[Amani]

Welcome back. I’m in the same boat. I have been trying to practice compassion and patience for myself and enjoy the process. It’s tough🤪 but worth it so let’s keep going!!!!!

[Amani]

Last year was my first time. I took a few of the paid classes. I’m going this year but I’m not taking any paid classes. There is such much to see and do that is already included in the price. I missed performances on the center stage while I was in class. On the center stage where the vendors are they have lots of regular people performing. I like these because I feel like I can relate to these performers more than the superstars. Also, there are so many people to meet and just hang out. They also have a pole playground with poles set up where you can get on and practice/play for free. Let’s not forget the spa and the pool. Whatever you decide to do it will be a good time.

[Amani]

Thanks guys so much for your encouragement. I’m going to keep moving forward. Slow and steady😊😊😊😊

[Amani]

There is an app called video to photo where you can look at all of your videos screen by screen and save the screens you like best. Even if it is less than a second you will be able to get the shot. The best 3 bucks I’ve ever spent.

[Amani]

I have one that I am willing to sell. It has a 50mm brass pole and a 45mm chrome pole. I live about 1 1/2 hours from Raleigh.

[Amani]

I feel so much better to see I am not the only one with this issue. I haven’t had time off but I have gained some weight which is discouraging. Yesterday I made a list of goals on index cards and hung them on my wall by my pole. Hopefully that will add structure to my practices BUT I have to get myself to practice more. Freestyle, splits, and handstand seem popular on this thread. They are on my list too.

[Amani]

My feelings are mixed. I don’t want to be considered a stripper BUT I have to give a shout out to the strippers. Growing up I was a tomboy. I never had girlfriends, just couldn’t understand the girl thing. Never got along with women. too catty. too much drama. no real acceptance. the pole community changed that for me. a pole studio was my first positive experience with women in a large group. real girl power. I’ve been to a few studios since and also a few strip clubs. two of my studios were owned by former strippers and those had the most positive girl empowering environments. the owners are two of the most beautiful women inside and out that I know. I have also come across some very accepting and amazing women at strip clubs, taking the time out to interview them out of curiosity. On the one hand I don’t want to be seen as a stripper because of the negative way society sees them but on the other hand these are the first group of women who have truly been accepting of me as a woman, welcomed me to a sisterhood. maybe we women who took up the pole as a matter of fitness or art should be less judgmental on those who do it as a profession. perhaps the change starts with us and not the perverts who don’t know the difference between pole dance, pole fitness, a pole performance… Excuse my grammar errors…not really in the mood for proper English right now.

[Amani]

The unfortunate truth about her condition is that she is likely at much increased risk for multiple injuries due to the hypermobility. She should really speak to a sports medicine or orthopedic physician to get some guidance. Each person is different but odds are this might not be the hobby for her. Her physician will be able to determine if this is true for her individual case after an exam. I would caution her about proceeding with pole without seeking the advice of a physician.

[Amani]

I have a 4 inch x5 foot from amazon for $250. I love it. It saves me whenever I need it. Just search “pole crash mat” on amazon.com and it will come up. Good luck.

[Amani]

There is a lot of discussion about what qualifies for “plus size”. Some will find the term itself offensive. I am woman who is somewhat in between. Too big to hang with the small girls and too small to hang with the big girls. My favorite song at the club used to be “where the big girls at”. Once a guy came up to me and told me that song wasn’t for me because I’m not a big girl. Well I am certainly not petite or small or whatever word they are using these days. Ok, back to the topic. Have you thought of having a category for “the everyday woman” or something similar. I like the “curvy girl” term that you use. Anything besides “plus size”. That would be inclusive and dignified. If there were such a category I would be excited about it.

[Amani]

I’m African American and have course hair naturally. If you want to straighten it a little but still keep some texture you can try keratin products. I wouldn’t recommend a full keratin treatment unless you want your hair to be pretty much completely straight. If straight is your goal a keratin treatment would work wonders for you.

If your goal is to keep your curls but just get them under control I recommend a book called “curly girl”. It takes about a day to read. It’s pretty short and to the point. The methods work wonders. The book is geared to all ethnic groups and it will work for anyone.

I’ve tried both the keratin treatment and the “curly girl” method and highly recommend either one.

Let us know how it turns out.

[Amani]

I am sooooo in. I’m working on butterfly. Since I have a month, maybe extended. Maybe. But the butterfly definitely.

[Amani]

handstand
star
butterfly
iguana
jade