[Krista Bocko]

update…I have been seeing a dr (chiro) who specializes in ART therapy. Basically, in ART the dr shortens the injured muscle, finds the scar tissue, and while the patient moves the muscle to the end range, the provider is pressing into that tissue and breaking it up so that it can be reabsorbed by the body and blood flow can get back into the injured spot.

I have gone to 4 sessions and I’m in the clear to re-start stretching. I will be taking it super duper easy. If I can at least move my legs –pain free– even if I can never split well or at all, I will be happy (but I still want those splits). 🙂

Anyone with soft tissue injuries…I suggest looking for an ART provider!!!

[Krista Bocko]

Interesting..I too had never heard of ‘rotated ribs’ til a few months ago. I should ask my chiro about it to see what she says as well.

I feel a lot of strain on my ribs/muscles when doing the meathook, so I really limit how often I do it. I also agree that chopper before one is strong enough can cause all sorts of issues.

[Krista Bocko]

I noticed that too–the time stamp on the video changes, as to when the last comment was left.

[Krista Bocko]

I have never had a student or party-goer that had been drinking. Well, none that I could tell anyway! Funny party story…I once had a party where one of the women begged me to let her do a handstand against the pole. I said nope, sorry! She had a dress on, too. o.O

I find that interesting too, Chem! All of the pole events I have been to have served alcohol. lolol. I have never mixed alcohol and pole, personally. They are totally separate in my world. Well, I sure as heck will sit here at my comp and drink and watch pole vids, though, so I guess that’s not entirely true. 😉

[Krista Bocko]

At my old studio we allowed parties to bring their own refreshments if they wanted, and we ran parties like this:
Studio time and photos
Lounge for food and drinks

That way NO alcohol was consumed before or during the studio portion, and most of the time they never brought alcohol or food anyway, because they would be going somewhere else afterwards.

[Krista Bocko]

Just to be clear…I’m not telling anyone they ‘can’t’ do something. But I *know* that there are moves MY body just isn’t capable of, no matter how much I would like to.

[Krista Bocko]

I could never dx anyone, but i was wondering–bc cleo was mentioned in this thread and she is known for her extreme flexxy–that when watching videos of polers what one might notice that could point to EDS or hypermobility. Basically, what goes beyond the range of just having worked damn hard for flexibility into what most of us could never aspire to (or should aspire to) 🙂

[Krista Bocko]

No probs, meg…just realized I did not specify what I was referring to, lol. Sorry for your issues 🙁

[Krista Bocko]

I look for hyperextended elbows, and if that’s a sign of EDS it doesn’t mean that it IS, right? Or do you have EDS, megsmith? What are other things to look for besides elbows & scapula?

[Krista Bocko]

Wow, I have never heard of this. What are things to look for in students, how common is it, and who are some of the well known pole dancers that have it? Fascinating…..

[Krista Bocko]

Charley…hugs. What you said about egos really is true…and if we are honest with ourselves, I doubt a single one of us has evolved past ego. So, we have to try to let ourselves, our teaching, our students, our interactions, our strivings, be ‘enough’ for ourselves. Some students will do their own thing outside of my classes, and that’s ok. As someone who never had the classroom experience either, I did have freedom to learn from whatever sources and not worry about loyalty to a teacher or a studio, and though I like to cultivate relationships with my students and i genuinely care about them, or BECAUSE I care, I have to be ok with them seeking inspiration and instruction elsewhere. I’m grateful this was my experience (though I *did* want a classroom experience, but it wasn’t possible), and I want them to have that freedom too and not feel guilty…. because really it is no different than them taking a traveling instructor workshop–or take classes in another FORM of dance–if I would encourage that, or encourage them to take classes from other teachers in my own studio, or encourage them to explore movement on their own, it is only because I want them to grow as a dancer, just like *I* want to grow as a dancer. And that is the main goal we all share.

I also have learned to think critically through learning from different people–and take everything and put it in the context of ‘this doesn’t suit me’ or ‘this DOES suit me’ and try to leave behind the moves that don’t work for me. I have been at a point for a long time where I don’t try (or even want to try) every move that comes down the pike. If this whole pole journey is a metaphor for living life, that is the same philosophy I try to live by too….I’m not going to try to dabble in everything….I’m not going to ‘mesh’ with everyone…some will be my loyal and loved students (friends) forever, some will be in my life for a season, some will drive me crazy, lol, but I can’t control their actions, only mine…come to think of it, that’s also much like being a PARENT, I would go crazy trying to control my kids actions….so in that light, how can I be the best and most authentic person that *I* can be?

As for cattiness–yes, I have def experienced that in the pole realm. I have experienced that in the another dance realm too. One teacher–whom I took ONE class from–suddenly thought I was ‘hers’, and when I told her I was breaking into teaching, she became very upset and possessive, as if I was going to take ‘her’ students. Not even! We are so different! Which leads back to the scarcity thinking and the insecurity and EGO….it is a vicious cycle. This caused me so much angst. I couldn’t understand how, if I was a part of a community that promoted being so awesome and inclusive and giving, I would be shunned by someone that supposedly was the epitome of that. Then I saw that she isn’t any more ‘enlightened’ than me. Ultimately, we are all human.

Well, there are some of my ramblings…

[Krista Bocko]

Wow, Mari!! You are clearly a very talented and passionate teacher. I wish your ‘boss’ gave more to the studio and you to bring it up to your level! So I was wondering what happens to your long-term students. Since you said they are mostly beg/int, do you have some advanced? Or, after a point, do they move on to a studio with 45 mm/ spinning poles etc? I am sure they love you!

ITA there is enough for everyone. I wish all studio owners understood this!! As a teacher (or owner), we don’t ‘own’ students or anything else.

[Krista Bocko]

No mirrors currently. I have been through phases where i thought i SHOULD and went to the trouble of getting mirrors and lugging them in and out, but i dont like to look in mirrors when i pole. I prefer to video and critique that way.

[Krista Bocko]

Lol! Great to hear from you and good luck with your move, wow!!! 🙂

[Krista Bocko]

I am scared of heights. Im not very afraid at ten feet (technically 9 ft 8 since thats my ceiling ht) but im not crazy about working higher, lol. Good advice here. It does get better. I focus intently on what i am doing. For everything you really do need an ‘escape’ which really is just the exit out that you want to do, OR your bailout sometimes will be just holding your position and sliding to the floor or getting feet/legs/hands on the pole and coming into a position to either slide down or get upright.