Elyse Hauke
Forum Replies Created
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Suzanne,
Now having read a little more on the thread, I thought I would add another note in regard to goals. Having goals and setting them based on a realistic timeline is very good mindset to keep. I have been more conscious of doing this myself now that I am back in full swing on the pole.I like goals that are measurable so I can re-evaluate whether or not my goals are realistic and achievable within the given timeframe. Given your current physical fitness and having several months under your belt, the handspring may very well be an achievable goal within the 100 days you have given yourself.
I never thought in a million years that I would have gotten a cartwheel mount after 9 months of poling. I was 175 lbs when I started in the fall of 2009 and in July of 2010 I was 156lbs and nailed my first cartwheel; which, in the grand scheme of things is not that much time. People have done it in less time or can take years to get to that level. Timeframe is relative to how much you train, how you follow through with recovery and ultimately putting in the work to stay safe and work to prevent injuries.
Twisted grip is one of those things where some do it and some avoid it all costs. Listen to your body and I think you will be very happy with the results after 100 days whether you get your TG handspring or not. I am excited to follow your journey and look forward to the progress you make. I can’t wait to see your TG handspring video and I wish you all the best in achieving it by day 100! Just remember, even if day 100 comes and your goal, whatever it may be hasn’t been reached, there is always day 101 or day 120. You will get there and we will be here to cheer you on!!!
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Suzanne, welcome to the SV community! So nice to have you here. I haven’t had much time to read the entire thread either but I agree with Allyson, for your height 160 is a very healthy weight and I echo Allyson’s comments about tall dancers such as Kyra and and let’s not forget Amber Richard! All tall, strong and beautiful dancers!
I am not as tall (5’7) but when I first started I was around 175 lbs. After several years off the pole I was up to a whopping 211 lbs. I recently started polework again and even at 211 I was shocked at how much I could still do and how quickly everything came back. In just a 2-3 months I am back to poling at an intermediate level with a surprising number of advanced moves. Poling with extra weight may seem more difficult at first but it has helped me become much stronger as a poledancer and I have noticed great strength gains when the weight came off that may not have developed as quickly if I hadn’t had to work harder to move all that weight around. After about 4.5 months of dieting and 2-3 months of poling, I am back down to 175 and have about 35-40 lbs to go.
It can be frustrating when in your head you feel like you should be further along but things that once seemed impossible soon become easier than you can ever imagine. I might add that at 6 ft tall and 160lbs you are well within the normal weight range for your height. If there is a will there is way, it may just take some time to find the sweet spots, learn to engage the appropriate muscle groups and learning the little tips and tricks to securing a move or nailing a new spin. Sometimes a small rotation of the hip can make a world of difference.But in the end patience and determination are the most notable characteristics of the dancers we most admire and aspire to be.
Trust, me I am not a skinny girl right now and it has never caused me any sort of great limitations as a result. Everyone has their nemesis moves or things they struggle with but poledance is something that all body shapes and types can enjoy. Poledance motivates me to be a healthier and stronger person inside and out!
As far as grip strength is concerned, everyone starts out gripping on for dear life as Runemist mentioned! Absolutely everyone! Grip strength is definitely something that builds over time but when first starting out it is more about being comfortable on the pole and learning how to gauge how tightly to grip the pole than it is about having hand/grip strength. You will see a huge difference in how you move around the pole and in your transitions in no time. Veena’s lessons are such a wonderful resource for everything pole related. I think you will find her instruction to be very detailed and help learn some of the best tips and tricks in regard to executing moves and spins as well as the conditioning necessary to prepare for each stage of your pole journey. You will also find plenty of help and support here in the forums from others as we are a tight knit community and we are all here to learn and grow both as dancers and people. This has always been my experience here on the site, I am sure you will find this to be true in your adventures here as well.
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While I have not yet tried this yet, I have done some research recently and have come across many videos and articles online about making your own liquid chalk. If you have access to a sports gear store that sells powder form gymnast chalk, you can mix it with isopropyl alcohol. People claim that it dries quickly and doesn’t make a mess the way dry chalk does. Based on what I have seen it should work just as well as Dry Hands and is virtually the same thing. Only difference apparently is that it just doesn’t have the thickening agent that most liquid chalks have to keep it from being so runny and drying out quickly. If it does just add some more alcohol. Very cost effective in comparison to paying $7 and up for a small bottle of grip aid. I have wanted to try this for a while, I just haven’t gotten around to it.
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Welcome back love! Veena’s advice is definitely the way to go to reduce the discomfort while you recover. Expanding upon her suggestions you may also find some additional relief from arnica gel (helps with bruising and sore muscles.) You might also try Biofreeze or some other brand of cooling or warming therapy topical. Heating pads are always helpful to me, especially for my lower back when I am idle and not moving around a lot. Sitting idle for too long definitely makes me incredibly stiff. If I have been sitting for too long, I make sure to stand up and move for a minute or two. Even if its a walk to the fridge to top of my water, it helps.
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409, I am in complete agreement with what Veena has said. You should never be made to feel that the you should do anything that doesn’t feel right for you; especially when children are or may be involved. The partners we choose to be with or marry may be the right person for us but even marriage does not necessarily mean that having a child is the right decision.
Based on the limited information you have shared, and I may be wrong, but It doesn’t sound like this man has offered much in the way of long term commitment or given you any indication that he would be the type of father you would want for your child even if you wanted to have children. Given the pressure he is putting on you, he doesn’t sound like the type of man you deserve in your life.
My heart goes out to you as I know this situation is very disconcerting. As hard as it may be, it sounds like you should follow your instincts that may be leading you to a decision to find someone else. I know how difficult it is to spend any length of time with someone when you feel like your time is limited to find what will make you happy. I understand how difficult it is to curb feelings of fleeting time and desperation for happiness but please know that you are special and that there are plenty of people out there that will value you and give you the respect that you deserve.
Over the years I have watched many of your videos and from where I am sitting I can clearly see that you are a funny, witty, creative and beautiful person that enjoys life and has so much to offer! Follow your instincts and be true to yourself! Only you know what is right for you!
If you ever need to talk we will always be here. You are welcome to PM me anytime. I may not always have the ability to give the best advice but I am certainly able to listen. Sometimes, that’s all we need to find some centeredness or at the very least, comfort. Remember to love yourself and good things will come. Sending big hugs!
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Barbwire- Thank you! I am sure I will find something. Its just a matter finding something that fits correctly and doesn’t cause chaffing. As far as the pain in your forearms goes, if the pain is emanating from the tendons or muscles down the forearm from the elbow joint it is most likely tendonitis or better known in that area as “tennis elbow;” generally the result of overuse. I suffered from this on and off for the first 8 to 10 months of poling because yes, I too have been guilty of overtraining.
Once my forearms became stronger and I lost a bit of weight, it started to ease up and eventually go away completely. Having been off the pole for a long a time, I was concerned that I might experience it again but fortunately it hasn’t been an issue thus far.
Mueller makes a great elbow strap/support that I found to be very helpful.
http://www.amazon.com/Mueller-Tennis-Elbow-1-Count-Package/dp/B0027VOS8U/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1464299597&sr=8-5&keywords=mueller+elbow+strapThe best exercises I have found to help strengthen, relieve and prevent the pain and discomfort are:
1.) using hand grip strengtheners (something like this) http://www.amazon.com/Strengthener-Grippers-Musicians-Rehabilitation-Exercising/dp/B018GUBLWG/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1464299786&sr=8-18&keywords=hand+grip+strengthener. Also, under the conditioning tab, please see Veena’s lessons! Watch: “Shoulder Rotation” all the way through “Radial Wrist Lift.” I threw in the rotator cuff lessons for good measure due to the fact that rotator cuff injuries are very common and are also the result of overuse in poling. Since you are already focusing on the lower arms, it is best to also take a minute to devote to your shoulder health as well.
