[poledanceromance]

Disclaimer to those knocking removable poles…I have seen male polers do their worst on *properly installed* removable poles. The key to any pole designed for acrobatics is proper installation. I know Veena herself had a fall from a permanent pole that was not properly installed. A properly installed x-pole will always be stronger than an improperly installed permanent pole. And the nice thing about xpole is that they are great at solving logistical problems and have creative and sturdy solutions to most problems. They’ve seen it all.

[poledanceromance]

I dealt with that company and those poles for the studio at which I teach. They wasted our time, wasted our money, sent us broken, damaged, and dangerous pieces. Half the pieces of the poles are made of plastic. They will tell you not to worry because “it’s bullet proof plastic, it’s strong enough!” What they won’t tell you is that they coveted that plastic in chrome coating, which doesn’t stick to plastic. Especially if you’re in a humid environment, it will bubble and peel and the adjustors cover will become RAZOR SHARP. I’m talking your thighs bleeding all over everything sharp. And don’t bother buying it if you thought you were getting a “removable” pole. They use shoddy threaded joints which gap and don’t fit together well, and will become so stuck together even with regular cleaning that not even strap wrenches will get them apart.

Then, when you call customer service and tell them all this, they will tell you that it’s your fault for whatever reason. If you wind up buying from them, be fully prepared to spend hours on the phone, and go through at least three poles worth of pieces back and forth in the mail to actually get one semi-working pole. And after all that is said and done, the pole you have will not feel as sturdy as an xpole. I put both up next to each other to compare, and the PS felt like a toy.

Let’s put it this way. I hate chrome. I hate it to death. It is my least favorite of all finishes. But xpole makes quality products, and I’d rather have good engineering and need to use tons of grip aid than cope with shoddy product that doesn’t function as it should. In the meantime, if you like stainless, I STRONGLY suggest you contact customer service at x-pole and tell them that if they make a pole in stainless, you’d buy it. There are quite a few people out there who prefer stainless, and I feel like the only way x-pole will start working wiu it is if we show them how huge the interest in that finish really is.

[poledanceromance]

First I would suggest a really good side tie/side scrunch short that has a little more fabric in the crotch yet can still let you show some booty. If you can keep that really sensitive area covered it helps. I know I need a little “wider” fit in the crotch than what works for some. If you don’t mind having the booty covered, the poleskivvies shorts are loved by all and fit snug but not tight at the top of the thigh.

Secondly, I would discontinue use of grip aids on the pole itself if you are using any. It is a biohazard issue if you’re in a class situation and you are bleeding. Not just that you could make an immunocompromised person sick, but that also is a point of entry for you that could make you sick. If your home pole is brass or tg, try chrome or one-piece stainless. I find stainless to be the best for hand grip for me anyway, and other metals can be painfully sticky on my body. I’ve never had my skin tear, but I’ve actually had whole patches of skin ripped off my feet. If the issue is your pole getting too warm, try dancing for a song and then stretching for a song, alternating so your pole doesn’t get too hot. And of course, if it’s just getting too hot where your hands are, switch it up and focus on trying to make contact all over instead of just where your top hand rests. Hope any of that helps!

[poledanceromance]

Just popped in to say I’ve had my divacup for a year now and I love it. It has saved me literally hundreds of dollars and so much stress. It’s completely changed my life because of other issues I have with my cycles…this is seriously a freeing device for me. Anyone considering it…the potential for gain is so huge. And the only thing you might lose is $20.

[poledanceromance]

I always wear undies with my shorts. Usually a “sporty” thong. I find not only is it more comfortable, but also that the right pair of underoos can keep my shorts in place better so they don’t shift around and create the dreaded camel toe or ride up anywhere.

[poledanceromance]

If you’re in the united states, report them to the Better Business Bureau. You might actually get your money back with them.

[poledanceromance]

Always go for height. It's so much easier to find solutions for flooring issues than for engineering ones! Plus, you can always put packing tape on the bottoms of your heels and trick yourself into thinking you're on hardwood in socks. 

[poledanceromance]

I do still want to do it. I ended up moving and had to abandon the idea with so much else to do. But now the question is: do big box hardware stores like Home Depot carry lengths of pole in workable finish like powder coat, chrome, or polished solid brass or ss…or is that the sort of thing I’d have to special order from some kind of specialty warehouse or metalworker? Once I get a sense of how much this costs, I can figure out what the timeline for the project will be.

[poledanceromance]

I have said this before and I don’t want to do so aggresively or in a way which directs any personal disrespect to the people at ps. I know they are very dedicated to their business and many aspects of the pole community. But I reccomend anyone against buying ps poles as strongly as possible. The customer service is surpassed in its atrocity only by the quality of the poles themselves. The decision to install ps poles at the studio where I teach was a serious business mistake and a huge error in judgment on my part. The only reason I even considered it in the first place is because I cannot overstate my preference for stainless steel above all other metals. And in that regard I love ps. They’ve been grippy as hell for me. But otherwise, they’ve been a nightmare. I think there has been a recent change in the way the company does business, and maybe this is their error in judgment.

That said, I hope that ps can improve their company or that x-pole will release a polished stainless model, because it’s absolutely the only metal I can grip.

