2012 - I haven't been keeping up with posting things lately, I guess for many reasons, got busy with work and sorting out stuff in between falling ill. I have got some things in the pipeline, been writing/typing it up, just have last minute editing to do. Come to think of it, as I am writing this little message got another idea for a blog post.
I guess the topics that I have lined up will be just about me, so you get to know my interests and hobbies and anything random that comes to mind and my opinion on it.
So here goes...
Well one you know about one of them - Aerial Pole Art aka Pole Dancing.
I know there is a stigma to this sport but like any other sport, I wanted to improve my fitness BUT have fun at the same time and not do a monotonous workout.
I know there are other more accepted forms of fitness but they never seem to motivate me enough to go and exercise. Okay, true, sports such as swimming are good for you as well and doesn't involve dancing around in a bikini; but who says I am.
Like most, I used to associate pole dancing with stripping but when I got to know what strength (a.k.a. muscles!), flexibility and fitness it took to do some of the tricks the professionals dancers do - I was like - I have to try it! I did and have not looked back since. It is something very different, I still do swim but I also like trying new things and I wear sensible clothes with which I am most comfortable with (shorts and a tank top).
The reason behind 'the more skin the better' is that pole dancing requires your skin to be in contact with the pole for grip otherwise you will just slid and fall off. At my first lesson we were told not to wear any moisturiser or lotion oils as it will make the pole slippery and dangerous for you and other students.
One piece of
advice I would give to everyone is
to never give up hope on something you want, keep trying to attain that
step/goal/dream in life because it is
achievable once you set your mind to it and to ignore what others may say at it
will only hinder you, upset you and make you lose your focus. – quote from my ‘A General Note/Thought and A Little Bit of
Advice & Encouragement’ blog post.
A perfect
example here is my decision to learn Aerial Pole Art.
I have
wanted to learn it since I saw my first photo of a friend's still shots but
never took it seriously & there weren't any lessons available for a reasonable
price so I left it.
Then I came to Dubai, the more images I saw and the more I
researched the more I wanted to learn. BUT when I proposed this to my family
(namely sister and mum) I was made fun of and then told that I shouldn't do it
as it is not very recognized as a sport but more related to stripping etc.
For a month
or so I was glum, I couldn't learn this amazing strength and flexibility
enhancing sport, especially here in Dubai there weren't many places that taught
it. But luck being on my side, I found a place that was reputable and was
teaching ladies ‘Vertical Flex’, I instantly decided to have a few lesson to
see how it was and yes it was HARD! The bruises lasted for a week or so, even till
my next lesson but I was completely looking forward to it. (I used a gel called Mobilat gel to help the
healing and pain).
I was
hooked!
The lessons, lasted an hour to an hour and a half and consisted of a 15 minute warm up (stretches and jogging on the spot and a few
floor work stuff) then the fun stuff - climbing the pole and basic spins.
As the lessons
progressed I learnt a few basic spins and practiced how to climb the pole,
until my upper body strength is improved the teacher said I couldn't progress
to the next level (still working on that).
Of course, having a pole would greatly help but being in Dubai, it is a bit hard to find one, and to get it shipped is a bit expensive and only a few places ship to Dubai, being a Muslim country there are restrictions on poles here.
I learnt tricks such as the 'Floater', the Basic Climb, 'The Chair' and 'Fireman Spin'.
I tried to practice the 'Floater' trick every week when I went to the lessons and felt that I had greatly improved in strength as I could hold the position for a bit longer. My flexibility also improved as I tried to stretch at home as well whenever I could. I am determined to improve my weight, fitness, flexibility and strength & learn Pole dancing!
Unfortunately
the lessons have been stopped due to the teacher moving to another location and I have been busy with work which totally sucks but in the meantime I can research where to buy a pole from as well improve my flexibility and strength at home, keeping in mind my target - learn aerial pole dancing and get fit while having fun.
2013 Update - To this day, it has been, I believe a year now, I still want to learn Aerial Pole Dancing, my interest in it has not decreased, the complete opposite in fact, it has strengthened!
I have researched it quite thoroughly as to where to a get a pole from and have found a place or two that sell it in Dubai ^.^, for a reasonable price but wanted to see if I could find it somewhere else at a cheaper price (might have to get it from London) as shipping to Dubai costs about £100 because of the weight (X-pole Xperts 45mm in diameter and in chrome weighs about 20 kg/42 pounds). But I REALLY want to continue learning this sport so any help or advice (on where to get an authentic X-pole Xpert in chrome plus 1000mm extension (have 11ft-12ft ceiling) for a good price (mainly shipping is the issue) brand new or on anything will be much appreciated).
I have found that these blogs have given me a place to voice my
opinions and my interests proudly without (little) judgement, with
pole dancing comes a stigma and therefore not seen as a fitness sport (which is
the main reason why I took it up - to get fit and have fun at the same time) by
majority of people. I struggle to get fit or to do any exercise, I try to eat
healthily but tend to have my weak moments - enter Aerial Pole. I also think once the stigma has been removed, I hope that all pole dancers can band together (which is happening as we speak) so this sport can enter in the next Olympics.
Just a little post about another blog of mine which features hand drawn doodles and other interests.
There are many blogs out there about professional aerial artists and not so professional (just a beginner) including myself that take this sport seriously and dedicate their lives to this beautiful sport.
This gif sums me up -
http://9gag.com/gag/aD0ALb9 - a pole dancing bunny loving person!!!!
On this note I would like to end this post.
Thanks for reading!
References
Images - Google Image search