2.)Forearm stretches- Please see Veena’s Forearm Extensor and Forearm Flexor videos. These can also be done from a sitting position on your knees on the floor, place both arms on the floor in front of you fingers pointing away from the body with widely spread fingers. You can also stretch the muscles of the inner forearms by placing place the hands so that your fingers are pointing are pointing towards your body and with fingers widely spread. Gently and I mean ever so gently lean in to increase the stretch if needed. This can also be done from a standing position using the pole. http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/kneeling-forearm-stretch
3.) Also, during every warm-up, cool down (I sometimes do this during the day, if I feel my forearms and wrists are sore or tight)- create circular motions with your wrists while spreading your fingers and moving your fingers in the along with with the circular the same circular motion.
My absolute favorite is something I first learned from Karol Helms years ago is finger flicking. It really helps!!!! With your hands facing downward, bring the tips of your fingers to the tips of your thumbs (looks like you are making the shape of an “o” with your hands. Create a slight amount of pressure between the tips of your fingers. Then flick your fingers outward firmly so the are widely spread as you extend like you are flicking water droplets off your hands. Repeat this motion, in the reverse direction as well. I typically do about 10 repetitions in each direction for both hands.Please check here on Veena’s lessons. I am sure Veena may have already included these in her lessons somewhere in the hand/wrist/forearm section under the conditioning tab. I have not yet completed them all, so my apologies for not sending you to an example of what I have described here directly. Also, here is a page that gives some instruction on some more exercises that you may find helpful for the hands, wrists and elbows. Some variations of the exercises/stretches I have noted are also given on this page. Lastly, give yourself ample time for rest and healing. It can be so difficult, believe me, I know! But, being regimented about rest days is just as important as being regimented with your workouts. I hope this helps!
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Wrist strain and hyperextension can be so frustrating. I have had a problem with it on and off for a long time (non-pole injury) but for some reason when I sleep I curl my hands into my chest where my fingertips nearly touch the insides of my wrists when I sleep and continually strain my wrists by hyperextension. Still on the hunt for a wrist brace that is comfortable to wear at night to stop myself from doing this. I really should be working with my left as the lower bracket, but I am terrible about training a lot of things on both sides. Shame on me! lol!
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Edit*- As veena’s mentioned this hand position also applies to the upper arm (top bracket) for split grip hold moves.
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Barbwire- what moonflower is referring to and what you will see in veena’s lessons is the pointer finger of the bottom hand (lower bracket) is pointing downward forming a parallel line with the pole when performing moves/spins where a split grip is used. It resembles the hand position used when shooting a gun. You may have also heard this referred to as a trigger finger. This hand position is important to use as it keeps your wrist in a stable neutral position that AIDS in preventing hyper-extension. It is the best way to protect your wrists as well as the tendons in the hand and the forearm muscles through the elbow joint.
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Welcome to our wonderful community Kristine. Congratulations on your recent weight loss! Can’t wait for you to get a pole at home, you just won’t believe how much pole can do for your body until you experience it for yourself. Having a pole at home will help you to practice more and reach your pole and fitness goals quicker than you might think. Excited to follow you on your journey!
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EXACTLY!!!!! Thank you for being you V, for following your dreams while helping us all to achieve ours whatever they may be! Much love, much love!
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V, btw, thank you for sharing your rant. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have always loved to see how important your family is to you and how involved and supportive your kids and Webmaster have been in your aspirations. It truly is a blessing. I think family is one of the most important aspects of life. I think you are a perfect example of what I am talking about. You definitely have not forgotten to take time for you and still identify as a person other than just being a mom. In a way, I almost feel bad for these women because military life definitely creates a loss of self to begin with because it dictates and controls so much of our lives. Many of these women are very happy being moms and living in that mindset and that is fantastic. I just realized that instead of trying to break through and make friends there, that I would be better suited to try and find another group of people with similar interests elsewhere. I guess I can chock a lot of my feelings about the issue based on my expectations. Back when I first started poling we had so many military wives on SV and I was really excited when I moved thinking that there would be plenty of polers here. Boy was I wrong! lol!
