portableninja
Forum Replies Created
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My husband is interested in what I do, but I don't think strict "pole" is any more interesting to him than the other general fitness I do. He can see past the pole and look at it as something no different from yoga or calisthenics. We are both working on getting fitter and stronger together and the pole conversations usually revolve around technical details, exercise science, workout planning, etc. And while I have no dance background, it's sometimes fun to chat about the dance basics I've been learning through pole… flexibility, toe pointing, extension, etc.
The difference comes when it stops being pole fitness and dance and becomes more like burlesque – time to break out the clear heels, thongs, and booty shakes. My husband and I have been to plenty of strip clubs together, so I'm aware of how it all works. I've even considered the line of work and still do occasionally, but I always talk myself out of it because I know that not everyone at the club would be as polite, well behaved, and respectful as my husband is! (He's usually one of the most popular people at a club because he's friendly, tips generously, treats the dancers like people, and isn't a creep.)
The problem is actually me, not him. When I dance in an erotic way, I sometimes start to feel insecure because I don't think I'm as sexy as the strippers I've seen. It's one thing to be able to do strength moves and crazy tricks, but another to have stage presence and charm, and I think I lack both. I once danced a song for him "stripper style." I wore shoes, did a lot of sexy floorwork, and I removed clothing as I went. He really enjoyed it (obviously!) but I can't say I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would. I was really self conscious about how I looked and whether I was doing everything "right" based on the strippers I've seen. I think confidence is key, and I don't have enough in myself yet.
I feel like I need to work on the sexy aspect of dance separately from strength building and tricks. I love watching Veena's more sexy performance videos, as well as some of the users on this site who seem to really have that certain something. I want to have it too!
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If you're a paid member of the site, you can access the 30 day take off from the Lessons page. It's just above the beginner lessons.
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Just to second what chemgoddess said, you might want to consider a TG pole. I am a very sweaty person, and my hands sound exactly like yours. I first learned on steel, got a chrome, and finally just got TG. My grip quality has only improved with each material change. So far the TG pole has been awesome for me. I still have to wipe my hands down occasionally, but not after every move like I used to.
I have also used brass poles in studios. While brass was very sticky when I was dry, once I started to sweat I actually slipped more on brass than anything else. It may have been due to the brass cleaner that studios use to keep them shiny. It was really scary for me, so I was turned off brass for that reason. Other people love it. I have never used a powder coated pole so I can't speak for that finish. But I love the TG. It cleans as easily as a chrome pole (windex or alcohol) and once I got used to it, it really changed my outlook on what was possible for me.
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I second Lina's suggestion. I actually learned chair spin before gallop spin. Chair took a lot of work and a lot of mistakes to get it right. By the time I got to gallop spin, it seemed easy by comparison. Not to say either one is easy, I just think gallop is a better stepping stone. Veena teaches gallop as a beginner spin (she calls it the "prance") and chair as an intermediate spin. I would agree with those classifications.
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Yeah, don't let the X-Joint issue scare you out of buying an X-Pole, it's just one extra thing to check. If you aren't careless, it won't happen. I fully admit that I used my pole without checking it on the day it happened to me, and it hasn't happened since. The portability factor was way more important to me since we are so mobile.
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The X-Pole is made up of tubes (the actual pole surfaces) that connect together with X-Joints. The X-Joint is basically another, slightly narrower tube that you put inside the main pole pieces. There are holes in the main pole pieces and in the X-Joint. You put the X-Joint inside the pole pieces, line up all the holes and then use a wrench to expand the X-Joint inside the main poles. It expands and holds the outer pole pieces in position so they become one rigid piece. To take the pole apart, you twist the wrench the other way to tighten (shrink) the X-Joint enough to pull the pieces apart again.
Over time, an X-Joint can loosen up as you use the pole and rotate in place. If it loosens up enough to rotate inside the main pole pieces, then the holes won't line up anymore and you can't remove the joint the normal way. You then have to ram a broomstick into the pole to remove it (no joke, this is what Xpole recommends to do on their website.) This problem can be prevented with careful attention, and really you should be checking your pole every time you use it for safety's sake. Plenty of people never experience this issue, and I only had it happen once in over a year of use. But if you can get away with a one piece pole, it's one less problem to be concerned with!
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And to answer your other question, yes the Xpole is removable and leaves no trace aside from a faint ring on the ceiling which can be cleaned off. I leave the ring because it helps me reposition the pole. It’s very well made, though the X-Joint is prone to rotation which is a big pain when it happens. It’s the Xpole’s chief design flaw. My brand new pole hasn’t rotated yet, so maybe they’ve improved the design enough to remedy that issue.
If you own your home, I might recommend a one piece removable pole from Lil Mynx or PS. It is cut to your ceiling height and won’t have the X-Joint issues. We are renters and may move again, so I wanted an X-Pole that can be modified to fit a wide range of ceiling heights. It’s perfect for a pole that might move from place to place.
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I think any pole from Xpole, Platinum Stages, or Lil Mynx would be fine for you in terms of safety. It's more the cheap poles from adult shops that you have to worry about. I have never personally owned a pole other than an Xpole, but I know people who have the other brands in their homes and are very happy.
