[skramamme]

Oh honey no! The pole might be painful in terms of bruising and pole burns but it should always be smooth and have no parts sticking out, that’s just so dangerous and I can imagine it would be unbelievably painful too!
I accidentally popped one screw in backwards and, while it didn’t stick out, it did look more like your pics than when they are the right way in.
Xpole’s customer service is really good and they will help you they don’t want customers with scars on their legs from cuts as it doesn’t do you or their brand any good either, you know?
But that is definitely wrong, the screws are always either flush or sunken specifically to give you a smooth, uniform surface area.
As for training with the spinning, you really will get a much better feel for the moves if you learn on static and your grip will improve a lot more too as you’re having to work harder to maintain momentum.
Please let us know how you go wrt fixing the pole, I hope it isn’t too tricky.
Em
(btw I use leftie loosey and rightie tighty too! haha)

[skramamme]

You’ve got the screws put in wrong they don’t look like that at all when the pole is put together correctly.
Sorry, but you really should take it down and fix it because that’s just dangerous 🙁
Here’s a pic of mine;

[skramamme]

Thanks Tamarinda. My back is ok, just ouchy sometimes.
The hips are congenital, I have hip dysplasia.
I had a pelvic osteotomy on my left hip in 2012 where they break the pelvis in a few places and change the angle of the hip socket, then put in some screws to hold everything in place while the bones knit.
Unfortunately I didn’t heal properly so I had a second surgery in 2013 for bone grafts and extensive plating. Then a third surgery last year. And I will eventually need a hip replacement (probably on both sides) but I’m hoping to postpone that for at least the next 10 years.
So I am coming out of 3 years of very limited movement (spent a year and a half using crutches).
I’m just trying to get my strength back.
I worked in the clubs for many years (mainly before I had my daughter) so I’m comfortable with the pole, it’s about getting back into it and learning some new stuff… we didn’t have spinning poles when I worked and a lot of the really intense moves are new to me (lol I sound so old “back in my day poles didn’t spin!).
I could only do basic inverts, spins, helicopters, wrist sits etc when I did work, non of these shoulder mounts and handsprings, which all look amazing.
I am lucky to be 43 and still able to put my palms on the floor when touching my toes etc so I have managed to retain some flexibility, but my back is probably my most resistant area.
I am actually too flexible in other ways, my fingers etc are very bendy and I love to sit in a deep squat so I have to get that strength back so I can use my flexibility safely rather than accidentally going to hard if you kwim.
I’m hoping to be able to purchase the years subscription later this week, so I’m very excited to start the 30 days to flexi etc 🙂
Emma x

[skramamme]

Thanks Tamarinda, that’s a great stretch!
I like the instructions- I defintiely need to remember to tuck my pelvis in because I tend to walk and stand with the top of my pelvis tilted forward which pushes my lower tummy forward and arches my lower back.
It’s just one of those shitty posture things I have from having bad hips and I am working really hard at trying to walk with my back straight and my belly in and tucking my pelvis under my body… bloody hard work after a life time of walking/standing/sitting a certain way.
I also use a proper corset for tightlacing which is helping me to be much more aware of my back and how it feels to sit and walk properly.
Thanks so much for the link
Em x

[skramamme]

You shouldn’t have any bolts sticking out- that sounds like a real problem. The way x-poles are designed is to give you as smooth and uniform pole as possible.
There are 3 screws at around calf level to adjust the height of the pole but they must be tightened to stop the pole from unwinding. When they are tightened they go into the pole so there is nothing sticking out.
Could you maybe upload a pic? Because honestly it sounds dangerous 🙁
WRT grip, I also have a chrome pole and I sweat easily so I use dry hands on my palms which makes the biggest difference.
But you also need a strong grip- I find working with the pole in static mode to be the better option when I train because it makes me slow everything down to be more precise and also forces me to work harder to spin, which in turn will make me stronger and more stable when I do use it on spinning mode.
Hope that helps.
And honestly, it may look easy but holding onto the pole and spinning is actually much harder than most people think… so much of it simply comes down to practice practice practice. After a while you will start to hold your body weight on the pole for longer periods of time and it *will* get easier 🙂

[skramamme]

My daughter took this photo on my second day of stretching after 3 years of absolutely no stretching or physical activity except physio for my left leg.
I almost have my knees on the ground- the only thing that’s tricky is my boobs get in the way with this lol but I suspect I am naturally flexible if I can move this easily so quickly.
My lower back is just a bit touchy because my posture is so bad due to a sway back and some mild scoliosis.
The second pic I do something similar where I lie on my tummy and grab my feet and pull them towards my head- so like the photo but lying down rather than kneeling (I’m bad at describing stuff like this, sorry).
Please excuse the worlds ugliest PJ bottoms- they are super warm and comfy but butt ugly haha

