Our lives are filled with perpetual, consuming worries for everything except for what is happening RIGHT NOW.

Take a moment and ask yourself if you really have any problems in this EXACT second.  Not earlier this morning, or two minutes from now, or tomorrow.

But RIGHT NOW.

What are you thinking about RIGHT NOW…

Do you feel the need to worry about something that’s happening later?

But is it really a problem RIGHT NOW?

Do you feel the need to worry about something that happened yesterday?

But is it really a problem RIGHT NOW?

If you are breathing with sufficiently warm clothes on and a roof over your head, then you’re probably doing pretty okay at the moment.  I’m not saying your concerns are baseless or unimportant.  I’m saying that spending your time worrying about them is wasting valuable energy that you could use for loving your family, working on your dreams & goals, or just having some serious playtime (on the pole of course).

What if you practiced living and dancing in this moment, EXACTLY AS YOU ARE?  Without any worries of the past or of the future.  What if you gave yourself the chance to let go of your problems for 5 minutes and just be.

Be your breath.  Be your movement.  Be alive.

You don’t have to prepare for who you are, you can simply be who you are.

Sometimes you need to live as a human being instead of a human doing.

Let go of the past.

Let go of the future.

The more you ask yourself… “What is important to me in this moment?”

…the more calm you will find…
..the more gratitude you will feel…
..the more abundance and joy will permeate your life…

So tonight, don’t get dressed up to dance.  Don’t plan your play list beforehand.  Don’t even decide exactly when you’ll begin your practice.  Walk to your pole when the moment is right (and you’ll know it’s right when you feel that odd pressure in your head that says Gosh, I wish I was pole dancing now), put on the song the seems to pop into your consciousness or under your fingers in your ipod, and dance.

Dance as you were, Dance as you are, Dance as you wish to be.

Knowing that this moment is the most precious one in your life RIGHT NOW.

Because this moment is all you ever have.

How do you find acceptance in the present moment? What other techniques do you use to create flow? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Twirl, Swirl, and Fly!

When there are too many options, too many possibilities, I get overwhelmed and stuck.  Which of the gazillion things that I could choose is the RIGHT one and how do I know for sure? Do I always have to weigh each possibility in disgusting detail?  Do I really have to agonize and worry over every damn little thing in my life?

As a physicist, I know that mankind has made a science out of redefining our infinite world of possibilities using small little ONEs and ZEROs.  Every movie we watch, every blog we read, every song we download is created from boiling this reality down to those two options. It’s not perfect. Computer simulated red will never be as luscious as the flaming red of a real sunset, but I am still grateful for it.

I want to harness this uniquely human power to SIMPLIFY. Because I have questions that I am tired of pondering.  Tired of thinking about.  Tired of being frozen with indecision about instead of moving forward and taking some fucking action.  I have questions that need answers whether the sun sets red, orange, or a deep royal purple (I live in LA, so yes, sometimes it’s purple!)

So, sometimes, I use my pole dancing as a magic eight ball.  You know, those plastic balls filled with inky black water and the little window where your fortune pops up… “My sources say yes” or “Don’t count on it” (in an oh so very scientific fashion).  When my conscious mind refuses to come up with the answers, I can let my pole dancing magic eight ball decide instead.

“But you’re a physicist?” you cry “How can you ignore the entire scientific method?”

Because the magic eight ball I’m about to show you, taps into your unconscious mind.  If your conscious mind is lost, your unconscious mind has the navigation package and it’s desperately trying to tell you to “take a right at the next exit.” But it’s unconscious (by definition), so unless you find a way to tap into it, you won’t hear a damn thing.  All the while it’s screaming…  TURN RIGHT!  TURN RIGHT NOW!

Now stick with me here, because this is the tricky part…..

Become your own Magic Eight Ball

1. Go pick two (or three) colors to represent your options. My favorite scenario is BLACK meaning NO WAY! and WHITE meaning ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES!  (other meanings might be ABSOLUTELY, MY SOURCES SAY NO, or OUTLOOK GOOD. You can even use GREY for REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN LATER)
2. Create a sexy poledancing outfit with your two (or three) colors. In the video I chose a white tank top, white bikini top, black booty shorts, black and white bodystrings, and black platform shoes (see, I told you I used bodystrings ALL THE TIME).
3. Dance and Strip. Yes, you heard me STRIP.  Take off your clothes, but let your unconscious mind decide what pieces to remove and how to remove them. (I did NOT actually remove clothes in the video because it got a little too hot for youtube and I didn’t want to upset your delicate disposition)
4. The color you are wearing more of at the end of your poledancing session is your answer. (I was wearing all BLACK at the end, but just barely, so I got my answer –> NO WAY!  )

Becoming your own magic eight ball means you are trusting your intuition. 

