[StrangeFox]

Looks awesome!

LOL! I’ve had many close calls with my shorts in this one. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Yes! My hip flexor injury was unpleasant but short lived (thankfully!) Last week it was so bad I couldn’t even put on socks on Tuesday, but it’s pretty much all healed up, now. I’m still being careful and taking it easy on the running and flexibility training for the next little while.

I didn’t realize just how much my hip flexor did until I hurt it! I went to pole class and I couldn’t do anything! It was super frustrating. I got really anxious and antsy towards the end of last week. I was pretty cranky until I finally got to do something physical. I have a really hard time sitting still. 🙂

Glad to hear you’re stronger and healthier than ever! Can’t wait to see your pole progress vids.

[StrangeFox]

Thanks Runemist! Excellent ideas! I’ve started up learning spin pole and trying out some moves I’m comfortable with on it. That really helps to keep things fresh! I’ve also discovered I love spin pole, which pleasantly surprised me. Initially I wasn’t a big fan and was kicking myself for springing the extra cash for the spin option, but I’m so glad I did now! 🙂 I find spin has really helped my upper body strength.

I’ve also started to explore dancing in heels, and I’m planning to try and up my floor work game, too. Unfortunately, I also injured my hip flexor (while running), but I’m recovering pretty quickly so I’ve been gathering a list of things I want to try while I’m chomping at the bit!

Please do let us know how your progress goes.

[StrangeFox]

Welcome back! I wasn’t around when you were active on the site, but I have come across some of your posts in searches and I’ve been helped by them many times. I’m glad to see you back in here. 🙂

Congrats on your upcoming marriage, and kudos for figuring all of this out about yourself! As far as I know I don’t have ADHD but your post really resonated with me. I’ve hit a pole (and stretching) plateau and it’s damn frustrating. Even if you’re only poling for yourself, it’s de-motivating to do the same thing over and over again with no gains. I know building strength, flexibility, and flow takes time, but what’s the point if you’re not having fun, right?

I like the idea of breaking larger goals down into smaller, more achievable goals. I do this, too, and it really helps. Make sure you keep a journal to track your goals and progress, and keep tons of pictures and videos. As dustbunny mentioned, post on here whenever you can. You could also join IG if you’re comfy with sharing your progress. Sharing my goals with others and receiving feedback always helps to keep me motivated.

I always try to have a handful of unrelated (or loosely related) goals going at once. One goal may be a trick, but the others should be about something else – ie. dance, or floorwork, or transitions. The only way out of my pole plateau is to build strength through conditioning. Unfortunately, I’m not going to see any real gains for a while from conditioning so to keep myself motivated I decided to focus on another goal of mine as well: getting comfortable on spin pole and working on my flow. Even though I’m a bit stuck in the trick department due to lack of strength, I’m still getting that little rush/high when I make progress on spin pole, and I’m pleased that even though I’m not picking up many new things, the old tricks I’m working on are looking better and getting easier.

I recommend Veena’s programs as well. In many of her programs she uses tricks/spins for conditioning so there’s always the chance you’ll learn something new. IG challenges are also a good way to continue to feel productive and to learn something new – or at least to learn a new take on an old move. 🙂

Best of luck, and please keep us posted!

[StrangeFox]

Yesss! I’m going to start that and let you know how it goes. 🙂 Thank you, Veena!

[StrangeFox]

Beautiful! I love those transitions where you’ve got your legs straight out behind you in a “V” and you’re resting on your toes (not sure if that makes sense!) I might have to try that. 🙂 Your ayesha looks so awesome!

[StrangeFox]

I finally have time for challenges and I’m super pumped to do this one! I can’t change my account to public due to an unfortunate incident (it isn’t pole stigma related, fortunately, but the whole ordeal made me lock down all of my social media). However, I still want to play, even if I don’t qualify for prizes. I hope that’s OK! 🙂 Day 1 for me was a blooper that was too fun not to share.

[StrangeFox]

It really sucks to feel like you’re not making progress, and I know it’s wrong to compare yourself to others, but sometimes you just can’t help it.

