[Tine007]

Sounds like what Jamilla calls Starfish and Wikipole a Side-V??
Sidev.jpg
I was taught to get in from standing, hooking the top leg, bring the bottom leg behind the pole (we call this side plank, with the knee still hooked) and then straighten the top leg. I’m doing it in this practice at 2:10: http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4285
Once comfortable with it, you can get into it from invert or a side climb and it will eventually be the entrance to superman.

The prep to gain strength, grip and pain tolerance https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif for any knee grip move I learned in class is to stand next to your pole, hook the inside leg as high as you can get it and squeeze!! Lean your upper body away from the pole, pressing your hips forward. You can start with the inside hand still on the pole, hold on to your ankle or take both hands off. Stay as long as you can. We did this every class and it took me many weeks to be able to do the knee grip without falling off in pain or sliding down.

Hope this helps, good luck!!!

[Tine007]

I love, Love, LOVE it!!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
Just yesterday we had girls night out at the strip club with my pole friends and we saw a girl doing the most AMAZING booty work ever https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cyclops_ani.gif
We got so inspired – my teacher is trying to get her come teach an ass class at our studio, hope that works out https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif
So this challenge is right on spot, LOL!!!
I’m so gonna combine # 1 (booty moves) with #2 (booty song) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif

Shake that booty, ladies!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_queen.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif

[Tine007]

First of all, your spins look great, nice control and momentum https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif ! Congrats on the one-handed ones, they are not easy!! Don’t let the toes discourage you, you’re doing great!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif

Yes, pointed toes make everything look nicer, but it’s just the icing on the cake. It doesn’t affect your ability to do a move or your safety (for the most part). When I learn a new move, my toes are the last thing I think about (together with putting a smile on my face https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif ), but once I can do a move comfortably, I try to pay attention to them.

Its more of a whole foot thing. I need to turn my ankle down and relax my toes a bit more so they dont curl.

Yep, you got it, it’s more pointing the foot/extending the ankle – the opposite of a flexed foot.
If your ankle isn’t flexible enough to get a straight line from the knee to the toes (I had trouble after an ankle injury a few years back), sitting on your heels in a kneeling position (aka japanese style) helps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif

[Tine007]

In class, we prepare for knee holds by standing next to the pole, hooking the inside knee as high as possible holding on to the ankle and lean the torso out if possible, then hold as long as you can. Basically a cupid with the bottom foot on the floor.
This prep exercise is to get the skin used to holding with the knee without having all your weight on it. (To get the muscles used to holding you, the same position but without holding your ankle is great). We do it every class.

My teacher exactly used the "like calf on a foam roller" analogy and said it’s normal, it happens when the calves are tight. We even carefully move our calf slightly up and down to "roll out" the knots with the pole. It should (and did for me) get a lot better with time, and my knee pit skin basically doesn’t hurt anymore either.

Stretching my calves definitely helps, too, especially after working on knee holds. If you have a foam roller, that seems most efficient for me, but downward dog or standing on a step with the ball of the foot and pressing the heel down is great, too.

Hope you get your knots worked out and less pain with your knee holds https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Tine007]

I’m sorry, Charley, that you had such a bad experience!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif
I don’t get why she even came when she doesn’t want to dance/teach in the presence of poles https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif
Big surprise, there’s poles in a pole studio https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_question.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cyclops_ani.gif
Even if the studio name doesn’t give it away, I’d expect people to do their homework *before* interviewing for anything https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_study.gif
I hope you find someone who is excited about sharing belly dance to pole dancers, and vice versa https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Tine007]

OK.
I’m a belly dancer.
I’m a pole dancer.
I joined a troupe that fuses belly dance, hoop dance and Burlesque.
Do I need to say more?!?? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/alien.gif

I can’t say it better than my belly dance idol and teacher Suhaila Salimpour:
http://www.suhailainternational.com/video_director.php

In addition my 2 cents:
– I love to fuse the two, as well as any other form of dance I know, depending on how it fits the music. IMHO, fusing styles creates something new, unique and very pretty.

