[Maria_T]

Utah = you…auto correct strikes again!

[Maria_T]

Sarah Jade is awesome!!! I really wish I could do that camp abd the Fly Gym trainer certification camp. I think you should definitely perform! As Chem said, Utah you will be nervous and might need up but remember, the audience does not know what you are planning to do so if you need up a little just play it off like you meant to do it and they probably won’t even notice. Yes TWERK it!!! You can twerk to just about anything! There is that rock version of Lollipop or eve. That sick beat in Bloodsugarsexmagik by the RHCP. You could do a real slow slinky twerk after doing some flirty heel dragging moves lol!

[Maria_T]

Nice! I was wondering because I am in that same exact pose in my Facebook profile since 2012 except I am only holding on with one hand. I get into mine from twisted grip then turning my body until my back is facing the pole then hooking my top leg. I like to do a low spin in that pose too. You can spin in static mode or spin mode.

[Maria_T]

LMAO!!!! That was absolutely hilarious! I laughed so hard! The awesome thing is though she was showing this on a comical light, I saw something in almost all the styles that I love to do in my poling and that I love to see when I watch others perform. I want to try incorporating a little of that Russian ghetto style of I can figure out how to swing my hair without getting dizzy lol!

[Maria_T]

What an excellent post! I have discussed these issues so many times with friends and agree 100% on Aerial Amy’s perspective. We all have different body types, physical, spiritual, emotional and financial backgrounds. There are so many factors involved. It is refreshing and healing to me to read this article because it is a good reminder. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[Maria_T]

Here’s my answer to that…lol!!! I did not put her on the pole either. She kept crawling over to it and reaching for it so I finally grabbed my camera. This happens multiple times a day lol! If she wants to play on it when she becomes a toddler and older I have absolutely no problems with that and plan to teach her how anyway. 🙂

[Maria_T]

My newest fave polefessional is Blondebird. She is absolutely amazing and I would take a workshop from her in a heartbeat. I also really like Crystylez and would love to take a workshop from her. My other two recent faves for their sexy/innovative/badass tricks are Olga Koda and Eva Bembo. Nadia Shareef has always been someone I wanted to learn from because I love her power spins. Oh yeah, also would love to take a workshop from Tracee Kafer (sp??). Love her wild abandon and raw passion when she dances. On the male side I’d really like a workshop from Steven Retchless and a tricks workshop from Josiah Badass, and learn the fluid graceful moves from Derrick Pierson. There are so many more. I’ll just stop for now lol.

[Maria_T]

First of all, Congratulations on the coming arrival of your baby girl! I had my baby 7 months ago and I was in a similar situation to yours. I was a pole instructor for a studio were I’d just relocated to for 3 months when I found out I was pregnant and previous to that I was a pole instructor in DC for two years. I also had severe morning sickness most of the time and found out I had a high risk pregnancy situation around my 5th month when I went into preterm labor and almost had a miscarriage. I had to have an emergency procedure and was put on full bed rest but after two weeks I defied doctors orders and took myself off of bed rest because it made me feel physically worse and made me much weaker. I had been very active prior to that. I got much better and felt better but fast forward to delivery date I ended up having an emergency c section. Baby came out completely healthy but man I was so weak. Like someone previously mentioned, I only walked for the first six weeks then I started running and poling around 8 weeks. I have to be honest, I was totally weak in my core. I was surprised and very depressed when I couldn’t slowly lower my legs down from a position lying down on my back. Once I started poling I couldn’t even do a pole hold and it felt devastating to me because my whole life I’ve always been an athlete, played on monkey bars, ran track and field, etc and when I started poling, the strength part came easy to me. I had to build my core back with very gentle stabilising exercises that are designed for post partum core strength recovery and the stabilization exercises I learned from my NASM personal training course and resources I found on the internet. For the first maybe 3 and a half months post partum I felt I would never get my core strength back but at around 5 months I really felt it returning and now at 7 months post I feel almost like I did before I had my baby. I’m telling you all this because I want you to know that no matter how weak you might feel or how much strength you may have lost, you will get it all back in no time because you were in shape before and you know your body and what it needs to get strong again. Keep positive and look forward to getting even stronger because, imo, losing strength and getting a little weaker will give you a greater awareness of those muscles that need to be retrained. Also, lugging a big ole baby around will make your arms legs and back even stronger than before you had a baby lol! Ok, sorry for my long winded reply. Have a safe, blessed birth and forever happy mothering. 🙂

[Maria_T]

Ugh! Stupid auto correct! Meant to say super not support.

