majikmyke
Forum Replies Created
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PandalinaHooker (PH) I think that you have taken on a very interesting research project for your "Ethnographic Methods" class. I'm sure that I speak for everyone in wishing you all the best in its completion, and at the same time asking a favor in return. That being, would you please share with all of us, or those that are interested, the completed project that you submit, and also the grade you receive, and how it was received by your professors?
The PH interview:
How old are you?
I'm currently 65 and a half years old.
How long have you been pole dancing?
Just coming up on 6 months even.
What got you into pole dancing?
I workout on a regular basis and for four months towards the end of last year I had been looking for an adjunct to my fitness program. I tried a few other things and they basically had the same flavor as to what I was doing in my own workout routine. About the same time, I conjured up the idea of doing a surprise pole dance for my wife's birthday. We've been married for forty-four years.
I found a pole dancing studio near me and went to an introduction class. I explained what I wanted to accomplish, but we only had six weeks. With the help of three fabulous instructor's I was able to perform a surprise pole dance for my wife to the song "Gimme, gimme, gimme, a man after Midnight," by Abba, her favorite group. She loved the dance. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif
During those six weeks I practiced hard; I lost 5 pounds unintentionally, and my legs and arms were bruised, and I looked as though I had been on the receiving end of a bad first round in an MMA competition.
Why pole dancing, and not something else?
Pole dancing, but really it's pole fitness; is low impact strength and flexibility challenges that works your entire body. It is a way that I can express myself in accomplishing different maneuvers that requires me to engage a much wider variety of muscles than I use in my regular workout routine. Going to a gym and bench pressing 158 pounds means nothing, and only works a few isolated muscle groups.
Taking the same 158 pounds (my body weight) and doing a split grip-invert, or a shoulder mount is the equivalent of benching 158 pounds, but within those two movements I have worked the arms, the abs; upper and lower, the oblique's, lats, shoulders, back muscles, hip flexors, and I have to keep the legs straight and the toes pointed! There's very little that matches the intensity and satisfaction of pole fitness. You get the idea.
Plus, there's the positive learning attitude in the studio's I go to. I am privileged to pole with a very assertive, progressive, caring, and encouraging group of ladies. The external socialization and camaraderie makes pole fitness so much fun for me.
What makes pole dancing special to you?
First of all, since doing the dance for my wife, I often wake up to, "How's my pole dancer this morning?" In addition to starting the day off right, on occasion, I will get asked to use the door frame and do some of the floor moves that I did in the dance for her. Oh, yeah! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
When I began pole instruction I instantly liked it. I feel comfortable around and on the pole. The ground work exercises that we do before class has improved my flexibility, as well as the stretching after class. I'm learning to have coordinated, smooth dance moves around the pole as well as the increased challenges of being on the pole. I've never been a good dancer. With pole I can listen to a variety of music and visualize ground moves and pole moves that I feel would go with it. Never been able to do that before.
I would like to develop enough pole skills to at least enter into competition someday. It's not that I would win. There are people at the studio's that I go to who compete and place. They're my inspiration. Hopefully, I can at least compete.
How did you first find out about Studio Veena (SV)?
I believe that I found it while Googling pole dance video's.
How much time do you spend on SV?
Initially, I only watched what Veena was doing for instruction. Then I began noticing the video's other Veener's were posting, and also the discussion wall. The SV website is representative of a great community of people. I get so many ideas and suggestions from the SV poler's without ever asking a question. Like the people that I pole with at the studio, all the people on the SV website are incredibly supportive and encouraging of one another.
So, I wind up spending more time. This amounts to, on average 20 minutes a day in a five day week. Sometimes more, and sometimes less.
How did you choose your tag?
I didn't. When I was first on the SV website I just used my screen name of gulfstream, with numbers that followed. At our studio, one of the young ladies, Samantha, began calling me magic Mike. We all had a good laugh about it. So, she continued to call me that.
