Thanks for the info.. Male ploer here, I started around 30 but I've always worked out since my teens.. I am using X-Pole/45 chrome.. I loved the challenge those pole tricks offer and could do most of them..some look easier than they actually are and some are easier than what you think (Like the nose breaker/fallen angel).. It took me a long time to learn Ayesha and I was celebrating when I did it the 1st time lol.. My challenges were: my right side stayed stronger than my left.. Sweaty body/hands, as it made me break my combos to dry my hands and wipe the pole (I use liquid chalk as grip aid and it helps).. For dizziness, I tried spinning in reverse direction, as I heard from a pole dancer, and it worked.. Thanks about the jump up tip, gonna try it! I find climbing with just hands easier on the spinning pole... Thank you guys, you are awesome!

Thank you! I LEARNED SOMETHING! Jump up & down for dizziness. Got it. Less grip aid is better than too much. This was very helpful & I LOVED seeing you just talking & joking with your friend.

In Australia. I can confirm For most part we have brass poles...at least where I am. The studios near by all use brass poles. I poled while pregnant. I restricted what i did.and mostly stuck to dancy stuff but was at home with a belly still doing headstands holding onto something.

I can't use most of the grips because they contain alcohol and it's very painful for my psoriatic hands, so when I discovered the wax grip I was so fascinated by it that I totally abused it. It turned out that it leaves stains on the pole and if you catch it with a different part of your body than your hands, you have absolutely no grip and you fall 🙈😬

For enhanced grip, I use rubber dipped gloves. Makes cleaning the pole easier and less frequent and gives me a grip like spider man. I use full fingers work gloves to practice, fingerless fitness style ones in public.

I‘d like to correct #2 statement. The usage of a pole, or vertical bar, is first described as a sports tool for miners who hadn’t much space but found it rather appropriate to train their bodies in strength and stamina. Later in it was found in traveling circus. The woman would find their audience very interested in them dancing at a pole as an imaginary dancing partner. Only then the pole became the tool in strip clubs as we know it.

Only have anecdotal info about the coffee one, but one of my friends swears by coffee to prevent the bruises as she always has more bruises when she is not drinking coffee according to her. Don't know why that difference though

I started 13 yrs ago and my 1st pole (I still own but dont rly use) is a 50mm and nooooo Australia is *NOT* HOT WEATHER!!!!! FREEZING COLD 9 MONTHS OF THE YEAR!!!! There are poles that are spin only but getting rarer to find cos they are so expensive so everyone one buys the combo. :) poles in Australia at home most are stainless steel or powder coated actually the studios buy brass and stainless finishes. I've NEVER seen chrome is ANY studios here!

Injury no1 is shoulders and scapular, pulled hamstrings, knee injuries and BROKEN NECKS! Inverted crucifix is THE most common cause of broken neck!!!!!

As a bit of a nerd, I have to ask which average are you using for age? The mean, the mode or the median ? E.g. an OAP, in a class of 20 year olds would raise the mean (add them all up and divide by the number you have ) age but not alter the mode (most common) nor the median(middle one). I would say that at my studio most are in their 20s and 30s. There are lies, d*mned lies and statistics .