Pole Class: Day One

Like the other pole dancing studio I used to frequent, Poletential was also located in an inevitably shady and industrial area. I didn't know what to expect for my first class since I was actually dropping-in on the Saturday Total Pole class which is open to all levels.

After the usual 15-20 minute yoga-esque warm-up led by the graceful Amber (who's going to compete in USPDF!), the group split up into beginners and advanced students. Unfortunately, I went on an unusually busy Saturday morning and had to share a pole with another girl (which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be). In total, there were 5 beginning students and two teachers, Christina and Cat, and 3 poles between us. Christina was the upbeat cheerleader and Cat reminded me of Morgan from The Mists of Avalon.

In this class I learned how to properly walk around the pole, lift myself up a pole, and the round-a-bout, bow-tie & bow-tie variation, pole slide, pole wave, and hand twirl twist moves. For a beginner, this class is pretty intimidating. If you don't have any prior experience, don't expect to do every move perfect the first time or even the 10th time. I have to say that I was disappointed in myself for not immediately catching on some moves and carrying the moves out gracefully like I imagined I would in my mind.

But no worries! I have 9 more classes to perfect them and learn more moves to add to my repertoire. I already know that I'm going to be in supreme pain tomorrow because I'm already feeling sore right now, especially my arms and shoulders!

BTW I do attend to eventually put up videos of myself doing pole moves as soon as I get my own pole!

Not Just For Men

Last year I subscribed to Maxim, GQ and Details magazines. The ladies on the front cover and centerfolds don't only appeal to men. For a member of the female race, I am strangely attracted to magazines marketed to men. I used to grab Cosmopolitan, Elle and Glamour magazines if something caught my eye, and it usually was fashion related. Now that I've established a firm grasp on my own style, those magazines fail to catch my attention. The only exceptions are Vogue and W magazines which are in a league of their own.


The Maxim, GQ, and Details magazines usually do such a good job of choosing a muse and photographer that I tear out the pages and frame them. I really appreciate a toned female body in a revealing outfit. I also really like knowing what guys are looking at, and what they find hot not cute.


Although I was originally hooked by the captivating images, I have to say that I have read some really great articles from these magazines. Articles on topics that you can start great conversations with.



My newest discovery, thanks to a friend, is For Him Magazine (FHM). It's a UK based magazine, although there's also a US version too...but for some reason European babes are just hotter.

US Pole Dance Federation

It's official. I'm obsessed with pole dancing. And look what I found...the US Pole Dance Federation (USPDF)! Yes, there's a organizaiton out there and even better they hold national Pole Dance Championships! And lucky for us, the 2010 championships are coming up! On Friday, March 19th twelve finalists will compete in New York at the Symphony Space. I'm almost tempted to go! It would definitely be an inspirational evening.


I also found out that they have tons of affliated pole dancing studios, and Poletential in Redwood City is one of them! But wait, there's more...Wendy Traskos, co-founder of the USPDF is coming to Poletential to instruct a class on Thursday, January 21st! Yay! Lucky for me I just bought a 10-pack pole dance package!