[byrdgrrl]

Bottom loading = don’t need ladder = byrdgrrl Happy Dance!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif
I move around a lot and can’t carry a ladder. One upgrade kit coming up!! No more excuses!! Oh, did I mention: HAPPY? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif

[byrdgrrl]

Wahh. . . I wanna see! Even though PayPal says that my subscription is paid up, I can’t access the new lessons. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

[byrdgrrl]

There’s a company called Gaiam that has a bunch of different full-spectrum lamps and other SAD related stuff. http://www.gaiam.com

[byrdgrrl]

Thanks. A video would probably be easier to deal with, but I’m still working on a video camera.

[byrdgrrl]

I have an exercise that I do that works both my legs and my hands. I stand with my feet a little greater than shoulder width apart and bend my knees slightly, making sure that they are pressed out over my toes so my legs look like an M rather than a ^. This is important to protect the joints. Keeping my back straight, my arms go out in front of me shoulder level. While keeping my arms straight, I curl my hands in to fists starting with my little finger and working up to my index finger. I do both hands at once, ten times. Then I stretch my arms out to the side, still shoulder level and repeat ten more times. Then I lift my hands over my head, keeping my shoulders down and do ten more. Then I drop my arms back to the front starting position and bend my knees a little more. I repeat the series of ten to the front, ten to the side and ten overhead. When I finish that one again I drop my arms back to the front and bend my knees a little more and repeat the whole series. When doing this exercise your back must be kept straight. Only bend your knees as much as you can and and still keep your back straight. I got this exercise from my martial arts class. We use it as a warm-up for sword practice. Sword cuts are the best exercise that I have found for building hand grip and forearm strength.

[byrdgrrl]

Errr. . . Pardon the noob here, but what exactly is the tsunami grip?? I’m curious. Thanks!

[byrdgrrl]

Holee crap. That was amazing. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif

[byrdgrrl]

If it was Miss Samba or Miss Tango, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.

[byrdgrrl]

I like the kid idea and am also putting a second in for Mindy4pole’s suggestion of dancing to stuff that you usually wouldn’t think to dance to. Spoken word, ethnic music, etc.

Edit: Finally figured out a better way to explain it: What’s the craziest thing you could think of to dance to?

[byrdgrrl]

I also have 10′ ceilings and an X-Pole. I needed to buy an extra, longer extender to make the pole fit, but the whole thing is rock solid all the way through. I have no trouble with the pole. The floor, however, looks a lot different at 9 1/2 feet off the ground. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[byrdgrrl]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Guess I’ll just keep at it!

[byrdgrrl]

When I do a basic invert, it feels more like I’m hanging from the tops of my feet more than anything else. I’ve tried squeezing with my thighs, but I still can’t seem to get a grip. Any suggestions?

[byrdgrrl]

Everything seems to be in order now. Thanks for your help!

[byrdgrrl]

I’ve been poling on and off for about a year. I don’t know if I’m just not getting everything coordinated properly or what. I’ll keep at it though. Thanks!

[byrdgrrl]

I was trying to use the Contact Us link at the top of the page to ask a question, but something seems to be wrong with the form. I filled it out completely including the security feature, but the Submit button did not work. I went to click on it and it didn’t highlight or anything and nothing happened.