Which is a good thing, because your intuition knows everything you think you know… everything you actually know… a bunch of shit you forgot that you know… and a bunch more shit you don’t even realize that you know.

At the very least, when you are done, you can leave me a comment and say “Yannori, you are full of shit, but I love you anyway.” Because you’re awesome and you roll like that.

How do you tap into your intuition? How do you make a difficult decision? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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This week was hard.  This week was bad.  This week I had to face people in pain.  People that I usually share In’n'Out fries with while shouting obscenities at the 49ers.  People that I’ve been more than a little drunk-off-my-ass-and-still-got-home-safe with.  People that have made a significant impact in my life.  And now, they hurt. Their families hurt.  Their reality hurts.  Their world hurts.

And I don’t know what to do.  You see, I’m horrible at watching pain. Forget Hollywood movies and all that namby-pamby bullshit.  It’s the real deal I’m talking about here.  The kind of pain where they might have to crack open your chest to save you life.  Or do test after test just to find out if they can treat whatever unpronounceable thing that you’ve got.  And it’s really hard to watch without crying.

So, I’m lost. Wondering what can I do?  How can I help?  I’m not a doctor, or a nurse. Shit, I still check the directions when I put on a bandaid.

Instead, I did what they have done for me.  I stayed. I didn’t leave.  I showed up and watched what happened.  I didn’t pretend it wasn’t happening.  I didn’t pretend I completely understood their pain.  I didn’t pretend I knew everything was going to be okay.  Because I don’t know.

I chose to be there with them as life unfolded. As the next moment passed and the next and the next.  When they needed to talk, we talked.   When they needed silence, we had silence.   When they needed to cry, we cried.

And when they needed to be alone, I left.  But I went home to my safe house, with my safe dog, in my safe car, to watch my safe television.  And it wasn’t the same.   So, I turned to my pole dancing practice the way people turn to meditation or that first cup of tea. A ritual to calm my mind with the long accustomed movements that I’ve done a million times before.  The dance where I give my emotions extra space, extra time, extra energy.

It helped.  It gave my body a way to understand the turmoil in my mind.  My arms and legs articulated sadness with each extension.  My chest knew waves of confusion through abdominal contraction.  And finally I cried for me.

The best way for me to help them, is to live, breathe, and be who I am… with them.  To laugh with them, cry with them, watch funny zombie movies with them.  To know each moment is as precious as it is fleeting.

If you have experienced sadness in your life, whether the pain was yours or someone you care about– Give it a ritual.  Create a safe space inside yourself without judgment and find a way to let go. Use sensual dance, or a walk along the ocean, or a gentle rocking chair on the outside porch.  Show up to life, give in to life, and let go.

This week there is a video, but I choose not to post it.  This week, the space below is for you.

How do you create personal space? What kind of rituals give you comfort? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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10 minutes? 20 minutes? An hour? (WOW!)

In order to have a truly amazing experience every time, I think it’s essential to really develop your stamina. In fact, I think stamina is just as important as your technique and your transitions. (You did know that I’m talking about POLE DANCING, right?) So at the end of almost every warmup, I include some extra songs specifically for this purpose.

I throw off my warmup pants (or strip them off if I’m in the mood) and let my sensual spirit fill the dance floor.  I don’t stop moving until my body feels warm, grounded, and excited about developing a new technique, trying out a new combination, or just building my strength in an advanced trick. It’s a great way to make sure you start every training session with gratitude and joy.

To try it, first you have to pick two songs that entice you to MOVE, twirl, swirl, float and fly!

Then, challenge yourself to drag each extension of your arm, slow down each delicious step, exhale through every luscious invert. Make a point to take this chance to dance slowly.   But… DON’T sacrifice your personal style! Just notice when you rushing into the next movement and consciously choose to take your time.  This isn’t about making yourself dance agonizingly slow (unless that’s your style).  It’s about giving yourself the chance to expand and take ownership of both your dance time and your dance space.

Once you can dance for two whole songs, try to extend it to three.  I promise you’ll love your new found stamina (in more places than just the dance floor)!

Do you prefer long or short dancing sessions? How do use pole dancing to develop stamina & cardio? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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For some reason, I couldn’t figure out how to stop focusing on all my ToDo’s, relax and just be myself.

So during my pole improvisation session I decided to accept all of my “doing” layers and wear them like a badge of honor….

I kept my hair up in a tight bun to represent my working diva self. I kept on the blue tank top that covered my hungry belly while I shopped for groceries. I put on the standard bikini top and leg warmers that I use when I teach a pole session.