[skramamme]

Yeah, I can sit like that for minutes at a time, it’s very very easy.
I feel the stretch when I do a full bridge in my abs too but I think the main issue for me right now is arm strength.
I am doing cobras every day and also doing them where I put my arms up on my coffee table and push my chest backwards.
I suspect it’s more a strength thing- I’m just being impatient 😉

[skramamme]

Bridges make the small of my back hurt a bit too much, plus the strength in my arms isn’t there yet.
I’m looking at more beginner back stretching- I’ve been doing the cobra and the one where you lie on your tummy grab your feet behind you (I like that I can rock doing this too, like a rocking horse haha).
But these seem to put the main pressure onto my lower back… hmmm.

[skramamme]

@iceselkie thanks, but believe me, there have been many, many days where I ended up sleeping 16+ hours, only leaving the house to take my daughter to and from school (ok, that last one is still kinda true).
That’s actually why I ended up buying a pole- it gives me a way of taking advantage of the periods where I *do* have energy without the anxiety of having to get dressed and go somewhere.
As for the diastasis, I’m not even sure if I have it any more but I’m prone to it- I have a genetic thing that called EDS that effects connective tissue so I have scoliosis, flat feet, can touch my nose with my tongue, have hip dysplasia and have oddly flexible fingers etc.
I didn’t know I had it until a few years ago (after my 1st surgery failed to heal properly) but it explains why I developed diastasis with such a small pregnancy and developed a heriated bladder through the same area after my second orthopedic surgery (they went in through my old caesarian scar and plated so much and had to move so much to get in there that it accidentally opened up the gap again… it was huge!).
But they fixed the hernia last year so they may have helped to surgically close the diastasis also as it’s the same area, although I’m not 100% sure about that. I *do* know my bladder doesn’t stick out the front any more, so at least I can wear yoga pants without looking like I hid half a grapefruit down the front of my pants haha
Thanks for the link and I will definitely ask my GP to have a feel next time I see him- hopefully it’s gone as I’m kinda over having yet more physical issues- my mental ones are more than enough to keep me occupied hehe 😉
Thanks again, you’re all so informative and kind here, it’s very much appreciated
Em x

[skramamme]

Also, flexibility can be learned- some people are more bendy for sure, especially if they have a background in dance &/or gymnastics. but look at advanced yoga poses- they are incredibly complex and lots of people don’t start yoga until their 30’s or older.
I find stretching while I’m watching telly is really helpful as I am focusing less on the discomfort and more on something else, and I’m not as focused on holding the stretch for a certain amount of time etc.
there are tricks too- like getting into a stretch then tightening up all your muscles for 30 or so seconds (it’s hard!) and then letting it all go loose with a nice big breath out and you will find yourself sinking deeper into the stretch, then hold for a bit, ease up and do it all over again 😉

Al Kavadlo has lots of great info on stretching and body weight exercises as does a Russian dude called Pavel Tsatsouline (just ignore all the “Comrade” stuff, he’s ex Russian army I think).
“Relax Into Stretch” is his book- I just found a torrent for the PDF but want to buy the video now because it’s really informative and clever.
He also has methods of overcoming your body’s stretch reflex where it will stop you going deeper into the stretch to protect the muscles and ligaments, but obviously you need to be extremely careful with that sort of stuff, but it can work.
Hope that’s of some help
Emma

[skramamme]

Honestly? Practice practice practice- from what I can tell (and from all the forums I’ve read) this site is the best online pole lesson site, so I’d give it a go 🙂

[skramamme]

Awesome, I googled it and just needed to enable HTML5 on my firefox browser. Thanks so much, this is so helpful 😀

[skramamme]

Dustbunny hahaha, yes, all those little kids doing this move and I’m like this giant huffalump with absolutely no skills rofl
Thanks for the tips everyone 🙂
I’m not sure if I can heal the split muscles as it’s been 11+ years since they went but I’ll definitely ask. At least I can’t push my fingers between them any more haha, that was pretty full on and gross 😉
And yes, when I get this there will most definitely be a picture! At least I can do handstands against the wall etc so I’ll start doing some pike pushups and so on- I want to do this move *determined face*

[skramamme]

Oh, I don’t get that option! I only get the image quality… huh. That’s really strange. Maybe an American thing? IDK

[skramamme]

Aww thanks 🙂 Everyone here is so supportive, it’s great.
And yep, I’m determined to get it, so I will (at some point haha)