Being OK with Being Sexy
For a lot of people, and women in particular, the concept of “sexy” carries a lot. It might carry the weight of a lifetime of being told “sexy” was a bad thing. Maybe it carries the weight of a despicable act that happened to them. Sexy can feel foreign in our own bodies. Our bodies that may weigh more or less than we think is “sexy”. Sexy is not easy. To feel sexy. To want to feel sexy. To know what sexy is. To embrace what sexy feels like. To acknowedge the differences in sexy. None of it is easy. Additionally, I tend to see a recurring situation in which we as women find we did not know we were missing it. We did not know that empowerment can be intertwined in sexy. We did not know that knowing our bodies is sexy. We did not see that sexy is strong and powerful. We did not know that sexy is each and every one of our bodies. Then we become members at Aerial. And we start on this learning curve of exploration of our bodies. We start to, maybe quite slowly, embrace the idea of “if it’s yours you can touch it” and during routine week or a flow we move our hands on our bodies to the music, and maybe eventually it feels ok. We start to look in the mirror while we are doing hard stuff and see ourselves doing it. And not just doing it, but being cheered on and celebrated while doing it. And we start to, again, sometimes very slowly, feel empowered. Personally, this has been an ever growing and evolving journey. I was the person that laughed at the idea of pole dancing because I was not a dancer. I grew up not believing or understanding that dancing was not only okay but good for your body. Dancing was not part of my life. Being sexy was not something for outside of a bedroom. Well, at least that is what I used to believe. And while pole dancing and all things aerial are not sexual in nature, they sure have made me learn and embrace that I can be sexy. That I can know my body. That I can like my body. That I can choose to be sexy. That I am sexy. And it all comes from me learning what I am capable of, seeing myself doing really hard things, pushing myself to do things outside of my comfort zone, and doing it all while being surrounded by and empowered by other sexy women.
New is Scary, But Rewarding
I never had imagined myself picking up the art of dance. I was always the clumsy one and the one who no matter how hard she tried to get something to turn out gracefully, it never worked out that way for me. I was determined to get my body to where I wanted to be and saw so many people have so much success gaining strength and muscle tone by picking up pole dancing as well as silk/hammocks. I went to one class just to try it. I was sure I was going to suck at it and hate it, but to my surprise I absolutely loved it! The atmosphere was so welcoming and inviting, I truly felt like I had belonged there! The women all have been so supportive of each other and we are always happy for each other when we are able to learn a new move we have been working hard on! I love being able to come to a place where it does not feel like a chore to have to go and work out. I used to hate my body and the way I looked, but recently I am feeling more confident than I ever have been since I started my journey at Aerial Dance. I am not only feeling more confident but I truly can see such a different in my overall muscle and I look so much stronger! While the workouts are definitely challenging, it is truly so rewarding to be able to accomplish new moves you did not think you would ever be able to do in your lifetime! I love the new mindset I have on health and fitness and love that I am able to share it with so many great people that truly want to see you succeed the same way that they do. The instructors are so patient and kind and never make you feel bad if you can’t get something right on the first try. They always push you to succeed and do your best! I love trying different things every day, it is never boring and always fun and exciting! I truly am so glad I took the leap of faith and decided to try this because it has turned me into a whole different person in the matter of a short amount of time. I can’t wait to see what is next in this chapter!
There are TWO Shows
When I first started at Aerial I started hearing about a “show” and was intrigued. You mean, people actually get on stage and perform for others? I was also confused because there were different events, set up differently. The student showcase just wrapped up and the annual show, which will be in November, will start being talked about and planned for. So, what are the shows? Why are they different? Which one should you do? The quick answer to which one you should do is, ALL OF THEM. The long answer is, every show you do, every performance you take part in is a different experience. Almost three years later, and I have participated in 3 shows, all very different, all very memorable. The annual show is the one every fall. This show is epic. A theme is picked every year for this show, and all of the songs fit into the theme in some way. During the show all of the instructors are able to do solos, doubles, trios, etc and show their skills. The opening act and the closing act are typically large groups of instructors. This show also allows groups of 6 students to come together, sharing three poles for instructor choreographed performances. For the student performances, the instructors choose which level they are going to choreograph as well as which song they want. Students then sign up for the level, song, and instructor combo they want. Once the groups are set, instructors begin working with the students in the group on what they are capable of doing and what moves they prefer. Students start practicing the moves and routines and figuring out costume. Due to their being 6 people and 3 poles, students get to work on doubles moves and other multi person tricks. There is often some acro and or dancing in the routines. And after a few months of practicing, the groups perform amazing masterpieces in front of hundreds of people. The student showcase is in the spring. This show allows for students to work on their competition routines in front of a crowd, or just get creative and perform. Students can pick the number of people they want in their group, including doing solos. Students have the option to write their own choreography or work with an instructor. Students have the option to perform on any of the apparatuses, including doing aerial and pole in the same routine. For this show, there is only 2 poles. In the most recent student showcase, there were also four person instructor choreographed songs that ran similar to the annual show’s set up. The audience for this show is typically limited to closer to 200 people. A little way up I may have scared you when you read about performing in front of hundreds of people. Do not be scared. The crowd is the most encouraging and excited crowd there could be. And of course, the instructors and other students are there being their best hype girl, supportive selves.