[poledanceromance]

Veena I agree…and the look on his face says it all. This kid is definitely being pushed too hard. Responsible fitness goals for kids deal with solidyfing lifelong healthy habits; what’s the point of making a kid train like this if it results in lifelong hatred of fitness and training? And we, as adults, choose to engage in a sport with a high rate of soft tissue injuries of varying severity. Some of us have already altered our fitness routines because of the impact our bodies take or injuries we sustained in the past. But a 6 y/o can’t understand and choose to accept that risk of injury. You CAN get hurt doing any activity, but this training is much riskier for a child’s body in terms of potential for permanent damage than other activities more geared towards kids natural abilities. He doesn’t have refined muscle control…he was working hard to hold that at times. Too hard.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to engage with sports as a kid…but he’s 6. At six, kids should learn and be active primary through play-based activities.

[poledanceromance]

Seriously, watch a few episodes of What Not to Wear. Go for straight leg pants and jeans that go from the widest part of your hip straight to the floor. Always go with shirts and dresses that define the smallest part of your waist with a belt, or put belts over things at the smallest part. Always fit the biggest part of you and tailor down; having clothes taken in is actually not expensive. So you might have to go up a size in pants to get a good fit in the thighs or bust and make a few minor adjustments to get that perfect fit. Keep “completer pieces” in your closet like great jackets, vests, and cardigans in fun colors and patterns. Especially for curvy women, a great jacket/blazer is a must because it will define and control your shape; generally If you are curvy you need to look for clothes with a lot of structure. That means darting to define the waist, good seams around the bust, and darts to define the curve of the sides and back. Here is the distinction:

It’s not you that doesn’t fit the clothes. It’s the clothes that don’t fit you. Clothes are designed for the average of women’s sizes and not any one shape in particular. So don’t expect your body to change to fit the clothes. Change the clothes to make the most of your body.

[poledanceromance]

**And I should add, the appropriate response to a genuine complement is a simple smile with eye contact and a confident "thank you!" No need to giggle, look away, or act shy in the face of praise. In fact, some people will think you're stuck up if you react submissively to complements because you are, in effect, rejecting their praise and thus their attempt at building an emotional connection. Besides, there's no pressure in random strangers giving you complements because you might never even see them again; and there's no pressure in people you're close to giving you complements becase, hey, you already knew they liked you or you wouldn't keep them around!

[poledanceromance]

I like to think kind of philosophically. We all have rights insofar as those exercising those rights doesnt injure or threaten others. If you consider being happy, confident, and emotionally secure in one's person to be a right (and I do) then you exercise your right to exude that confidence as long as you're not hurting anyone else with it. On the contrary, you can say that we all make certain emotional commitments to the people closest around us, be that a boss, boyfriend or a spouse or child or best friend; and the best way to be available those around you and ensure you have the emotional fortitude to fulfill those commitments is to take care of yourself first to preserve your ability to do so. This is why I like the show What Not to Wear…they emphasize that good presentation and self-confidence are absolute musts if you want to achieve your goals and engage with those around you. They also emphasize that, if your confidence is not up to par, simply presenting yourself as best you can is a quick way to boost it–you can't help but be confident when you see the positive reactions you get from people just from presenting yourelf well. 

[poledanceromance]

I like to think kind of philosophically. We all have rights insofar as those exercising those rights doesnt injure or threaten others. If you consider being happy, confident, and emotionally secure in one's person to be a right (and I do) then you exercise your right to exude that confidence as long as you're not hurting anyone else with it. On the contrary, you can say that we all make certain emotional commitments to the people closest around us, be that a boss, boyfriend or a spouse or child or best friend; and the best way to be available those around you and ensure you have the emotional fortitude to fulfill those commitments is to take care of yourself first to preserve your ability to do so. This is why I like the show What Not to Wear…they emphasize that good presentation and self-confidence are absolute musts if you want to achieve your goals and engage with those around you. They also emphasize that, if your confidence is not up to par, simply presenting yourself as best you can is a quick way to boost it–you can't help but be confident when you see the positive reactions you get from people just from presenting yourelf well. 

[poledanceromance]

She’s describing an original x-pole. I bought mine used as well. Nothing to worry about at all if you know what to look for. The “bigger base” is the standard plate. Many people elect to purchase the smaller base and use it instead, which is probably what you’re used to seeing. If you want to make sure it’s real, ask her to take a few pictures for you. You definitely want to see the little “X” marks on the base and the inside part of the top dome to make sure it’s metal. If she can give you those, it’s almost definitely real. Because this is an original xpole, I would also suggest that when you see the pole in person–and before you buy it–inspect the holes on the A and B sections where you insert your chopsticks. If the pole has been badly installed/removed without the removal tools, the edges of the holes will be rough and could cut you. Also inspect the threads on each end in addition to the chopsick holes and make sure the chrome isn’t peeling off anywhere as that cannot be repaired. And of course check for any deep scratches or swirl marks from heels or rings. Lastly, roll each segment on a flat surface to make sure none of the pieces are bent. If that all checks out, you’ve got yourself a great pole! It couldn’t be an x-pert btw as those just came out in the past year.