[StrangeFox]

The butterfly is such a milestone move and it’s so exciting to finally nail it! Awesome job! I love that shape. Also, I love your Batman curtains!!!

[StrangeFox]

I know!! That’s the sleekest mount I’ve seen yet! Augh…I have a mount for my 40mm pole but the fi won’t let me put it up! He caught me conspiring with a friend of ours and nearly had a hissy fit (and then I had one!) I have no idea why he’s so against the mounts. We own our house and he still won’t let me put them up. I think he’s worried about damaging the house before we move (probably within the next 5-10 years). He’s got an idea in his head and no amount of proof to the contrary will change it. 😛

I’ll bet in addition to ease of installation and security they also make it less likely that you’ll over-tighten your pole! I waaaaant it! LOL!

[StrangeFox]

LOL! I think I could make a side business out of this, dustbunny! XD

So, X-Pole got back to me and they said as long as I’m not bothered by the cosmetic aspect of it, and as long as the areas aren’t abrasive, there is nothing to worry about. They said if the spots start getting rougher or bigger/bothersome at any time I can contact them since they have on file that these dings were not caused by usage.

Honestly, I’m the type of person who doesn’t mind buying something pre-damaged just ’cause I know it’ll probably get damaged anyway. (I have 4 very destructive cats and I’m a klutz). I considered re-sale and maybe I’ll be kicking myself for that very reason later, or maybe my love of thigh-high boots will result in more dings. *sigh* I was more worried I’d have to return the pole because of the rust/chipping hazard in the chrome coating.

[StrangeFox]

This also happened to me. I think it gets easier the stronger your upper body gets. One thing that I was doing that made me spin super fast was pulling up and into into the pole too quickly. The further away from the pole you are the slower you’ll go, and the closer you get the faster you’ll go. If I’m struggling to climb on spinny I always make sure I stick my butt out extra far and really exaggerate and slow down my climbing movements (ie, extending my arm and leaning back a bit before grabbing higher on the pole to slowly pull myself up, which makes me spin faster).

Climbing on static always seems like more of a power move to me (I just haul my butt up that pole!). On spinny I have to be more flow-y and elaborate with my climbs. Once I got used to climbing gracefully and slowly on static I was able to do it on spinny.

They just introduced spin pole as part of the curriculum in my level. I love it, but I don’t understand how I’ll ever be able to do anything on it. Even a Gemini on spinning seems to take way more strength and concentration than it does on static. It feels like I have to learn everything all over again – lol!

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much!! Those look so slick. I’m going to show my hubby and see if he’ll budge. He seems to think our joists are too small to fit the mount. How large does a joist have to be? Ours appear to be 1 and a 1/2 inches if the stud finder can be trusted, although they may be a little smaller.

Also, installing the pole with the dome causes minimal damage/disturbance of the popcorn and we’d be leaving it up permanently so… it’s probably a negligible risk either way.

[StrangeFox]

Thanks AllysonKendal! That is something else to consider – re-sale. I know for a fact I’ll probably end up dinging this pole myself ’cause I’m a bit of a klutz – lol! 🙂

I’ve contacted X-Pole and they got back to me pretty quickly asking for my invoice #, etc… They’re super helpful and they really wanted to get it right. I’m just disappointed (not with X-Pole…they’re awesome) that this happened, ya know? I know it’ll be all right one way or another.

I feel like if we want to sell our poles we can put a positive spin on this somehow. “Comes pre-dinged for your benefit! No need to worry about making that first, heart-wrenching scratch on your X-Pole – I’ve gone ahead and done it for you!” 😀

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much, XPole! Your reply is much appreciated! I think screwing something into the ceiling might disturb it more, but I do love the idea of having a permanent mount (if only my hubby would let me install one!).

This makes me feel a bit better, although I’m still kind of freaked out by this. My husband thinks there is nothing to worry about as he’s quite certain the previous owners did a lot of renos (created a back door onto the deck, finished the basement). The popcorn ceiling in some of the rooms looks different (fresher, and without a border) than in other rooms, so there’s a good chance it was replaced at some point. I’m still a bit scared but I tend to be a little anxious about this kind of stuff. I’ve worried myself sick already!

Thanks again for your reply. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks AlisonDawn! Hopefully I can get this figured out soon. I just tried again with 1 pic and it’s doing the same thing. I don’t feel comfortable posting them if they’re going to look off. I don’t think it’s fair to the photographer. I did post them on my instagram: x_ceej_x. Even there I had some issues though. I had to cut off portions of my photograph to make them fit.

[StrangeFox]

Dustbunny – totally going to try the hair dryer thing and let you know how it goes! 😀 I can’t stick worth sh*t in the winter.

AlisonDawn – I live in Ontario! Man, I feel bad complaining about our lack of sunlight. I don’t know the exact times the sun rises and sets but I know I go to work in darkness, and I come home in darkness. Most winters I am really, really bad… I practically hibernate and usually drown my sorrows in not-so-healthy habits (mainly wine and over-eating). This year I haven’t taken a heavy hit and have even been able to keep my spirits up without indulging in these unhealthy habits. I have pole to thank for that. 🙂 You’re not alone…I’m also intimidated by floor work!

[StrangeFox]

I feel ya! I suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and that combined with the cold pretty much kills my motivation. Last night I had my pole class and it was so cold none of us could stick to the poles! Talk about demotivating… The challenge for me is not just getting warm but keeping warm because my pole and I cool down so quickly. But yeah… -35C? I’m living in a tropical paradise compared to you! 😀

A heater definitely helps, and so does doing something fun to warm up. I like to do Veena’s hard core workout or practice burlesque/strip tease style dancing before getting on my pole. That way I can peel off the layers as I get warm from dancing. It also “encourages” me to practice floorwork since I can’t get on the pole if I’m wearing all those layers.

Oh man… this is the pole warmer, right?

https://x-pole-canada.myshopify.com/collections/shop/products/the-pole-warmer

I have been drooling over this for weeks! I hear you can use a hair dryer to warm your pole, although I imagine that is more work. I usually just point my heater at it for a bit.

[StrangeFox]

Beautiful!! I love it! All of your movements are so controlled…so precise! Watching you really does bring to mind a music box ballerina! Like TropicalVertical, I am without words. It’s simply stunning and I love how there’s a workshop in the background. How long did this take to make?

[StrangeFox]

Hey camkbarn! I don’t know where you live, but if there’s a Stag Shop or another adult novelty store in your area you could always try going there to see if they have some Pleasers to try out.

Also, I’m not sure how accurate this is but this is the conversion chart on Pleaser USA:

http://www.pleaserusa.com/Index.asp?page=sizeconvchart

You could also email someone at Pleaser and ask about converting the size from women’s to men’s. 🙂 One thing to consider: if you’re inverting you may want the shoe to fit a little snug. You can always loosen up any snug plastic shoes by warming them with a blow dryer and putting them on your feet so they stretch a little.

[StrangeFox]

Okay…sorry to resurrect this but I wanted to add an update just in case anyone else runs into a similar issue.

1) Although I can SM (on both sides now! yay!) I have been told to cool it until I can hold myself parallel to the ground in a shoulder “V.” It’s safer and it’s easier for me to know whether or not I’ve got the pole in the right place (still learning this). Initially I had it too close to my neck and put a lot of pressure on the wrong places. I didn’t feel it while I was SMing but I did feel it after. Holding the “V” position I know immediately when I’m in the wrong position and I won’t attempt a mount that may pinch a muscle or bruise a bone.

2) The tricep/bicep pain was from figurehead. I need to squeeze more with my legs/knees and less with my arm.

3) Went to get a sports massage and was told the muscles in my back and shoulders are extremely tight and need to be stretched after I pole/condition. Was also told I should work on my back/shoulder flexibility if I hope to avoid injury, which until now I have sorely neglected.

[StrangeFox]

Thanks for your awesome feedback everyone! I feel a bit better about this now. I was feeling frivolous for even considering this but my fiance told me I won’t get the room unless I get another pole (what an ultimatum, huh?) and….I want to climb!!! Initially he didn’t really “get” pole dancing but after bringing him to a couple of shows and letting him watch me freestyle he’s getting really into it.

Veena – I’m really trying to sell him on the permanent mounts! That’s an excellent idea putting the piece of wood on the ceiling over the joist. He’s very, very against any “unnecessary” modifications to the house that involve power tools and is still upset with me for cutting into the chair rail in the basement. Haha!

Hannimator – your conservatory sounds so lovely! I would be getting a different type of pole, which I’m using to help assuage my guilt (somewhat)! The way my fiance sees it, making it as comfortable as possible for me to pole at home will keep me from spending all of my time and money at the studio. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much for the input everyone! It’s good to know I wouldn’t be “crazy” or out of the norm (well, for a pole dancer anyway) for having two poles. 😀

I have an X-Pert, which is static and spinny, so I’d be getting another one of those but a different finish and different diameter. Our spare bedroom doesn’t have extremely tall ceilings (approx 7ft 7inches, which is pretty average), but it’s much, much taller than the basement ceiling. There’s also a lot more room for floorwork, however, my fi warned me he’s going to be putting something in there for himself at some point – a massage chair.

The room isn’t used for all that much at the moment, and in addition to it being a pole space he may use it from time to time as well. He doesn’t want to take down the basement pole because he thinks the basement will look silly without it now that I’ve done it all up. As far as “problems” go this is a pretty good one to have!