If you think hard enough, everything we work for is for a feeling. And feelings are often borne from experiences.
As the years go by, I’ve noticed how different my body feels and look. I love this part of growth, letting the seasons reveal to us what our body needs in each phase.
Becoming aware of these changes, also brought a whole new level of consciousness about the things I’ve always said ‘One day I will try …’ to.
It’s been a beautiful and also very eventful 5 months of moving, finding a new home, selling and buying, disassembling and putting things together. Shedding while we ask ourselves what truly matters. So what does matter?
Pole Dancers Can’t Point
Where did we get this idea from? Not true! These instructors turned out to be acrobats and ballerinas on lyras and heels!
Round the corner from our temporary accommodation in Richmond was a quiet spot so elusive you’d miss it if not for the pink signage. I’d seen it the first week I was here. But there was always something to do.
Three weeks ago, it was one of those no-car days. My husband and I share a car. It’s for these occasions that I, all the more, feel strongly about not having more than one vehicle. Not just for savings on petrol and rego, but also for what happened next.
It was a typical Melbourne day that I’d been too spoilt by the sunny days that welcomed me to notice I wasn’t prepared for. It poured relentlessly, stopping only to sigh more rain again. I was so drenched and my shoes were making squeaky noises as my toes tried to grip my soggy socks in my long-saturated sneakers.
As it was my day off from shift work, I wanted to allow myself to take time to walk. Albeit it was going to be a thoroughly wet walk. As I approached Church Street, there was beginning to be some cover from the old heritage buildings along Bridge Road.
I looked up, and there it was. Those pink words and that familiar pink silhouette. Two actually. One lady on a pole, and the other on a ring, a lyra as I soon discovered. Pole divas.
I walked past it despite looking twice. Would it be welcoming? Is it too late to try pole? Who did I think I was? Bombarded by these questions, my forehead hardened with the pressure of having no answers, and my feet moved quickly, past the signage.
And then, it became clear. This was my last opportunity. It would mark an end to our time in Richmond. Here’s just one way my curiosity tricks my brain into giving in. I turned back. Hesitantly, I went up the 3 flights of stairs.
I soon discovered a world of glorious pink. Where femininity was welcome with open arms, and curves felt safe. I took a day to dream about it, and went back the next day, signing up for their intro offer. Since then, I’ve tried (see full video on Instagram):
Spin Pole with Lou Landers
Striptease or Lapdance with Gracie (Hey, don’t judge just yet! There’s so much to the bedroom craft, and I saw how much work I had to do with my core strength.)
Beginner Silks with Shannon (see video snippet above)
Beginner Lyra with Shannon (see video snippet above)
Pole Moves with Peita
No longer just an art form in gentleman’s clubs, pole dancing is now a mainstream form of fitness. What I love is that this isn’t for anyone but ourselves to see and enjoy. I also realised how lacking in strength my upper body is. Something I began to incorporate into my daily stretches and exercises around my home.
So what should you prepare for your first pole or aerial dancing class?
These are just a few things I wish I knew before I rocked up to my intro class. Considering them I reckon would allow me to be more prepared, mentally as well as knowing what to bring to class, and how to go gently.
With more than 6 years in heels dancing, I felt pretty relaxed and confident that I could figure things out. And mostly, I did. But pole shoes and my regular dance heels are very different things altogether. Some moves for pole moves or striptease classes require the platform section of pole shoes to work. I almost ground my toes off.
Core work is essential in any of these classes. There are often flips involved. Momentum helps, but without basic core strength, it’s impossible to get the first kick high enough.
Pole grips come in different types. You spray or pour a little on your palms and they usually last the class. However with my health concerns, I was a little wary of the stuff that’d go into my bloodstream. They can feel chalky and create resistance so you don’t slip from the pole.
Towels are often essential as prior to the actual pole dance choreography, there is usually about 20mins worth of core work like sit-ups and push-ups. You’d need to cushion your knees if you have pointy, skinny ones like mine.
If you enjoy crochet or knitting, you’d probably do well in Silks classes. It was mind-boggling for me to figure out where to spin the silks and where my limbs go. But when you get it right, you fly. And that’s priceless.
Lyras are hoola hoops you probably have played with as a kid. The ones in the studio have been taped to create more padding and friction. However, if you have sciatica or a skinny bum like me, you may enjoy an artwork of bruises on your body the next day. I’m amazed by how with just 3 points of contact, however small or seemingly fluid, one can accomplish a simple Man in the Moon pose.
Land gently. I didn’t realise my second toe is longer than the rest of my toes. When I landed from a spin pole move on my right foot, my toe got the brunt of it and is still healing. Think like a basketball or volleybowl smashing into your finger sort of pain.
Spin or static? Spin pole moves require a bit more core strength in my opinion. To control a start and stop, a flip or glide require a little bit more thought and strength. If you’re a heels dancer like myself, consider starting with static pole moves first and then try the spin classes for a bit of a flying experience!
Cover your legs and abs for lyra and silks classes to avoid injury.
Rest day. Allow yourself to have a rest day even if you sign up for the intro offer that lasts for 2 weeks. Your body needs to absorb the goodness and also heal for the next dance.
All in all, I felt like a child in a playground with monkey bars again. It’s all sexy and stuff when you do the dances, but it’s really what you make of it. For me, it was an opportunity to play as a child, now that I’m a woman. I also got to make shapes and lines my body has never created before!
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