litlbit
Forum Replies Created
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I'm 57, I've been poling for almost 7 years. I got up one morning in my usual routine, went to take my shower, took off my robe and went to hang it up, it fell on the floor…I bent down to pick it up and caught my nude reflection in the mirror….I literally cried when I saw myself! I realized I hadn't' looked at my body since my son was born! I saw, wrinkles and bagging, hanging skin, what was suppose to be triceps was wings! I couldn't tell where my butt ended and my hammies began! My knees had saggy skin that drooped beyond where I believed they should be! I was horrified to see how I looked after all those years! I always stayed covered up, even in the summer I wore jeans all the time, no shorts. I decided right there that I needed to do something to get in shape and become healthier! I was a nurse working 2-3 pt jobs so I could be around for my kids, well my kids were grown and gone now and the reality of self neglect reared it's ugly face! I went into the basement and tried to lift weights (my son left his equipment when he went to college). I struggled, it was boring and hard. I knew I needed some form of cardio, but my right knee always bothered me, and I had chronic back and neck pain. I have left sided lower Lordosis, and my cervical spine does not have a curve in it due to child abuse. I started surfing on the web and came across pole, I followed some links and it lead me to a place in Canada. I ordered my 1st pole! Though I didn't know what to do with it I played around with it. I then searched for pole videos….WOW!! I found this thing called YOUTUBE!!!! That's where I had my 1st contact with Veena before she ever had studioveena. I posted a short video of a practice, the comments were cold and cruel. I was going to give up pole but Veena and Joel (Poledancefan) convinced to keep going! What I found was, pole got me in shape, I got the cardio I needed with low impact to my knee! My chronic back and neck pain, after suffering for years, was gone in just a few months of poling!!! I have been pain free for 6 1/2 years now!!! I have no background in sports or dance, I was not athletic, but you wouldn't know it to see me know! I also suffered depression and was on meds. Pole helped me with my confidence my self esteem and my panic attacks started to slowly dissipate!! I have been off meds now for 6 years!! I Continued to be encouraged by Veena. This is the only thing that works for me! I can lose myself when I'm sad, or happy, or whatever my state is….I can pole it away so to speak, it is my release. I loved it so much that I opened my studio almost 3 years ago! I found I CAN do the things I thought were impossible, and I learned to love myself and be comfortable in my own skin! and I compete with no one, I think that's part of the beauty of it!! As for my name, it was my nickname when I was a teenager/young adult. My name is Pamela, and I own and instruct at Total Woman, LLC Studio in Fargo, ND 🙂
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Love this! http://www.abeautifulbodyproject.com/
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I'm a retired nurse, "jack of all trades", wife, mother of a 30 and 27 year old, pole studio owner/instructor/entrepreneur! Retired from nursing to pursue my love of pole. I've always loved helping other, but as I got into my 50's, I wanted to help people stay healthy and improve their quality of life, (which in turn improves mine!) versus watching people die. I love bringing women together, not only teaching them pole, but teaching them how to love their fellow women! I can't change the world, but I can help women see things differently. So far women who otherwise would not give the time of day to someone solely on appearance, have changed how they see others….it also helps that when a woman walks through my doors, I have a strict policy…."Check your claws at the door!!" I do not tolerate catty behavior, and have banned a few women that felt the need to disrespect another. I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do!!!!!
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OH! and make sure the screws are lined up on the flat suface of the adjuster rod, or it will not stay tightened!
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If it still loosens after tightening the srews by the adjuster cover, then you need to make sure it's still tight to the ceiling. It will loosen periodically with use! 🙂
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Wrists alone are not the problem. The forearm muslce if it is weak will increase your chance of wrist injury as they work together. Veena has some wonderful exercises in her lessons for strengthening the forearm and wrists. I HIGHLY recommend subscribing to them if even for the shortest membership that's availible, it would be money well spent. I gaurentee it will help you! 🙂
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The chair spin requires strength. My students go through exercises and contioning before they ever do a spin that takes both feet off the ground. It would be irresponsible of me as a studio owner/instructor to not only set someone up for failure, but to put a student at risk for injury. One of the most common injuries when doing spins to soon and not properly conditioning/stregthening is several types of tendontis, in particular in the shoulder area. The 1st weeks of my Level 1 series, students only learn a Flying Fireman because there is always one foot on the floor. This slowly introduces and helps prepare them for using the upper body more and helping to strengthen the core to beable to use the abdominal muscles to lift the legs and hold them. This is just my opinion as a retired nurse that has worked in OT/PT, rehab, and sports medicine for many years. Good luck to you!! 🙂
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Charley, I'm not sure what the solution is either…but I always offer ladies to drop in and visit with me, and or observe a class. Most of the time spent is about 40-50 minutes educating them because they don't know WHAT to ask! I have information typed up explaining what we do and the muscles used in the basic level, an will go through it with them to give them a better understanding, and also let them know that something made be modified based on their body type and ease of execution.
