Crazy Pole Issue

Talk about insanity!  Or something that you never ever thought you'd have an issue with, lol.

I bought my first ever pole in February.  I was so excited and ready to enter into the world of poling, but I honestly had no idea what I was doing, looking for, or needing.  I basically just pointed to a pole and said "I want that one" (bonus point for you if you get the reference and read it in the appropriate voice)

The deciding factor was honestly the fact that there happened to a flash sale on amazon, lol. 

So, I ended up with a 50mm xpole, portable, spinning/static.

Got the pole in about 2 weeks, we set it up and I was going. 

I'm not going to talk bad about my pole, it's a lovely pole, however.....I've had issues with it.  After some researching, I found out why.  It's a first gen xpole.....and basically, they had some problems. 
Ok, well, I can deal with them. 

The main point of my blog......I had a hell of a time gripping it.  My hands could get a decent enough grip, but anything involving my legs and it was (and still is) insanely difficult to get that "sweet spot" of a grip.  That "locked in" feeling.

It was frustrating.  So I was excited to go to my pole classes and try out a 45mm, see if that would work better for me, in terms of a grip. 

I was in for a really crazy shock.

My first pole class, and I asked if they had any 45s for me to try, they said they had one, but someone was on it at the time, so I was like, well, ok, I'll just work on my usual 50mm.  Walk up to the pole and HOLY HELL THIS POLE IS HUGE.

I'm sure I looked a little strange, eyeing the pole the way that I was, but this thing looked insanely huge.  I grabbed it with my hand and my fingers were no where near touching (unlike on my pole, where my middle finger and my thumb almost touch)  What was going on here?!?!?

Turns out, after going home all kinds of perplexed thinking they had insane giant poles, I was actually shipped a 45mm, instead of a 50mm.
O.o

Four months, and I never knew.  I'm assuming that one of two things happened 1.they fucked up, or 2. they didn't have any more 50mm in stock so they shipped a 45mm.  Either way, wish I would have freaking known!

And here is the truly interesting thing: I do so much better on the 50mm at the studio.  The grip with my legs is wonderful, no pinching, and I always end up with a locked in feel.  It's a tad harder for a hand grip, but I manage. 

My instructor has recommended that I put a lacquer on my pole here at home, it will give it more of a brass texture, instead of a chrome (which can get super slick at times).  So that might be happening on one of my next off weekends. 

I'm not sure where to go with the pole issue.  Can't return it, as it's been such a long time (and honestly it's my fault for not checking I suppose, but I blame being a newb).....and as for buying a new one, well, I would love to get a 50 (as I obviously do much better with that) BUT, the standard for competing is a 45.....so I feel as if I should become accustomed to the feel and grip of a 45....


I swear, this would only happen to me, haha.

On A Pole High!

I know that I have stated I been in a bit of pole burn out phase lately, and part of me was very upset that I couldn't find my pole love.  However, I knew exactly why I was feeling it, and couldn't really do much about it.  I had hit a wall, and was unable to progress.  This is why I sought out pole classes.

Yesterday was my second mixed level class.  The first class was ok, but there was a group of beginners and I was working with them, so while it was fun, it was same ole same ole.

I didn't really want to go, but with the encouragement of my husband, I did.  And I'm so glad.
There were no beginners last night, just me and 3 other girls.  One was my level and the other 2 were advanced.

We started out with some simple combos, and then the instructor helped me with my inversion.  I could get into the inversion, but once I had my legs up on the pole, I didn't know what to do, so I just slid down. 

This was the point I could get to. 
I was frustrated with my inability to progress past this point.
Last night, with some simple instructions, I ended up going down into the inverted crucifix, and then on to my handstand.  Basically ALL I had to do was slowly move my hands down, instead of trying to remove them all at once like I was wanting to do.
So, after her showing me this, I was able to

Yup.  I did that last night.  Over and over and over again.  I think I got to 10 inversions before my body said enough of that.  I was so happy I couldn't stop.  I wanted to immediately go text my husband, but I made myself wait until class was over.  I'm still riding this high today.

So while I was waiting for my body to recover a bit before I took on my next attempt at being upside down, I worked on my pole sitting.  Now, I have been fairly efficient at the basic pole sit for quite some time. 
This is the basic:

I do this frequently. I LOVE to just sit on the pole.  It makes me feel like a pretty bird, just perched up on her favorite spot.  But, I was ready to work on the next modified pole sit.  A bit more advanced that this basic form.  I was happily surprised when I learned that it wasn't that difficult and I, in fact, did possess the ability and core strength to pull it off. 

