Dance as a Sacred Practice
Last night, I took a non-pole dance class for the first time in a few months. The instructor had us improv to the lyrics of a song. Creating choreography to lyrics is often the easiest place to start for those…
Nutrition for Traveling Athletes
You may have to travel short or long distances for competitions as an athlete. Unfortunately, when traveling, you may face numerous obstacles that compromise your body's ability to meet its nutritional needs and performance. Before you board your next train…
Post Workout Nutrition for Pole Dancers—What to Eat
Post work-out nutrition leads to a great recovery phase of pole training. As a pole athlete, it is important to train and recover like a pro! Pole dancing has the ability to reform and change your body in incredible ways…
How Pole Dancing Showed Me the Bigger Picture on Body Positivity
What would it take to feel truly confident and beautiful in my own skin as a pole dancer? I have been pole dancing for seven years and I'm confronted by this question almost every day. A part of me knows…
The Necessity of Being Flexy
Flexibility plays a large part in living your best life, and an even larger part in living your best pole life. It improves range of motion, reduces risk of injury, improves posture, and makes your pole tricks look bomb. The…
What’s In A Stage Name? by April Rayne
April Rayne is not my legal name, but that doesn’t make it any less ‘real.’ This is not a persona I wear, it’s who I am. April Rayne is the name I have chosen to represent me. Names are important…
How to Create Your Own Signature Tricks
My students often ask me how I come up with my own tricks and combos. I also remember when I started learning pole and how badly I wanted to have my own signature trick. I recall racking my brain for…
BElieve in YOUrself : Staying true to you while still being inspired by others
Looking on YouTube, it’s not hard to get inspired by the smorgasbord of incredible pole athletes that are out there. With so many talented dancers, how does a novice performer stand out? Sometimes, a little bit of confidence and personal…
So You Lost You First Pole Competition…Now What?
Whether you’re in it to win it or simply wanted the experience, loosing a competition can make any pole dancer feel less than confident in their abilities. Here are some tips on how to handle the pain and get back…
Guilt & Shame at the Gym: 3 Ways to Overcome It
I know the story. You want to be about that fitness life 24/7, but you're ashamed of something (everything) and are paralyzed by it. To hell with that -- time for you to step into your badassery! COACHES, these make…