[keex]

Thanks so much everyone!!! I'm discovering artists I've never heard of before & remembering ones I'd forgotten. Kee 'em comin'!

[keex]

@Charley thanks, girl! 

[keex]

Thanks @Athena30, @MagickDaisy & @Irmingard! This is so helpful https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[keex]

Have you checked out the glassless mirror option? http://glasslessmirror.com/

[keex]

I know it's hard to not compare yourself to other students in class.  But, considering you're only 2 months into pole dancing (& I'm not sure how many times/week you practice) there are so many other pole skills that you can focus on that are fun and challenging and will help you build the strength & coordination needed to invert safely & properly rather than just flipping yourself  upside down by any means necessary and putting yourself at risk of injury.  Veena's tutorials should be a helpful guide in training progressively & systematically.  I can't even imagine teaching inversions to beginners.  In fact,  I just wrote a blog about this very topic.  Check it out: https://www.studioveena.com/blogs/view/Step_10_The_Key_to_Nailing_Advanced_Pole_Tricks_20120813053514

[keex]

Yes, the goal is "straight" or even slightly bent.  I always do split grip (aka push/pull grip) with my bottom elbow slightly bent to provide more muscular stability. It helps me to engage my biceps, pecs and anterior delt more. (I have slightly hyperextended elbows)

[keex]

@amberpoledancer: Good choice on avoiding the moves that are causing your student pain rather than succumbing to her eagerness to learn tricks that might not be safe for her body.  You can modify spins using a baseball grip rather than the split grip.  Instead of pushing herself away from the pole with her lower arm in a precarious underhand grip, she'll be encouraged generate spin impulse (centrifugal force) and sustain her spins using the strength of her back and core.  

Baseball grip also simplifies the process of learning joint stability because it's symmetrical. Split grip on the other hand, requires the complex muscular coordination skills of stabilizing the pull of the top arm with the simultaneous push of the bottom arm. Neuromuscularly that's a lot to process and accomplish in a way that's biomechanically safe for most people. So I consider split grip an advanced grip that's only introduced when students have a strong shoulder girdle; the muscular strength to maintain an open chest and stabilize their scapula against resistance. When doing a split grip, however, I encourage a "micro-bend" at the elbow to make it a muscularly stabilized grip rather than a bone-on-bone grip, so to speak.  To someone with hypermobile elbows, a mere "micro-bend" will feel like a bicep curl (lol). 

Strength exercises might include isometric bicep curls such as the ones seen here: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/rehabilitation-exercises/triceps-biceps-exercises/isometric-biceps

Also, modified serratus push-ups against the wall like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p81Iw9Hg3yw

I hope that helps.  And I'm sure your student will appreciate your desire to keep her training safe.

 

 

[keex]

At a stumpy 5' 2 3/4" I would love, LOve, LOVE to experience at least ONE day in the life of a tall, leggy woman.  Tall and leggy is HOT! Embrace your statuesque presence.

[keex]

It's the separation of the rectus abdominus (6-pack muscle) along the linea alba (midline of the muscle). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFVh330SygI

[keex]

@addictedtopole:  Sorry to hear you're frustrated. I've never had kids or experienced diastasis recti personally.  I'm only chiming in to agree with @StudioVeena and to support you because I know it sucks to feel frustrated; especially when you're working so conscientiously at taking good care of yourself. 

What I can share is my experience with diastasis recti as a Pilates instructor.  After a new mom gets a doctor's permission to return to exercise, I've worked with them at regaining core strength and "closing the gap".  The key is to begin with the subtle work of accessing and strengthening the transverse abdominus muscle which is the deepest layer of your core.  It wraps around your torso from your ribs to your pelvis like a corset. When it contracts, it even cinches your waist-line.  As a deep stabilizer muscle it should be trained to fire as you initiate movement. It will stabilize your spine and pelvis, increase your strength, stamina, power and eventually serve to help you "close the gap".

So, I've witnessed it happen through Pilates and Pilates-based exercises.  As Veena said, your abs aren't ruined! The body is amazingly and thankfully resilient.

[keex]

I think it's up to us to re-invent the definition of sexy; especially in a world when "freakin' the fro" doesn't fit into what the mainstream views as hot. I say we rock the natural whether we've got cute little kinks, winding twists, spiraling coils or lovely locks.  Just as in pole dancing, sexy is our ability to embody who we are, embrace our individuality and engage the world with confidence. Sexy comes from within. (Spoken from a sista with a big ol' fro of curly curls whose hair remains motionless during head rolls.  LOL)

[keex]

Some of my favorite songs to pole to are "Topless" by Breaking Benjamin, "Feel Like I Do" or "Tear Away" by Drowning Pool or "Bleeding Me" by Metallica.  I think that any song that evokes an emotion within you is worthy of a little pole play.  And for faster tempo music, there's no rule that you have to dance to every single beat.  Sometimes it's fun to play with different rhyhms and accents in the music. Plus, I think it's super sexy when you slow the movement down and ride the music just behind the beat.

 

 

[keex]

Pleasers work best for me.  And, specifically the ones w/ clear uppers.  I just got these & I love 'em. http://www.snaz75.com/pl-adore-708uv.html

[keex]

It's so good you seem to be willing to take your time and heal properly. I highly recommend massage therapy (neuromuscular therapy or trigger point work) because tt sounds like you need some really muscle-specific work; which is more than what a foam roller can offer you.  Or, acupuncture.  And then, perhaps, begin with @Veena's conditioning & stretching exercises.

I recently recovered from a really bad shoulder injury.  I was off the pole for 8 months.  But I'm constantly awed at how resilient our bodies are.  Full injury recovery simply requires patience and compassion with our bodies and ourselves.  Good luck on your journey back!

 

[keex]

More power to you, girl!  I have a few friends that L.O.V.E. it!  And I've seen one dude's body completely transform before my eyes.  Besides the "insanity" of the workouts, the big shift for him was switiching to a healthier diet. That was the key to his success.  Good luck & have fun on your journey!