[willio]

This has been a long time in replying, but I did have a lesson at pole control in Hartford when I stayed in the States in August, thanks for the tip off!! I had a great time Lela was an amazing teacher, really friendly and passionate about what she does and I loved her method of teaching. She really had great attention to detail and technique.  her students were really kind and friendly too and made the whole thing great fun, because although I am pretty strong on a static pole now I have never been on a spinny pole and the whole class was spinny and the girls were wearing heels – we just don't wear footwear at all back at my pole school.  I loved the whole experience and the studio was amazing, a brass pole each with a huge mirror and cute cubby basket things to put all our gear in and changing rooms too, I am used to a swaety old gym with no luxuries at all and three to a pole!!  I have a terrible shameful confession though….the whole spinny thing made me feel really ill and I had to run off to the bathroom half way through the lesson…so embarrassing! when I got back to the UK I had a masterclass with Natasha Wang my total pole idol and I told her I had been sick and she said it happened to her when she first started on spinny, so I felt that I was in good company lol!!!

Anyway, thanks for the great tip…I really enjoyed myself and can thoroughly recommend Pole Control, it was great fun!!!

[willio]

thank you! I’ll check it out! we are actually staying near Avon but Hartford is near!!!

[willio]

thank you! I’ll check it out! we are actually staying near Avon but Hartford is near!!!

[willio]

hi Veeners! I am from East Sussex in Hailsham and am coming over to the USA to visit my husband’s family on the 19th August. for some of the time we are in Hartford CT and for some of the time we are visiting Block Island. are there any Pole studios in either of these places? I’d love to come and say hello if there was! love Willio x

[willio]

I have used an R pole as my instructor has one and the comment about it not being very high is certainly true…I am barely 5ft3 and it’s frustratingly short. Also the one my instructor has is really unstable on things like reverse grabs, I have had it lift right up during spins, ( I do think though that my instructor did use to have weights that fitted over frame under the mat, for some reason she hardly ever uses it with them, I’m sure they would help!) The pink mats that come with them are really good, they are nice and big and we use them in class under the standard X poles.

[willio]

I am going to check my technique too as I am not a ‘bruiser’ except when I climb and after 2.5 years I still can’t point my back foot when I climb…time to get back to basics for me I think!!

[willio]

Hi there I would love someone to show me how to apply make up so that I can become someone other than me!!! I don’t mean that in a wierd way, but I struggle with my inhibitions whilst poling because, I think, I am a middle aged mum of 3 with shopping, cleaning etc to do and I have trouble shaking that off, so I would like someone to show me how to create a new persona or alter ego that I could hide behind when I dance!!!

[willio]

Hi Polefairy! Just having a cup of tea and looking at forum updates and saw your post, all of the questions are things that I have needed to know answers for too! I can really relate to Cheryl Licious.  I am 38, a mum of three, and although I did do ballet and gymnastics as a child it was badly and completely beginner level for fun. Since I had my children I felt I had really seized up to the point that touching my toes was a bit tight, and then I discovered pole 2 and a half years ago and of course like everyone else I want my splits to make the moves look nice!  I was so disheartened when I started stretching, I was so far off, but over the past year I have improved so much.  I basically use Veena's stretches and some advice from my sister in law who is a pilates teacher.  I am rubbish at sticking to routines and targets plus I have a busy life with my 3 kids, by the time I have done the school run, taken the kids to brownies, swimming, karate etc. then tried to get my 3 year old who won't EVER go to bed nicely I am just pooped!! but when I get the chance and the house is quiet I take a long hot bath and stretch before bed, and even with my eratic approach to it and my age it has paid off!  One thing I have noticed is that not only does stretching make you more flexy (obviously!) it seems to tone you up and streamline your muscles too so it's worth doing whatever you can, when ever you can! Just make sure you really warm up and don't over do it and just do what you can! I bet you'll see a positive difference and that will spur you on to stretch more anyway.  I see that at 22 you are a young 'un, If I can see a marked difference at my age ( and boy was I stiff!) then you surely will!

Ps I'm from the UK too, but way down in East Sussex by Brighton/Eastbourne so a bit of a way away!

Have fun x

[willio]

Hi JeHanne! My Bunions hurt so much when i walk any distance, but not too bad when i pole or do zumba at the mo. my appointment was cancelled today until jan the 4th. My doc previously said i should wait until the pain is so bad it wakes me up at night!!! But that could just be the NHS here in uk ( our health service) struggling in this recession!!! I have 3 children so it’s hard to know how i could be off my feet and i would miss pole too so i think i will hang on a bit… I must learn to pole in heels as i think hiding the foot will make me more confident! You’re feet look really pretty in your profile pic in those shoes! All the best ! Willio x

[willio]

I have horrid feet and i feel quite embarressed by them!!! My feet are small but i have tiny tiny ankles that make my uk size 4 feet look crazy big and i do not have beautiful arches – they are flat!!! My left foot has a bunion that is starting to fuse the bendy knuckles together, in fact i’m off to see my doctor tomorrow to discuss x ray results and possible surgery. I just feel they ruin the lines of my dancing and i can’t get my feet inpretty shoes any more- i live in frumpy comfort shoes and insoles!!!! I am doing foot excercises to improve my feet after i saw natasha wangs super flexy super beautiful feet at a workshop in london and i actually can see some improvement. Oh well, just one of those things i guess!!!

[willio]

Oooh hello everyone this is my first post on Studio Veena!!!  I was interested in your equine thighs post…I ride, not much now as I have 3 kids, but I used to event here in the UK which is dressage, X country and show jumping.  I now ride my daughters pony to keep it fit and train it for her to compete on, but I cannot afford to own a horse for myself at the moment plus I am so busy with my children and all the things that THEY do (pah!!!)  I find pole dancing is ALOT cheaper, and sort of gives me a little of the adrenalin rush that I miss from eventing!  I know quite alot of poledancers here in the UK that also pole and do it very well.  We seem to have good core strength to start with, but interestingly just last night a group of us got together to practise pole and do stretching and we noticed that us horsey girls had pretty poor flexibility when it came to box splits…I reckon it is because when we ride we turn every thing in and grip around the horse, totally opposite to say ballet or other dance.  One suggestion to improve our flexibility was to ride fatter horses!!!!…mmm not sure this is going to do much good lol, I'm sticking to Veena's stretches!  I think riders especially pro 3 day event riders are seriously bad at thinking about their own fitness and flexibility, They are brilliant at getting the horses in first class condition, but the riders barely even bother to stretch or warm up, let alone do any kind of physical training (other than the riding)  Here in the UK pilates is starting to get popular amongst eventers as a way of keeping in condition, but I think pole is also really excellent and really complements the muscles you use when riding too. I wonder if the British 3 Day Event team will start using pole as their official rider fitness training?!!!!!!