Then the priest at our parish found out that I was pole dancing. After Mass one Sunday as we were leaving I shook Father's hand and he said, "Good to see you magic Mike."
So, I changed my tag to "MajikMyke."
In your project you may use my name, as well as my tag on the SV website. Thank you for affording us this opportunity to participate in your class project.
Sincerely,
Michael Egan – tag: MajikMyke
Retired / Senior Captain / Aviation Dept / Fortune 50 Company
Potomac Falls, Virginia
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Just be yourself during the audition and focus on the pole maneuvers that make you look good. Stay calm, focused, and always smiling with flowing movement. You'll nail it! Best of luck to you. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
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I don't find it particularly surprising that your guys; your husbands, or significant other don't care for pole when it gets up close and personal. If you're a couple then it's up close and personal.
For many men this becomes a masculinity issue. Guys are threatened by the unknown. Pole fitness is relatively new and many of you are at the forefront in this community. Your guys may realize that it takes an amazing amount of body strength and core strength to do what you do. That can be intimidating. Now we get to the confidence, positive outlooks, and assertiveness that I see in the women that I pole with, and again this can be intimidating to men.
Of course, as we all know there's the historical background of where pole's beginnings came from. Somehow your mission, should you decide to accept it, will be to make pole a non-threatening item in your life as a couple.
It would be interesting if more of the husbands and significant others who are comfortable with their wife's and girlfriends poling would speak up and offer their opinions on why they're comfortable with poling. I do think that PlatinumAni's three line post is right on the mark for anyone.
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Hello Everyone….. this is a really great thread. I'm impressed with how many people there are poling that are in their fifties. I also just began poling in January of this year. Like many of you, I am privileged to pole with a very supportive, assertive, and caring group of women predominantly in their late twenties to mid-thirties. I don't have the flexibility that the ladies do, but I get a lot of help from them with ways to improve my movement.
I was fortunate to have the assistance of three fabulous instructor's at the studio that I go to that helped me put together a choreographed pole routine in a six week time period for my wife's birthday. We've been married for forty-four years, and I wanted to really surprise her this year.
I am in reasonably good shape. During the six weeks of preparation for the dance I lost an unintended five pounds, and have kept it off. I have absolutely no musical ability, meaning that I couldn't carry a note if I had it in my pocket! Yet, when I get around a pole I can get the feel of the music. I can picture the moves that go with the music. Go figure! When I get around the pole it's like I'm a young kid again. I have continued poling after the performance for my wife, and she encourages me. The ladies at our studio have encouraged me. I'm finding that it's a great community.
I haven't purchased a pole yet, and therefore, haven't signed up for SV's classes. I do however, think this is a fabulous site. My experience when telling people that I pole has been a positive one. Many older guys have daughters that have taken a poling class, or are poling, and they're extremely supportive and complimentary. In addition to learning the sensual body movements for the floor work, the pole fitness work is a terrific low impact strength enhancement program in addition to my regular exercise routine.
I'm a guy, and I like poling. I'm 65 years old. And, no, I will not grow old gracefully.
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Veena, this thread was a wonderful idea. I read every one of the responses. I've only been poling for three months. My wife and I have been married for 44 years so here are my few insights:
Physical:
1. I love that I lost 5 pounds when I started poling without trying.
2. I love my abs and upper body for my age.
3. I love that my wife likes my body.
4. I love that I still have a nice head of hair.
Pole Related:
1. I love that I was able to do a surprise pole dance for my wife's birthday in a six week time period with the help of three phenomenal instructor's.
2. I love my shoulder mounts.
3. I love that I pole with the most incredibly supportive and assertive women.
4. I love that my flexibility is increasing slowly.
5. I love the feeling of confidence I have around the pole.
Emotional:
I love that my wife occasionally asks me for repeats of certain parts of the dance I did for her, and, most of all……
I love hearing her say to me, "How's my pole dancer this morning?"