[Maria_T]

Yes!!!!! I found out about Olga Koda about 8 months ago and she is on the list of one of my absolute favorites. She is an awesome combination of support sexy, dancy, passionate yet super strong and unique. She shows you can marry sexy, sensual with strength/power/sporty beautifully. I also recently found out about Eva Bembo and I looove her style to and I have done some of those same dancy moves. She is also a pole beast with her strength and passion. I also have to mention Heidi Coker. Though i’d heard her before and respected her skill and artistry, I never really followed her but after her performance at the 2013 Pole Art championship o was completely BLOWN AWAY at her incredibly unique imaginative powerful performance. I usually don’t get super caught up in tricks and go more for the fluid, dancy style but her tricks and originality were out of this world. Of course Marlo Fisken was one of my first pole inspirations and always will be but there are so many more that I love. One of them is a pile instructor at a studio in Maryland. Her name is Leah Delacy. She is one if th e most amazing and absolutely hilarious polers and an amazing trickster and beautifully fluid dancer. OH yeah, also love Crystylez! She has such ahappy, creative style. She always tells a story with her performances. There are also several amazing SV polers I love to but the list is so long just suffice it to say the SV family is an inspiring bunch. Ok, sorry for my little novella,lol! Love this topic 🙂

[Maria_T]

Agree with you 1000% Litlbit!! Ok sorry everyone. Done with my random bursts of comments lol!

[Maria_T]

Sorry for all the typos. I’m typing on a new phone with a keypad I am not used to.

[Maria_T]

I meant ro say “shorts and some tops that cover a lot of surface area. “

[Maria_T]

Hi, I don’t normally participate in most of rhe SV discussions (but I do read them) bur this topic really gets under my skin. I am one of those ladies who likes to feel sexy and look tall (I’m a shorty at only 5’3, lol). Because I am short and don’t have long legs and I have a short waist and somewhat narrow hips, shorts and some tops that cover surface area actually look very unflattering on my type of physique. I would very uncomfortable, restrained, unsexy, juged and irritated if I were in this situation. Thankfully I have not had to go through at studios I have taught at or taken classes at in the past. It is fine to promote the fitness ans sporty side of pole but you don’t have to down the sexy, sensual side (or look) in the process. I would never give my business to a studio with this type of policy or attitude.

[Maria_T]

Hi and congrats on your son and getting back on the pole. I had my daughter almost 6 weeks ago. I also had to have an emergency c-section. I was wondering how long it takes to get enough core strength back after pregnancy anf c-section to be able to pole. I was planning on attempting pole (just very simple moves) in a couple more weeks. Maybe I should wait longer? My core is very weak right now but I have just started strengthening exercises designed for post pregnancy/c-section ladies. What do you think, looking for advice from other ladies. Of course the docs say to wait 4-6 weeks to exercise (and I have been running since 4 weeks post) but pole is whole different ball game from traditional workouts where even simple moves can work the core.

[Maria_T]

I’m so sorry for your loss Organic Angel…my prayers go out to you and your family. Sending spiritual hugs out to you dear.

[Maria_T]

Organic Angel, thnk you so much for your response! That is what I needed to know and it is so encouraging to hear how you snapped right back after having your baby. I was wondering how long I should wait after having my baby to start back up. I know I will be chomping at the bit to get back into it but like you said, I should remember to take it easy and let my body heal. I am also planning to nurse my baby so I know at least for the 1st month or so I will need to dedicate my time learning and getting the hang of it. That’s awesome that you are doing showcases and back in great shape after having children. That brings me hope, lol! Thanks to you, Veena, and all the inspiring pole moms who are so strong and look so amazing after having children. I hope I will be like you ladies. 🙂

[Maria_T]

Congratulations!! I am also pregnant (34 weeks) with my first baby. I stayed pretty active and taught pole classes until about 4 months and also took two Aerial Amy workshops at 4 1/2 months. Besides bad morning sickness, things were going well until my cervix shortened and I went into pre-term labor and I had to have an emergency cerclage placed and was put on bedrest. Things are much better and while I am so happy my baby and I are doing really well so far, I have lost tons of muscle and some of my flexibility. My question to you Organic Angel, how long did it take your body to recuperate from pregnancy enough to starting exercising/poling again? How long did it take you to get your flexibility back (if you lost any) ? I would appreciate advice/tips from anyone thanks and congratulations/safe healthy pregnancies and deliveries to all the SV mommies.