I quit my career to do this, I'm not in it to make a bunch of money…I do this fulltime 7 days a week and put in long hours, and have not had a paycheck yet! So it's definately not about the money! LOL I have taught and trained 8 instructors, and only one of them is qualified to teach advanced classes right now. I also will not put an instructor in charge of a class that isn't qualified to teach that level. I think consistency is also key. I wrote all of the cirriculum, so everyone teaches the same moves with the same break down. This helps when I have to have an instructor sub for someone else, there is NO question what they are teaching! I agree, it's sad when I hear someone gave up because of an instructor!
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I am not cetified, I am a retired nurse that has worked in numereous fileds, including OT, PT, Ortho Neuro, sports medicine/injury…etc. I studied Veena's method extensively, and teach her method of pole because it is as Charley stated, it's safe, concise, thourough, and easy to understand! I explain to my students the points of contact, the muscles involved/worked in a particular move or hold. They don't learn spins in the 1st level. I need to make sure we have done enough stregthening and conditioning for their body to perform safely the moves that could injure the rotator cuff muscle etc. I have had NO INJURIES or FALLS in the 2 years my studio has been open. I don't take allot of stock in certifications as yet, simply because they are not consistant with the basic fundamentals, and people are charging what I believe are outrageous amounts in mant cases for them. I'm not saying you shouldn't get one, what I'm saying is that whether the instructor is certified or not…be an informed consumer….DO YOUR HOMEWORK and ASK QUESTIONS!! In my experience so far with say PT, the ones I found to be knowledgable and proven (at least in my area are NOT certified), were more than qualified to work with clients. There is NO requirement for anyone as yet to my knowledge that they have to be certified to teach anything in the fitness area. Oh, I still subscribe to Veena's lessons for updates and continued education for myself and my staff. She has performed and done workshops at my studio since I opened…I also recieved David C. Owens stamp of approval. Happy poling!!!
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Here's where I get all mine and other socks/stockings! http://www.foottraffic.com/prod_detail_list/legwarmers_and_armwarmers
Love there stuff!!!
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I'm coming from the side of a studio owner. When I'm looking at instructors, 1. They need to be an active student, and have learned not only the moves, but the break down of a move. 2, To beable to adjust/modify to accomadate a student, offer acceptable alternatives. 3. PERSONALITY!! is a MUST! They must beable to leave their personal stuff out of the class room! Must beable to enthusiasticly engage the class. I have an apprentice program, this enables me to see if they are instructor quality. Just because someone is a beautiful poler, and can execute moves flawlessly, does not mean that they can teach! Not everyone has that ability. So I monitor them and have them co-teach/assist after a period of observation. There is more to instructing than being able to teach a move. They must know how to properly spot, to not allow a student to work to much on any particular move to prevent overuse injury. Also be able to explain POC to the students, understanding the muscles involved. I hire from my student base only, that way I am assured they are teaching it the way I have set up the program. I have always used "Veena's" method because in my opinion it is the best out there to safely teach/break things down( I do subscribe to Veena's lesson on a yearly bassis, it is a WISE investment for myself and my business!). We are more Fitness based, but will teach some basics with heels so they may incorporate it into their own style. This is what this area wants. My instructors have ongoing training, they have to practice their moves and improve their teaching. I provide this free of charge as it is essential to keep them in touch with the basic foundation of pole. Once an apprentice has meet my criteria (not all do), they are offered a teaching position, and are teamed up with myself or another more experienced instructor until I feel they are ready to take on a class alone. I invest allot in my instructors because they are representing my facility and my reputation in the community, and to hopefully assure the quality of the programs we teach!
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I had MAJOR issues with my mats, they ripped, didn't fasten properly. I found a woman with a local upholstery business recover them for me. She was appalled at the material that was used on the yoga crash mats, and couldn't believe they would sell them using that quality…in HO, she said they are really proffitting! She found an amazing fabric that a scissor won't even puncture! I love it and they are very easy to clean! I am working with her now to design the "Perfect" crash mat!!!
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Here's the list to remember according to one of our Sports Medicine Doctors I worked with that treated athletes, #1 water,#2 Calcium, #3 potassium. The top thing your muscle needs is water, because it is made up of approx. 75% water. Since I increased my water intake 5 1/2 years ago, I haven't had a muscle crap since. When I first started poling they were AWFUL! . I drink about 2 gals a day depending on my activity. Allot of Doctors will tell you if you wait until you feel thirsty to drink water, your already somewhat dehydrated. Sips all day long and frequently are recommended.
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My pet/street name would be Bootsie Adams (All the streets when I was a kid where named after presidents!), lol Oh, and for some reason I thought Steven Rechless used to be "Princeton"?
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Veena is also an excellent resource, she has been a personal trainer for several years! Which is why her lessons, including conditioning, strength training etc, are so thourough.