[Solya]

I totally feel your pain! My biggest issue is that I have NO sense of balance whatsoever. I trained in acrobatics for 6 years and still can’t hold a handstand or an elbow stand for more than 3 seconds, an even if I do I know it wasn’t intentional lol. This had been giving me lots of grief with the aysha recently.

I also gave some tries to the spatchcock (Felix’s move) because in theory I’d be flexible enough to do it, but my legs are just too short to hold me there. My knees aren’t that bendy either https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

I guess everyone has moves that they’re instinctively good at and some that you just can’t get. If I find a move totally hopeless, I drop it, maybe revisit it a couple weeks later and if it doesn’t work, I just acknowledge that and move on to stuff I’m good at https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Solya]

Listening to my music on ipod today loads came to me, music is often inspirational, I can visualise myslf doing amazing moves aha some that I haven’t even mastered yet lol!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif
Mee too!! I can choreograph a whole song in my head sometimes but then when it comes to it I can’t actually do it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cat.gif

This is 100% me! I thought I was the only one like this. I really should do a diary or even a note or two on my blackberry. there is so much I want to learn and so much im so close to getting but as soon as I hit the studio for pole play, my mind draws a blank. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_shaking.gif

Aww me too! I constantly imagine myself doing incredibly difficult things I can’t even do yet https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif But then I go to class, start inverting and forget mid-air what I was going to do lol. I usually put a sticky note with moves I want to practice on my bag when I go to pole.

[Solya]

Hi there,

do not despair! It does take time to figure where to grip with your legs. I think it’s the easiest if you invert with your outer hand on top and the one near the pole on the bottom. First go into a basic invert – now both your hands will be in between your knees and this is where most people get stuck!

So from here, slide your bottom hand off from between your thighs and tighten the grip with your thighs when you do it. Now you have one hand left between your knees. Turn around the pole into the crucifix position and grip the bottom of the pole with the hand you just took off – you’re in a split grip position now. When you’re gripping comfortably with the bottom hand, start sliding off the top hand and tighthen your thigh grip as you do, so you’re gripping the pole all along your legs. Take the hand off and grip at the bottom – and done https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

I usually teach it like this – first one hand off, tighten leg grip, then other hand off, tighten leg grip further – it is more secure and you won’t forget to grip with your legs in the process.

This is a good pic for leg placement: http://www.verticaldance.com/crusifix.jpg

Hope this made sense, good luck! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Solya]

I’m on fb too, add me https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

mailto:op504@york.ac.uk

[Solya]

Szia Evelyn, én is nagyon örülök, hogy van itt még egy magyar, nem is hittem volna, mikor csatlakoztam https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif És mindannyian külföldön élünk, elég vicces https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif Sok puszi neked és happy poling! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Solya]

This is going to sound awful but have you looked in M&S? It’s pretty much the only place I’ve seen bras with big cups and smaller band sizes, and some of them look decent. I’m a D cup and sometimes go there when I need a plain and reliable bra. There isn’t much variety lingerie-wise in York https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

It doesn’t sound awful at all my lovely! I have tried M&S but alas everything pretty isn’t in my size. I would be fine if I just wanted plain really full cupped white bras but I’m a bit fussy lol! I order everything online now! I’ve just found the name of the other one it’s" simply yours" x x

Aww there’s some lovely stuff on that site, I love the swimsuits https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I’m a 32D so it’s a nightmare to find swimsuits/bikinis lol. Thanks for the link https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Solya]

If you’re comfy with the CKR you could give a try to the no handed bow and arrow (or dangerous brian). It doesn’t require much strength at all because you’re hanging on the skin of your foot and your bum https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I think it’s easier and less risky than the CKR or the CAR.

What you need to do is decide which is your dominant leg, and go into a CKR starting position with that leg bent on top. Then start leaning back, hold on with your hands and press your bum into the pole. Slowly straighten the top leg and hook your foot from the outside around the pole. You’ll have a very good grip all along your leg, just make sure you keep your foot hooked and your toes flexed. When the foot is hooked, lean back like you’d do in the CKR (keep the other leg near the pole in case you feel insecure). And done https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

I’m sure Veena has an amazing tutorial on this or anyone else on Youtube, give it a go because it’s pretty and easier than it looks!

[Solya]

I know how your feel, I was a c cup in middle school. Im a dd. I really need to go get a bra fitting, its been over a yr. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif Its like as soon as you hit a particular size, the price sky rockets, dont carry your size or there are no fun ones!

I have found fun ones from fruit of the loom, they go up to a dd! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

I know! This is a constant rant of mine! As soon as you hit DD cup boom extra £25! It’s so sad. The only place I’ve found I can buy bras from is bravissimo or another one i can’t remember the name of but that’s really expensive too! It’s sad. I have a couple from ann summers but they only have two styles in bigger sizes (so you know I bought them both). Wish there was more variety for us bigger boobed ladies!

This is going to sound awful but have you looked in M&S? It’s pretty much the only place I’ve seen bras with big cups and smaller band sizes, and some of them look decent. I’m a D cup and sometimes go there when I need a plain and reliable bra. There isn’t much variety lingerie-wise in York https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

[Solya]

Yeah I can’t wait to see your vids too! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif The others are right, you need a place to share the obsession, if you can’t go to classes, SV is always here, and Youtube vids and whatever else. You could also try finding pole friends in your area and have pole jams perhaps?

I know what you mean about depression, it’s easy to lose motivation when you’re in a bad period. I tend to turn it around and work harder on the pole so I have some success with new moves – it gives such a boost to your self-confidence. I tend to keep pole away from the rest of my life, I want it to be ‘mine’ – a place with lots of fun, success and lovely people around, where you can go when everything else goes wrong https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Good luck and keep poling! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Solya]

Hi Veena, thanks for the welcome, I’m really glad to be here! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif You’re such an inspiration! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Solya]

I think they key thing here is motivation, and loads of it. Sometimes, when I struggle with a move, I just want to give up and stop poling because I think I’ll never be as strong and graceful as the extremely talented ladies out there. But then I watch some Youtube vids I found very inspring and that totally brings back the frenzy for me. I’m desperate to get better and just keep on practicing.

Setting new aims for yourself and believing that you can achieve them helps a lot. You can’t approach pole like ‘I know I’m not strong enough, I’ll never be as good etc etc’ – I think the right approach is that yes, I’ll get to USPDF https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif It might be far-fetched, but the prospect of improving, nailing new moves and being happy about them is wonderfully motivating in pole. When you feel you’re losing interest, just try to remember the rush you get from getting a new move or from watching your vids and being proud of yourself!

[Solya]

I’ve had a problem with foot cramps for years now. I don’t think it has anything to do with whether you have a background in pointy-toed sports https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I did competitive acrobatics for 6 years and my feet still cramp if I point my toes now. It’s probably a nutrient deficiency.

When your foot cramps, make sure you stand on it – putting pressure on the foot relieves the cramp.

[Solya]

Hi!

I can’t comment on the flag (still working on it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif ), but for the brass monkey, learn how to get into it with your legs on the floor before you do it from the flag (if you haven’t done this before)! It helps a lot with learning leg placement and which muscles to use.

Basically you need to tilt your head up, engage your abs and back muscles and hook your inside leg (which will be the top leg when you’re in the flag) around the pole. If you learn it from standing first you’ll get used to where you have to kick with your leg – it has to be very close to the pole so you can hook it with less effort. I was kicking far far away from the pole for hours until someone pointed out what I was doing wrong https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Also make sure you bring up the other leg at the same time and bend it back as far as you can, because it balances you and keeps you from flopping back.

I learned the whole thing from this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT8QjcfYlto" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
if you learn the BM from the floor it will be a lot easier from the flag! Good luck! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Solya]

I’m in York so it could possibly work (if poor student me can afford train tickets https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif ). A UK pole jam sounds like loads of fun https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif x

[Solya]

Yeah lol, my reverse grab transitions are quite fast and I kick out a lot, and my right hand just slipped off the pole mid-swing, legs in the air and all, and my bum smashed into the wall close by https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif I had a bruised arse for a week.

I find bloopers and fails quite entertaining to watch too https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif We have X-stages and the metal base gives horrible loud sounds if you land on it with a little more force. Once I fell out of the no-handed scorpio and banged into the stage, the whole class froze in horror and thought I’d died https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif