PinkPony
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I am on Day 5 of eliminating refined sugar from my diet. I went cold turkey after years of daily Starbucks drinks and a great love of pastries and candy. It’s an experiment to see if I can do it for 3 weeks. I am allowing myself one alcoholic beverage a week, so that’s a cheat but I think the treat will help me stay on track.
So far, I feel good and this is really making me aware of what’s in everything I eat! I’m avoiding processed foods for the most part and reading labels on anything that IS processed. I’ve learned a lot about the different names sugar is listed under, it has many faces! Haha And I am learning to satisfy my sweet tooth in new ways like through unsweetened apple sauce, fruit and almond butter.
Lastly, I am learning to eat when I go out. It’s hard!! But you can find the nutrition information for just about any restaurant online. It’s eye opening to see how different the contents of a dish is when not prepared at home! 😱
So throw out the sugar in your home, research refined sugar online and then start looking for new healthy recipes that will satisfy your desire for something sweet. I’ve found a lot of good ones on Instagram.
Sugar offers no benefits besides flavor and many drawbacks like inflammation, weight gain, energy crashes and they say it can even mess with your moods.
And who knows? Maybe once it’s out of your system, you won’t even want it anymore. -
Girl, I’ve been there.
I developed good old tendonitis on one side of my wrist and a very special tendinitis called DeQuervain’s tendinitis on the other side of it when I was a blackjack dealer.
I took MONTHS off from training and had to quit the casino to heal. I took it as a sign from the universe that it was time to focus on my other talents. This means I spent a lot of time drawing and going to the park for long walks and fresh air. Of course, I was itching to train but I cannot stress enough that if you have inflammation, resting is the best thing you can do.
See a physical therapist, take your meds, do your Theraband exercises and ice massage and let your body HEAL! It will heal itself if you will only let it.
The choice is to take a break now or keep pushing, wait for it to get worse, and eventually your body will make you take a break! Don’t let it get to that point.
You will return to pole with new determination and appreciation for it.
Try not to get depressed, you aren’t losing your identity. It’s just time to focus on other sides of yourself as you heal. -
It definitely sounds like your class mates are just super insecure and insecure people love to bond over their shared dislike of someone else.
However, if it really bothers you, it can’t hurt to go out of your way to be extra nice to them. Smile, say hi, make eye contact. It really is their problem and not yours BUT if you want to make friends you have to show them that you’re friendly. If you’re quiet and keep to yourself and a great student, a lot of unhappy people will interpret this as “bitchy.”
But if they’re acting like such small people, why would you want to be friends with them anyway?
I picked up beginner moves quickly because of my background in dance. Dancers have body awareness that an untrained person doesn’t have. But once we got off the ground and started climbing and doing aerial poses…then my progress slowed down a bit. Dance didn’t prepare me as much for that.
Maybe you’ll be happier with the intermediate students, maybe they’re more secure.
At the end of the day, it’s your pole journey alone and you have to do what’s best for you 🙂 -
Just a reminder, I am holding a GiVeAWAY on my IG today, @ponypoison
If any of you polers want the free pole dancing pony bracelet I am giving away, you just have to be an over 18 poler who lives in the US.
A few hours left to enter!! 🙂 -
“Those who mind don’t matter
And those who matter don’t mind.”I have no pole shame.
People who think pole is shameful are ignorant. Why keep small minded people in your life?
If someone wants to understand you, they will try to. They will ask questions and listen.
And don’t let them play the “it’s inappropriate” card on you either. Our culture loves to shame women (especially moms) out of enjoying their sexuality. Don’t fall for it. You’re allowed to be a strong happy person; spiritually, emotionally, physically, sexually. -
I really think a lot of the problems women run into are a result of viewing their body from a third person perspective. You are not outside your body, you live in it. So why would you judge it based on how someone else sees it? That doesn’t make any sense to me.
Body awareness is something pole can bring to women to empower them and it is one of the things I love about it. I encourage anyone who isn’t getting that benefit from pole to freestyle dance. Don’t do any tricks if you don’t want to. Don’t judge your movements from a technical aspect! FEEL what you’re doing. Feel yours muscles move, don’t anticipate the next dance step, just put on a song you love and keep moving! Run your hands on your body if you want to. When you can turn off your brain and be present in your body, I think that’s the first step toward appreciating it.
Look at all the things your body does for you. Breathing, stretching, walking, sleeping, healing itself through injury and sickness. How could you ever look at an amazing machine like that and hate it because it has stretch marks?!