I’ve been poling consistently for almost a year now, and I’m 31. When I first started the only athletic background I had was distance running, so most of pole for me has been about building strength and muscle memory. I’ve always done best if I could supplement class learning with my own learning. Sometimes I even work ahead so that I can make the best use of my time in class.

I agree with AllisonErin and LatinPoler – take videos. It might feel weird to watch them at first but it helps so much. Also, studios do tend to be very trick-heavy and there’s a lot more to pole than tricks. Maybe you’re not seeing progress because what you’re learning in class is not playing to your strengths. Try freestyling and floorwork, spins and flow… branch out and find what suits you best and practice it on your own. It’s really helpful to know you’re making progress somewhere, even if it’s not in class. Plus, you might just have more fun this way. 🙂

A couple of things that I found helped me are:

– I keep a progress journal, as well as progress pictures and videos. Sometimes the progress you make is so minuscule it’s hard to see it. (ie. flexibility gains when stretching for the splits).

– Conditioning. If I stop conditioning, I stop seeing progress. I highly recommend Veena’s programs for pole conditioning – they’re fun, focused, safe, and thorough. I tried to do conditioning on my own but found I wasn’t hitting the right muscle groups, and that I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough.

I hope some of that helps, and best of luck!

[StrangeFox]

Oooh! Yes, yes, yes to the spinning pole program!!!

I would also love the others that have been mentioned here (ayesha, iron x, handspring, cartwheel mount, split grip, hand/shoulder stand). I would also like to see a deadlift iguana mount program and a split grip invert program. I was just thinking the other day it would be fantastic if there was a such thing as a split grip ayesha program! I am struggling so much with that move and I love the programs here. I always find them super helpful. 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Glad you got it sorted and everything turned out great!

Oooh! Congrats on the handspring! That’s a move I keep working at but feel like I’m going nowhere with! LOL! Must be so satisfying to finally nail that move. 🙂 Please keep us posted on your progress and post vids!

[StrangeFox]

RoMo, that sounds like a really awkward position to be in. You could approach your teacher after class and say something like: “I love your classes so much, but lately I’m feeling like I’ve reached a plateau and was wondering if you could give me some more feedback/guidance during class to help me get out of my slump” or: “You’re a fantastic teacher, but lately I’m feeling like I’m just not getting these new/old moves and was wondering if you could help me get more confident in them.” The benefit of this is that you’re not making any accusations – just asking for more instruction for yourself. The drawback is that you’re not addressing the real problem and kind of hoping your instructor will pick up on it herself, which might be construed as a bit passive-aggressive.

Alternately, you could be more direct and just gently call attention to the fact that there’s a lot going on in class, and although she’s a wonderful instructor, you feel that you’re not getting as much out of the class as you used to now that her attention is so divided between so many students at so many different levels. As long as the comments are more about the class structure/size and less about her she probably won’t feel like she’s being attacked or accused.

If she gets upset or defensive when you approach her with feedback I’d seriously consider taking a good look at your options. Even if you have to drive a little further away or pay a little more it’s better to have an attentive teacher you feel comfortable with (I mean…you’re practically putting your life into your pole teacher’s hands!).

Let us know how it goes!

[StrangeFox]

Thanks LatinPoler! Yeah…my glutes are pretty weak, too! I’ll add that to my leg conditioning, too! 🙂

[StrangeFox]

Thanks dustbunny! Yeah…that leg lifting exercise just about killed my legs! lol! I think it highlighted where I’m weak and it seems super effective. I’m def. going to work on this and report back. Fingers crossed!

[StrangeFox]

Good idea! Don’t know why but I didn’t even think of the lower body routines! 🙂 I still run regularly but I don’t think that’s as efficient at building lower body strength. Plus, my body is pretty used to running.

[StrangeFox]

While I’m making requests for bonus lessons… I’d also love to get the “Veena take” on this crazy spin! 😀 I learned it several months ago and neither myself nor my classmates can get it! Haha! To be fair, I rarely practice spins and I’m just starting to work on them more now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tesvL3SAC0g

Ps. Thanks to your tips I can now do reverse grab spins!