[Elyse Hauke]

Good grief, please excuse the typos I typed this on my phone and autocorrect was not very kind to me.

[Elyse Hauke]

Well, for the longest time x-pole, platinum stages and Lil’ Minx made only made a 50mm poles. There are a lot more brands of poles now then there were then but these were three readily available in the U.S.

There are different schools of thought on smaller diameter poles but initially when the 45 mm became available, most polers agreed that working on a 50 mm pole to start with developed better strength before moving to a 45 but this was very subjective.

It is my understanding that research has shown that the use of smaller diameter poles results in far less injury over time to certain muscle groups. I will try and dig up the article I last read about it, its been a long time since I have seen it. Perhaps I have it saved somewhere?

At any rate, for leg intensive moves, 50 mm tends to be more comfortable, while smaller diameters such as 45’s and 38’s make hand grip and more advanced moves more stable. I learned on and owned 50’s then moved to 45’s. Overall I prefer the 45, but it really comes down to personal preference. There is nothing wrong with using a 50 mm.

I think most people will tend to agree that the industry standard changed due to hand sizing. People with small or more petite hands often had much more more difficulty on a 50mm than those with bigger hands and there were a lot of complaints about being able to grip the pole. As a whole, since studios and competitions have so many different sized users, it was considered more practical sense to use 45 as the standard.

As far as 38’s go, I don’t know much about the history of pole sizing in Australia. As far as I know that is just the size that was typically used over there. 50 to 45 isn’t a huge difference, but its still noticeable. I have had the pleasure of working on a 38 and all I say is WOW! for handgrip and owWW!!!! for leg moves! A 38 made me feel like an absolute beast!!!! I felt like I could hold on forever. So there are a lot benefits to learning on a 38. With each size there are benefits and cons but all in all it comes down to personal preference when choosing a pole for home use. Oh, and we haven’t even begun to discuss pole finishes! lol!

To answer your last question, Australia (at the time I entered pole world) was a forerunner in pole art in that it had become a lot more mainstream there before it did in the U.S. I came in late 2009 and although pole had gained a lot popularity it was still very taboo and not the mainstream so ultimately most of what came from the U.S came from dancers in clubs. In the U.S, the first organized competition as I understand it was held in 09′ i think? So ultimately I think that once Australia was definitely a leader of trends, but now that pole has become more mainstream worldwide, I don’t necessarily think that is the case. We have seen a large new wave of tricks and ability levels that have far surpassed what we thought was the “ultimate” back in 2010. So many moves and combos have been created and with the influx of formerly trained dancers, gymnasts etc, things have soared to new heights, excuse the pun.

Please note, Pole dance is still relatively new, its not like we have a history book or encyclopedia and I don’t claim to be an expert That being said, I have answered as correctly as I can based on my experience and what I have learned in pole world over the last few years. Hope this helps.

Just thinking out loud here, but if pole dance is still around in 100 years I wonder if we will have pole historians? Wouldn’t that be something?!

[Elyse Hauke]

Believe me, exhaustion is no stranger to me, especially as a person with thyroid issues and a hectic life. I recently lost about 23 lbs and still have a long way to go but every day gets a little easier. Some days are better than others, but overall, now that I am active again I feel so much better.

We all have days where we struggle and hit plateaus when we feel like our progress has come to a screeching halt. Part of my issue for a very long time has been managing work and school and a LOT of personal stuff over the last 5 years.

I finally made a decision, that even on the days where I am tired that I have to make time for myself and even 10 mins a day spent on pole or doing whatever other activity to improve my mind and body is better than nothing. Submitting to my exhaustion just created more exhaustion. So here I am gaining back what I have lost and at times am completely frustrated and want to cry. But when I push through it, I end up shrieking and screaming hysterically when I get a move back then cry out of sheer joy. Pole has always been a source of stress relief for me so I even if i am too tired to work on inverted moves or even spins, I dance it out and I dance slow if have to. Just remember not to be so hard on yourself and celebrate every bit of progress you achieve; not just on the pole but in all your endeavors.

[Elyse Hauke]

Welcome! Welcome! I am so excited for you! When I first started, this site was my lifeline for pole and unexpectedl, it quickly became my lifeline for everything else. lol! If you ever have questions, need help or just want to rant, we are here to listen. My best advice coming from a poler who started as out of shape and little to no experience in dance and gymnastics is record your practices when poling at home, be patient with yourself and celebrate every little bit of progress you can no matter how small. You will find that your strength will build more quickly than you think. I took a long (5 year hiatus)after having major successes in pole with gains in confidence and weight loss. My beginnings in pole were life changing. Now that I am back and losing weight after being heavier than I have ever been, I am regaining what I have already built. It’s amazing how quickly your body can change and how amazing it feels to get a new move, or in my case getting back what was lost. Congratulations on your decision to implement a healthier lifestyle and on finding one of the best places on earth to feel great and get in shape while having fun doing it! ps. get a pole at home as soon as possible, you’ll be glad you did!

[Elyse Hauke]

I will always recommend Veena’s lessons as she is a source for some of the best information around. I can also suggest the Valentino Brothers DVDS and have also very much enjoyed the Elastic steel series. While these videos lack high production values, they certainly deliver in quality flexibility training for the whole body. I also have a great playlist of some really good videos on youtube if finances don’t permit. I am more than happy to share it, if you are interested.

[Elyse Hauke]

@ Veena- Thanks for the warm welcome back! I will be sure to check out all the new features and finances permitting will hopefully be able enjoy everything SV has to offer! So happy to be back!

