Express The Sensual

Do you want to learn exactly how a REAL exotic dancer, professional choreographer, and aerial artist creates those sensually seamless and totally hypnotic movements that mesmerize and capture everyone’s attention (and dirty minds)? Shawn Frances Lee’s long awaited sensual dance transitions instructional DVD has finally been released to the public!

In case you haven’t had the privilege of training with Shawn, let me explain what you’ve been missing.  Shawn is an amazing and caring individual who truly believes in the life changing power of AUTHENTIC exotic dance (did you notice my emphasis?) This is a woman who danced for over 15 years as a real stripper, with many of those years at the legendary Crazy Horse Too in Las Vegas, where she was renowned for her stage performances.  She is a classically trained dancer who specializes in fosse jazz, tasteful sensual aerial pole and exotic floorwork, and an awesome passion for the safety of her students.

Shawn has spent the last 6 years developing and teaching her unique brand of PoleCat Power aerial dance progressions and transitions.  Every sexy step in this Slink, Slide, and Melt DVD has been designed for the way a woman’s body moves; including modifications for woman that have knee, lower back, or shoulder injuries.  She can help you feel sexy WHILE developing your strength and skills.  Shawn’s training and friendship changed my life and truly expanded my personal dance style beyond a workout into an art form.  And she can do it for you too!

In fact, I was so excited about Slink, Slide, and Melt, that I actually jumped up and down like a 3 year old when I found out she was filming.  And then I saw the DVD trailer!  Check it out and come right back here for the DVD details plus a great offer for all the ExpressTheSensual.Com subscribers…

Shawn and Carden Films have produced a beautiful HD DVD that showcases the amazing and unique art of Authentic Exotic Dance.  Slink, Slide, and Melt is designed for Every Woman with detailed instructions for over 40 exotic dance moves, modifications for special populations, and gorgeous slow motion HD photography. Whether you want to learn sexy transitions, create a stunning floor routine of pure feminine expression, or just add sensuous floor and wall work to your repertoire, this DVD is for you.  Slink, Slide, and Melt includes:

• Sexy Strutting – Walking the Walk
• Wild Wallwork – Sliding & Rolling with Ease
• Fabulous Floorwork – Becoming One with The Floor
• Creative Crawling – Avoiding the Knees
• Routines, Sequences, & Combinations you can do right away
• Using Clothing & Shoes to YOUR advantage
• Freestyle Performances by Shawn

Plus, a BONUS that no authentic instructional DVD offers right now…

The Doorway Dance

Just watching the raw footage of this Doorway routine convinced me to get a copy of this DVD, so you know it’s fucking good! Shawn promises that by the end of Slink, Slide, & Melt you will be able to EMBRACE, ENCHANT, ENTHRALL, & EMPOWER.

If you are a pole dancer, an aerial acrobat or just ready to trade your boring gym routine for some serious fun, you’ve got to get Slink, Slide and Melt!  So here’s the special deal I promised.

If you order through the BUY NOW link below and include my special offer code, you get 14% off the DVD cover price! Instead of paying $34.95, you get detailed instruction from a world renowned Exotic and Aerial Dance instructor in your living room for $29.95 plus shipping* and handling.  Remember, you can ONLY get this discount through ExpressTheSensual.Com and I don’t know if it’ll last more than a few weeks. Sorry, this deal has expired.  But you can still get Slink, Slide & Melt for the regular price of $34.95 US (plus shipping)! 

So click on the BUY NOW link, and get ready to Slink, Slide, and Melt today!

Slink, Slide, & Melt DVD – Domestic USA	out of stock, check back soon
Slink, Slide, & Melt DVD – International	out of stock, check back soon

Special Offer Code: ETSSSM06

*please allow 4-6weeks delivery

You and I love pole dancing.  We love building a strong body and sexy abs.  We love the sensual swirls and fabulous flying twirls around a smooth metal pole.  And if you want to be an awesome pole dancer, I already know that you practice, practice, practice.  But, if you are skipping your warm-up before your in home pole dancing session, you could be damaging your body and missing out on an amazing Sensual Ritual.

Playful Plans

A warm-up is defined as “the preparation period for a specific workout” and many people find the traditional fitness warm-up boring or monotonous.  (I certainly do.)  However, the purpose of the wamup, to “increase [the] core temperature as well as prepare the muscles & joints for movement,” is still critical for avoiding injury and staying healthy.  In short, you have to warm-up before every strenuous exercise training session.