– "Classical" cabaret style belly dance with glittery costumes and veils was born in Hollywood. The dancers in the Middle East picked it up because the rich Americans seemed to like it.

– Tribal belly dance is an American invention. And then there is Tribal Fusion belly dance, fusing belly dance with anything thinkable, from chinese dance to yoga to ballet.

– Anyone can do whatever they want – as long as it’s legal. If someone doesn’t like it (and that’s true for anything, really) , nobody is forced to watch https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cyclops_ani.gif

– Pole is sexy, yes. Belly dance is sexy (if you like it or not). Salsa is sexy. Tango…
And how about ballroom – two bodies pressed against each other that not even a sheet of paper fits in between…
IMHO, any person moving with grace and confidence is sexy https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

– "Sexy", in all its flavors, mainly happens in the brain of the observer.
Even something like walking down the street, executed without the slightest thought about "sexy" or not, can be perceived as sexy by someone watching. (And don’t get me started about guys who get all excited watching videos of young gymnasts… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif ) Anything you say can get a "dirty" twist in the ear of the listener.
If you are not comfortable being looked at as sexy and have guys stick money in your belt (that’s how you tip a belly dancer, at least in the US) then don’t perform in public.

– How about the moves??? Belly dance and "exotic" dance moves are very similar, which makes it especially suitable to cross. Think of all those hip circles, figure-8s, hip pops, body waves, etc. etc.
Now I really wanna do a video "How the poler does it vs. How the belly dancer does it" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

– Belly dance is an Art. Pole is an Art. We both want to be appreciated as such. So why not appreciate each other?

– Belly dance is hard. Every belly dancer knows that. Pole is hard. Every poler knows that.
If you don’t believe me take a class (BTW, my pole studio offers belly dance classes) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif
The challenge for both (and any other form of dance) is to make the audience believe it’s not https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

– I like pole for its diversity. I like belly dance for its diversity. I appreciate and respect anyone moving gracefully to music (and even without) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif
Why not celebrate out diversity? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif Would be boring if we all danced the same, no?!

OK, I think I’m done, LOL!!!
Sorry it turned out so long https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif

-Tine007

[Tine007]

Hi Hsiang!
From your videos I take that you are quite advanced.

I think the best studio for you would be PoleSinsations, they have an advanced class and open pole (pole play)
http://www.polesinsations.com

I’m going to FunPoleFitness, currently there’s no open pole but they think about starting one. Classes are beginner-intermediate.
http://www.funpolefitness.com/

Hope this helps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
Enjoy your trip to SD!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif

[Tine007]

Not cheating, best invert prep ever https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif !!!
I could do inverted crucifix way before my first basic invert and still use this "bottom-up" approach when learning new upside-down moves (pretty much anything that would work from an inverted crucifix, currently it’s caterpillar and butterfly for me).
It’s great because
– your brain gets used to the upside-down position (so you won’t freak out after doing your first basic invert).
– you can practice the leg positioning so you know what goes where once upside down.
– safety: the floor is always in reach, just put your hands back down
– it gives you time to think
– you can sort out legs and hands separately
– even being able to invert, it doesn’t waste your energy on getting up but leaves it for the new move you are working on.
– handstands themselves are great strength training moves and will help you with anything pushing away from the pole while inverted (but give the rest of your body time to catch on https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif ).
– handstands are pretty! Fun to experiment with different leg positions https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

I am secretly hoping that the more time I spend upside down that it will reverse the gravitational pull when upright, thus canceling out the effects of aging
…
I have found that certain positions are giving me a great stretch in my back that I haven’t yet experienced upright.

Your odds are good https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif Hanging upside down is good for you, not only for your spine – and called "inversion therapy".
Here’s the Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_therapy

[Tine007]

Your skin grows thicker, aka forms calluses, to protect you against the friction & pressure your hands experience when poling https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif. Valuable blister-protection (once you’ve grown just the right amount), kinda like your very own built-in gloves https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif
However, occasionally when my calluses get a little thick or rough and start bothering me, I use a very fine pumice stone after showering (so the skin is nice & soft) to "sand them down" and smooth them out just a little. Careful not to do too much, because that takes away your protective layer and can irritate the skin & make it grow even more.

