Sunday, November 9, 2014

Pole shorts

To say the least, I am obsessed with collecting and wearing pole shorts. And after searching for other shorts sources, I've found that shorts for the following activities makes for excellent pole shorts:

1) Yoga (especially Bikram aka hot yoga)
2) Roller derby 
3) Volleyball
4) Swimming 
5) Dance (Jazz especially)

Most of these are quite affordable. And best of all, they move very well with the body and some of the higher end ones wick sweat sway from you (if you suffer from sweaty crotch syndrome, you would appreciate this).  I love Etsy, Amazon, eBay and Lululemon shorts. Price can vary significantly. And if you are looking for a custom fitted shorts, I would highly recommend shorts from some of the  Etsy store. 

That's all for today. Now on to cleaning. 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Post competition blues

After a weekend filled with excitement, celebration, and sisterly love, going back to the regular old mundane world seems a bit depressing. I miss being right there with all my pole sisters and feel like I'm missing out on something. I wonder what would be the perfect cure for this post pole competition blues...


Monday, November 3, 2014

My very first pole competition

This past weekend (11/1/14-11/2/14), I competed in Boston at the Northeast Aerial Arts Championship (NEAAC). I participated in level 1 senior devision and walked away with a gold medal. I would like to say a bit about the experience. I think the most important thing was the friendships that were made and solidified over the weekend. I belong to THE BEST pole studio that was ever to exist in the history of the world (Dakini Aerial Movement). And I have always known that the owner, Jeanine Caparoso, had created something that would bring women of all ages, sizes, background, education, and professions together to make a whole much greater than its parts. But the essence of what pole dancing and fitness is through the vision of Ms. Caparoso really became evident this weekend. Total of 9 pole dancers competed this weekend, and through every step of the way, they were genuinely supportive and happy for everyone and that had the balls to take the stage. We prepared as one, practiced as one, felt nervous and anxious as one, and celebrated as one.  There were tears of joy when some of us won medals, and tears of what I can only describe as ecstasy when we watched our Dakini sisters perform their piece in sublime perfection.  At the end of the weekend, we walked away with 2 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals.  On my drive back from the NEAAC competition, I had a chance to give some thoughts to the entire experience as a whole.  I do think that I was not prepared enough, and that I may even be opened to possible competing again at level 2 in the future. But no matter what happens in these future  competitions, I would have already won because I was able to say that I rubbed shoulders with the best people that were ever to walk the pole world. 



Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Transformation


This was me before I started pole and me recently. I owe this transformation to the pole fitness and the community of women that supported and encouraged me. I love it so much. 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Class assignments

My pole studio is called Dakini Aerial Movement. They are like the best thing that has ever happened to me, in terms if personal growth. But besides all that high brow praise stuff, what I love about the studio is that we get an assignment for the advanced level classes. We get to pick out our own song and use props/costumes and express our little hearts out in a pole dance. The fact that I get to have an outlet for such energy is allowing me to be happier overall in life. I just LOVE pole dancing!! 

Secret Polers

I wonder how many polers out there keep their pole dancing/fitness obsession a secret.  I recenetly found out that not everyone is so open and quite chattty about their love affair with the pole; that some even hide it from their loved ones.  I guess I can understand why this would be so.  Whenever i mention anything about my pole adventures/journey, the first thing I hear a lot of the time is something in relations to stripping/exotic dancing.  Don't get me wrong, my dancing is exotic and quite sensual (or at least I think it is).  But I dance because I love it so much and it lets me express and celebrate the feminine/sensual side of my being that has been lost somewhere along my life.  Maybe it had to do with the level of education and career path that I chose that aided in snuffing out of my innate female sensuality.  But pole dancing really allowed me to be much better at balancing the masculine, take charge, alpha self with the feminine, sexy, sensual, self at the same time.  In fact, it's the fostering of the feminine energy that gives me greater pleasure at being my alpha self.  Like Yin and Yang, there must be some balance that is maintained.  But aside from all this mindfulness/spiritual stuff, wouldn't it be more enjoyable and rewarding to be able to share such passionate part of oneself with their loved ones?  I know everyone has different crosses to bare, but I just wish everyone was as accepting and supportive as the people that surround me and share my excitement.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Yoga

I cannot say how much Yoga has helped me in my journey through pole fitness.  One of the most proud achievements (even if it is fleeting at times is the handstand).  Not that I have perfected it, but that I was able to even get into it.  It's an incredible feat.

XOXO
Crystal








Hand grip/anti slip grip products

Greetings,

First of all,
When I started pole dance classes in March 27th of 2013, it was like I had found where my soul belonged.  Since the past 10 months, I have been completely obsessed with it and feeling blessed and I found it.  Anyway,  I tend to sweat a lot and that usually doesn't help in pole so I started experimenting with different hand grip products.  The first was Dry Hands.  The thing about Dry Hands is that a little goes a long way.  It goes on wet and when it dries, it acts like a bit of resin.  This stuff was great for hands for me.  However, unlike some people, I found out that my upper thighs (inner and back aspects) get quite sweaty too.  I tried using Dry Hands on my legs hoping that it too will work magic on my legs.  But, to my chagrin, it only help temporarily and within 10 minutes, I was sliding right off the pole.

So came the Tite Grip I.  If applied 30 - 60 minutes prior to participating in any activities that would render your skin sweaty, it works like an antiperspirant.  When used as suggested, it worked miracles.  I was able to stick to the pole after a climb in any kind of pole sit that I was brave enough to get into. Now came the climbing.  Upper inner thighs and hands were grippier than ever and inverting tricks were no longer an issue.  Well staying in place wasn't an issue anyway.

Unfortunately, my shin and top of the foot apparently almost never sweats, but my knees on the other hand would be pumping sweat out for make of for those two areas under functioning.  So I decided to try the Tite Grip I and that made the since even less grippy (apparently you need a balance between moisture and dryness to make your skin sticky).  Well, now what?  Then cam iTac.  Comes in a little jar and has as consistence of slightly melted beeswax. It goes on like lotion and is smooth to touch.  But when it comes time to climb that pole or to hang on to that pole by the skin of your toe, this will do the trick.  (On a side note, iTac right on to the pole also works wonders when the pole is mysteriously slipperier than normal).

Oh, but you say "that has to be it.  You covered most of your body parts with this dry grippy bits."  That where you are incorrect.  Let's talk about spins.  Your hands have to be dry enough and wet enough at the same time.  So initially the Dry Hands worked wonders.  But when I started to branch out to one handed spins, I needed more assurance.  This is when I was introduced to the Mighty Grip.  This is in powder form and I love this for faster more advanced spins for my hands.

Of course there are some new spray on products like Dew Point which comes in 3 different strenghts.  It seems to work well generally all over your body.  Now I have a little make up bag filled with all these goodies for any and all situations.

I hope this helps some of your starting your pole fitness journey.

ONWARD!!!!!

XOXO
Crystal