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Well said V, well said! I think women absolutely should speak about their stories, joys and pains of motherhood. Especially with other women who have shared similar experiences. I guess where I am coming from is that I saw such a distinct focus on it that when anyone like myself tried to join a conversation or change a topic after several hours or several occasions of the same thing, I learned that it was best for me to stop attending. I ended up sitting in silence listening because I had nothing to add to the conversation and all it did was solidify my feelings about not having kids. If it were only a once in a while thing it wouldn’t have been such a big deal. Its not like I showed up to the local playground at lunch time. These were military wife functions with women of varying ages and are set up to keep people connected an to help transition into miliarty life. It was like I not only shunned, but that I didn’t even exist.
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This is so odd that I just happened to see this on FB the same day I posted on the subject but I thought I would share.
Love upworthy!!!
http://www.upworthy.com/why-your-choice-not-to-have-kids-is-awesome?c=ufb1
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Athena,
I am at a point in my life where having children is still an option for me so I can’t speak to issue of having regrets for not having them but I sincerely doubt I ever will. As of right now, I think not having kids is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have absolutely no desire or intention of having children and am often made to feel like something is wrong with me for my decision thus far.I am an Army wife and am surrounded by women who seemingly want nothing more in their lives than to have children and lots of them. I am often not accepted or included at functions and often feel alienate because I don’t have kids. I finally just stopped trying to make friends with other military wives because I found that in my experiences thus far, they weren’t interested in talking about or doing anything that didn’t involve kids.
Regardless of whether I had kids or not, I think it is ridiculous that these women are so focused on sharing birthing stories and talking about every minute detail of their children’s lives every time they convene. I completely understand that their kids are important and I don’t think that it’s bad that they do this, it just gets exhausting when every time I interact with these women the same topic is replayed ad nauseam. Don’t they have other interests, hobbies, personal goals?
Don’t get me wrong, I am great with kids but I am just one of those people who enjoys other people’s kids for short periods of time and enjoy giving them back at the end of my time with them. The fact that my mom ran a home daycare business for most of my life and the fact that I have worked with kids in the aquatics industry from 14 to about 30 years old may also explain my lack of interest. I have been surrounded by kids most of my life and sometimes couldn’t escape “screaming” kids and never got much of a break.
Yes, being a mother is a very important role/job that women carry out in their lives but it is not the “only” important role a woman can have. I don’t think child bearing should encompass every fiber of a woman’s being 100% of the time. Mothers are still people too and I believe that being a mother shouldn’t stop a woman from being a person with their own goals and interests apart from their children. I get so tired of women asking me why I don’t have kids. For all they know, I can’t have them and it may be a sensitive subject for me. While this is not my issue, I have toyed with the idea of just using it as a stock answer because it would spare me from feeling the need to explain myself and the onslaught that ensues.
I see women gush over babies and children all the time and I just don’t feel the way they feel. Conversely, I am that way with animals. My fur babies are my children, whether people can understand that or not really isn’t important to me. People will think what they will, I just don’t understand why I made to feel ostracized and alienated for my decision. I have a lot of personal reasons as well as worldly social concerns that have led to my decision.
There are plenty of women out there that feel the way you do. I don’t meet many due to my circumstances of being a military wife and my geographic location, but I know they are out there. Do what you feel is right for you! I am with grayeyes, if I ever have the urge, there are plenty of kids I can interact with either by spending time with friends’ kids or volunteering time. Plus, if it is ever too late to have my own and I change my mind, adoption is always something I can consider. Again, don’t think its in the cards for me, but I guess “never say never” applies.