[evennotodd]

I’ve been hooping for about 15 months to help me lose weight. I used to hoop when I was a kid (I was a field day champ of the hoop in the third grade, https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif ), and I returned to it to get me to lose 50 pounds. I also did a bunch of other stuff, but hooping and poling are my favorites.

I have two of the Hoopnotica DVDs, and although I have found them to be helpful, there are so many YouTube videos that are just as instructive and just as fun, especially from SaFire (FireSandra) and Kamala and Hannah of Expert Village. Plus they’re free.

However, if you really want more of a overall kit, I suggest you wait a few weeks because Gaiam is about to release a HoopBody kit with three DVDs and a hoop for $40. http://www.amazon.com/Gaiam-Marisa-Tomei-HoopBody-Hoop/dp/B003IMHALE/ref=pd_sim_b_12

But yeah, hooping is a great workout. My abs are always sore after an hour of hooping and I can’t stand sit-ups. So anything that can free me from that, I am for it. Good luck.

[evennotodd]

I’ve very sorry for your loss. I work for a newspaper and have edited and typed up obituaries for nearly eight years. Although I don’t encourage getting around not paying for an online copy, obituaries are usually handled between the newspaper and the funeral home. Here’s my advice for getting a copy of the obituary:

If possible, you can try to connect the funeral home that handled your mother’s funeral arrangements for a copy of the obituary for free. If that doesn’t work, you could possibly find an archive copy of it through Google News. There are sometimes snapshots of news articles and your mother’s obituary may be among them. Otherwise, depending on the newspaper’s size and the work culture, you can call the obituary desk and ask them to e-mail you a copy for free or to make a copy if you live near the newspaper.

I can’t help you on the pole-related stuff, but I hope the rest is helpful.

[evennotodd]

the lowest the ceiling can be is 7 feet, 4 inches. You’re better off waiting and finishing your thesis. Sorry, though. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

[evennotodd]

I’ve suffered from ecezma for about six years, mostly in my college years and two years after that. It was mostly caused by stress and dry, cold weather conditions. I did see a doctor the first time it happened and I was given powerful steroids because it was only on the left side of my neck. After that prescription ran out, I started using over-the-counter Cortizone 10 whenever it would flare up. It took longer to clear up, but it worked.

The bad part of using steroids/Cortizone is that they’re known for stripping the skin away. That’s why you shouldn’t use them on your face. What I have discovered that works without that effect is using pure cocoa butter and other natural products. I don’t get the eczema flare-ups anymore and my skin feels smoother and appears more even. I recommend the Cocoa Butter Body Butter from The Body Shop: http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/body-butter/prod4010024. It’s a bit pricey, but you will only need very little to solve any problem. I’ve had my 7-ounce container for years. And sometimes Target will have a version of this stuff for a fraction of the price.

Besides the neck, I also get eczema breakouts underneath my eyes. I have huge bags under my eyes, and the eczema likes to hide under those folds. For that I use Burt’s Bees Radiance Eye Cream with Royal Jelly: http://global.burtsbees.com/natural-products/face-eye-cr%C3%A8me/radiance-eye-creme.html. Clears it up and you only have to use it once a day. Again, a bit pricey but worth it.

[evennotodd]

My favorite right now is Shiva Rea’s Fluid Power Vinyasa Yoga. It’s for advanced beginners to intermediate. I’ve had my copy for a year, and I’m always finding something new and challenge out of it. There’s about three hours of instruction, so you have a low chance of repeating the same sequences each go. Plus, you can customize your workout to your liking. It runs for about $14.

However, if you’re looking to save money, I highly suggest subscribing to the Inside Yoga Today podcast. There are video podcasts for anything from hip opening lunges (great for learning splits), basic sun salutations to workplace yoga and confidence-boosting sequences. You can find the podcast for FREE on iTunes or find its YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/yogatoday. The Yoga Today website has full-length episodes available for purchase, but I find that the YouTube and podcast videos are enough. There are different levels, mostly in the beginner to intermediate. As for instructors, Neesha’s episodes are more beginner and earthy. Adi is more athletic, so that may be what you’re looking for. And Sarah is more into the Kundalini and chakras.

I hope this helps.

[evennotodd]

I would like to see a convertible pole bra. That way if you want to go strapless, racerback or the plain way you have the options. I would also like one with more feminine lines. The ones I see from Aerie (American Eagle) has the most feminine qualities to me, but everything else is just ugly underwear.

On a side note, I would like to see either a control top or cami that is ideal for pole dancing. Either one with a sheer panel around the tummy or a better shape controller.

[evennotodd]

I have even more respect for Rima Fakih after reading this Associated Press article.

"I’ve learned to be so proud of who I am to the point where I fear no question," she said. "I have no problem because I know who I am and I feel like it’s for the world to either accept it and if not, that’s fine."

Very well put and here’s another about the pole dancing photos:

She said she’s had a lot of local support from people who knew the pole-dancing photos were merely part of "a silly morning show" event "for just women." It was meant to be about exercise, she said, not eroticism.

What she and her supporters didn’t understand was why the station — and a friend who took those pictures — would send them out "for the world to see."

"I’m not going to deny the pictures — they’re really (at a) bad angle and they’re ugly," she said. "However, they’re not what they’re trying to make it out to be."

Here’s the full article:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hBwRNmdfUa6sVTyqbB04D0atZFjgD9GR6B7O0

[evennotodd]

You can burn the iTunes songs onto CD as an Audio CD. Then, reinsert the disc and you can import the songs via Windows Media Player to get mp3 files. This normally gets around the whole protected content thing.

Another thing you can do is play the song in iTunes and record the audio with Windows Media Player. If you look in the Help section of the menubar, it has instructions as to how to do that.

Good luck! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[evennotodd]

Here is a photo of the Viva seat:

http://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/images/5/53/VivaSeat.jpg

It took a while for me to find it. I had seen this move once, but didn’t remember where.

[evennotodd]

I would also like to see the pretzel spin, low lift spin and the rockstar. I’ve struggled with rockstar for a while, and now I barely remember what it looks like.

I would also like to learn viva seat, scissors, and hello boys — all three are holds.

[evennotodd]

Thanks for the advice. And to chemgoddess1, my ceiling is at 8 feet, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Now all I have to do is save up some money for a pole.