Not Average Joe’s Gym
I never thought I would be the one to say I would get into health and fitness, but this journey has really taught me so much I never thought I would enjoy. I always had been worried about going to the gym in fear of being judged and was never wanting to have other people see me work out because I was self conscious. The atmosphere here is so calm and relaxed it truly does feel like home to me. The dances are super fun and we are always learning new moves. I feel so much stronger than I had thought I would ever be able to! The instructors are very fun and motivating so it makes it an encouraging atmosphere to learn and excel! I love the variety in types of classes, it is never boring because you can constantly try new things and different apparatus! I really enjoy hoop, and it’s really helped me to build my upper body strength. Silks are something fun for when I want a workout but don’t want to push myself too hard. It is very calming and relaxing but still builds up your strength. The pole dancing has definitely built up my confidence the most, though. It has made me feel so powerful and unstoppable! I can see my body getting more toned than it used to be and I am able to look in the mirror and like the body that I see! I am super excited to be able to not only continue growing my strength physically but also mentally as well! It truly is something that challenges you to push yourself more than you thought you would be able to. There is always a whole room full of supportive ladies motivating you. It really makes me excited to come here and to continue learning along my journey with Aerial Dance! I love that the classes are affordable, and if you do the full membership you can attend as many classes as you want for one set cost so it makes it rewarding to be able to go to more classes and learn more!
Benefits of Pole Dancing
As someone with ADD, I always struggled with keeping a consistent workout routine. Sometimes I could hyperfocus and achieve the goals I had in mind. However, once I achieved them, I lost all interest. I thought I loved weight lifting at the gym, but I noticed after I reached my goal weight I slowly started to slack off until it was no longer a part of my routine. I realized it wasn’t the process I loved; it was only the results. I needed to find a physical activity that kept me excited and interested. The beauty of pole dancing is no practice is ever the same. It is always changing. There are new moves to learn, different combinations to try, and a variety of instructors with different teaching styles. It has the perfect balance between guided instruction and flexibility. I also have the ability to expand on combinations if I want to challenge myself further. The room for growth and creativity is unlimited, providing the perfect environment to keep me intrigued. Creativity is what feeds my soul, and pole dancing allows me to tap into that creative space. The student showcase is one major event for us to put our ideas into reality and show off our growth. However, that isn’t necessarily the only chance to be creative. I find myself during practice choreographing short routines. I enjoy listening to different songs and envisioning different combinations that I could pair to them. The product of my creative visions brings a sense of pride and joy. The mental and emotional aspects of aerial dance have had a major positive impact on my life, but I can’t leave out the physical benefits either. Pole dancing targets all your muscles. It is a full body workout, that doesn’t necessarily feel like work. Even when I am challenging myself, it comes with an exciting drive to succeed. A competition with myself to try something new, and when I achieve what I never thought I could do, the sense of accomplishment is pure bliss. Most people talk about their prime being when they were younger, but for me, my prime is now. This is the strongest and most fit I have ever been. I have learned to have faith in my body, to trust it, to feel safe in it, and to see what it is capable of. Each year in pole there is an evolution of self, where I am further connected to my being, walking my path in confidence.
All the Support!
If you had asked me what my favorite thing to do was as a kid I would have told you dance. However, the only problem with that is that I wasn’t very talented. I tried ballet, jazz, and tap and everything I seemed unable to fully grasp the concept of. I found myself twirling across the room diagonal and taking out half the kids in my way. No matter how hard I had tried I never seemed to be able to get it, and I was always so disappointed because I truly wanted to learn and be good at it so badly. As I got older I started to wonder if maybe I just needed a different approach. In the dance world I found it to be very high pressure and very judgemental. Everything was very fast paced and I found myself struggling to keep up because the moves were shown so quickly and not gone over much. I was unable to remember what came next. If you asked for extra help, then it was like you felt everyone was judging you and so you tried to struggle your way through the next dance moves but forgot half of what you were already shown. When I decided to try Aerial Dance, I realized the entire atmosphere was different. Everything was very easy to learn because everyone was willing to help each other individually in the ways that would suit them the best. We all were able to come down to each other’s levels and ask each other for help with whatever we may be struggling with at the time. Everyone was so willing to help each other and come together that it made it a very positive and uplifting experience for me in general. I never felt ashamed for not getting something right away, or needing help more than others sometimes because everyone made sure to remind me that they also needed the same things at one point in time. I am so thrilled to be apart of this environment and to be able to keep learning and growing for myself and for the team as well. We are all on different levels but that doesn’t mean anyone is better than each other, and we all are very supportive of each other in the long run as well! All in all I love coming here and it has forever changed my outlook on dance for the better!