You can see that the hands are now off the pole, leaning into the hip that holds the pole.  Torso moves up around the pole, and grips with the underarm of the opposite arm to the hip.  From this point you can pretty much do anything with your arms (put them down, one up one down, etc) and I did quite a few of these last night as well. 

Personally, right now, I actually do like to hook my foot like the picture above when I move my torso, just to give myself the feeling of added security on the pole, however, I will work up to removing that security blanket as time moves on.

Finally I worked on my handstand.  Now, I can do a handstand on the pole very very well.  Even one of the advanced girls said they can't do the handstand, they find the iguana start easiest (aahhh)....My goal with the handstand is to go from a basic handstand position to sitting on the pole.  Lofty goals I know!  Major core work involved.

My instructor said that once I lock my legs and feel secure, I will be able to push up into the pole sit, in a fluid, quick burst action.  I attempted it but I never got the secure feeling from my leg/foot hang.  Removing my hands from the floor felt like certain death.

That was pretty much where class ended, so I am working on conditioning my foot for a foot hang

only, I will be doing this from a handstand, not as high up as she is, but it shows the foot hang for example purposes. 

Thursday I am going to a level 1 pole class, just to work on some basic spins.  Since I self taught, I actually picked up some naughty habits that would get me disqualified if I were competing, so the level 1 will be good to correct those, but only this one class is needed.  And if I get bored I can always do some inversions or handstands to pass the time. 

My intermediate class starts next Tuesday, which I'm excited about, and I'm also doing a pole flexibility class on Thursdays.  They have removed the mixed pole classes at night, so I will no longer be doing those, however, my awesome instructor will be doing my flexibility class. 

Pole Class #2

Tonight is my second pole class.  It's a different class than my Monday night one, but I'm not nearly as nervous and actually quite excited!

Tonight's class is a "pole workout" class.  It is more cardio based, and not focused on doing spins and poses, but more on conditioning exercises to help you increase your strength.  It's a pretty good class to take in addition to your usual pole class that works on your level of poses/spins/floorwork/etc.

The good news, my muscles have finally stopped screaming after my Monday night class, just in time to piss them off again! 

First Official Dance Class

Last night was my first pole dance class.  I was extremely nervous and scared that I'd be laughed at (that didn't happen by the way).

Due to the available class times, I signed up for a mixed pole class, which has different levels, beginner, intermediate, and advanced polers.  I personally liked this, as it gave me the ability to watch the more advanced polers with their struggles in trying new moves.  It's always good for me to have a reminder that everyone else doesn't just magically have these poling powers and I'm struggling.  Nope.  We all do, just on our own level.

I was not an easy student.  I am not a beginner, but I'm not at the intermediate level yet either (well, I guess I'm starting that level).  However, the teacher has never seen me, doesn't know my ability level, so she started me with basic beginner moves.  She was impressed and happy that I did well on my momentum moves, and the fireman.

The only thing she corrected with me was my climb.  It was messed up and she gave me a few pointers to help me.  Turned out, the way she taught me was easier and made much more sense.  A woman in the class had a conversation with me about climbing, and showed me a great move to work on conditioning to help improve my thighs, butt, and abs, to help my climbing. 

I did a really neat spin, I can't remember the name, but it's like an attitude, but instead of going straight into the attitude, your back leg kind of drags, and then when you hook onto the pole with the front leg, you pop your back leg back and then you slid to the floor. 

I learned a new move, which I didn't even catch the name of this.  The intermediate and advanced students did the move in air, but I just tried from standing.  It involved an underarm grip, and going into a V.  I did it successfully on both sides. 

Next week the instructor stated that she would help me with my inverting, as I described the issue I was having and she said it was an easy fix.  So, here's hoping, cause I'd really like to nail that.  Once I do I can officially start moving onto intermediate poses.

It will take probably the next month for the instructor to become aware of my ability, where I am lacking, and what I need "fine tuning" on.  I expected this, and I went in knowing that my first few sessions would be mainly beginner moves.

It was still quite the work out.  Almost an entire hour of me constantly on the pole.  I only stopped occasionally to drink, clean the pole, or to watch demonstrations.  (Ok, I did stop to watch the advanced group work on their shoulder mounts for a few minutes).  Before I knew it, the hour was up and I was on my way home.

I'm very very excited for next Monday, and quite thrilled to work on the new spin, pose, and conditioning move today on my pole.

Thursday I have my other class, which is more of a cardio class.  I'm so excited to go, and very glad that I signed up!

Officially Enrolled

Just got home from the dance studio, and I'm officially enrolled. 
The studio itself isn't too far from me, which is nice, and they charge a bit less than the other studios, which is even better.  It's small, but that's ok with me, I feel like it might lead to a more one on one ability. 

Basically how they do things is, they have many different available pole classes every week, and with the membership you can sign up for as many as you like.  (as opposed to paying per class).  The other studios around me had a set one class per week monthly fee, and anything over that cost extra.  (and they were already higher than this place).  So it's closer, cheaper, and I have the option to take as many pole classes as I want each week (like, I could potentially take 3 a day, 6 days a week, if I really was motivated to).  Yeah.  Best choice.

I came home and sat down and looked at the available classes I had to choose from.  Now, I have 3 kids, and while I wouldn't mind my oldest two coming with and watching, my youngest is still at that "can't be contained" age, and would bother everyone without proper supervision.  So, I have to pick classes that start after my husband is home from work so he can watch our tribe.

I found two pole classes that were of interest to me.

One is a mixed level class, which is for those who are past the beginner levels, which I am.  However, I am coming in as a self taught intermediate, so I may be corrected on my beginner moves, which is fine, if they need work, I'll adjust them.  The whole point it to learn.

The second one is a general pole workout class. 
This one doesn't really require you to be efficient in any level (so, like, I don't have to know how to do the Gemini or inverse crucifix) it just utilizes the pole in different ways in a dance style workout.  THIS will help with my floorwork, and help me when I am at home and trying to freestyle.  (or later, trying to choreograph something)

Both the classes start at 8pm, so I will be gone for about 2 hours total, twice a week. 

I'm having a mixed reaction to this.  I want to go out and do my thing, but I also feel bad ditching the kids onto my husband twice a week and basically saying "peace out! enjoy doing the dinner dishes!" (he does them anyway, but I'm usually in here talking to him)

He's very supportive and has told me that it's important for me, 1. because it'll be time for myself, for me to do something FOR ME only and 2., I need this to grow in my poling, and to eventually reach my goal. 

I have been told that the first few pole classes are hard.  I'm going in expecting a certain level of frustration and possibly feeling like I don't know near as much as I thought I did, or wasn't anywhere close to the level I thought I was at.  I'm ok with this.  I will not give up.  I have goals.  I have desires.  This is the first official step I have to take, and while it's scaring the crap out of me right now, I'm so happy that it's happening.

Pole Burnout

I don't know what is going on with me, but for the past few weeks, I have been in a serious funk when it comes to poling.  I haven't felt motivated at all.  No song could awaken my inner dancer, no amount of desire for learning a move could get me on the pole.

However, being the person that I am, I couldn't very well go that long without doing anything.  So, sometimes I forced myself to pole, which I hate doing, because I can feel it being shitty, and not coming from a place of enjoyment.  So, I decided to step away for a bit. (calm down, I'm talking like a week, ahhaha)

I think it's normal to have a burnout on something you do every.single.day rain or shine, without fail.  Eventually you just kinda wake up and go, meh.  And I love pole, so I knew I needed to get away for a bit, I needed to find that love and desire.

I couldn't allow myself to be completely void of exercise though, and I've never been much for the dvd version of cardio. 

So, I hit up my back room and decided to jump on the treadmill.  Jam out to my pole tunes and hit my feet on the treadmill in some old school cardio. 

Before I started poling, I was doing the treadmill.  I do enjoy my time on there, in a different way than I love pole though.  But before I started poling, I wasn't great.  I walked a mile in 20 minutes.  I was huffing it at 3.3 mph.  A bit depressing.

Well I got up on the treadmill a week ago and started out.  2mph warm up, turned out it was extremely easy....jumped up to 3.  Stayed there for 5 minutes and then jumped into it.  I felt awesome.  I went between a 4, 5, and 6 mph bursts.  Every 10 minutes I did a set of 15 pushups.  I did 2 miles in less than 30 minutes.  I had sweat pouring down all over, my legs were on fire.  And somewhere in that I started to really enjoy my songs again. 

I couldn't have imagined doing that before I was poling.  Noticing that change in my ability to do cardio made me smile.

Then I went back the next day, and the day after and did it all over again.  Increasing my sprint time by 30 seconds each time.  Yesterday I was running for a  full 2 minutes at a time at 6mph. 


I'm also going to check out the pole studio next weekend and to officially sign up for classes.  I'm not sure if I am going to have to start in a beginner level or if they will allow me to jump in at the intermediate class, but either way, I am beyond excited that I'll be starting a class!  I'll be able to go twice a week if I want, or I can go to just a weekly class. 

I know that the class will help get me out of my burnout mode, but the treadmill is helping as well.  Yesterday I was even thinking of pole routines when songs came on :D