Pole Divas Woohoo!!!!!

Well, in August I entered myself in the Pole Divas Championships... I'd not performed dance in .....17 years? I just figured, why not?

Last night, I performed in the Amateur category in the Cardiff heat..... and I got through to the final! I'm over the moon :)

I hadn't really intended to win the heat, I just wanted to get over my fear of performing, get up there, have fun and be satisfied with my performance. I danced for 8 years as a child, gave up at age 13/14 - adolescence brought a load of self-consciousness and by the time I gave up, I dreaded going on stage. Last night was just such a great proof of how much of a confidence-builder pole dancing is. I'm nervous about the final but I'm mostly excited. It will be an amazing opportunity even if I don't do all that well (but I plan on giving it my all!).

Last night was so much fun in so many ways. It was lovely to meet people in real life who I've met and read about on the internet, and the other people who were there. The other ladies in my category were lovely and brilliant and the whole atmosphere at the event was so friendly and fun-loving.

I can't believe that 3 days before the comp I'd practically decided I wouldn't go. I'm so glad I changed my mind, now I know how much of a great experience it was. I aim to live my life with no regrets and I think I'd have been kicking myself if I'd have chickened out.

Now, I need to practise, practise, practise (and there I was thinking I'd be glad if I never heard that song again! LOL)... I was happy enough with my performance last night but I know I can do better.

Oh, I love Pole! It's just so enjoyable and the people in the community are so lovely... Yay!

3 days to go!

I can't remember what made me think of it, but 3 months ago I decided to look up pole dancing. I found there was a dance studio near me, the fabulous Pole-da-cise in Trowbridge. 3 months later, I've had 11 lessons and I am addicted! So much so that I've ordered my own X-Pole for home. As you may have guessed, it arrives in 3 days. Very exciting!

I'm really chuffed to have found a really good form of exercise that is fun and enjoyable. I've never really been one for going to the gym, it's always felt like a chore, but this is brilliant! Pole dancing is far more than erotic dancing in clubs. It's a great fun way to keep fit, feel good about yourself and build your confidence. This is the first thing in many many years that I've felt passionate about, and absorbed enough to actually keep a blog about. Hopefully this will give me something to look back on to see how far I've come, and I'd be delighted if it inspires you to take up pole or any other form of exercise or activity that you feel good about.

As this blog is to chart my progress, I'll briefly note where I'm up to. Today I booked some time in the studio and managed at last to sit on the pole and do split-legs, which is an achievement. I'm still working on street spins (getting there) and copters are going badly but I'm making a little progress. I also tried a spin I've seen on YouTube - I really should learn the names of them all. It's the one with 2 hands on the pole, facing the pole, and split legs either side. The upper body and abdominal strength needed for this move is incredible! I can't get my legs very high nor sustain the spin for long, but it's nice to have new things to work on and aim for.

I'm searching my local freecycle for old cushions etc to use as a crash-mat at home. The Trixmats are wonderful but at £70 I fancy something a bit DIY, given that I've only just forked out on the pole itself. Will have to see how that pans out! At this stage, I'd be silly to try inverted moves without a mat - I've already been grateful for the mats at the studio and would be really bruised without them. I should say more bruised - pole dancing and leg bruises are good friends!