Accepting Me Where I Am!
I want to take some time to talk about our bodies and how there’s nothing wrong with them as they are! I have a boudoir photo shoot coming up and my first thought was “man I need to lose some weight first.” As women this is unfortunately the first thing that comes to our minds for so many things. Society shows us what they consider to be the “perfect body”. It’s been drilled into our minds that we must have this perfect hourglass figure to be beautiful. We walk around looking at magazines and models online that are showing us pictures of these “perfect” bodies. It’s hard for us to get past the fact that they are usually very, very edited and it’s so unhealthy. Any time that I’ve mentioned trying Aerial Dance to friends, 9 times out of 10 that’s the initial reaction. “I’m too fat for that.” “Are you sure the equipment can handle me?” Yes it can!!! Obviously I don’t know the exact weight limits of everything, but I do remember being told once that the rigging in the Aerial studio can support a Jeep, and I’m 100% sure that none of us weigh even close to that. We have girls at the studio of all shapes and sizes! You are beautiful just how you are!!! We all have rolls on our belly when we sit down! Most of us have stretch marks and other “imperfections”, but that is what makes you human! I can assure you those models you see have the same issues you do, someone just edits the photos so you can’t see! Never change your body for anyone but yourself!!
Commit to Yourself
Aerial Dance is a commitment. Regardless of how you look at it or what level you are at, or even if you are a loved one to someone who participates in Aerial, it is a commitment. As students, that commitment means also committing to ourselves, committing to showing up, committing to trying, committing to not being good at something, committing to putting in effort. It means committing energy toward movement. It means, as women, that we are committing to do something that is good for us. Like, personally, for our bodies, souls, and overall well being. I am unaware of what it is, however, I am certain there is a statistic out there that would show exactly how difficult it is for most women to commit to doing something for themselves. It does not come natural for many, to be able to commit to something that, by default only “benefits” themselves. I have found that at times, the hardest part about commitment is doing it. The follow through isn’t always, and I’d even say, is hardly ever the “difficult” part of committing. It is making the conscious decision to do the thing. Making the conscious decision to say, I am going to prioritize my time for any given activity, can be a lot. At times, that commitment means you do less of something else or you need to arrange for someone else to help you with other responsibilities. For me, committing to a class means I have also arranged someone else to be responsible for my kiddos, I have provided food for my little one, and probably at least a handful of other things went into being able to commit to class. We may not all be mothers but we all have lives. And we are all well aware that there is a finite amount of time in each day. No matter how we try to stretch it out, there are still only 24 hours per day. Only 24 hours for us to make commitments and follow through on them. I have found the easiest way for me to get to the studio as much as I would like it to commit in advance. Because I know it is so much easier for me to come up with an endless list of other things that could prioritize the time,I try to look at least a week in advance, or at times longer, and register for as many classes as currently fit into my schedule. If I commit in advance I have already dedicated that time to me. Now, if something else comes up, I feel as though I not only need to cancel on myself but also on the instructor. I do end up early canceling out of some classes due to changes in my calendar, however, I show up to so much more, simply because I committed in advance. Try it out. Commit to practices. Commit to classes. Commit in advance, so if you decide not to follow through, you have to make the conscious decision to uncommit. And most importantly, make the conscious decision to commit to yourself.
Finding Dance
As a little girl I had always wanted to be a dancer. I had tried ballet and failed miserably. I had tried jazz and hip hop, also terrible at it. I had always been very interested in extreme sports such as flying trapeze and trick riding on horses. I always had a huge interest in health and fitness and was pretty big into yoga and learning the proper stretching techniques. I had thought of giving aerial dance a try for the heck of it and I was amazed at how exciting and rewarding it has been for me. It’s more than a journey of physical health, it’s also a journey on mental health and learning how to conquer your fears. Aerial dance for me is not only gaining the strength to accomplish more advanced moves as I progress, but it is also about gaining the strength within myself to try things I didn’t think I would be able to do before starting my journey. I had always been a bit apprehensive and timid in new situations, and this has made me come out of my comfort zone in ways I did not think I would be able to. I’ve been so much more confident in myself as a person and love the transformation I am seeing from my hard work. For me it’s more than just an activity but going there is my safe place where I can express myself and have support from so many wonderful individuals. I have learned so much about myself as a person and how to relax and take a moment for myself. I am always so on the go and doing a million things at once, but when I come here it is my time where I don’t have to worry about anything else and where I can focus on myself instead of everything else I have on my plate. My flexibility has gotten so much better since I have started and I have learned how to use my balance in a whole different aspect as well. I feel like my core has gotten to be so strong as well as my arms which I am super excited about. Honestly I didn’t think I would ever be bold enough to give something like this a try but every day I find myself more grateful that I did and more excited to see my progress over time.
