[donnalee]

Ollie,

I like your words. All the videos posted here draw me in also….no matter what the levels are. I mean it.  I watch to learn and also to be entertained! It's just fun to watch and think, "How do they do that? Looks great!"  And the videos that are meant to be funny….make me laugh as well. Maybe it's sincerity or a certain understanding we all have about tryingto be good at something and always working for improvement…no matter where we are on the pole journey : )

 

[donnalee]

Yes Wrinkletalk!

And….I may have been to the same gym you are talking about. I know Gold's gyms are a chain. I used to belong to one here in Florida. But years ago, while I lived in Los Angeles, a friend said he had to take me to this famous gym in Venice…..all the "hot bods" go there he told me….even Chuck  Norris.  We worked out there. I was a guest for an afternoon.   Small world. If not the same gym so what???? Still a small world. Like your posts about fitness & brains. 

[donnalee]

Ewa Tran,

I never thought, "Wow….she has a big dorky grin on her face!" I watch your videos. They're great.

I  purse my lips together…., "MMmmmmmmmm" like a monkey face….because I am trying soooooo hard on pole moves.

[donnalee]

I just reread my own post and realized there is an important comma left out. I must rewrite, because the meaning of the priest comes through with the "comma," or pause in her statement.

She is commenting after placing 2nd in winning a body building competition. Someone asked her how or why does she think she won. She admits to us…the reader….that negative perceptions still held her back from speaking the truth….so she held back in her answer, but shares with us (the readers) what she really wanted to say.

From her article,

"I wanted to say I won it for being the strongest priest in the state, for being a woman who is a priest with a really strong and healthy body. I wanted to tell them I won it for being brave, but that wasn't really true, because I hadn't been brave enough to tell the people…….(here's where the comman goes)  it would be the biggest risk to tell.  (So she simply told the interviewer) "I got it for being myself."

[donnalee]

Yes! I saw this article in the New York Times mag. yesterday too. PLUS, in the NYTimes Mag, which was dedicated to brains & fitness, there is also an article written by a female, Episopal priest. Her name is the Rv. Dr. AMy Richter. She writes about herself and explains she competes in body building. She faces confusion and "raised eyebrows" from many others about her choices. On winning an award at a competition she writes, "….I wanted to say I won it for being the strongest priest in the state, for being a woman who is a priest with a really strong and healthy body. I wanted to tell them I won it for being brave, but that wasn't really true, because I hadn't been brave enough to tell the people it would be the biggest risk to tell. I got it for being myself."

Her words are exciting and sad to me at the same time. I understand. She should not have to hide being feminine, beautiful, strong and smart….yet many in this world have problems when a woman has all of those qualities. 

I am saving this article!

[donnalee]

Wow! He's great. Thanks for posting : )

[donnalee]

And thanks Veena for posting the vid. Love it ! And I found the grip everyone is talking about. Will have to play this one back and forth lots of times to learn : )

[donnalee]

Thanks, Ewa Tran, for the tips. I am not giving up on Cup grip. Will keep at it and work on changing my placement to find the right balance : )

[donnalee]

Thanks, Pinsforkids.

The twisted grip was hard for me and I felt the pain in my lower body as I tried to pull myself up. I would just get exhausted and flop down. Now….no problem….no pain. On the Cup grip, I was also wondering just because it is new to me, am I going through "newbie pains?" I think I am. I want to be able to do it and will work at trying differnt and better placement of my collar bone area. The Superman move was incredibly painful to me at first and if left on my own, I would have thought, "Stop. This is a crazy move. You are hurting yourself……" But others told me they went through the same thing and now I am over the Superman pain. I think it will be the same for Cup grip.

I'm in for the "good bruises." : )

 

[donnalee]

I would also like to add on bruises: I think there are good and bad ones. The bruises I get from my legs pulling up and moving around the pole are what I considered "good." I am not hurting myself. I am using my leg muscles and I just get bruises. But on the cup grip, I think I got "bad" bruises in my collar bone area. I was feeling too much pain on my bones in this area….and I don't think that is good. Thought to myself, "Don't be a fool. Enjoy poling…don't go over board with the "no pain-no gain theory." I may have been doing something wrong or maybe part of the learning process. I may be applying too much pressure against my neck/shoulder area for the cup grip. Don't need to apply as much pressure with twisted grip…and that's why I like it better. 

[donnalee]

I have wondered the same about grips, JelliCrew.

I first learned the twisted grip.  At first could not do it but now I can…..and love it. After practice, doesn't hurt and I can pull my body up and over the pole without feeling much effort. I have even learned that I don't need to press a lot of weight against my shoulder neck area, so no pain. I see lots of videos where the "stars" use cup grip. So I have practiced the cup grip and can finally do it…..but with this grip, I find I need to press my collar bone, neck-shoulder area more into the pole to find balance to pull myself up….and this HURTS. So I have wondered the same as you stated, if a particular grip is better for moves. Right now I prefer the twisted grip. No pain or bruises for me this way. 

[donnalee]

Yes! I love the look of the fall over and over way of getting out. Right now, I am working on loosening the thigh grip so my legs can gently slide down the pole. Right now, I slide a bit  then get stuck….slidea bit  more and get stuck. It's the choppy way of sliding down : )

[donnalee]

If anyone is inspired to post a video of ways to get out of Superman, I would definitely watch and learn : ) Right now, I can only share how to get STUCK on the pole after getting into Superman. 

[donnalee]

I am a shoe person. Never heard of Glitter heels before reading these posts. I went to the website. Wow! Love 'em : )

[donnalee]

Lyme Lyte,

I tried pysllium husks. Had to mix the pysllium husks dried formula with 8 oz. of water. It may have been the most awful tasting mixture I have ever tried. I had to drink it very fast because within a few seconds the pysllium husks and water turned into a thick, goopy mixture which seemed like mucus. Sounds awful, I know. I think there were some pills that went along with this regime also. I could only do it for about a week and could no longer handle the awful drink plus being out in public and having to find a restroom because the formula was kicking in. But I did see results. Seeing the results made me think, "Yuck, THAT was in my body. Glad to get rid of it." 

The second time, I tried, colon cleasning was through a kit I found  at a mall Vitamin store. May have been "Vitamin World." No drinking pyslliym husks in this kit. It was a serious of pills. I did not complete that regime either, because the effects were very uncomfortable with my daily life. Too much preoccupation with running to the restroom.

So, I want to try again. and am seriously wondering how I will find the time. It's as if I need a two week vacation from regular life, to be alone and go through a colon cleanse program!