[loopielou]

Hi hun

I’m also stopping smoking this weekend so maybe we can support each other. I’ve tried and failed before and this time I’m just going to go cold turkey. My husband is on the champix (is it called chantix in the states?) and he is planning on stopping as well this weekend so hopefully we will both be smoke free soon.

I heard it takes 6 weeks to break a habit so that’s my aim. If I can keep it up for 2 months, then there is absolutely no reason to go back to smoking – apart from complete stupidness https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

I’ll add you as a friend and if you ever need a rant, please feel free x

[loopielou]

Well I recently managed to do the shoulder mount – have been lifting my legs up for a while like that, but only just managed to do the full shoulder mount in the last month or so and I’ve been at this game since November 2008. You must be so strong. Brill!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[loopielou]

I’ve tried a few different kinds of grip aids. I can’t quite seem to get on with Mighty Grip – it doesn’t go sticky for me but I do have the gloves (don’t know if they’re the grippy ones or the normal ones to be honest!) and they are really good for practising moves but not so good for routines (unless you’re on a spinny pole) as you really do stick to the pole and the Mighty Grip powder is useful to have for under the gloves to minimise the movement of your hands inside them.

I like liquid chalk as it seems to help dry my hands out temporarily but doesn’t stop me spinning as much as some of the others do. I like tite grip as well and am going to get some more of that, however alot of my poley friends swear by Dry Hands – I think it’s quite hard to find in the UK, but I have found a person ebay selling it for £8 a bottle so I might have to purchase and give that a bash as well.

Ultimately, I think you just have to find the right stuff for you – keep testing different things and see what works best for what you want to do on the pole. Having a variety around seems to help me then I can switch and change between them depending on what I am wanting the grip for.

[loopielou]

I forget stuff all the time. I’ll be concentrating on a new move – the ayesha has been the biggy for ages now – and then I go back to something that I have been able to do, like scorpio, and my body has just forgotten how to do it.

One of the things I like about pole is the fact that I have to keep up to all the moves so that I can keep them at a consistent level so you are constantly learning and imroving – keeps my interest then like no other exercise has been able to do in the past. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

It’ll come back to you, don’t worry https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheese.gif

[loopielou]

And you’ve only been poling for 34 days????? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif wow!

[loopielou]

No poling for me at the minute as well so I know where you’re coming from – I slipped whilst walking the other day and put my arm down to cushion the landing, but all I’ve ended up doing is spraining my joints so I can’t put too much weight on my arm https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif It’s no fun – my x pole is looking all sad and lonely because nobody has played on it for a week now https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif

Hope you get better soon as well x

[loopielou]

Deb Riley sells pole mats – I know she sells them over here in the UK, but not sure if you could find them in the US.

Think it might be same the same as MissJulie is on about now I look! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif You can find it on here – http://www.poleomat.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have several pole instructors who use these as they are puttable awayable and padded enough to cushion a fall.

And I’ve found another one in the UK which may deliver to you and make them to order by the looks of it – http://www.poledancemat.co.uk/sales.html

[loopielou]

Thanks for all the hints and tips peeps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif i think I just have a general lack of creativity when it comes to dancing – co-ordination is not my strong point https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

i notice Jamilla has done a Routines DVD too now so might have to purchase that to get me started with some ideas https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[loopielou]

It is really scary because you have to stick your bum out but I don’t know how to do the elbow or forearm grip so I have to do it this way. You can probably do it by caterpillaring up into those grips as well and then moving your leg to the same side as the other but I can’t do that https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

The thing I had to work on then was sticking my bum even further back so that I could get my legs lower. I find the advantage of the split grip is that you can rest your legs on your top arm so that you’re not balancing completely.

Good luck with it. Let me know how it goes. I’d be really interested to hear https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[loopielou]

I got into it from doing a crucifix with a split grip (butterfly hold) so I went up into crucifix and set my grip then brought my legs down so I was in a tuck type of position, like I would for an ayesha then put both legs to one side of the pole – stick your bum out and there you go https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Have only done it the once like, but that’s how I did it – hope that helps https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[loopielou]

I’ve been practising the shoulder mount for a while now and just couldn’t get it. My shoulder hurt too much and I could only just hold my legs up in a V for a little while whilst doing it, but I went to class last night and just did it! Don’t know why or what I was thinking at the time but I did it! So am feeling great today and can understand your woopiness (is that even a word?! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif )

Bet I won’t be able to do it again tho’!

Congrats to you https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[loopielou]

I’d say get the pole – people are right on here, you could always subscribe to Veena’s lessons or buy yourself a DVD to work through at home. I am definitely the sort of person who gets really excited about something and then gets bored of it really quickly, but I have found that pole is different – there is a new challenge every time as you are learning different moves all the time. I won’t lie to you, it is difficult, particularly at first when you are building your strength up, but it is such a rush when you get a new move so it’s all worth it. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I have really low self-esteem and body issues, but I have found over the year I have been doing pole that my body shape has changed which has made me happier with how I look and as I’ve become more confident in the moves I am doing, my self-esteem has also grown – I’m not saying everything that was wrong in my head is fixed because of pole, but my attitude to myself and life in general is so much better.

It’s all well and good people telling you that you need to think positive, but you have to find that thing that will refocus you on to the positives in your life, rather than the negatives. My glass is more half full than half empty now so life is getting better.

I hope you find your happiness and I would thoroughly recommend pole to you. It’s fab!

Good luck with everything x

[loopielou]

I wanted to do that instructor course with Pole Passion – how was it? Is it worth the cash and how difficult is it?

[loopielou]

There looks to be quite alot of movement on it, but I don’t think it would go anywhere. It looks like an xstage but without the raised bit underneath to me. I’d just like the option of a 38mm pole – mind you, if you ever did anything anywhere else, you’d have to use either a 45mm or 50mm probably so would that mean you couldn’t use them afterwards? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif

Where are you from by the way? I always assumed you were American or something when I have looked at your videos on the past.

[loopielou]

I’m fancying the Garden pole – is that the one you mean? I’d love to have a go on a 38mm one but think I’m going to have to wait for a while and see if they come down in price. The portable one at £500 would be the best option I think because then I could have it inside if I wanted to as well.

They confuse me the R Pole because I can’t work out how they stay upright! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif