Blog Archives
Bringing Sexy Back Voting Is Open
As I mentioned in my last post, I entered the BSB Poster Girl Contest. I am on a page that features some of my sexiest friends and idols, including my loves Iris & Jamers (two of the sexiest women I know).
Why did I do this? I did it to promote body diversity. Generally, I see a lot of similar bodies in the marketing and promotion of pole. Inevitably, a certain body type is shown quite often, and while it is beautiful and should be celebrated, I get a little sad sometimes when I think about how many women don’t actually look like that. I don’t. I may never. I’m a little bigger, but not plus size. I would say, “Average American Size”, because I literally weigh right in the average window for American women. Which, to be frank, can seem big in the world of pole. As such, I struggle with how I look when I get in the studio. I have to remind myself a lot that, even on my worst days, I have something of value to share.
So, I decided to throw in one of my Alloy Images photos for the contest. My dear friend Claire helped me choose it. The story of this photo was very me: Iris found a riding crop at the studio during me shoot, and I was just messing around with it and having fun when this moment was caught. I feel like that’s pretty fitting for who I am: somebody who has moments of fire or stillness in between the laughs.
I look at my company on the voting page and see an array of amazing women. Let me be frank: ALL of them are beautiful, luscious, real women worth celebrating. All of them have something special that makes them sexy. My photo is there not so much because I feel like the sexiest of the sexy; but because I want women who don’t feel like they look like the other women on that page to feel like they too can be adored, and that they have every right to feel sexy, too. It’s something I have to remind myself about in my own life, so my guess is that I am not alone in that mentality.
Voting is now open: https://www.unitedpoleartists.com/bsb2015/ Go choose and enjoy the loveliness of all of the contestants!
Back in class; Dangerous Curves; and Pole Life
It’s been a while since I last posted! My hand is still healing, but I am back in class! During my first night back, Drea forbid me from doing anything on my left hand, which took me out of A LOT. I did some odd variations on conditioning, did a few basic inversions on my right, worked on some right handed spins, and Drea spotted me into a new trick – which I did on my left, but since she insisted I not touch the pole at all with that hand, she basically held me up. 🙂 I was back at it again twice this week, both times with Valarie instructing, and I got a little more done – I spotted a lot for another student in one class, doing a little work on my own (mostly to break down some stuff for my pole buddy), and in the other, I did a lot more work on my left hand while conditioning my reverse climb and learning the reverse shoulder mount.
I’ve found that certain tricks don’t really bother my hand – even when I thought they would – and others kill it. Shoulder mount is one of those – something about the pressure involved in cupping the pole with my hands hits directly on the puncture wound on my palm. There is a lot that I can do, though – I still don’t have full range of motion or strength, and direct weight on it is no bueno, but I can hang for the most part!
I just invested in a pole club card, so I can go to class more than once per week. I also picked up 5 aerial silks classes, which I am excited about! I’m going to try to go every other week, so I can mix things up. I still need to restart my yoga groupon (which the studio very kindly put on hold after my injury), too.
It is my hope that adding extra classes will help usher in better control with my work, as well as advance me along in what I’ve been doing. It can be rather frustrating to look around and see gals that start after me, doing more advanced work than I can currently do. But, I also understand that everyone learns differently, and everybody’s bodies respond differently. There are things I can do that others can’t do, so it’s all relative. I think the hand injury hasn’t helped my frustration!
I wanted to share a few things:
First, if you’re in NYC or the East Coast, check out Roz The Diva’s Dangerous Curves show! Tickets are ON SALE now! From the ticket info: Dangerous Curves seeks to highlight the unique contributions of plus size pole athletes. The performer with the most dangerous curves, determined by the audience, will get special recognition at the end of the show. And of course, no show would be complete without some guest performances along the way.
I wish I was on the east coast, because I WOULD SO BE THERE. This is amazing, and The Diva deserves an epic standing ovation for spearheading it. Lots of love to her, and to all of the women who will be wowing the crowd that night!
Next, I was excited to see a 12 minute trailer for Suzy Q. Williams’ documentary POLE LIFE (thanks to the friend that posted it on my Facebook wall!) – it debuts at the Pole Expo in Vegas, in September. I hope to see it in LA, shortly thereafter. It’s a great thing to share with anyone interested in pole as fitness! Take the time to watch the trailer:
And, finally…this made me giggle. 🙂
Calling All Plus Size Pole Dancers!
I briefly met Roz the Diva at PoleCon, and naturally, stalked her Facebook fan page (polers make exceptional online stalkers, I think). As it turns out, she has an amazing opportunity for plus size pole dancers to perform/compete in her Dangerous Curves show! The link below has the details!!!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFNQVGpyRjJHaDZsQ3ZkTGFOVjZXWlE6MQ
I LOVE THIS!!! There is still time to submit an entry – go for it, ladies!