I have stretch marks. I see them in the mirror and I don’t care. They don’t define me. And yours don’t define you. A healthy body is an amazing body. Period.
And as for magazines…why are you reading that trash? Do you know these models personally? Or fashion designers? Or celebrities? Are they your close personal friends who see you for you really are? No!
These are people you’ve never met who aren’t even aware that you exist. They have nothing to do with you. Why would you let them tell you how to look or what to wear or who to be? That’s a lot of power to give to someone you’ve never even seen in person.
Take your power back, ladies 😉 -
I live in Vegas. I train at Shine Alternative Fitness and recommend it highly. I train mostly with Suwasit but there are other great teachers there, as well (including Jenyne Butterfly). Also, you can try other things while you’re there that might be new to you; aerial hoop, aerial silks, hand balancing, antigravity yoga, flexibility training. I’ve done the hand balancing class a few times. The other classes I take regularly.
I also teach Stripper 101. I love our class, it is a ton of fun! Just to let you know, the pole part of class is an intro for beginners, most women who visit our class have never been on a pole. The most difficult move we will execute will be a fireman spin (maybe a front hook if you’re a natural! hehe). There will also be focus on sexy non-technical pole moves like booty clapping & body waves. We go over lap dance and I think you will enjoy that a lot no matter what pole level you’re at.
As far as shows, the Michael Jackson One show was already mentioned & has Jenyne. I don’t know if Zumanity has pole at the moment, you may want to check. But that’s a great show either way 🙂
If you’re thinking of hitting the strip clubs, it’s a gamble. Remember that dancers in Vegas (I don’t know how it is anywhere else) make most of their money in lap dance, not on the pole. So you may or may not see anyone do anything technical at all if you go. I’ve been to almost every strip club in town and seen only a handful of girls who were doing interesting tricks. Again, it’s not what makes them money so…I still find the clubs fun, but I don’t walk in expecting technical pole prowess.
Hope this helps, enjoy your stay in Fabulous Las Vegas 😉
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Everyone loves knee hold. And yogini. I think, in both positions, Muggles don’t understand how you’re holding onto the pole, as your hands and feet are not on it.
Also, they are great poses for street poling or dancing on unfamiliar poles since they are both impressive but not inverted (won’t land on your head!).
And believe it or not, the Muggles love when you drop into a split. It’s such a parlor trick but, whatever 🙂 So anyway you want to do that (from a fan kick, from a ballerina, from a shoulder mount flip…honestly, even of you just land a basic chair spin sliding into a split!), they go nuts. In my experience 😉 -
The public’s view of strippers is the public’s problem. Most people don’t even know why they believe many of the things they believe. If questioned, they cannot explain. I am still waiting to hear the logical explanation that reveals exactly why a woman’s value is directly related to her number of sexual partners or how much she covers/reveals her body.
Exotic dance is like any other profession in many senses. Whoever you already are, that’s who you will be as a dancer. The girls I knew who were doing “extra” things in the club were promiscuous before they were ever dancers. That’s who they were. My more conservative friends who danced didn’t suddenly become drug users or promiscuous after they started dancing. That’s not who they were.
What’s so sick is that the mainstream thinks it’s any of their business what a woman does with her body. This is basically treating us like we are not adults. No one ever looks at a male stripper and says, “Oh, wow, he must have had poor upbringing! He must have no self esteem! He is being exploited!” He is a male owning his sexuality and we expect as much in our culture.
Don’t let mainstream ignorance dictate anything in your life. -
It would be nice if a female in our culture could do what she likes with her body (whether that be sexual in nature or not) and not get penalized for it.
If a male in a swimsuit did pole tricks, there would be no news story. -
Your life is meant to be LIVED, that’s why it’s called a life and that means you must do the things that make you feel ALIVE. You must pursue your passions in every way you can!!
I love my “work.” I teach pole and perform freelance. I have a been a server & a blackjack dealer & I hated it & I felt like the living dead. I am so happy now to spend my time exposing women to pole and to do what I love. I could care less how much more money I could be making at something else. Tomorrow is promised to no one, I can’t live in fear like that.
If you want to perform, you may have to up your game. A so-so pole dancer can work as a Gogo dancer or in a strip club. If you want to be on a regular performance stage, you have to want it badly enough to fight for it. Train, train, train! Be the best artist you can be.
Remember that safety is an illusion, so don’t do something you hate just to feel “safe.” Companies go bankrupt, fire people, get bought out, 401ks can disappear…40 hours a week is a long time to spend doing something you don’t care about.
