[loopielou]

I’d love some Veena Valentine shorts, but $14 to ship to the UK!!! That’s expensive Veena. Is there no cheaper way to ship them? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif

[loopielou]

There are soooooo many places in my area in the UK that are teaching pole and really shouldn’t be. Because there are no compulsory qualifications to teach, I think there are varying standards. I have been to several studios and they all do it differently. Some of them don’t specifically teach – they just ask you what you want to work on or give you a move (for beginners) and just leave you to practice.

The first studio I went to went really slowly – I think it was probably 15 – 18 weeks before they started to show us the inverted crucifix which I found good (looking back) as we built up our strength before we tried new things. It was a little frustrating at the time, but we looked at others in the more advanced classes and were awed by what they were doing.

Now I am more advanced, however, I have gone back to the same studio on several occasions and have got to the point where I am able to do moves they can’t and also where I am watching them teach moves to students which they are unable to do themselves – now how you can teach something when you don’t know how to do it is beyond me!

This same studio has also changed their teaching practices since I started with them a year ago. Because they have mixed classes, I see what they are teaching the beginners. I went to one 6 week course and they were getting them to try and invert from the second week! Now what’s that all about?? There are students there that still have incorrect technique (like running into an invert vertually to get up, rather than lifting yourself) and the tutors do not correct them – after a year of being taught, this shouldn’t be happening IMO

I have also seen somebody injure themselves at another class – she had been told to do kick ups in a shoulder mount position but not to go into the full shoulder mount as the instructor didn’t think she was ready – however she tried it and slid down the pole onto her head. Nothing came of it, but the look of panic on the instructors face when she thought someone had been injured was priceless!

There are many differing standards of teaching. I have now reached a level where I am struggling to find people who can take me to the next stage. The teachers I know now are either not at a high enough level or are polers who are brilliant, but don’t have the communication techniques to be able to break a move down and teach it properly which could result in me being injured – just because you know how to do something yourself, doesn’t mean you can teach it to someone else.

I think there should be more regulations around this now as it is becoming more popular and it shouldn’t be the case that anybody can set up and teach.

RANT OVER! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[loopielou]

I haven’t really lost pounds but I have dropped like 2 pant sizes.

I agree with carriej above. However, I’ve actually put on weight since I started pole and am now just over 10 stone I think (although I only get to weigh myself when I go to my friends’ every so often as I don’t own scales – they are bad for your health in my opinion as you get obsessed with your weight!).

But, even though I’ve put on about half a stone, my clothes now fit me better and I feel like I have lost inches – I am hoping the weight gain is due to muscle https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif It’s great tho when you can see what a difference it has made to your shape. I am much more confident now than I was just a year ago and can see I look better than I did before.

According to those stupid weight to height ratios I am apparently verging on the overweight, but that must be the biggest load of tosh (unless I have a skewed vision of what I look like). All those weight charts and telling you what you should and shouldn’t look like is the biggest pile of rubbish going – I know people need guidelines, but some of those things are ridiculous. You should be happy with your body – whatever the shape or size – as that is part of you so therefore it deserves to be loved https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif (rant over!)

[loopielou]

It was Felix that all the stuff was going on with, but I think that has all been resolved tbh. Haven’t heard anything more anyway.

[loopielou]

The reverse grab is one of the reasons I don’t want to move my pole to a smaller area – along with things like handspring, etc. which I am trying to learn – I’ve already banged my toe doing a handspring and I had loads of room then! lol

[loopielou]

I want to move my pole to a smaller room, but I think if I do, I will have the same problems as you’re all speaking about on here https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I currently have my pole in my step-daughters room, but would like my own little pole room. The room I’m thinking about is only as wide as me with my arms stuck out though so I doubt it’ll be big enough.

Does anybody have any ideas as to how much space I should have round the pole?

[loopielou]

I love the Statues album by Moloko, particularly the first 5 tracks. Also, I like Pure Pleasure Seeker and Absent Minded Friends which are on their Things to Make and Do album. Don’t know what it is about Moloko music but I love it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Also like Portishead and Sneaker Pimps, along with things like Pink and Snow Patrol.

I must make a pole cd for myself as I end up randomly putting CDs on – it’d be much better to have it just playing on one https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[loopielou]

Hiya – am pretty near you – about half way between Manchester and Leeds https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif Where are you taking your classes then? And I must know where this bar is!!!! Am off out in Manchester this Friday night so might have to make it my mission to find the bar with the pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Welcome anyway!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[loopielou]

I’m a big wierdo man. I’m learning things all out of order.

I can do a straight edge, aysha (both split grip) and reverse aysha but I can NOT caterpillar to save my life!
I don’t know what it is.I try to push up and then I freeze LOL. I’ve been working on this move since I started inverting months ago and just can’t get it LOL. WTH!

I’m with you on this one SissyBuns. I can do all the split grip stuff, but ask me to do a forearm or elbow grip or the caterpillar climb and I’m screwed. I found the split grip easier because you don’t have to do the caterpillar malarky to get into it like you seem to have to do with the other grips, you can just go into it from an inverted crucifix leg hold type thing https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Mind you, it did take me a good few months (not constantly) of practice to get the split grip and I now find it easier to go into the jack-knife then I can move from there into ayesha and then straight edge. Just keep trying and you will find the one which suits you best eventually. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[loopielou]

You get sooooo much good stuff in the US!!!! (sulking now https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif )

[loopielou]

Been a month today now for me. And I am still getting cravings, but it is getting easier by the day. I don’t think about smoking as much as I did and I would agree with LittleC in that I don’t want to start again because the hell it has been this first month stopping, I never want to have to stop again! My emotions have been all over the shop with me over-reacting to things and feeling down at times, but I still don’t want to smoke (which is good https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif )

Keep at it as it will get easier. Hopefully we can all still be non-smokers in a years time and much healthier for it! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[loopielou]

Hi there – thanks for the link.

Are you willing to do a pickup on this, rather than posting?

Laura

[loopielou]

I can do soooooo many things in class that I can’t seem to nail at home and I think it is to do with your concentration levels. As far as the dancing goes, it wouldn’t matter whether I was on my own or with an audience, I still feel completely self-conscious and a complete numpty when I try to dance. I’m hoping to get over it one day so that I can show my hubby what I can do now. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[loopielou]

You should have a look at AJs website in London – http://poledancephotography.com/Home.html – he does pictures of pole and various events and that so you could get some ideas from here of what looks good https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

You’re so lucky having someone come to your studio. Hope the pictures are great https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[loopielou]

Karol – you’re old video is better than I am now and I’ve been poling for just over a year! lol You must have been born on a pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif Brill!