The good news is that you are a pole dancer, (phew, dodged that bullet!) so you’ve got an endless source of sensual movements at your disposal.  Here’s how I structure a fun and easy warm-up that will make your body healthy and ready to pole dance.

Sexy Music

The first thing you need is a special playlist.  Don’t throw a bunch of random songs into a playlist and hope that you’ll automatically feel that sexy vibe.  Pick 3 or 4 songs to get the body moving for the 10-15 minutes required for your warm-up.

1. Start with a gentle song that grounds you like I Belong to You by Lenny Kravitz or Milk by Garbage.
2. Then buildup to some faster beats that make you want to move your hips like If Tha Mood by Esthero or The Naughty Song by Cory Lee.
3. Finally give yourself an easy transition into dancing by choosing one of your absolute favorite pole dancing songs.  For me, this is Sky by Sonique and Next Contestant by Nickelback.

Set The Mood

Once you’ve got your music ready, you need to make sure your body, mind, environment are ready to dance.
Set aside some time and a place where you won’t be interrupted. Simply ask your family and loved ones to give you this space.  You deserve it!

Choose something to workout in that makes you feel feminine and fit. I enjoy dancing in booty shorts and a bikini or wrap top simply because exposing all that extra skin helps me with advanced spins & inverts.  But when I warm-up, I also wear a pair of yoga or jazz pants.  This heats up my leg muscles, plus, I get the added benefit of removing (*wink*) my pants during my first dancing song (#3 above).

Begin with a Butterfly’s Breath

Turn on your music and start with a few easy breaths.  Simply close your eyes while standing and focus on the sensation of breathing. Then, notice how the music makes you feel.  This will center your body and your mind in just 30 seconds.

Keeping your knees relaxed, let your arms slowly float upwards as you inhale, and slowly float downwards as you exhale. Treat your arms like the delicate wings of a butterfly and bring your breath and your movement into sync.  Now add in a wrist rotation.  Simply turning your wrist in circles.  This movement is similar to some belly dancing arm movements and will warm-up the shoulders, biceps, triceps, and forearms.

Shift to the Hips

As your second song comes on, start to practice the mini-hurricane. Take your body through each of the four hip points, smooth out the circular motion, and finally add in the chest undulations.  Let your body play with this movement as you begin to feel warmer and warmer, allowing your hands to drift over your hips, thighs, and feminine curves.

When your really start to feel the music, transition into the Full Hurricane, lifting one heel at a time and shifting your weight back and forth.  If you need more details, please read my post about Luscious Abs and The Full Hurricane hip circles.  This movement sequence will ensure that your back, chest, hips, legs muscles and joints get warm and feel amazing.

Dance Honey, Dance!

Now, as your third song begins, use a playful and sensual walk to move over toward the pole.  (You can check out my other post about getting rid of shyness & learning the sensual walk here.) Now, let the beats of your favorite music give you the momentum to spin, play and fly. Use your favorite floor work, pole twirls, and one or two handed spins.  Just try to avoid inverting for this third song until you are absolutely sure that your upper body is limber and ready.

The more often your practice this Sensual Ritual the easier it will become.  Don’t forget to change your playlist every few weeks to keep things exciting and new.  Stay playful in the knowledge that you got a great warm-up and protected your body from injury. And stay confident that you have built a Sensual Ritual that you can use anytime you need to ground the body and relax the mind with movement and joy.

Practice Safe and Sensual Pole Dancing Ladies!

PS. if you need help with any of these movements or with a specific pole dancing move, you can contact me for a private pole dancing session in-studio or by webcam at my online pole dancing website www.BalanceElemental.com, 310-809-2910 or yannori(at)ExpressTheSensual(dot)com.

What are your favorite pole dancing warm-up moves? When do you use Sensual Rituals to spark your creativity? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Can your pole dancing instructor protect you from the most common fitness injuries prevalent today?  Does she know how to modify her classes for a woman with diabetes or a knee injury?

Pole dancing is a recent addition to the US fitness industry but there have already been numerous sport specific injuries.  Just type “pole dancing accident” into any YouTube or Google browser.

Greg Welch M.S, a physiologist and the owner of Specifit, believes that the most likely injuries from pole dancing can occur at the rotator cuff, a group of small muscles that surround and protect the shoulder ball and cuff socket.

