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FWIW, I sometimes have to log in twice when I use our tablet to access StudioVeena. It'll be the same issue as on my laptop (direct links and email links will prompt me to log in again) but I actually have to submit the login form twice on the tablet before it works. Something must not be sticking. It's running Android 4.2.1.

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I had trouble getting through to Xpole a while ago using the generic emails on their website. I finally called them and they apologized for it, saying they're still trying to fix the problem with their email system. Maybe they still are. If you need a quick answer I recommend calling them.

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Something that worked for me was practicing flow and mindfulness in other aspects of my life. It's hard to just turn it on while you're dancing if you don't practice it at other times, where you're less concerned about how you look. So the next time you go for a walk, coordinate your steps with your breath. If you do flexibility training, try to flow mindfully from one stretch to another and treat it like a form of dance. Or try tai chi or a "flow" form of yoga.

Another good exercise is putting yourself in a position and just playing around. It can be standing next to the pole, on your knees next to the pole, lying on your back. And just experiment. Think of as many ways in and out of that position as you can… and try them all. Don't worry about if they look silly, and don't take videos to start. That's not the point at first. Just get comfortable with the many different ways you can move your body. After a while, you will begin to learn which movements feel most natural for you. The body moving naturally leads to more "flow" than following choreography designed by someone else. Once you know your own body and its preferences, you can choose choreography that suits it, or begin to train yourself in new patterns.

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Funny, an audience always helps me. I'm a big chicken (and a big baby with regard to pain) when I'm by myself. But someone's there to see it? Hey, look what I can do!

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That sounds like a fantastic plan! Powder coat + steel both sound like good options. Yes, brass makes your hands smell, which is another reason I don't like it. I'm a klutz too, so I hear you on needing a durable pole. Especially with shoes 🙂

I don't own one, but from what I gather, the StudioVeena pole mounts just like any other Lil Mynx rotator pole. So I think you should be able to use the same plant hook ceiling mount with a Lil Mynx stainless if you choose. (Veena can tell you for sure.)

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Count me in as also scared of CAR due to sweaty legs and inconsistent grip. I feel completely secure in CKR and have for a long time.

I let the fear of CAR prevent me from progressing further in my pole journey for a while because I knew it was the foundation of a lot of other cool things like brass monkey, iguana, etc. I wanted to master it and make it second nature like CKR. But after hearing some other people's stories, I realize that it just may not be a compatible move with my body. I'm trying to learn how to adapt to using CKR instead, like Serzi said. It requires more back flexibility in my case, but I'm willing to build that in order to feel safe!

I don't have straight edge/ayesha yet, but even the prep (caterpillar climb) is scary for me. My hands and arms just don't have it secure yet, and I'm too scared to take my legs off the pole even for an instant, much less hold the position. But I remember being scared of other moves too, and now I can do them. So there's hope for me yet!

I've also never learned a drop, and feel a bit nervous about the idea of anything but a feet-first drop (like the sad girl, I think it's called?) The idea of intentionally dropping my head towards the floor first at the speed of gravity just makes me shiver.

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My husband refuses to try any sort of pole trick other than a flag for this reason… I always tell him it hurts just as much to bash your lady bits on the pole, and ideally it should not be happening for either sex!

Oh well… his flag is a lot better than mine, and so are his handstands! Maybe someday he can do handsprings or a split grip invert into extended butterfly. 😛

 

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chem I don't know where you found that photo, but it pretty much sums up how I felt when I first learned this move. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

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Further proof that everyone is different, there is no one size fits all for everyone, and sporting goods stores need to start carrying poles so that you can demo the floor models. 🙂

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I can't believe how much the TG has helped me begin to land some "sticky" tricks like teddy, star, half flag and now the beginnings of a jade split. With chrome it wasn't happening unless I had the perfect recipe of body temp, skin condition, and pole temp. I didn't feel like a very good poler if I could only do tricks under ideal conditions. I know chrome is often recommended for beginners, but I found it so frustrating. I have heard that the Xpole stainless isn't much better, which sounds like your experience too. But I think the other two companies' steel poles are nice (you have all of them, right?)

I stick like glue to the TG, but that means it beats me up! I get crazy bruises and calluses now.

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I also recommend giving a stainless steel pole a try. I think it is a great all around finish. I am also a heavy sweater. I love my TG pole, so I must not have quite the same type of skin as you do. But I also really enjoy working on stainless steel. I felt it was much easier for me to use than brass. When my skin is dry, brass is super grippy, but once my sweat kicks in, a brass pole might as well be covered in sunscreen. So I could go from mega grip to zero grip in the span of one pole session (or even the beginning of an aerial combo to the end). I never had that problem with dramatic changes when I used to attend a studio with stainless steel poles.

I have poled on both Platinum Stages and Lil Mynx stainless and enjoyed both finishes. I have never tried the Xpole stainless finish so I can't speak for it. My first home pole was an Xpole chrome and I swear I spent more time worrying about my grip on it than actually practicing. With the TG I seriously just get up and go, and same with the steel poles I've used.

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A common joke/gripe among yoga teachers is that people always say they would love to go to yoga class but they don’t want to because they’re not flexible. It’s just like… that’s why you go! To get flexible! 🙂 Everyone has to start somewhere and that goes for all things. I will say that a lot of Veena’s stretching lessons have similarities with yoga, so if funds are an issue, doing the stretches here will be really helpful too.

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No problem! Everyone here on StudioVeena is here to help. It’s a great community for that reason. 🙂 If you have any specific questions about a stretch or any lesson, post a comment on the lesson page and Veena will get back to you about it.

If you have existing hip and back issues, then definitely be mindful of them. You may find that careful stretching may help improve certain types of pain, as will staying active in general. One thing I found that was really complementary to my pole practice was practicing yoga. It really helps me build my flexibility while focusing on proper alignment. It has really improved my body awareness in the parts that we don’t think about as much in daily life – shoulder stabilizers, hip flexors, etc. That has translated to improvements on the pole as well. If you can check out yoga or Pilates classes or videos in addition to pole, I highly recommend it for cross training. Good luck!

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The general idea behind contraction during stretching is that muscles work in pairs. Think about triceps and biceps, quadriceps and hamstrings, etc. If you contract one half of a paired muscle group, it will help relax the opposing side. So Veena may say to contract your quadriceps (front of thigh) while you stretch into your relaxed hamstrings (back of thigh). It is useful to help ensure you’re not trying to stretch a tensed muscle.

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Being naked is awesome! I think I belong in Europe where there is less taboo about nudity. It's a comfort thing for me. There are times I get out of the shower and don't put clothes on right away because I need to first dry my hair and let the lotion soak in and stuff… and then that turns into a couple of hours. Suddenly it's lunchtime and I realize I'm still naked. I'm going to be in so much trouble if I ever stop working from home…