[StrangeFox]

Thanks missyjac! Would you recommend sticking with the standard 45mm then? 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks Veena!! Yeah, I wish I could try the 40mm before I buy! I guess it really is just a preference thing. It might be nice to feel more secure at home while I’m doing holds because I won’t always have a spotter. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

I’ve been taught to be ashamed of and repress my femininity and my sexy side, and one of the reasons pole appealed to me was because it celebrated sexiness and femininity. It took me a while to get up the courage to do pole. I told myself I wasn’t fit enough, pretty enough, or brave enough to do it. I wish I’d gotten sick of listening to this negative self-talk sooner. I’m an absolute beginner with only two classes under my belt, but already I feel better about myself just knowing I had the courage to try something new. Not to mention landing a spin or being able to hold yourself on the pole is a huge confidence boost. You feel so strong and sexy, and so impressed with what your body can do! I remember the first time I was able to run 10K without stopping, and it just gives you this huge sense of accomplishment and appreciation for what your body is capable of. One of the “personal” reasons I decided to start learning pole was because I noticed some of that negative body image creeping back into my life and I thought: “well, it’s time to impress myself again.” Now I’m training for a new race and poling. 🙂

I would love to be as svelte, sexy, and leggy as LatinPoler. 🙂 But I can totally relate to wanting to have smaller thighs and a bigger, more shapely chest. I used to agonize about it when I was a teen and it got bad enough to where I refused to wear shorts and debated getting plastic surgery. I did buy those bras from La Senza that LatinPoler mentioned and they did make my breasts look 2 sizes larger, but they didn’t make me feel more confident. They didn’t make me love my body. I just felt like I was lying to myself so those bras went to Salvation Army. Now that I’m training up for a half-marathon, my breasts are getting smaller and smaller and my legs are getting thicker and thicker but I’m less bothered by that and more proud of my body for what it can do.

I’ve never met an ugly woman in my life, so it saddens me to see so many women struggling with body image issues.

[StrangeFox]

Thanks for the advice, Mystical! My first instinct was to get the 45mm, but then I started thinking I should go for the 40mm. I’m worried if I get used to 40mm I won’t be able to do anything in class. I think I’m going to stick with the 45mm. Hopefully, as I build strength it won’t matter how small my hands are! 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much for the replies! The tips, vids and encouragement are much appreciated!

Aquarian Air – thanks so much for posting the video! You look gorgeous and so graceful! I can’t wait to get that graceful and natural looking on the pole. 🙂 Once I get stronger I’m definitely going to try that and see if I find it easier. When I do back hook I step forward into it and I find it difficult because I get all disoriented and end up leaning too far forward or bending my legs at the wrong time. I must have attempted the move twenty times and got it maybe 3 times. It was so rewarding when I finally managed to do it, though. Next class I might get a pole near the mirror just so I can see what I’m doing.

Veena – thanks a bunch for posting a link to the back hook tutorial video! And I’m definitely going to check out the strengthening exercises. 🙂 I think I already see a couple of things I’m doing wrong. I tend to lean really far forward when I step forward and then I get almost horizontal when I’m swinging the outside leg (almost like I’m going into toppling tree for yoga). That may be why I’m not getting enough momentum to hook my leg. I like that the video shows a slowed down version. It looks like she’s swinging her outside leg backwards in the standing static version. I’m stepping forwards and trying to swing my outside leg all the way around forward. I think the idea in class is that I’m supposed to take a full step and then extend my leg backwards. They’re trying to encourage us to walk around the pole a few times before spinning, but I like to do the spins from a standing position first so I get the feel for the move.

dustbunny – thank you for the encouragement! It’s hard to remember that it’s not an activity our bodies are used to and it takes time to build strength and confidence. Also, it has only been two classes (one per week) and I don’t have the option of practicing between classes so realistically I can’t expect to nail every move the first time. The back hook was the only spin we learned that class and I was so busy trying to get the move down that I didn’t notice if anyone else was having trouble. I am not sure how they select the spins for the absolute beginner class. Apparently we do stag/ballerina in the final class but I found that one loads easier and more natural than back hook. The teacher is awesome though and was telling us not to worry if we don’t get something right away or don’t look like the YouTube videos we watch. It all comes in time. 😉