And then I waited for the music to lead me…

We Run LA She Wolf Good Girls Go Bad

First I let my mind and body move within all the layers. The dancing felt controlled, contained, and even a little shy.  Then, with each new song, I washed away a layer of ToDo grime. I let my hair down and played with the wild feeling of it whipping around my face.  I stripped off the tank top, transforming it from just a shirt into a sexy skirt, and then simply throwing it away.  I even seductively removed the legwarmers and bikini top (although that is NOT included in the video).

I made space for me by deliberately separating myself from everything that I do. I had to dance for 25 minutes before I remembered

What You Do is Not Who You Are

When you remove varnish layer by layer, you reveal that natural, organic wood beneath.  The imperfect but truly beautiful grain.  So often we forget to strip away all of the layers and just be ourselves. You may live the life of a business executive, of a mother, of a loving wife, of a caring sister….. But there is a deeper core of authenticity waiting below the surface.  And sometimes, when the layers get too heavy to bear, its time to let them slide off you body, and just allow yourself to be.

ps, if you’re having problems hearing the audio, check out the video on my site.

How do you find your authentic self? Have you ever used pole dancing to release your ToDo list worries before? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Don’t beat yourself up because you aren’t dealing with it right this second. Skirt the issue until you are ready to resolve it. And I don’t mean ignore it completely!

Tonight, wear a soft skirt and give yourself permission to dance around your problem (and your pole). Ignore the problem (and your pole) when you want to. Or shake it when you need to.  Climb it. Kick it. Twirl around and around it. Float toward it as if some force of gravity is pulling you and then exert your own luscious forces and float away.

Notice how your movements effect you body and your skirt.  The skirt changes shape, swirls and twirls around you hips, rides up and down your body and you flip and slide.  Feel how the problem effects you, changes you, gives you goosebumps as your movements cause the skirt to tickle your legs.

There’s no need to run from your problems. Instead, learn to play with your pole (*wink*) and your problem. Accept that it exists and that you don’t have all the answers but perhaps there is something wonderful that you will create by searching for them. While you skirt the issue, your mind can relax and develop new ideas, new solutions.

Find the joy in pole dancing through life, letting the trials and tribulations of your journey tickle your legs and swirl around you.  Maybe they will show you that enjoying the life (and sometimes even the problems) that you have is so much better than just giving up.

To see a world in a grain of sand And heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour –William Blake

How do deal with your un-faceable problems? Does pole dancing give you a sense of creative relief and release? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Whatever difficulties you are having, it can feel as if the word “unlucky” is tattooed across your forehead.  Everyone knows you are having a stream of bad luck and there is nothing you can do about it….. RIGHT?

Wrong.  On unlucky days, pull your dragons out of the shadows and into the light. Show the world you aren’t afraid to make mistakes and  discover something new about yourself and your world.  Wear your accidents of fate, like a badge of honor that tells everyone you are finally LIVING instead of being afraid to share your true self. And then, laugh.

Laugh the whole day away. Bad shit is going to happen, so you might as well enjoy the experience, learn, and then laugh it off.  If the wind blows up your skirt, act like Marilyn Monroe the whole night. If your heels break, go barefoot and ask the strongest, sexiest men to carry you. If your laptop gets fried, move the meeting to a poolside resort and throw your laptop in the water to get their attention (check your warranty first though). If you laugh and learn from your dragons, they will gracefully bow at your feet.

Give in to your playful, sensual side and simply ride the day out. Laugh until your sides hurt. Then go home and pole dance until you end up laying on the floor unable to move a muscle. Get it out of your system today and by tomorrow you’ll realize that your “unlucky tattoo” was actually an auspicious dragon of good fortune.

I had to dance for 30 minutes before I defeated my dragons, but it was worth every sweaty second.  BTW, the two songs in this video are Milk by Garbage and Angel of Mine by Newtown Saints.

“Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight”

How do you purge your bad luck? Have you ever had a crappy day that turned into an amazing day? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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In particular, if you’ve got a pair of shiny black GoGo boots that have been wasting away in a corner, find those sexy gems and put them on for your weekly flying session, meaning your pole dancing lessons, of course!

GoGo boots are amazing fun to dance in because they give you all the benefits of platform boots and none of the drawbacks.

GoGo Boots, just like platform boots, are usually made of pleather, that awesome shiny material that helps your feet and legs stick to the pole like glue.  They come in every color imaginable and in a variety of heel sizes, from 1 inch up to 3.5 or even 4 inches, so they make your legs look sexy and show off your curvy feminine thighs at the same time.

