The Anonymous Poler - May 2014 Blog Hop

This months Pole Dance Blog Hop topic is "Pole Dance and Social Culture." This is something that hits home with me tremendously. Currently, we live in a society that, in some regards, is progressive and accepting of many things different, but on the flip side, shuns the unknown and is terribly ignorant on topics such as pole fitness. Despite the ignorance, there is the issue of people holding strong opinions on things they don't understand. This is where I have an issue.

Pole levels: are we disouraging?

Poling levels seem to be varied depending on the studio one is at. There doesn't seem to be a consistent definition of what the levels are in pole. Some studios consider most basic spins to be level 1, while others consider them level 2. I have a DVD that considers and handstand on the pole a basic move. Some studios use the terms beginning, intermediate and advance. These discrepancies can cause confusion to the students, and can be rather discouraging.

I've gotten to the point where I dislike the terms "beginner," "intermediate," and "advanced." They do not seem to be descriptive of the challenge that pole poses, and they can be discouraging to individuals who are stuck in the "beginner" or "intermediate" phase. I know I got frustrated when I had been poling for 2 years and was still considered a "beginner."

"Stripping" the sexy: October pole blog hop

We all know pole has a stigma. Many of us hide our poler side from others in order to protect ourselves from job discrimination, family drama, being shunned, etc. Due to this stigma, there is a "sanitization" movement occurring in pole. I do not mean rubbing alcohol on the poles to get off our grip aid residue. No, the goal of this movement is to make pole more accepted in the mainstream world, by stripping out any element that ties pole to the exotic dance industry. But is this "sanitization" really necessary?

Should I use a grip aid?

This topic comes up A LOT, and it always brings up mixed feelings, depending on the person expressing the feelings. I used to advocate on the side of not using grip aids, as a beginner, with the idea that they could become a crutch. I have now had a change in my feelings, due to my constant fluctuations in body chemistry.

June Pole Blog Hop: Wish I knew...

Things I wish I knew before I started pole dancing.

This is such a huge topic for me. It seems that a huge portion of this blog is dedicated to informing others on things I wish I had known when I started poling.

The first thing I wish I had known is, that the 50mm pole I learned on was not for me. I struggled on that thing for 2 years before I realized I didn't HAVE to use a 50mm. I knew there were other diameters, but for some reason I went with what I knew. I will avoid 50s at all
costs now! LOL

#2: I'm not the only one with sweaty hands! I remember having sweaty hand issues in high school, when I was paranoid my flag would fly out of my hands in a performance. None of the others girl seemed to have this problem and I didn't get it. I now know I'm not alone, and that there are products made specifically for that problem.

#3: Not everyone will react to a pole in the same way. I had to try every finish out there before finally settling on one that worked for me. What worked for others, didn't work for me.

#4: Use grip aids if necessary. I didn't even know about grip aids when I first started. It wasn't until I found StudioVeena that I found out what grip aids were and what they could do.

#5: Pole shoes are addicting...

#6: so are pole clothes...

My goal with this blog is to save you as much frustration as I possibly can, in your pole journey.

Want more June blog hop posts? Here you go!

Grip Aids: Sticky

There are tons of grip aids out there for pole. They come in two categories: antiperspirants and sticky (for added grip). Below are some of the different sticky grip aids, most of which I've used. Not every grip aid is for everyone. Hopefully this guide will help you decide which one is for you. Note: I will be posting a separate post on the antiperspirant grip aids.

Mighty Grip:

Grip Aids: Antiperspirant

There are tons of grip aids out there for pole. They come in two categories: antiperspirants and sticky (for added grip). Below are some of the different antiperspirant grip aids, most of which I've used. Not every grip aid is for everyone. Hopefully this guide will help you decide which one is for you. Note: I will be posting a separate post on the sticky grip aids.

Tite Grip I: