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Learning To Fly
I was listening to Tom Petty the other day and got more than a little nostalgic when he crooned: I’m learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings Coming down is the hardest thing Yes, I am a child of the 80s & 90s, but more importantly (and less age related), I was thinking of how luscious it felt to fly around my pole for the first time (and every time thereafter). I remembered how much time I spent trying to force something that now feels effortless and filled with joy. Before, I would fight through my entire practice session, kicking and jumping into my flying tricks (a painful &…
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Why “The Other Side” is a Pain in my A**
Oh god. I am on a rampage. If I have to read one more pole article that says “if you notice pain in your wrists or shoulders after pole dancing, just make sure you use the other side” I might just scream. Really, no REALLY? Come on pole advice authors, please consult a physiologist or a book on progressive exercise training. You can’t just “use the other side.” You have to figure out where the injury came from in the first place or all you will be doing is INJURING THE OTHER SIDE! Even better, figure out how to avoid the injury in the first place. Proper Form before Playful…
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Pole Dancing isn’t just about the tricks
I was lamenting on the state of the pole dancing industry when someone asked me why I focus so strongly on being a pole DANCER instead of a pole TRICKSTER (someone who focuses on athletic pole tricks without transitions). Although I recognize how wonderful pole fitness can be when a woman develops her gymnastic ability and strength, I am not in that camp. I do not and will not ever just teach a pole trick. I believe it is the transitions between the tricks that connect a woman with her sensual nature, not just the trick itself. If I cannot evoke an emotional response throughout my dance, then I’m not…
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Going to Therapy and up Chucking the rules
I was reading an article from my sweet friend Poleskivvies about how posting videos to Youtube has made her suddenly body conscious and feeling the need for therapy. And I felt compelled to plunk my big ass down on the therapy couch right next to her. Jennifer says… “God, how I hate telling you this. Why? Because it’s a body image thing. And I’m supposed to be over that. I’m supposed to be all confident in how I look and never have a weak moment about it. Yea, right.” Now, you all know how much I love my ass. I talk about it all the time. How it used to…
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Unexpected Prose
[Sometimes a story mixes with life and becomes something else entirely. This excerpt from a story writing session might be something like that. But in the end, all stories are about the human spirit. Here’s a piece of mine.] I can’t hear myself think. I feel a deep dull thudding in my brain as if the machinery was jammed and trying to roll past something blocked, something broken. A metallic boom down in the bowels of my mind. Whose words are these? The questions of a questioner go unanswered. Where is the spark of my soul? Nothing is missing. There is no menacing evil within and yet fear fills my…
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Dance as you were, as you are, as you wish to be
Have you ever noticed how much we all tend to focus on the mistakes we have made, or the problems we might face. Our lives are filled with perpetual, consuming worries for everything except for what is happening RIGHT NOW. Take a moment and ask yourself if you really have any problems in this EXACT second. Not earlier this morning, or two minutes from now, or tomorrow. But RIGHT NOW. What are you thinking about RIGHT NOW… Do you feel the need to worry about something that’s happening later? But is it really a problem RIGHT NOW? Do you feel the need to worry about something that happened yesterday? But…
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All’s Fair in Love and Cellulite?
Kiki wrote: I was wondering about a good solution to hiding cellulite during a performance. I’ve seen pole dancers wear fishnets and even do advanced moves with them (inversions, etc.) I would feel better if I had something on my legs. Any advice? Dear Kiki, I totally feel your pain. I remember when I was 12 and had no idea what cellulite was or that I was doomed to one day look at my legs and literally think “eeewww” But before I show you some easy ways to reduce the look of cellulite I wanted to take a minute and rant about how The Rules have hurt us (women with…
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Cross My Heart or Suck My B*lls
I’ve been thinking a lot about The Rules lately. You know, The Rules that “help” you decide what’s right and wrong. The Rules that “explain” how you have to do this, or buy that, to ever have a chance to be beautiful, sexy, healthy, successful, or just plain average. The Rules that say you’ve got to listen to all the “experts,” go to college, and become a mindless drone in some big huge corporation that thinks your name is j88456. God forbid you want to have a good time in your 20’s. And forget fun in your 30’s or 40’s because your fucking 401k isn’t big enough yet. So just…
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Naked Inspiration, the Bare Essentials
Today I was reminded of how critical it is to pay attention to all the stuff you actually give a shit about. Otherwise you miss all the phenomenal experiences that life is trying to give you. (because sometimes it’s difficult to figure out what YOU care about when your boss, your peers, and the TV are demanding you do totally different things) So how do you know what is really important and what’s just bullshit? I started my day off by sharing this on Facebook: I’m going to quietly grumble in my cubicle this morning. :S (I couldn’t even manage to spell “grumble”) …and ended it by celebrating an evening…
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The Magic Eight Ball of PoleDancing
The world we live in isn’t black and white, it’s in vivid, breathtaking, awe inspiring color. But sometimes I wish it wasn’t. Sometimes I wish my daily decisions were as simple as.. Yes OR No.. up OR down.. this OR that. When there are too many options, too many possibilities, I get overwhelmed and stuck. Which of the gazillion things that I could choose is the RIGHT one and how do I know for sure? Do I always have to weigh each possibility in disgusting detail? Do I really have to agonize and worry over every damn little thing in my life? As a physicist, I know that mankind has…