On the other hand, platform boots have a hard thick sole that can be difficult for balance, pivot turns, and stability when landing a fast spin (see, it IS a FLYING lesson   However, GoGo boots don’t have these drawbacks.  Because the sole of the GoGo boot is thin, you can easily point your toes during pivot turns and spin transitions, giving you the ability to control your landing and twirls into the next movement.  (I hope you’re using your abs too!)

It is so easy to maintain your balance while strutting your sexy walk or using your hips to imply naughty, naughty thoughts.

Check out my youtube video below and you’ll see how much fun I had dancing in GoGo boots.  They gave me the freedom to add in more sensual floorwork, while still giving me the grip I love for inverted pole dancing moves.

Have you ever pole danced in a pair of GoGo boots? How did it effect your movement & emotional response? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Twirl, Swirl, and Fly!

So pick up a pair of tall platforms (with a cone heel if you’re a new pole dancer) or a pair of slick red thigh high boots (Thats HOT!) and strut your stuff.  Remember to practice walking in any new pair of shoes first.

Let the slow, sensual dancing begin!

PS, I’m still in love (hmm or lust ) with A Perfect Circle. So this weeks PoDaViAs is performed to “Hollow” & “Brena.”  You can check out the whole album below!

Do you prefer Heavy Heels, Light Heels, or no heels at all? Do shoes slow down your dancing? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Maybe you’re absolutely green with jealousy that you got passed over for that promotion.

Or perhaps your seething red with anger? Turning purple from withheld passion? Face ashen gray with fear? Walking around under a black cloud?

Sometimes you feel permeated by a color that fills you up and eats at your bones.  (okay maybe that’s a bit harsh, but you get the picture).  When the mood is too hard to fight off, embrace it instead.  By embracing the mood, you stop wasting energy trying to fight it.  You give your body, mind, and soul the chance to accept its current state.  Once accepted, you can easily move past the stuck emotion toward hope and solutions.

But how do you accept it?

Use improvisational dancing to fully express that emotion in a beautiful and productive way.  Give it the stage and your full attention and you’ll soon find it dissolving before your eyes.

3 Easy Steps

1.  Express your emotional color on your body

Find dancing clothes that are the same color of your mood.  I chose a light blue top to represent the cloud following me around, a dark blue booty short to represent the sad & scary river I was crossing, and black leggings to remind me of the smaller fears I was facing.

2.  Pick your music with care

Create a new playlist or randomize an old playlist but try to choose music that both exemplifies your mood and seems counter to it.  I used a mix with “She Said, I Said” by NLT (), “Queen B” by Puscifier, and “Princess” by Karl Wolf.

3.  Dance until your mood changes.

After your warmup, just start moving.  Take three easy breathes and notice exactly how you are feeling.  Pay attention to the emotion, not the reason for the emotion. What does it feel like inside your body? A lump in your throat? A tightness in your belly? A weakness in your legs? Whatever you’re feeling stretch and move through it.

Suddenly, the music will change.  The emotion you feel will become different, morphed from one mood into another. For me, my mood stayed blue until I heard Princess.  Then all of a sudden I became giddy and silly… as the video shows, and I just enjoyed that new expression of joy within me.  It will happen to you too.

Let the music & your feelings take you on a ride until you wake up and realize the bad mood is gone.

You’ve accepted it, expressed it, let it go… and replaced it with clarity and the joy of movement.

What color are your moods & how do you get rid of them? What do you feel like when the mood is gone? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Last week I got to check out the beautiful AntixFitness studio in Redlands, CA.   The waiting room of AntixFitness is filled with shoes, clothes, and some of my favorite sexy toys.  I was like a kid in a candy store for at least half an hour.  OH MY! The studio itself has a brass pole for every student, a wall length mirror, plenty of yoga mats, exercise balls, and weights.  Beautiful wood floors and overhead lights with blue sky and clouds appliques make this a lively and inviting studio.

Mikey, the owner is super strong, playful, and an awesome instructor.  In a word she ROCKS!  She kicked my ass (meaning worked me out ) in her Simple Pole and Core’n'Sculpt classes.

She also gave me a sneak peak at the Better Than Cheesecake dancetroup performance coming up May 1. Its a Cinco De Mayo event called “Lady Banditas: Busted.” Check out the info site here.

Plus, I got invited to do a solo performance at midnight! So, if you’re in the area, you better come and check it out.  There’s no cover and its sure to be a great show.

Just in case you can’t make it, I’ll be posting a blow by blow after the event.  I can’t wait!

I was totally inspired by Mikey and her studio girls who always dance in shoes.  I rarely wear shoes to dance and found myself feeling a little clumsy as Mikey put me through my paces.  Yikes!  But I love a challenge, and decided to use this experience as the basis for my next PoDaViAs (pole dancing video assignment).