Many studios have permanent ceiling mounts, especially those that share their dance space with other types of fitness classes. The poles are removable but since the ceiling mount is anchored permanently, they are as strong as permanently installed poles. But a studio sees tons of people all day long, of all different sizes and ability levels. So the poles need to be tough.
My instructor did not like pressure mounted poles for studio use because she felt like they were not as secure and required constant checking for safety in a studio environment. But for regular home use by one person, a pressure mounted pole is fine. Lil Mynx requires drilling into the ceiling for the "plant hook" mount you described, but it can be spackled over. The Xpole does not require holes, but that's because it uses the ceiling dome to spread the pressure out across a larger area. A friend of mine has a removable 1-piece Platinum Stages pole that also does not require ceiling holes. I've used all 3 brands and while there are positives and negatives to each brand, I think any of them are acceptable.
Sweaty hands is a different story. I also have them and honestly, there is no magic solution. I will have to wipe the pole down frequently no matter what type of finish it is. I have used steel, chrome, brass, and titanium gold (all except powder coated) and I like them all for different reasons. A lot of if will be trial and error for you and figuring out what grip aids work best for your body. But a big mistake people make is mistaking lack of grip strength for sweaty hands. As a beginner you will slip on any pole once you are fatigued. You need to engage muscles and rely less on sticky skin. Different finishes may be easier or harder for you, but if you are strong enough, you can work on any material. There are some general tips and guidelines for finding the right pole finish for you that are outlined in the Flexines blog. But in my humble opinion, I think having the right sized pole for your body is more important than the material.
Hope this helps!
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I got a Titanium Gold Xpole for my second pole and so far I really like it. I’ve heard some people say it is really no different from chrome aside from the color, but in my experience it is. I find it feels stickier when the pole is cold and less slick than chrome or steel when I sweat. There are times that I get “stuck” on my TG pole and have to muscle my way out of a move, whereas on chrome I would just slide down as soon as I loosened up my grip. You might consider that instead of a brass Xpole. It is also a lot less expensive. To be honest though, I also went down in diameter so I’m not certain how much of the newfound grip is from that.
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This is a great thread. I have long hair, but I don't like wearing it down when I dance. It gets in my face and mouth, and sometimes when I do floorwork on my back, it gets stuck! I always felt a bit silly doing head flips with a ponytail or bun. Nice to know that dancers can still be sexy without hair flowing down the back.
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Jolene, I hear you on the sexual fetish thing. I'm actually a very sex positive person – I am always advocating healthy expression, and I would've made a great employee at Babeland or some other high end adult shop. But that's not what pole is about for me. A lot of times the first thing people say is "oh, I'm sure your husband must LOVE that!" Of course he does… he loves to see me happy about something, and we're both interested in fitness. We talk about the body mechanics and muscle groups used in pole all the time. Sure, he doesn't mind watching me contort my half naked body into crazy positions, but unless I'm specifically putting on a show for him, he'd rather be downstairs playing video games instead of watching me grunting and occasionally getting stuck.
The way some people react, it's like I just told them about my sex toy collection. (Jeez people, I know enough not to talk about those!)
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Yup. I'm a happily married, well-behaved professional who got straight As, eats her vegetables, says no to drugs and has never even gotten a speeding ticket. I'm also a bisexual Star Trek-loving pole dance enthusiast and pro wrestling fan. Guess which parts I typically keep under wraps in public, LOL.
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I'm out to some people, but not others. Generally, anyone under 30 knows that I pole, and most of them think it's cool. It's the older generation I'm more coy about.
I belong to a few different maligned subcultures, the pole community being one of them. All of my interests are the sorts of things that you don't generally discuss with grandma or the boss, even if there's absolutely nothing harmful or bad about any of them. It's easier just to keep the conversation about the weather and what cookies I'm baking and not bring up the pole trick I'm working on or the unusual show I went to or how I'm spending my time on the weekends. I don't want to deal with the questions, or have my hobbies be the only thing anyone ever talks about when they think of me. I don't want to be judged solely on being the "freak" in the family instead of just being a person with interests that skew outside of the norm.
Most people already know I do yoga, so if I attend a pole workshop, I just say it's a yoga workshop. Sometimes I feel like I'm living a lie. The only person who knows everything about me, and truly accepts me on every level, is my husband. The pressures of having to keep pole under wraps, and make up excuses about what I'm doing with my time, is draining. I'm tempted to just have a "coming out" day. I'm waiting until I have a really impressive trick under my belt so I can post a photo of it on Facebook. Like… "surprise!"
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If there's one thing pole has taught me, it's that body shape/appearance and strength are not necessarily linked. I have seen plenty of skinny, petite girls struggle to do things that larger women can do with ease. It's all about practice, practice, practice and building strength gradually over time.
The best thing to do is focus on what you are practicing and not too much on what others are doing. A lot of people in the pole community also bring years of experience in other activities (dance, yoga, gymnastics, etc.) so they may have a head start on certain muscle groups.
Whenever I am in a class and I see someone who is new, I always try to be extra friendly to them and give lots of encouragment. I remember how hard it was to be just starting out. Maybe someday you will be able to pay it forward to the next "new kid in class." 🙂
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Nice! That fan looks awesome. I have a Lasko tower fan that does a good job of circulating the air. I get pretty sweaty, so sometimes I'll just stop and sit down in front of the fan until I dry off!