Starting over (sort of)
Two years ago (at age 46), I began to experience symptoms of sciatica in my left hip, leg, and ankle. I had never experienced any issues with my lower back before and pride myself with having a pretty high tolerance…
Point Your Toes 101
If you are a student, you’ve heard it. If you’re a teacher, you’ve said it. But, just what does it mean to ‘point your toes’? The phrase is misleading because it’s so much more than just your toes at work.…
What to Eat Before, During & After a Pole Workout
Have you been wondering what to eat before, during or after a pole class to have lots of energy and feel your best? We all know pole, like any workout, requires a serious amount of energy and focus. Food gives…
“OMG STOP DOING THAT, or things this instructor wants to hammer into your head (but realizes you have to figure it out for yourself)”
Disclaimer: Post is meant to be humorous and certainly not meant to be mean/rude/insulting to any instructors/students :) (1) TRAIN. BOTH. SIDES. (and for the love of god, please keep working on the basics) I cannot emphasize this enough. (I…
Pole Dancing With Health Problems
Pole dancing is hard for everyone. But it’s hard for me in ways that other people don’t always understand. It might not be obvious that I’m less-abled, that my body has a tendency to sabotage itself, because my smile and…
Tutorial: Obtain The Marion Amber
The Marion Amber is the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing, it appears to be a simple Butterfly variation, but alas it’s anything but a Butterfly. The Marion Amber requires serious strength, unique body positioning, new muscle firing patterns and finding…
Conquering the Butterfly
The Butterfly is one of the most desired achievements in pole. It’s classified as an intermediate move, but, let’s face it, it’s a difficult intermediate move and the struggle to get the Butterfly is real. Don’t get down on yourself…
STOP POLING WITH PAIN: Strength training for injury prevention
A few months back, I wrote a popular blog post here about all my tips and tricks for dealing with sports injuries. As I said then, I've put a lot of time and energy into finding the best ways to…
BECOMING A BEAST: 20 WAYS TO FIX YOUR INJURED, ACHY, OVERUSED POLE BODY
As a pole athlete, I spend most of my time either contorting myself into crazy shapes, throwing my body weight around in the air, teaching other people how to do these things, or thinking up new, even crazier ways that…
Bend Back, Bennnnnd!
Shortly after I decided to work on getting my splits back, it occurred to me “why stop there?” I used to be a noodle, Gumby, if you will. Just because I was well into my 30s shouldn’t deter me from…