I was 11 when I fell in love with dance. I immediately became addicted to the adrenaline from performing in front of others, whether it be in my living room, a talent show stage or on a football field.
At 21, I was introduced to pole fitness. Falling in love with the risque dance moves and flexible gravity defying tricks, I decided to give it a go. This blog is to simply document my feedback, failures and accomplishments, ALL to better myself! Enjoy!
Today is wednesday, obviously. Because it's hump day, and you must know that. Half of the weeks bullshit is already OVER! Word to your mothers. Today was Rockin' Spinner with Amy at The Girls Room, Irving. Amy's classes are always intense, usually consisting of a nice burning warm up, and a challenging as hell trick to try. I seldom master the trick I learn in this particular class the same day I'm taught it, because it's usually pretty difficult.
Todays tricks taught to us were No handed cork screw No handed cork screw, No handed Spread Eagle Fooseball into tuck Fooseball into tuck, into Hello-Boys Hello Boys
Here is a little clip that I made, because I know you love that. I used this neat app called Splice, for my fellow bloggerz & pole sistas.
I am only holding onto the pole with my belly and the top of my legs. You can see towards the end of my cheesesauce video the little bruises I've already aquired in the couple hours passed since leaving dance class. You can probably hear me yelling a little, and cussing, because of the pain, but I tried to pick a loud and upbeat song to drown it out. Pathetic, huh! YOU try it! :) I am getting stronger and learning moves such as the won shown in the little clip challenge me. Love it! Today, I had a little victory.
Other things I've been up to...
I've been painting a 311 tribute piece for my coworker, Gary! Check it out so far.
Also, I've been making a butt ton of delicious, pescetarian dishes. Word up. Nut but aint no surprise :) Here are my cats (You're thinking, 'This check has cats, too!?' The answer is, OF COURSE I have cats.) they bid you GOOD DAY.
Ohla saucy people, Tonight is Friday! Hell to the yes. Haha. So, I've been feeling pretty sick the past couple days, and I'm pretty sure I have my best friend Pam to blame for that, But I still love her. I skipped out on work today, I was running a high fever until the morning but decided sweating it out at dance might make me feel better. So, I threw together my clothes and headed to the studio for levels 1-3 with Deseree at The Girls Room, Irving.
We warmed up with some squats, did some ab and upper arm exercises and hopped on the pole. We gradually learned a level 1 combination, which could be implemented with upper level variations. I enjoyed doing this lower level routine because it kept my heart rate up, allowing me to keep a good consistent sweat-exaaaaactly what I was lookin' for.
Mondays are usually a pretty long day, considering there's work and three hours of exercises to follow. This evening I attended levels 1, 2, and 3 of pole, then an hour long cardio class called Hip Hop Booty Pop, followed by another hour of Pole. And if you know me well enough, you know the first thing I did when I walked in the door was get to the stove. Eggs, green peppers, and brown rice. Not sure if it's the best meal combination choice, but it was in my fridge and it's not terribly unhealthy. Boom.
This evening was the first time for me to try Hip Hop Booty Pop, and I tried as hard as my white ass could try. Was I incredibly sexy? Meh. Did I sweat and keep my heart rate up? Oh for sure. So, imagine this white girl in leg warmers trying to "jiggle it to tha flo' ", and there you have it. The class rocked though! I'm already feeling it. I see an Epsom salt bath in my near future. We're talkin, 30 minutes, tops, kind of future. Any who...
Level 1-3 was when I had the most energy, so I took a little video of what we went over. Pretty much just all level 1 things. Although I'm technically a level 3, my classmates, teachers and even Aerial Amy has mentioned recently how important it is to master the most basic tricks to where they just seem, effortless! So, that's what I'm trying to do I suppose.
Below is today's combo, enjoy! Xoxo
Oh, and also...
Tomorrow I begin CAMP HERO! I'll definitely post after that, so yeah.
Yo yo yo, sup sup sup. Today, I feel a little gangster. That's only because a little bit of Amy rubs off on me after each class with her. Her awesome-ness is contagious, and you just excel when you work with her. She scares the grace into you. And you like it. ;)
Today's class was a spinner class. Cat's out of the bag, NO I'm not spinning that cool all by myself. Why did I just give myself away like that, dang it...
Today, we went over the simple straight hold that you see me do before each climb. I found it really hard, and tiring, to maintain a straight frame (none of that feet-swinging-to-the-side stuff) to the pull-up. Then there's the pull-up, Holy balls. That's tough, and I thought I was strong! HA.
I hope you enjoy today's pole sesh and take into consideration...
1.) If you're a non-poler
2.) If you're a NEW Poler
I've been doing this a year and I've gained a lot of strength through cross training and practicepracticepractice
3.) If you're an UPPER level Pole
Teach me your ways. Via anything!
In 2011 when I was 20 years old, I stumbled across a Groupon for a fitness studio in Frisco. I was lured to the coupon by the title, which read ‘$50 for 5 pole fitness class!’. My first thought was ‘Pole fitness? You mean, dancing while also defying gravity- YES.’ Considering I’ve danced pretty much ever since I’ve been able to use my legs, this sounded like a unique and affective opportunity. The only catch was that I was 20, living pay-check to pay-check, working high-end retail management mostly in the evenings. $50 to me meant food AND gas for a week would be budgeted, and I didn’t like that! However, putting my passions (and indulgence first I decided to buy the Groupon, which I’m forever thankful that I did.
During my first 5 classes I learned some of the basic pole fitness moves at the Frisco studio, where I met Claudia Rabago. Her positive energy and helpful attitude made a lasting impression on me, encouraging me to come to class although I was super ungraceful at the sport at the time. (Don’t hate-YOU go try it why don’t ya!) Although I wasn’t a fool proof level 1 pole dancer, I felt confident that I could hone the skill enough to nail some tricks while burning some fat. The 5 entry level classes came and went, but my enthusiasm remained high as ever. So there I was-Intrigued, inspired, and broke. Who wants to spend money on boring stuff like groceries when I could just pay for a pole membership instead?! Sigh... I had to wait for more money to roll in.
Practicing, why yes that's a puppy i'm dancing with!
1 year, a boyfriend and 2 jobs later I found myself wondering about pole fitness. Being a follower of the girls room and vertical fitness Dallas (two of the best and most well-known pole studios in the DFW) I was forced to see pictures of beautiful girls with 6 packs hanging from aerial silks and poles in my newsfeed on the regular and knew I COULD and SHOULD be there doing it, too! All it took was for my boyfriend at the time to say, in his low pitch, cave man, sloth talk to blurt “So uh, that pole fitness thing you used to do-It’s hot. You should like, do it some more”. To give myself some credit, my ex wasn’t a total idiot, you just had to stick around him long enough to realize it. So after bullying myself to quit being a cheapo, plus hearing my man tell me he admired a sexy hobby I enjoyed, I decided to splurge. I indulged myself for my new year. Indulging in fitness is a whole other kind of indulging. It’s like getting high on perspiring and building muscle. I loved it.
Ouch!
The day I gave The Girls Room my credit card information was the day I started attending classes. I wasn’t wasting any time! I bought myself a pair of pole shorts and hopped to it. That’s when I met Deseree, a patient and knowledgeable beautiful young grad student teaching level 1-3 pole fitness classes and workshops at The Girls Room, Irving. With it being my first time attending the Irving location, I was a little nervous about the environment and my classmates. But then again, after a whole year of hating myself for not becoming a member, I decided a few mean girls were the least of my fitness worries. To my surprise, not one girl was catty! I made a couple friends within my first few months and am continuing to build relationships.
One thing I learned about the beautiful women I’ve encountered through The Girls Room is that there’s no medium for normalcy here. I can expect to meet ANYONE at the girls room, varying from shape size and color. Women range from ages 18 to 50 in the pole fitness world, and like dating, in pole fitness age and pant size are just numbers. My skinny friends complain they’re not strong enough, and my curvy friends say they’re not light or graceful enough. Each excuse may be a valid insecurity for someone just trying pole dancing, but in the end it’s just an excuse. Like anyone beginning their fitness journey, ya gotta start somewhere. I see girls in the studio that I’m pretty sure are still drunk from the night before, as well as girls that sacrifice any and all alcohol to better perform for early morning poling. I’ve met teachers, nurses, business owners, stay at home moms, Mormons, atheists at the girls room. Despite the stereotype, I’ve never once met a stripper. And even if I did, it’s no one else’s business, but nearly everyone’s first concern. But let’s not get started on that, we will be here all day… Big girls, skinny girls and muscular girls all have a place in the pole world, which is seriously one of the coolest things about it.
Planking at The Girls Room, Frisco!
Another thing learned at my time spent at The Girls Room is thatnothing comes easy. Just after your first class you’ll be eager to get home for a long soak in the tub to ease the soreness. After your first week, you’ll had accrued a handful of bruises where you’re mastering your first spins. People say “Oh you make it look so easy!” or “I could NEVER do that”, but little do they know us pole fanatics have sacrificed much time, sweat, and perfectly un-bruised thighs to be where we are today. Pole. Is. Not. Easy. It is hard. Trust me!
I excelled through levels 1 and 2, and eventually progressed to a level 3 polerina. Before I knew it, I was poling in-between jobs and seeing my boyfriend every chance I got. If I was driving, I was listening to songs I’d later pole to. If I wasn’t poling or contemplating poling, I was watching pole YouTube videos. I found myself in love with three things: Painting, Pole, and my (ex) Boyfriend. My boyfriend eventually got sick of my newfound talent, as I eventually got sick of him being a cheating little man child. After being brutally dumped by my love of two years, I decided to take advantage of my newfound hobby and consume myself in a world of fitness and positive energy. I couldn’t let the break up break ME, which leads me to where I am today. Still healing, I continue to persevere with my passion for dance and channel my love that was once used on a man, toward something that can never break my heart, the pole!
Thank you for taking the time to read this, your time and consideration means the world.
In the future, you will hear more about my opportunities and future at the girls room.
I look forward to revealing some big secrets soon!
Some videos to feed your boredom.
Don't get too excited, some of these are sloppy tiresome footage of post practice combos.
Today is wednesday, obviously. Because it's hump day, and you must know that. Half of the weeks bullshit is already OVER! Word to your mothers. Today was Rockin' Spinner with Amy at The Girls Room, Irving. Amy's classes are always intense, usually consisting of a nice burning warm up, and a challenging as hell trick to try. I seldom master the trick I learn in this particular class the same day I'm taught it, because it's usually pretty difficult. 
