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Friday, December 1, 2017

Operation Upside Down: Month 5

Here we go.  Another month gone.  I can't believe I have finished five months of trying to go upside down already.  This month was way less exciting than last month.  I'm not suddenly busting out Iron X just because I went upside down once by myself.  You can read the Month 4 update HERE.

I don't feel like I gained or lost much this month.  I couldn't take lyra as much because I had an appointment on Monday nights.  And Thanksgiving was last week, so class was canceled.  I am writing this on the final Thursday of the month but I feel a cold coming on and my head hurts so going upside down doesn't sound fun.

It looks like I will be adding two more lunch time yoga classes at work next year, so that should help with strength and flexibility.  However, I may also be facing more surgery to fix the last surgery (which was fixing the last surgery before that).  If I go forward with that, its another three plus months off the pole.  I still haven't decided what I am going to do.

So here's how the rest of my month went.

Early in the month, trying the bad side:




Monkeying around:




Almost!




And some more trying..







Scary but super cool:




Take 2:




False start, but then we go upside down:




Scary for me:




I'm not touching the ground!




Getting back to lyra after almost a month off was difficult...my hands hurt!




It all hurts, actually...




I'm still progressing, although I know I'm not working as hard as I could to get to where I'd like to be.  Still, I do often like to take the long, meandering path, and I am still enjoying the journey, so I won't beat myself up too much.  See you next month!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Sticking Power for Pole Dancers

Each pole dancer has their own routine.  The soaps they do (or don't) use.  Avoiding lotion.  Not showering too close to class time.  The products they slather on.  All to stick to that damn pole.

I have a bag of products.  An entire bag full of products...that I don't use.  This one helps you stick.  This one helps you if you're too dry, which makes you slick.  This one helps you not sweat so you're not overly slick.  This one is chalky.  This one is a clear spray.  This one is literally glue, so be careful.  This one will stick to the pole and ruin it if you use too much, so you have to scrub to get it off you and the pole.  And if you come behind a pole dancer who rudely doesn't clean up after him or herself, you're scrubbing to save your own skin so that their stick doesn't ruin your class.  None of them really work for me.  I've always blamed it on my lack of strength, and also lack of stick-to-itiveness (no pun intended) since I rarely tried hard to stick (again...) most of my moves. 

Then Janet (from Twirly Girls) wrote a post about a lotion she uses.  Aveeno.  What?  You've got to be kidding me.  You can wear lotion on pole days?  But I've spent the last seven plus years avoiding any kind of moisture on the day of class so I can stick!  Well, she was right and now I have a new routine. 

First, in the morning, I shower with Dr. Bronner's castile soap (Mrs. Meyer's or J.R. Watkins works too).  I currently like lavender (just my own preference).  I used to use Dr. Bronner's peppermint liquid soap but it was a bit intense.  I switched to the lavender bar soap recently, and find it works well for me too.  I shave my legs with sensitive shave gel (shaving cream actually is a product some people use for pole).  And then I lotion up with Aveeno.  I use no other products to stick to the pole.  I included some links to Amazon below if you'd like to try any of the products out.

Tell me your sticky secrets in the comment section below.  Happy poling!




 

  

 
Strangely, even though I am sure this has some moisturizers in it, this makes my legs feel less slick: 


I have also used this, not to shave with, but on my hands on poling days:

 
And last, but not least, the icing on the cake!  I notice a huge difference in my ability to climb on days I forget to put lotion on.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Operation Upside Down: Month 4

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did it.  I went upside down.  By myself.  Before we get there, check out my month three update HERE.  And now...rejoice...Even if it's a pretty sloppy attempt, that looks like upside down to me!



WHAAAAAAT....

So I had another light month.  I went to San Luis Obispo and Disneyland last month and had a work event, so I missed a couple of classes, but I am still progressing.  Check out some other highlights from October below.

October 5:







October 9:







October 12:










October 30:




I'm pretty pleased with my progress.  I will have to take a lyra break in November as I have an appointment on Mondays all month after work.  But I will try to step up my yoga and pilates reformer at home to keep myself from losing any strength.  I also need to drag my lazy butt up to start doing squats again in the mornings.  I have no booty! 

See you next month! 

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Operation Upside Down: Month 3

Handstand on the Golden Gate Bridge
If you've been following me lately, you know I've been on the hunt for inversions.  If you haven't, you can check out my Month 2 update HERE.  September began with recovery from NCPP, a long weekend and a trip to Las Vegas for Pole Expo.  So, I missed the first two weeks of Bottoms Up class with Janet.  I did make it to lyra twice with Jen.  I did a choreography class with Jill.  Plus, I did a floor flow workshop with Morgan.  I also performed (if you could call it that -- I could barely walk in those heels) at Robert's Twirl for a Cause show.  I feel like I got some decent practice in this month.  At my final Bottoms Up class for September (just last week), my first chopper actually felt strong.  I felt like *I* actually lifted myself up.  You won't be able to tell on the video, but I felt it and Janet felt it.  The choppers that followed went back to feeling like Janet was pushing me into them.  BUT, that is PROGRESS!  I have been frustrated because I feel stronger in lyra than I do in pole.  Maybe because I can throw myself around a little easier in lyra.  So this was the first time I felt stronger in pole as well.  I am so excited!

So enjoy some videos and photos from the previous month of strength training and fun!

Preparing for a photoshoot at Pole Expo in Vegas

We love our Vegas nudies
Jill's Pony routine:


Learning new things in Lyra wearing my new She-Fit bra, which I loved!


Whoops...sideways chopper:


Flowing with Mo:


Look who hauled her ass up into the tall hoop!


Robert's show:


I did it!  Almost by myself!