So, if you usually dance without shoes, here’s your chance to don a lovely pair of 5″ or 6″ Heel Platform Shoes.

Remember that you have to take special care to keep your abs nice and tight to protect your lower back.  Also remember to limit your shoe time or keep the heels below two inches.   If you are a beginner, keep the high heels at the 4 or 5 inch level and make sure they have straps.  A flying shoe really can put out your eye.  Ack!

Now, if you usually do dance with shoes, skip the shoes this week.  Get yourself a pair of professional FootUndeez to protect the balls of your feet and make it easier to turn and twirl.

I had alot of fun with this one, so check out the video below!

I found my dancing to be heavier and more grounded.  And I totally loved how easy it was to stretch into inversions and the Aysha with the weighty heels giving me that extra edge against gravity.

The song is Come Here Boy by Imogen Heap .  Its one of my favorites!

Do you wear shoes when you pole dance?  What kind of differences did you notice when you switched? Share your ideas in the comment section!

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When the world feels heavy on your shoulders and you are filled with worry or sorrow, instead of escape, consider immersion.

Search your favorite songs for thick beats, harsh guitars, and deep vocals. (I chose Magdalena & Thinking of You by A Perfect Circle )

As you begin to dance, let the darker parts of your mind emerge. Give them free reign – just for a song or two.

When you awake from the dense creative flow you’ll find your worries satiated and remote.  Soothed by the sensual nature of flowing movement and heavy beats.

How do you find peace when the world gets you down? How do Heavy Beats effect you?  Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Sometimes it’s important to shake up your daily routine to give yourself a reason to excel and develop your skills in a new situation.  This week, carve out some improvisational dance time that’s different than your normal schedule.  If you’re a night dancer (like me), find some time in the morning or early afternoon when the sun is high and give your sparkling pole a twirl.  If you’re a morning dancer, schedule a late night date with your pole and fly with the moon instead of the sun.

Initially, when I thought this one up, I wasn’t sure if I could actually do it, but I gave myself the challenge and gave it a try.  I found that I my movement was slower and more about the detail of each pelvic circle.  I loved how the slightly higher temperature of the room changed the texture of the pole and gave me a completely different grip sensation.  And I really enjoyed play in the sunshine streaming through the windows.  This one was a great reminder for me that Life really is Just a Dance in the Sunshine.

Here’s the playlist….

Or Check out the iMix here.. Different as Night & Day

How did it affect you?

Do you remember what happened to that old college sweater, or when you last wore those bell bottom pants? How long has it been since you pulled out those shoes from years past? Take a few minutes to travel through all the memories trapped in your closet in the form of old clothes, old shoes, and old jewelry. Maybe you’re ready to let go of some memories and maybe there’s a few you’d still like to keep. Either way, choose one item filled with memories of the past and wear it for your dance.

As you begin your improvisation, notice how much you have changed since you last wore the item; how much you’ve grown, how much you’ve learned, and how much more you understand your inner self. Then, as the music draws you into movement, allow yourself to pull and tug at the item. Remove the item completely if you feel the impulse. Throughout the song, pay attention to how simple it is to separate the item from your body. Know that you are not limited by the past and can let it go, shedding it as easily as an old sweater.

For this challenge, I found a thick red Spun Silk Ribbed Turtleneck
I wore during my undergraduate years in college. I used to wear it to my early morning physics exams when I was afraid to fail and just wanted to hide away. Although it still has a comforting warmth, as I danced, I found that I just didn’t want to hide anymore. By shedding its false comfort and memory I was able to let go of that fear of failure from the past. What memory did you shed during your dance?

Here is the bonus video clip of my training session with this challenge…

And here’s this weeks playlist of songs to help you shed your past…

Or download the songs directly from itunes. Clean Out Your Closet

One of the best ways to engage the emotions is with the senses.  Although often overlooked, the sense of smell can cause a deeply buried emotional response, usually related to a past memory. Before you dance, add a luscious or irresistible scent to the space around you by lighting a scented candle or wearing some of your favorite perfume.

Breathe deeply and accept any emotions or memories that arise. Let your
feelings mingle with the music; let your sensuous presence fill the
room; and then– let your body fly.

For this improvisation and all the attached videos, I used my favorite perfume BVLGARI. I love how it smells like a blooming exotic flower from a lover; full of life, hope, and the anticipation of more to come *wink*.

I posted an uncut intermediate video to youtube. Please enjoy!

Either way, check out the playlist for this Improv at Amazon.com.

Or you can download all the songs directly from itunes. Scent of a Woman Playlist