Newbie with a ridiculous fear

Pinkie Pip started this discussion · 9/13/2013

Hello! Just found this forum last night and I need some advice, or just a slap round the face really! I've been poling for 3 weeks and I am loving it, so much so I got my xpole last week. But now I'm learning more moves I've become terrified of friction burns on the pole(both in the studio and at home) I burned my wrist last week and it's thrown me a bit. I know, sounds pathetic. I can handle the bruising, I'm like a peach right now and I'm all good. But the idea of wrapping my inner leg round the pole and spinning whilst friction burns ... Oh blimey.

11 replies

Lee lee · 9/13/2013
I rarely pole on spin mode, but in terms of protecting your wrist, try wrist guards. There are pole-related options but I just bought mine at a sports store for basketball.
Koidragon · 9/13/2013
Pole burns (or pole kisses as I like to think of them) unfortunately do just tend to happen, but less and less often as your skin get's used to it. I got them a lot in the beginning and haven't had one in a long time... Just like the bruises, you get used to them and will probably end up wearing them as a badge of honour (or that could just be me...) Also you will learn not to grip too tightly on static so that your skin isn't catching as much - spin mode isn't a problem as you are spinning on the pole rather than around it (generally speaking). You did however say in your forst line you wanted a slap 'round the face... ok then... "Suck it up princess!" :P By the way, welcome to pole, it is a lifestyle that loves you back :)
Phoenix Hunter · 9/13/2013
I've been poling for about 6-7 weeks now, I feel your pain, literally. haha! it really does get better. your skin toughens up and you learn more technique that makes you not rely on your skin so much. I would be fighting back tears sometimes because it hurt but mostly because the pain was holding me back from something I wanted to do. For me, I just had to feel the pain and take a couple of rest days in between pole sessions or even work on something different. For me, the thighs are the worst. the pain was really bothersome because I didnt believe others when they told me it would get better. I was scared that maybe I am more sensitive to the pain and wont be able to do this. if your thighs hurt, rest, work on something else like spins. it really does hurt less as you progress. for now, it is gonna hurt. Also, make sure you technically understand a move before you try it. Veena's lessons helped me a lot because she explains what is holding you on the pole. I just wasnt getting it in class and my teachers didnt explain things that she explains. it is very important to rest!!!! sometimes several days ...
Pinkie Pip · 9/13/2013
Thank you everyone, you are all so lovely!!!
byrdgrrl · 9/13/2013
You might want to try sports tape or athletic tape instead of electrical tape. Sports tape is cloth based and designed not only to go on your skin, but more importantly come off your skin. I find that it also stays in place better for me when I'm sweating.
Paula Floyd · 9/13/2013
welcome!!! you will love studioveena! so on to the topic of your post. you are so new to pole, it one of those things that you almost have to take a deep breath and take enough breaks between practices to train your skin. it is part of life as a pole dancer to have....what i also like to call ..."pole kisses" working on spin will help at first. it is about training your skin. and it takes time. it will not happen at first. i posted a "training" video as i am starting to get everything back after over 6 weeks off. it shows my trick to skin tolerance. you can watch and try it out. it works for me! just remember as with learning new moves, we all learn at different paces, as do we gain skin tolerance at different paces, and have different tolerances for pain. i think it is important to train your skin, working on pole sits etc. i did get pole burn on my wrists twice doing spins when i first started and it sucked...but it goes away i promise, the burn and bruises are all part of journey my love! were right here with ya going threw the same thing.
LaRouge · 9/13/2013
Electrical tape will be grippy a bit more than you'll want,I think. I trends to grip to tight in bling hand grabs and get pole burn on my inner wrist. I like to just wear fingerless glove on that wrist, glove pushed down to not be on hand, or just snip the end off an old sock and put the tube portion on. You don't need protection so much as a smooth surface to glide over the pole. That is if, you are having the same problem I have, lol. I've never gotten a thigh burn, but I do have scars on the tops of my feet from climbing. That's when the electrical tape comes in handy. Gotta tape those bandaids on! Its not so much a problem once you've got the technique down, in the mean time- stick with it trooper!!! You can do it!
LaRouge · 9/13/2013
* tend to grip too tight in blind hand grabs P.S. Not a ridiculous fear! It hurts! But I think pole is worth it ;)
Pinkie Pip · 9/14/2013
Gosh, I love you lot! I'll be sticking around!
DaniandmoreDani · 9/18/2013
For wrist burns, top of the foot burns and shin burns, I cut the top of a pair of socks and use that for protection. Black of course --you know to be sexy. Works great and is washable.
hookedonpole · 9/21/2013
Totally understand! When I first started I thought "what the heck!" At first it was death grip (sometimes still is!) then later learning new tricks with different points of contact. Be prepared that as you learn and get used to something, the next thing may start over with discomfort and bruising. I have been practicing thigh hold or cradle to superman and it freakin' hurts, most because I'm not as flexible as others and it takes more struggle to get leg through to turn hips into superman. Anyway, as you see, you are not alone. Welcome to sv and pole journey. 🌸