina-monster move and a nun throwing holy water on them going “The power of Christ compells you!”

I’m depraved, but somehow I find that hilariously sexy. Lmao!