Time to get creative. How CAN you make pole your only job? Your first mission is to figure that out. And then to make it happen 🙂 -
You might be sensitive if you’re having a bad pole day, but that happens to absolutely every single pole dancer in the world sometimes.
As far as your instructor goes, it is never a good idea to compare students like that. Especially when one of them is struggling. She shouldn’t have done that.
Remember, though, that if you want to take her class, you’re paying her so don’t be afraid to speak up! You can say, “I don’t like being compared to others,” if she says something like that. Or just ask her, “Do you think it’s fair to compare me to others?” It’s not rude to point out that what she’s doing isn’t beneficial to you. She is there to help you get better and if she can’t do that, time to try another instructor.
Don’t worry about the handstand business. Everyone has their nemesis moves. It’s not the move you will never get, it is simply the move that may take you longer to get. Remember there is more than one way to be strong, maybe handstands are not your thing but another move is your bread and butter.
Focus on what you do well, limit how many nemesis moves you work on in one class.
Change your focus to flow or flexibility for a little while, maybe. Come back to strength work when your self image is a little more restored and you can tackle those difficult moves with some confidence.
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Check out trapezerigging.com or look up the company Fight or Flight Entertainment on Facebook.
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I am not a parent but I was a homeschooled from the 5th grade on.
Different states have different laws about what they require in a homeschool ing curriculum (I was in the Midwest at the time). At first, my parents created their own lesson plans and later they switched to the American School (americanschoolofcorr.com) correspondence system. So, while I was in grade school, we studied about 6 hours a day and once I was older, I just followed the lesson plans on my own. I was able to move at my own pace, which meant finishing early.
We also had friends who homeschooled and we would take field trips together. I’m sure there’s an active community of homeschoolers online you could coordinate with.
I think homeschooling was a really positive experience for me. I still had social interaction with kids through church, dance classes & other homeschoolers. I actually think public school (especially high school) in our culture has become a really dangerous fishbowl that kids get put in and they think it’s the whole world. It seems like poor preparation for the real world. As soon as I finished schooling, I got a job. So I was making a little money, meeting people, functioning in the adult world.
And my homeschooling didn’t hinder my entering college at all. I do wish that I had had a counselor to advise me on scholarships & things, though! That would have been nice.
Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck 🙂 -
If you only see one show, see Absinthe. It is so much fun with very dirty humor and legit circus acts as well.
I think it’s fair to say Mystere at TI has the highest volume of acrobatics. There’s also Chinese pole in it.
The Michael Jackson Cirque show at Mandalay Bay also featured Jenyne Butterfly before she had her baby so I *believe* the pole act is still in the show, but with a different performer.
My favorite Cirque show in town is Zarkana. It’s really over the top & opera like and I love the cyr wheels.
Enjoy your stay 😉 -
I was poling for several years before I got my boobs done. I did a lot of research & interviewing before I made my decision. A key factor for me was that every woman I spoke to said she would have the surgery again if she were to do things over again. Even the ones who has complications said so. No one regretted their surgery.
It concerns me slightly to read that you’re unhappy with yourself. Surgery is a big decision & if you’re insecure, a boob job won’t fix that. So I hope you’re doing it for the right reasons. I loved my body very much before surgery & didn’t suffer from low self esteem. But I wanted a change & felt a breast augmentation would balance my figure out a little. I was an A cup and now I’m a C or D, depending on the brand of bra. Like you, my boobs were a gift to myself when I turned 30 🙂
If you’re sure a boob job is for you, then the best advice I can give you is to very carefully research your surgeon. He is everything and will determine what kind of experience you have. Make sure he has all the proper certifications, lots of experience, positive patient reviews, pictures of his work. Start asking every girl you know who has the surgery. Maybe we are very open about these things in Vegas, but every girl I spoke to was happy to tell me about her experience & helpful.
Your surgeon will also be the best person to select for you over or under muscle, silicon or saline implant, number of CCs. You can see why it’s so important that he be someone you trust. I explained to my doctor that I was active in the aerial arts & used my upper body a great deal & that really affected his choices.
Mine were under the muscle, “gummy bears,” a type of silicone that is very thick to prevent leakage in the event of a rupture. I was never in pain. I was very sore, but that was the worst. I used pain medication (at my doctor’s request) for only one day after the surgery. It is a good idea to have someone to help you in your home for at least maybe 3 days after surgery. Bring you water, keep track of your meds. I slept a lot after my surgery.
I was back on the pole about 3 months after surgery. I was surprised that I had not lost all my strength. But the muscles around the boobs have tightened and will have to stretch out to feel like they used to. Only now, 2 years later, do my implants really feel like part of my body. But that’s normal from what I have heard, don’t let it scare you. It took many more months before I could do a pull-up but now it’s not an issue. The only pole move I have felt my boobs get in the way of is a version of the flag where the pole is basically pressed right against your boobs. I have done it, but found it kinda painful. I asked my doctor if I should avoid the pose in case of rupture but he said it was fine.
I love my boobs & am so happy that I had the surgery. No regrets at all.
I hope this was helpful. Good luck 🙂 -
Are there currently rules in existing competitions that disqualify polers of a certain size?
This is a slippery slope. Should we start separating dancers according to height as well? Surely their proportions affect how they move.
I don’t understand why the pole world has gravitated toward competitions instead of showcases. It seems like as soon as they can invert, people want to compete. If you want to do what you love for an audience, it makes sense to be part of a recital or show. Why bring in the aspect of comparing yourself to others? It seems unnecessary and potentially not very beneficial.
If you love pole & want to show it, I understand and everyone should have the chance to show off their personal style 🙂 But competing means you want to be compared to others and judged. And why should competitions cater to specific body types? Isn’t training your body part of the dedication that comes with competing? -
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I just started a new series of pole cartoons, Pink Pony Pole Dancing Dictionary.
Grateful for any support 😉
@ponypoison -
Ever see female fitness model & body building competitions? The women wear teeny tiny bikinis specially made to show the muscles they work so hard for. And many wear high acrylic “stripper” heels.
When a woman who chooses to dance topless for a living is no longer viewed as a threatening villain, we will have made progress as a culture. Until then, why is it important to make someone who prefers to be covered comfortable but not important to let someone who likes heels & Bad Kitty feel comfortable? Maybe those accessories help her feel in touch with her assertive side. Maybe someone who is shy of wearing those things would be inspired by her.
I am not saying you should wear floss, because that’s unsanitary, plain & simple. Always keep a barrier between your cookie & the pole 😉 -
I recommend you stop thinking & start feeling. Feel your muscles when you move, freestyle alone at home with no one watching so you can get comfortable.
The body does amazing things if you just let it. Try to only let yourself focus on moving, no judgments allowed.
You dance because you love it, not to please anyone else, right? And the nice side effect of this method is that a dancer who is truly enjoying herself is often the most interesting to watch 🙂 -
I post many shameless pole selfies, aerial hoops pics & my drawings 🙂
@ponypoison -
I’ve had my implants for about a year and a half (under the muscle) and can do pull-ups. I was back to pole about 3 months after my surgery but taking it slow, literally starting with a fireman spin all over again! Now, I’m right back to my previous form, it still feels slightly odd when I do those movements but I changed my body so that’s natural.
Are you focusing on engaging your lats? That helps me. Otherwise, some gyms have assisted push-up machines where the machine will support some of your weight for you. Maybe try one of those. -
Remember that your pole journal doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you. It’s not a tutorial for anyone else. So as long as you know what you’re talking about, I wouldn’t worry about things like making complete sentences or whatever.
I always film when I practice at home because I have no mirror to look in, so I watch the video on my phone & if I really love something, I will screenshot it & print it for my journal so I can see my progress.
I use a similar method to keep track of moves I really want to do. I find pictures of the moves online & either put them in my journal or store them on my phone. It’s a visual wish list. I group them by difficulty. Some of them are new to me but I think realistically I can have them in a matter of weeks/months (I am so close to having machine gun!) and then some of them are long term, moves I need to build toward (like rainbow marchenko…which may take the rest of my life haha).
I write in my journal almost every time I practice; what is working, what needs work, what I need to ask my teachers about.
Good luck with your journal, it is the best feeling to cross a move off your list of moves to master. Or to replace a picture of someone else doing a move you wanted to achieve with a picture of yourself doing it 🙂 -
You know, it’s a funny thing. If you actually try to talk with someone who objects to exotic dance, in a very reasonable logical tone, it is often difficult for them to give a reasonable chain of logic behind their view.
Asking things like Is exotic dance wrong? Why is it wrong? What do you find offensive about nudity and/or dancing? Will probably not change their mind. But it may at least reveal that their position is irrational. And remind them that strippers only dance & do not actually have sex with anyone.
It’s something I find many staunch believers cannot explain, they get flustered & often cannot really articulate what makes exotic dance “bad” or “wrong.”
Just a thought.