After all, they are a sign of your hard work, protect you and are 10000000000 times better than blisters & ripped skin https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Tine007]

YAY!!! How fun!!! This is MY challenge https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_queen.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_queen.gif LOL!!!
Spins, spins, spins, both hands, combos, yay, here I come!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif
I’m stoked ’cause I want to work on putting them together in a dance rather than just going
spin – reverse direction – spin, wipe pole, next spin…. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif
Perfect opportunity https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I’m so looking forward to this!! Can’t wait till it’s weekend!!
Um… still gotta do April though, LOL!! Anyways…
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_compress.gif

[Tine007]

The workshop description reads like basic technique, but I don’t know how much she adjusts to the level of people attending. I also don’t know what the level of participants is so far. My studio teaches from beginner through intermediate (judging from Veena’s lessons here) and I’m not sure who of our teachers is taking the workshop https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif

For more details may I refer you to Marie (mailto:info@funpolefitness.com) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_salut.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Tine007]

I wouldn’t risk it either and take it down.
I always do before I get anyone from the leasing office/ maintenance in my apartment.

My lease doesn’t say anything about putting up things, so before I got my mirrors (long before I bought my pole) I asked and the answer was "You can put up anything you like, as long as you put it on the studs/joists and close up any holes before you move out". I decided that includes my pole.

*BUT* still…
(1) The leasing office makes the rules. Period. You don’t want to be kicked out or even "just" forbidden to have your pole because the leasing office is shocked by a "stripper" pole in one of their apartments. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_silent.gif
(2) It looks humongous and for sure will draw attention and likely rise the question if it damages the place, no matter if it is recognized as "stripper" pole or not. I can’t blame anyone being worried about the integrity of their apartment https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_pale.gif. But then I wouldn’t really wanna explain what it is because of point (1)…
(3) You don’t want to be stalked by a maintenance guy who thinks you are a stripper https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumbdown.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif Logically, they know where you live…

Better safe than sorry https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_safesex.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_safesex.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_safesex.gif

[Tine007]

Hi Fianna,

If it’s wood directly fixed on joists I second Empyrean, no problem as long as you put it on the joist. Check your local hardware store, they sell so called stud finders (~10-20 $) that are very helpful https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif. I must admit the wood ceiling freaked me out at first, too, cuz I’m used to solid concrete ceilings where you can put up anything anywhere… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cyclops_ani.gif

If it’s suspended ceilings, you can take out one of the plates and go with the pole to the real ceiling above the suspended plates. My studio has it that way and it works fine. They cut a hole a little larger than the pole in the plates and put them back in ( if you rent the place I’d just leave the plate out and not cut it though…). You might need an extra extension if it’s very high – the X-pole instructions have a chart what you need for different ceiling heights and tells you how to order these.

My old studio didn’t have all joists in the right place (but there must be some somewhere), so they bridged two joists with two bars, perpendicular to the joists and in a distance that the dome of the pole would rest on both of them (like the X-pole instructions show for UK ceilings). Then they nailed some thinner wood on there so the pressure gets distributed more evenly. Kinda a pedestal / platform under the ceiling to put the pole on. I hope this makes any sense…
If not and that’s what you want to do let me know and I’ll send you a drawing https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Good luck and have fun poling!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif

[Tine007]

Hi Loopy,
I second what’s already been said, but may I add a third point:

How does he feel about you dancing sexy in front of other men?
You are his "posession" after all https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

I’m not sure how much of a religious question this is, but definitely one about you two’s personal comfort zone
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_profileright.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_profileleft.gif

Also, talking about it is important, but how you think you feel beforehand and how you actually will feel might be two different things, and unfortunately there’s no way to know till you try…

If in doubt, I’d go with Charley’s suggestion https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif

[Tine007]

I agree, Doctor is the only option https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif Definitely better safe than sorry https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_safesex.gif , could be harmless, but could be infectious, too, and I assume you don’t want to pass it on?! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif
Hope it gets better soon!!!