Overuse is the #1 reason for injury.  Physical performance… requires training to prevent injury — Greg Welch

Here’s my Sensual Girls Guide to the six questions you should ask your instructor to ensure she is up to date about pole dancing fitness and safety.

1. Does she have a current Fitness Certification?

Although it’s not a requirement in every US state, a group fitness or personal training certification is essential for any fitness instructor.  American Council on Exercise (ACE) and Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) are two of the most common US fitness organizations.  They require certified instructors to prove their fitness knowledge with written and demonstrative testing. All US certifications also require the instructor to maintain an understanding of current fitness research, and trends, through continuing education.
Benefit to you: Your instructor will help you avoid common fitness injuries with a proper warm-up, muscle specific stretching, and knowledge of first aid techniques.

2.  Does she have a Pole Dancing Certification or License?

Besides a fitness certification, your instructor should have a pole dancing license or certification.   Many pole specific licensing programs include the basic pole dancing spins and safety techniques.  Some also include 100 mentoring hours with a master instructor to ensure the new teacher learns successful training methods.  There are multiple pole dancing instructor workshops available that are supported by current fitness organizations.  Both AFAA and ACE offer Pole Dancing Fitness and Safety continuing education for instructors.I am a Licensed Level 1 & 2 PoleCat Power Method instructor which includes the AFAA recognized workshops for Pole Dance Skills and Injury Prevention.
Benefit to you: Your pole dancing classes will be taught using a proven method that has worked safely and effectively for hundred of students.

3. Does she have a strong safety focus?

Pole dancing is based on spinning around a pole with your feet off the ground.  That makes it an aerial art form with all the beauty and possible injuries from falling.  Your instructor should understand aerial dance and pole spotting techniques as well as have alternative modifications for students with a wide variety of fitness levels. She should also use proper safety equipment, such as pole mats and grip aids.
Benefit to you: Your instructor will provide a safe environment, quality equipment, and be able to adjust or fully support your weight during a difficult trick.

4.  Does she know poles?

There are at least a dozen manufactures that sell poles made from different materials, in different diameters, at different heights, with different features, and different mounting requirements.  Manufactures vary widely as do the quality and safety of their poles. Your instructor should be aware of the most common pole variations and be able to explain the features and benefits of each type. Check out my post on How To Buy a Dancing Pole for specific details about poles.
Benefit to you: You instructor can help you choose a safe, professional pole for your personal practice at home or away from the studio.

5. Is she committed to continuous pole training?

Even with the continuing education requirements of a fitness certification, your instructor should be constantly training.  A professional instructor will maintain a personal focus on greater mastery of aerial pole dance, weight training, flexibility, and cardio endurance.  Your instructor should also have an understanding of the far reaching background of pole dancing. This includes the circus and aerial acrobatics, contemporary and fosse jazz dancing, gymnastics, yoga, hip-hop club dancing, belly dancing, sensual movements, aerobic fitness, exotic or erotic dancing, and so much more. I’ll be posting The History of Pole Dancing soon!

Teaching is not training, so instructors must keep training — Greg Welch

Benefit to you: By expanding her knowledge and abilities in pole dancing, sensual feminine movement, and in other fitness genres, your instructor will always have fresh material and new techniques to teach at every class.

6.  Does she create a fun learning atmosphere?

A professional pole dancing instructor will have a complete lesson plan for each class that guides students to develop playful, safe mastery of each pole trick, transition, and technique. Most great instructors encourage students to use mistakes as learning opportunities and use auditory, visual, and kinesthetic (experiential) methods to reach everyone in class.  Your instructor should maintain a polite and respectful attitude and ask students before hands-on spotting or stepping into their personal space.

Plus, the studio should have enough poles for students to practice and rest as required.  Greg Welch recommends “a one to three work to recovery ratio is a great place to start interval training,”  so no more than three students per pole.
Benefit to you: You get a phenomenal learning experience with plenty of positive encouragement, a friendly class commradarie, and just the right amount of pole time.

With the right instructor, your Pole Dancing class will be a Fun & Safe way to get fit and explore your passionate, feminine soul.

PS. Please contact me if you are looking for a professional pole dancing instructor in your area.  I may be able to help.

What qualities do you like in an instructor? What additional training do you think a pole dance instructor should have? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Twirl, Swirl, and Fly!