[StrangeFox]

Thanks to the helpful suggestions I was able to grip with my knees and pole climb properly today. 🙂 Putting lotion on and rinsing it off works! Fortunately it’s getting humid where I am now so that should help with dry skin too.

Silver Sylph – I’m in Canada so we might have it here. Although, I have noticed most of my favorite bath products are being discontinued and the selections are getting less and less…so maybe not! Haha!

[StrangeFox]

Thanks a bunch, ladies! Those are all great suggestions and I’m going to give them a try. 🙂 I never considered rinsing the moisturizer off, and I do love Aveeno products. I’ve never heard of Corn Huskers, but I’ll keep an eye out for it next time I’m at Walmart.

[StrangeFox]

Congratulations! So glad you’re getting the recognition. You’re doing so many fantastic things for the pole community – keep it up! 🙂 I was actually pleasantly surprised when I mentioned pole dancing at work to find out that a bunch of the ladies had done it as a team building exercise years ago and they’d loved it.

[StrangeFox]

Haha! We were told not to wear lotion at all the day of class, but my instructor said as long as it’s not applied 2 hours before class I’m OK to wear moisturizer. I think the 1 day rule was for oily moisturizers, which is good because with my home pole now I’d never be able to wear moisturizer!

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much, Veena! My ribs are feeling way better and the pole is so tempting, but I’ve heard intercostal tears are nasty so I’m going to take it easy.

The studio I go to says no lotions but… my skin is normal to dry too and I can’t live without moisturizer! I’m going to try the grip aid combo for sure. I’ll let you know how it works out for me. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks Veena! I thought maybe it’s not under a joist, so I checked again tonight. There’s a hole in my ceiling (I think the previous owner was having issues finding a joist – lol!) and I measured out and felt around with the stud finder, which is lighting up so much ’cause it’s finding electrical wires too. I am pretty sure it is under a joist, but if it slips again I might re-arrange my poling room so my pole is under the joist I can see through the hole in the ceiling. I think maybe it wasn’t as tight as it should have been.

I did order the permanent mount because I think it just looks so slick and I’d love to have the extra support. Despite the slippage, I still love my new pole. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Awesome! Thanks for your replies TaraLee and Kash. I was able to get most of the gook off and use my pole, but tonight I had bit of a scare with it. I was doing chair spin and the first couple were OK, but my X-Pole dome slid across the ceiling!!! I had the darned thing tight enough that I could climb up on it and hang from it, spin, etc… How did it get loose? I do periodically check it. I have popcorn ceilings, if that helps, and although it’s hard to tell I do think I have it under a joist (stud-finder lit up like a pinball machine so I had to do the ol’ tap and guess, as well as using a light fixture as my guide).

Honestly, I’m quite leery of the dome/pressure install. I’ve had to tighten it a lot. I’m thinking of getting the permanent ceiling fixture. Does anyone else have this problem? Has anyone else needed to constantly re-adjust their X-Pole? 🙁

[StrangeFox]

Spoke to x-pole and they were super helpful – I’m getting a 500mm extension to replace my b-pole in the mail. Can’t wait! 🙂

[StrangeFox]

I’m glad your first class back went well and that you retained most of your strength and skill!

I hear ya on finding the sexy piece emotionally challenging and yet still being drawn to it. By the nervous giggles in the few classes I’ve attended I think there are quite a few women who struggle with this. Kudos to you for taking yourself out of your comfort zone. That takes guts! It’s a long, slow climb out of the shame pit, but we’ll make it. 😉

[StrangeFox]

Thanks a bunch for the fantastic tips, ladies! It comforts me to know everyone started out somewhere and that things do get easier. I used to be pretty easy to discourage and hated how I could never do anything, but I’ve learned the only reason I can’t do things is because I never try. I’m actually looking forward to challenging my body, and I’m super excited for that day my heels lift off the floor while I’m doing a seated pole hold! 🙂 I love that moment where things click and something you’ve struggled with suddenly becomes effortless.

I’ll be setting up my pole soon so I can do some conditioning at home, which is really going to help. I don’t feel like we get enough conditioning in the classes, and maybe I’m weird but I really enjoy conditioning. I’m definitely going to get a membership and check out the lessons. 😉

[StrangeFox]

Just an update: I’m still working on back hook spin but after 2 more classes and 1 practice session I am finally getting the hang of it! I can even do it on my bad side. I’m just working on consistency and making it look graceful now. (I still flop around like a walrus when trying to do a sexy get up, and sometimes I miss hooking my leg and hit my butt on the pole!)

In the introductory pole class back hook and fireman were the only spins we learned and in the third class the instructor acknowledged back hook was tricky. In the practice session the instructor showed me an easy way to gain momentum by going into a front turn and told me I need to open my hips more. Apparently I’m getting anxious about falling and I scrunch up which is normal for a beginner. With practice I’ll build strength and confidence. I’m looking forward to that.:)

Veena – thanks for the videos. They really helped and I find your way of getting into back spin easier than the way we’re taught in class. One of the other instructors at the studio I attend recommends doing the back spin your way, too. I’m planning to get a membership to the site when I get my pole next week so I can review spins at home.

[StrangeFox]

Hey! I’m new here so I wouldn’t know you from before, but welcome back! 🙂 And congrats on ditching that negative ex from your life and taking back your pole! How was your first class? Did you get sexy with it? 😉

[StrangeFox]

Thanks for your input everyone! I just bought a pole today and I’m going to be getting it sometime next week. I went with the brass 40mm. I really feel like having a thinner pole might help me learn and build strength a little quicker. I have large enough legs that I should be able to grip on when I get to doing leg holds. I think having a thinner pole might help me with some of my “death grip” issues when I’m spinning, too. I can’t wait to be able to practice at home!

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much! How do you find climbing, inversions and leg hangs on the 40mm? I was told they might be harder to learn on a thinner pole. I was also told one of the reasons it was taking me longer to get my spins was because my hands were tiny (they cannot wrap all the way around a 45mm pole) and it was going to take time to get confident and learn what grip worked best.

[StrangeFox]

Yikes! Hope you didn’t injure yourself, missyjac! Thanks so much for the info! Maybe some day I’ll get both widths! 🙂