[azblanco]

Ok. In attempt to replicate my response from last night:

NO, NO, You are definitely NOT alone. I have always felt really ashamed and horrified about how my breasts look. Since puberty. I never thought they are shaped the way they “should” be. I blame society and media on this. It has been my own battle to accept them as they are and to undo the brain washing that 99% of us have encountered from what society thinks as “sexy” or “beautiful.”

Now, pole has definitely helped me feel more confident about my body and has even perked up my breasts quite a bit to where I don’t hate them when I look in the mirror…
My husband has also been a tremendous help in having me see the beauty in my body.

I still suffer with everything you have described in your post, but for me, it’s more on a mental self esteem level instead of feeling badly about my physical. It’s all still tied in with the same feeling of being self conscious and not feeling good enough…
I will tell you what my therapist told me last week:
He asked, “Do you like to put yourself down?” I immediately replied, “NO, Of course not! I want to stop, that’s why I’m here!!”
He said, “No, Ariel. Think about it. Do you like to put yourself down? Is it an escape for you? To play out all the what if’s in your head?”
When he put it that way, I realized that I do, in fact, in a negative way, enjoy it…. It is embarrassing to admit that… But, when we are horrified by our actions and do not want to engage in certain ways of thinking, but continue to do it… It is because we are comfortable with it and believe what we tell ourselves..

Finding a replacement thought that is healthy and positive will work wonders… I’m not going to sugar coat it though, it is very hard.. But, it’s like pole, once you continue to work towards a trick, you will get it. It might not be pretty the first few times, but with practice and determination, we can achieve it and make it perfect.

I thought for many years that I could handle all my problems on my own… They snowballed and I was wrong.. For me, counseling is working wonders. I also journal and sort my thoughts out on paper. It helps me distinguish what’s irrational and what I need to work on..

So although, I have worked on my body image issue, I still suffer with my mental confidence.. Example: I have avoided certain social situations because I might have felt that I didn’t have the intelligence to be around a certain group of people… Not that I am an anti-social person. I actually love going out and can be very talkative. But, I have let my own thoughts dictate to who I associate with at times.

For you, Kiki’s Pole Blog has some really good blogs about Body Image issues. You might actually find them helpful. 😉
I hope that my response helps.

[azblanco]

Scuba this is exactly what i did.. I went to the local studios near me and they just arent safe.. The one that i started at was wonderful but she closed three months after i started pole and moved out of state.
I studio that I love is an hour and 15 mins away from me. It’s a drive but Im thankful to even have that. I did a private last week.
So I decided, I will treat myself to one private a month.
You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish on your own and with the help of this community. 😘😄

[azblanco]

Tropical and Phoenix– WELL SAID!!!!

I do the same thing with tricks. My progress has definitely been (what i consider) slow, and I’ve been okay with that from the start.
This is something I love to do and I am passionate about it. I dont want to let my ego get the best of me and convince myself that I can ‘try’ a certain trick when I know that I dont have the strength to do it yet.

It’s important to know that you will know when you’re ready.
I have been seriously lately about catching my weak side up to my stronger side.. I feel like a beginner again when I work on it, but I’m determined to be safe and take care of my body so I can still do this 20 years from now..

Slow and steady ALWAYS wins the race.

[azblanco]

get to*

[azblanco]

I’m at work and typed out a really amazing response……. Then i had a customer and had to put my phone down, my internet browser closed and it disappeared before i could post.. I promise i’ll respond to this when i get my desktop.. Hugs!

[azblanco]

Well, It seems that you are well on your way and have great goals that you are striving for. I’m not a trainer or pole teacher, so this is just my opinion…

Being that you are already a personal trainer, I imagine you are strong already. I think as long as you can execute the moves, have a good foundation of body mechanics and can convey that to other people of ALL levels SAFELY then you might be prepared for the teacher course… It’s hard to say without actually knowing personally.

I have been to classes and cringed when instructors have wanted students to jump into inverts when they weren’t ready… You will more than likely come across women who are overweight and have no exercise experience AT ALL in their lives (like me when I started) and it might take them a whole lot longer to progress… I think it’s important to know this going in and that instructors be able to work with students who are very diverse when it comes to their strength level…

As far as your classes, it wouldn’t hurt to use Veena lessons and go to your classes. You can never learn too much when it comes to being an instructor.. I think instructors are always learning and never stop doing so…
Good luck =) I hope i helped some, but I’m sure some successful instructors here will chime in and give wonderful advice.

