[StrangeFox]

Ahhh…after researching I’m realizing you cannot use a straight stitch plate with a zig zag stitch. Might be stitch length… hmmm… back to the drawing board.

[StrangeFox]

Awesome! Thanks so much for your reply, RoMo! I actually was able to use a pair of existing pole shorts to create a pattern that I *think* will work (we’ll have to see!) I bought a Singer Sew Mate 5400, which has all the stitches I’ll ever need and more. I’ve never in my life sewn anything, but gave it a shot tonight with a spandex-y material, a ball-point needle and some nylon thread and it was jam city! I couldn’t even get 1 zig-zag stitch into my test material. It kept getting eaten by the hungry needle plate.

I think what I might have to do is get a straight stitch needle plate. Barring that it’s possible I do not have the correct needle for my fabric, or my thread might not be in the proper spot (although, according to the test in the MFG guide, it should be OK). Might need to visit my local sewing center to get some more info and materials and perhaps enlist my mother-in-law’s help!

On the plus side…I’m pretty adept at taking apart/putting back together machines and threading needles, so there’s that to be happy about (Kinda regretting springing the extra $$$ for the machine with the automatic threader…lol!)

[StrangeFox]

Thank you, PoleAdventures! I love HIIT/Tabata style warm-ups! I’ve started recording myself and really trying to pay attention to the little things like how I invert and climb, and how gracefully (or gracelessly!) I enter/exit a move. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Oooh! I like that random 3 different moves idea! And I agree picking them out of a hat would force me to work on things I wouldn’t normally try. I was actually freestyling yesterday and realized I don’t know many transitions, so this is a good opportunity for me to learn some more. I also want to work on my spins. I am definitely going to give that a try this weekend.

[StrangeFox]

Thanks so much for the great suggestions!

Amelia2000 – That video is great. I went out and found a bunch more and I have some ideas of some new trick transitions I want to try!

Once I purchase the lessons I’m going to give the flow program a try and maybe attempt to get a little creative with it. This seems like a good way to get me better acquainted with stringing tricks and transitions together. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Veena’s tutorials are excellent. The moves are explained clearly and Veena herself responds to questions on her tutorials regularly. All lessons are progressive and include a very thorough description of the mechanics of the move/muscle engagement and also lower/higher level options if you need them. Veena also has 30 day programs for flexibility and strength building. The programs are really fun and effective. I would not have gotten my aerial invert (and many other moves) if not for Veena. The lessons are also very focused on keeping you safe and injury-free.

I plan to renew my subscription in the next couple of months – I would renew it now except I’m rationing my $$$ thanks to some unexpected expenses right before a big vacation, lol. My plan ran out and I miss having the videos for reference.

[StrangeFox]

LatinPoler – you are right about square vs. open and I really appreciate you pointing it out. I’m getting a little tired of the “splits snootery” and some folks acting like open splits are inferior, to be honest. Also getting tired of feeling like I have to apologize for an open split, or point it out. It’s really freaking hard to do ANY split! My pole instructor pointed out the same thing – it all depends on the structure of your hips, and your goals.

Another bit of advice: for most of us flexibility training takes forever and sometimes it looks like nothing is happening. Keep stretching even when you’re not getting lower to the ground and try and pay attention to how it feels (is it easier to get to your max ROM? Does it feel more comfy?) I’ve gotten frustrated and given up a couple of times and I regret it. I also paid attention to other areas my flexibility training was improving so I could stay motivated. Earlier this year I was so upset I didn’t have my splits, but my jade was getting closer to being flat, which made me happy.

Also, I try and make my goals something I can control like “I will stretch every other day for at least 15 minutes” and not something I have no control over like “in 6 months I’ll have a split.” My body didn’t care much for the latter types of goals and moved at its own snail’s pace. All those types of goals did was make me crazy frustrated and prone to injury (I pulled a hammie and both of my hip flexors!!!)

[StrangeFox]

I’m super open when I do my split. I always hear “square is better” but most splits I see on the pole are open so I don’t worry too much. I may one day achieve a perfectly square split and I may not! I do try and square my hips up when I stretch my hip flexors just so I can get the most out of the stretch. I’m still trying to figure out how to square up my hips, though – haha!

[StrangeFox]

Haha! Glad to hear others have broccoli pole moves!

Kirin Faye – I also hate handstands! And elbow stands! I usually practice iguana mount instead of handstands/elbow stands and now I’m no longer allowed to do that. So while everyone else is rocking the stands I’m doing preps! LOL! Embarrassing… 😆 It’s OK if I never do a handstand but I still have to strengthen my wrists and shoulders and practice overhead shoulder engagement. I think ayesha/handsprings are kind of similar in feel to a handstand and that might be why they freak me out and I don’t like them.

Veena – oooh… yes! Drops hurt! I’m weird in that I don’t mind a drop where I’m upside down, but right side up drops are scary. I still haven’t mastered witch drop but inverted crucifix drop? Nah, that’s fine!

[StrangeFox]

Fantastic progress! And I love your PJ pants! Splits are sooo tricky and I’m still trying to get mine consistent and comfy. I started training them in May 2017 but did a lot of things wrong so it took forever. I try to flexibility train every other day, and do at least gentle stretching to maintain my flexibility every day. I highly recommend using the stretching program on here. If you’re like me and have 0 body awareness, then you might benefit from finding an instructor that specializes in flex training to help you. For almost a year I was stuck at the same spot because I didn’t know where my hip flexors were or how to stretch them properly. 🤦‍♀️

[StrangeFox]

That’s so cool! I hear people all the time talking about how their kids can pole like it’s nothing. I must say…I’m impressed! Even as a kid I could never do anything acrobatic/flexy/sporty. That miiiight be because I was a nerdy little bookworm – lol!

[StrangeFox]

All right…I went ahead and registered! My IG account (x_ceej_x) is private. I’ve been inspired to look for other mirrored poses, too… 🤔

[StrangeFox]

Yess! This looks so fun! I’m so glad you’re doing a Stranger Things theme… it had to be done! Thanks for hosting and posting the moves!

[StrangeFox]

Eeee! Thank you, Veena! I may record a few videos ahead of time in case life gets in the way of playtime. 😆

[StrangeFox]

Marilyn Monster – yup, that sounds like me. I do have an anterior pelvic tilt – my back kind of sways and my stomach sticks out. This sometimes makes it hard for me to position my pelvis properly so I actually get the stretch in the front of my hip flexors and not my low back when I do things like lunges and couch stretch. 🙁

I’ve been doing glute bridges and hip thrusts, but I’m going to get my instructor to check my form and I might try adding weights. How often did you train your glutes and how many reps/sets did you do at a time?