[Maria_T]

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!! I had to respond to this because I  also found out about a month and a half ago that I am pregnant. I am at 10 weeks now. I am currently an instructor but have recently had to drop all but one of the classes I teach due to some intense morning (all day sickness). I am wondering the same thing as you because once this morning sickness subsides I would really like to start poling much more than what I'm doing now but I want do do what's safest for my baby. I really love poling so much and have been pretty depressed about not being able to do it much lately. There is this workshop I really want to take near the end of December but I think I will be around 3 and a half months by then. I really, really want to take the workshop but I'm wondering if I should hold off. 

I really wish the best for you and your baby. When I'm not sick I have not had any issues teaching beginner level classes so maybe you can do the gentle, dancy type poling without all the tricks.  I have to admit, when I was by myslef I did sneak in some climbs just to see if I felt any different doing it and I practiced different mid-level spins. I felt pretty much the same except a little more dizzy after teaching and pole play. Maybe you will be alright just doing some light poling. Anyways, sorry about my rambling and hopefully you will be able to fit some poling in here and there while pregnant. : )

[Maria_T]

I am so sad.  I wanted to go to this soooooooo BAD!!! I just cannot afford it so everyone who's going please have a complete blast and come back with amazing, crazy, hilarious tales so I can live vicariously through you, lol!!

[Maria_T]

I meant 3 weeks ago, not 4.

[Maria_T]

I am a brand new Floridian (just moved down here 4 weeks ago from Maryland) and yes, I will be going to watch the competition this Saturday. Just look for a 5'3 black girl with long braids, lol!

[Maria_T]

So sorry I am late sweetie. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LuLu!!!! You are such a joy and it is a gift to know you. Live it up gorgeous!!!

[Maria_T]

Congratulations Lulu!!! I have always said that you inspire me.  I am so proud of how you go after what you want in life with that fire.  You better keep doin your thing girl, that is amazing!!! : )

[Maria_T]

All of the performers including the kids were so amazing.  I was blown by everyone in some way.  Heidi Coker, I never really knew much about her but her performance was flawless and very clean.  The poler named Bunny had this one spin that was so bad @zz it made everyone just holler when she did it (at least I know I was), Winter Rainone is another I never really knew much about but all of her spins and tricks were so incredibly fluid that I kept getting confused as to which pole was in spin and which was in static, Flying Laura was explosive, powerful, made you say "WOW!!" Phoenix Kazree was jaw droppingly AMAZING!!! She had such a well rounded performance because she was another that was so incredibly fluid, graceful, strong and sexy all at the same time.  Her performance made me gasp and literally break out in goosebumps.

The men BROUGHT it!!! Tavon "JC" had us ooooo'ing and ah'ing esp when he did his floor work, lol!  David Owen's was incredibly creative, he actually was tied up in this big potatosack and CUT himself out then proceeded to amaze everyone with his superhuman flexibility and power.  There was this guy called the "Crow" and his non-pole dance moves were so unique and edgy looking I'd love to take classes from him just to move the way he did when he danced.  The guy Derik who won was absolutely amazing, fluid, and looked like he was filled with joy while performed.  He also moved very beautifully, so much so that I wish I could have affored to take his workshop to learn how to move like him. 

I could only afford to take one workshop so I signed up for Marlo's (one of my all time favorite pole dancers).  I agree with liznunezeliz; it was amazing and the warm up was definitely intense!  I was sweating and breathing hard and just hoping I could survive it.  I was so happy because I really struggle with flexibility but when she finally had us drop into our splits, I went right into mine and went down the lowest I've ever done and I got the lowest I've ever done on my left side (which usually I don't ever get anywhere near the floor).  I was very excited about that.  I loved the spins and just everything she taught us on the pole and my pole buddy was also so nice and helpful (I forgot her name but she was from Holland).  Marlo was also so nice and down to earth and she was very attentive during the workshop walking around and correcting our form whenever we needed it.  She was also very encouraging.  I'm so happy I was able to attend the APFC and workshop.  It turned out to be a very well put together event and I met so many wonderful people.  I also met some of the competitors and they were so friendly and down to earth!  Sorry for the long winded post.  I just had a great time and am so excited about what I learned!