[azblanco]

all of the studios in my area are terrible, which is why i dont attend any. One in particular runs a living social/groupon deal every month and they’ve been open for years. Also, 40$ a month for unlimited classes. I guess when the instruction is so poor and they have to worry more about volume than quality..

Living social and groupon, in my opinion, doesnt attract loyal clientele.
Just been mindful if you run specials, try to keep as a one time deal so people will continue to value your service.

[azblanco]

Welcome! So glad you are seeking out advice on the site, it really is the best tool and outlet for home and studio polers alike. I would have quit pole a long time ago if it werent for Veena and this site.
Just my two sense, I would personally recommend powder coat lil mynx rotator (The Veena Pole)
I wish I would have bought it as my first pole when starting out. A lot of polers sweat a lot when first starting out and the powder coat is the best grip for that.
Also, if you have smaller to medium sized hands, you may regret a 50mm in the long run..
45mm are becoming the standard now, and due to your background with being fit in the past, you will probably progress a fair rate.
i hope to see videos from you. Good luck 😉

[azblanco]

A company called “Bling It” Heels is an Australian based company and she makes them custom like Tiffany of Glitter Heels does. I’ve decided I am going to order from Bling It when I do want a pair of glitter heels. She is a little bit more and of course the shipping is expensive to get them over here to the US but she responded to my questions within 3 hours. Super awesome customer service already and I love that she makes 8inch glitters. I didnt see 8inch as an option from Tiffney.

Here is a picture of the ones I am ordering when I have the extra cash to do so.

[azblanco]

Sylvia- I didnt go this year, but I did attend Pole Expo 2013 and Pole Con 2012.
I think its part of the nature of these events.. It’s a very small community on the grand scale of other groups.. Everyone is in “show-off” or “catching up” mode.

I went to an all girls high school. I didnt see it any worse than my high school experience, so maybe I’m use to that sort of thing. I like to blend into the crowd anyway, I’m definitely more of an observer.

But, honestly I see what you’re saying and I have DEFINITELY noticed it at both events.
I usually keep this type of thing to myself because people seem to think it’s a pessimistic view… I see it as how it is though.

Try not to let it disappoint you too much, there are a lot of talented vajay’s in one place.. And everyone comes from ALL walks of life. I see you’re from the South like me, I think we as Southerners expect overly expressed friendly attitudes, so keep that in mind too. 😉

[azblanco]

Also, there are so MANY good studios in LA.
A few being The Vertitude, Choreography House, and S Factor. I know there are a ton of others too.

[azblanco]

Dallas/Forth Worth has quite a few studios and there are Texas Veeners too, maybe they will chime in. The one studio I tried in Dallas is called “Vertical Fitness Dallas” They have silks, pole, lyra, contortion, and other classes. I loved it and was able to pay per class. They welcome vistors.

Have fun on your trip. I really want to do this exact same thing except in Your country. Im dying to visit Oz. 😉

[azblanco]

I had seen the one that opened in Lafayette.. It’s like 3 hours for me to drive there.. Well if you ever want to skype jam, I’m down. Do you go to studios in Houston? I’ve wanted to make trips out there to try them out, if you can meet out there sometime? We could always have a pole weekend at my house in Nola too. I have an extra bedroom at my house and two poles!
Our studios suck though… 🙁

[azblanco]

I know exactly how you feel.. in New Orleans! What part of Lousiana are you in? I dont go to any of the studios around here. When I do go to a studio its the one in Baton Rouge at Teaze.. Shes the bomb and its 70 miles one way.. The best outlet for me is Studioveena of course

[azblanco]

Great idea with the free workshops! Pole Con 2012 had a bunch of them and the event was very organized.
I honestly loved Vegas when I went to Pole Expo last year.
I enjoyed the Expo as a whole, The variety of workshops are endless!!
As to answer some of you ladies concerns about skill level in workshops– i honestly believe you can walk about with anything you want from a workshop.. I didnt have the skill level at ALL to do a Marion Crampe workshop in 2012, but I can still to this day break down how she taught the marion amber..
It all depends on the type of person you are.. I’m not easily intimidated– I dont ball up or get nervous with a room full of people that are better than I am, I expected it each time and I was fine. I still learned sooo sooo much!!
I particularly loved Liquid motion with Jeni Janover and Silks with Miranda Tempest at Pole Expo 2013– Great teachers!!
But, the registration process for Expo 13′ was HIGHLY unorganized. Alas, from my understanding, it has been revamped and moved to a different location in the resort!
If Pole Con 2012 and Pole Expo 2013 could make a moonchild, we would have the ultimate pole event of all pole events!!

I really hope to be there in 2015!! Its still too soon to know!