[Elyse Hauke]

@jayja125- thank you! It’s good to be back! I am going to do my best to not be a stranger myself time permitting.

@ Hi Fever! Changes can often be good and there are plenty of positive changes in pole world, but for those that are not so good and those that are horrendous, all I can do is shake my head and keep love in my heart for the positives. Some things may never change but there definitely is a degree of greater open-mindedness and forgiveness that I have recently witnessed recently which truly is a great thing. Speaking of changes, I definitely have to get used to the new format on the SV site. Loving a lot of the changes here as far as site format and how much aerial work and straight dancing that have made their way to the site.

@ Chemgoddess- Hello lovely! It’s been a long time. So glad to see you are still here! I have never really lost my passion for pole. For a long time it was more about having lost a passion for life in general. I was completely emerged in school and had a lot of life issues getting in the way. I gained a ton of weight and every time I tried to get back on the pole I would give up and cry within 5 mins. It was awful! I finally was inspired by my good friend, RenaLadybug, to get back in the game. Her weight loss really inspired me and I have her to thank for getting my mojo back. I am now down 23 lbs with a loss of 12% body fat in just 80 days. Diet has been huge but man, pole has always done wonders for my body. I went from not being able to invert anymore to getting back a lot of moves I wouldn’t have dreamed I could do again.so far I have gotten back my inverted v, crucifix, inverted thigh hold, superman or woman lol!, and some others that I am really stoked about. I learned pole pretty quickly and it seems to be coming back quickly too, despite the weight. Oh, the power of pole!

@ Aerial Gypsy and Mysfit- Thank you! Can’t wait to see everybody’s videos and progress. There is so much to catch up on.

[Elyse Hauke]

Thanks for your reply Mystical, nice to meet you. I am sure there’s plenty of people still around but very happy to meet new faces too! Glad to see that you have had such dedication with pole for several years now. Keep up the good work!

[Elyse Hauke]

I purchased my double tab from http://trapezerigging.com. The hoop is very high quality and would purchase from them again should I get any more equipment in the future.I am 5’8 and use a 36 hoop. I usually use my lyra outside but have a suspension trainer and a yoga hammock setup inside so I can attach it indoors. To rig it inside it is best to open up the ceiling and put a metal or wood support running between 2 joists for increased support but I skipped that step and used 2 eye bolt anchors and have had no problems. Now keep in mind I don’t do any swinging and I check for durability each time no matter what I am doing. In any rigging situation it is best to have a professional install it, however I understand that this is not always possible as with my case, I searched and searched don’t have anyone in my area. My ceilings 8-9 ft respectively and find that when I hook up my lyra it is very frustrating. You can do training exercises but the amount to which you can do is extremely limited as far as learning correct technique but it is doable.

[Elyse Hauke]

I have a 50mm xpole, its  an older version but in really good condition that I would be willing to part with $230 including shipping.

 

[Elyse Hauke]

I go to craigslist and buy used mirrored closet doors. 2 doors usually cover at least 5 width and 6+ feet high. I just lean them against the wall and they work great. I have gotten some free and other paid as little as 40 bucks or less for them. Its by far the best bang for you buck!

[Elyse Hauke]

I would absolutely love to have at least 3 different options for meal plans so I don’t get bored with the monotony as I am always on the go and this example is something I could definitely manage. I understand what to do to get my body where it needs to be, its the eating that always trips me up. I typically eat lean cuisines because they are fast and make the trip with me when I am on the go pretty well. I have heard that they aren’t so great though because they are high in sodium.

It’s true they are high in sodium, but they are okay in a pinch. There are a lot of things you can do to prepare for meals on the go…I spend usually Sunday cooking ahead and portioning everything in 1 serving containers so I have my food with me wherever I need it…there ore many things that don’t need to be microwaved which helps when I don’t have one available or when time is limited. I will post some food choices later today when I have more time…I want to help in anyway I can…you guys are my FAMILY…and we are here to support each other with EVERTYTHING!!!!
Thanks litlbit, I really appreciate it, its so hard for me to make the right food choices because I am away from home at least 14-15 hours a day and I need all the time saving I can get so I eat terribly. Its really affecting my progress with pole and so many other aspects of my life. I am also reaching a point in my life where I really need to be more health conscious so I can be sure to enjoy life after 30. I still have so many things to accomplish and life to live. I am studying a lot about health and human anatomy but oddly, I am still not getting enough information in regards to variation to what I can eat. I have been overweight for some time now, I’ll admit that I am not grossly overweight, but nonetheless, I am. Its time to take charge and hopefully with beating eating habits I will finally be able to quit smoking for good.

Thank you for your help…. I am sure I speak for all of us when I say you are amazing! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[Elyse Hauke]

I would absolutely love to have at least 3 different options for meal plans so I don’t get bored with the monotony as I am always on the go and this example is something I could definitely manage. I understand what to do to get my body where it needs to be, its the eating that always trips me up. I typically eat lean cuisines because they are fast and make the trip with me when I am on the go pretty well. I have heard that they aren’t so great though because they are high in sodium.

[Elyse Hauke]

I got the same message, clip not found

[Elyse Hauke]

Hey Carrie,

I was talking to Stellar Motion about this the other day and he was able to do it successfully. He would be able to describe it better to you than I can as I have only tried it once. The key for him if I remember our conversation correctly was to sit in it just like you do the crossed ankle knee hold but widen your knees even further than you would normally and push the hips as far forward as you can. Which when I think about it, is the same advice I would give anyone attempting the normal knee hold. ugh, sorry I don’t know if that really helps, but I am sure he would be happy to help you with it.