Mermaiding...cuz mermaiding

Something about these glasses automatically makes you a bad ass

Friday, September 1, 2017

Operation Upside Down: Month 2

I just completed Month 2 of Operation Upside Down.  And by using the word "completed," I just mean that the month did, in fact, happen.  My last update was from Week 4, and you can read that HERE

August is the month of Northern California Pole Presentational.  We had our fourth annual event on Saturday, August 26.  It is an entire day of pole dancing.  We set up Friday.  Practice starts at 7 AM on Saturday, and the show runs from about 9 AM to 5 PM.  Then we tear it all down.  The entire month of August each year is generally spent collecting and organizing music for 70+ dancers, making spreadsheets, signs and lists, writing the script, gathering information from sponsors and vendors, designing a program, etc.  Basically, I get off work and I go home to park it on the couch and work some more.  I also started doing hospice volunteer work recently, and that has added to my already full plate (although it is rewarding work).  I did make it to a few classes sprinkled throughout the month, however, I was certainly not in gain-strength mode.  Last night was the final day of August --  my 41st birthday -- and my final chance to squeeze in a class before month 2 ended. 

Do I feel stronger?  Yes and no.  I kept up my yoga practice, and I also tried lyra during the month of August (I did a lot better than I expected).  I am sure I have mentioned before that I gauge my general strength based on how I feel during "chaturanga."  My chaturanga is decent right now.  I don't crash chest first into the floor as I start to lower.  However, when I tried chopper last night, I felt awkward and weak again.  Perhaps it was because I hadn't choppered all month.  I feel like Janet really has to push me into the move.  Ellen had mentioned last week that I may want to try kind of pushing off of Janet's arm so I'm having to push my own ass into the move.  I worry I'd break Janet.  She's mighty but she's so tiny. 

So anyway, here are some videos from August.  Slow and steady wins the race, right??

Starting Month 2:



Practicing on vacation even:



First lyra class (don't wanna go backwards):



Upside down with Jen:



Routine with the Dizzy Divas:



Second lyra class (falling backwards like a champ now):



And last night's chopper with Janet:



Thank you to everyone who is being patient while I slowly navigate the upside down world!  I know I play around a lot but I really am enjoying the process. 



Thank you for the birthday love, Twirlies!!! 

Monday, July 24, 2017

Operation Upside Down: Week 4

Photo by Elle Aime Photography







So, I have completed an entire month of Bottoms Up with Janet!  I feel like I'm already making progress, and I will probably move to monthly updates from here on out (unless I do something amazing, of course). 

Check out some videos from class last week below:





Plus, here's the mini routine we did with Grace on Monday:


Monday, July 17, 2017

Operation Upside Down: Week 3

8 years as a TG!
So last week was Week 3 of Operation Get Lori Upside Down.  On Monday, I took a class with Grace (gotta keep that flow and dance going) and Thursday, I had Bottoms up With Janet.  Although I do feel stronger each time I go in, I also don't feel like there's that much of a difference between this week and last week.  I did throw my head backwards a little better on that chopper attempt.  Thank goodness for Janet's patience and instruction!

I feel like I have spent most of my pole dancing "career" not trying very hard and kind of using humor to hide the fact that I'm not advancing.  It is time to put up or shut up. 

I appreciate the messages and comments that I am receiving on my videos and photos.  It really is nice to have so much love and support on this journey!




Chopper attempt with Janet:



Dancing with the Graceful Movers:



ABALM10 for 10% off non-sale items at Artista

Twinsies

Monday, July 10, 2017

Operation Upside Down: Week 2

My hip and knee won't allow me to grab the pole in the right spot
So, here we go.  The project is underway.  Last week was Week 2 of Operation/Project Get Lori Upside Down.  I started July by joining Janet's Bottoms Up class at Twirly Girls.  I really have so many things to work on. 

1.  My fear.  Of falling and of failing.  Right now, my own head is the biggest thing holding me back.  Literally.  I need to throw that thing backwards and just let my body follow. 

2.  I need to get stronger.  Ellen suggested pilates to help strengthen those abs so I am doing that two mornings a week. 

3.  I need to get more flexible.  My hips and knees always seem to be in the wrong places.  I am back into my amazing yoga class 2-3 times per week, as well as doing some morning exercises each day. 

So, here is a video of Janet attempting to get me to helicopter backwards.  I kept grabbing the pole with my toes.  Eventually I did make it kinda backwards and kinda 'coptered.  It's a work in progress.  I mean, that's the point, right? 




I think this will be my move to measure my progress for now.  She did get me into a straighter leg version but I just can't yet get my hips up over my head to let my head and body drop back far enough.  You can see that below.  Again: Work in progress. 



Oh yeah, and if you like my outfit, check out Artista Apparel.  Use ABALM10 for 10% off any non-sale items!

Thank you to Janet for being so patient with me!  I may be your most challenging student ever!

Thursday, May 4, 2017

8th Annual Lovely Rita Fundraiser

The Milli Vanilli of Pole returned with an original piece for Twirly Girls' 8th Annual Lovely Rita Fundraiser to benefit the National Kidney Foundation.

Enjoy!

Monday, January 9, 2017

The Underwater Photoshoot in Vegas...

I have received the photos from my Las Vegas underwater shoot with Brett Stanley, The Underwater Photographer.

Brett was incredibly patient during the shoot.  The nose plug didn't fit properly at first, so I took on some water.  We went over the poses I wanted to do....then we scrapped the plan and he suggested poses I could actually do.  Once you're in the water, everything changes.  It was fairly difficult to get myself positioned, actually stick to the pole, then make a face that wasn't completely hideous.  The panic of NEEDING air took over more than once.

I really love the end result though.  And now that I understand how the whole thing works, I'd love to do another one and plan better poses.  Check them out below: