Express The Sensual

Where can you find a celebration of sexual culture and the best people watching in LA?  At one of the largest consumer erotic shows in the US, the 13th annual EroticaLA. (PS, every link in this article is PG-13 PERIOD, but you’re on your own after that.) With an expected turn out of over 40,000 men and women, Erotica LA is getting ready for a three day conference, June 12-14,  that attendees have described as seductive, classy, and inspirational.

EroticaLA is an erotica convention (not hard core porn).  That means it’s more like an adult candy store *wink* with naughty shopping, colorful exhibits, and awesome How-To seminars. Plus, they’ve got some of the hottest burlesque shows and the sexiest people in the Los Angeles area.  Every booth and showcase is designed to tantalize and tease with tons of sex appeal but absolutely no live nudity.  The convention itself is extremely female friendly, since over 35% of attendees are woman and 67% of ticket holders attend with friends or as part of a couple.

Sexy Shows

Before you head out to the Los Angeles Convention center, make sure and check the EroticaLA show schedule and plan your day around the sexy showcases.  My absolute favorites from previous years were The Hollywood Men stage show, the Screaming O contest, and the Devil’s Playground Burlesque show.  And this year’s 4th annual FAME (Fans of Adult Media & Entertainment) Awards looks to be a scorcher with nominees such as Jenna Haze, Bella Donna, and Tera Patrick.  Plus, you can still add in your FAME vote!

A highly anticipated new addition to the lineup is the Miss EroticaLA Pageant.  One lucky lady will be chosen from 12 finalists and crowned on Saturday.  The winner will receive multiple exclusive film and photography sessions as well as public representation by Rising Star.  Plus, she’ll be on the cover of AVN Magazine. Ooh La La!

How To  $@(&!  Seminars

Don’t forget to check out a couple of the special seminars put on by The Pleasure Chest and others awesome Sexperts.  My absolute must-see seminar is the “Porn Stars Reveal: Sex Tips, Tricks and Bloopers” on Friday at 9:30pm and an interview on sex play tips and tricks with Nina Hartley, a registered nurse and adult film star.

Many of these seminars are R-rated adult material, so don’t be surprised if they get “down and dirty.” Besides, you aren’t going to EroticaLA for another Vanilla weekend are you? *wink*  I’m certainly not.

Naughty Shopping & Sensational Exhibits

Once you’ve figured out your showcase highlights, don’t forget to wander through the Blissful shopping opportunities.  You’ll find Henna tattoo artists next to sex toy exhibits and some awesome Pole Dancing studios ( to the LA PoleDancers!).

Luckily, EroticaLA has two shopping areas so you don’t have to see anything you don’t want to.

The Sensual Zone, usually on the right side of the entrance, is for those that want to just shop for sexy clothes, fun makeup ideas, and entertaining novelties. The X Zone, on the left side of the entrance, is for those that want to buy recently released adult videos, chat with porn stars (fully clothed of course), and check out some awesome people watching at local LA fetish clubs booths.  Just be forewarned, the X Zone always has what I’ve come to call “the huge house of porn,” so pick your pleasure wisely.  *wink*

Special Contests for Pole Dancers

In previous years, many well known dance pole manufacturers have created danceable exhibits and contests for pole dancers.  I’ve won some lovely prizes and tested some of the next generation, new and improved professional poles.  Plus, plenty of exotic, burlesque, and pole dance studios from the Los Angeles and Southern California area show up to advertise great classes, put on special workshops, and just have fun. 

If you are a new student looking to enhance your current training or an instructor looking to network, EroticaLA is the convention for you!

Tickets, Erotica Bucks, and Discounts… Oh My!

So, here’s the nitty gritty for tickets. All tickets are available through the EroticaLA website and TicketWeb. Every ticket comes with $5 Erotica Bucks, valid at any vendor at the conference (so if you get the 3 day pass, you’ll get $15 free bucks to spend) and if you twitter, you can get a special $5 off your EroticaLA tickets.

I always buy the EroticaLA VIP 3-day pass because I get to meet everybody on Friday, check out the awesome showcases on Saturday, and get the best shopping deals on Sunday.  However, if you can only go for one day, pick Saturday.  It has the best shows, the best seminars, and plenty of phenomenal people watching and pole dancing fun!  With EroticaLA, you just can’t go wrong.

Will I see you there?  ExpressTheSensual.com will have a tweetup on Saturday, June 13 at 12pm (noon)! Share your ideas in the comment section!

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Is your dancing inhibited? Do you get anxious when performing in front of a group, even in your pole class? Are you afraid to dance for you lover?  Are you afraid to dance in front the mirror?

Make A Wish

You’re not alone.  Many of my beginner students are afraid to let go of their inhibitions and express their sensual nature through movement.  And one of my readers recently asked “I was wondering if you had any advise on getting over the whole embarrassing/shy thing.”

Happily, overcoming your performance anxiety is absolutely possible for everyone. And the best part is that, the confidence you gain while dancing will propagate into every aspect of your life. But, you will have to face a fear or two.  Don’t worry.  Keep reading and you’ll find plenty of tools to help you own the dance floor in almost any situation.

These Boots Were Made For Walking

The first thing I teach in every class is how to walk.   And the reason is because I want you to have the ability to feel like the sexy, powerful, woman that you are.  I want you to turn it on and off at will.  Literally.

I encourage my students to take their “sexy” out for a walk in a public place. Strolling along the sidewalk as they usually do, and then turning on the charm so to speak.  Try it and you’ll be amazed at the positive reactions you receive and how vibrant you feel.

To turn on your “sexy” walk you simply need to remember four little words…

SLOW SLINK SLIDE SMILE

1. Slow - Take your time.  Charismatic woman usually aren’t in a rush to get somewhere.  Let you body move with purpose and intention, staying conscious of each step along your inner and outer path.

2.  Slink – Allow your hips to sway and your body to curve slightly while you walk.  According to “The Definitive Book of Body Language,” men love a 67-80% hip-to-waist ratio.  But you don’t actually have to have that ratio to be alluring.  By tilting your pelvis as you walk, you automatically create the perfect hip-to-waist ratio.  Plus, if you sway your torso, you will give the impression of flexibility.  And both sexes find flexibility attractive in a mate.

3. Slide - As you take each step, slightly drag the big toe or inside of your shoe along the ground.  This forces you to slow down, and makes your legs look longer.  Extending your legs is a powerful nonverbal signal that indicates you are a mature passionate woman .

4.  Smile – A small, tight lipped smile is a submissive gesture that says “I have a secret.”  If you pair this with a slight down tilt to the head as you look up, it makes men want to protect you and woman want to be you.

To practice these steps, turn on some stimulating music and strut your stuff in front of a mirror.  It’s important to be able to look yourself in the eye and feel the seductive energy coming off your body. If you feel it, so will everyone else. Once you’ve mastered the sexy walk both in the mirror and in public, then you’re ready to begin shedding your performance anxiety.

Here are two major milestones required to help you dance with self confidence.

All Mine

The first milestone is to remember that you own the stage. At this moment, anyone watching has come here to see you.  Not the girl before you.  Not the girl after you.  Not the pole or the chair or any other props you might be using.  You.

That means you are in control.  Don’t downplay this control and don’t ignore it. Pick music, sexy shoes, clothes, and any other props that make you feel empowered… and by that I mean HOT.

Maintain that control.  Don’t let the attention of your audience wander.  Keep it focused on you for your entire dance.  If you’re wearing shoes, stamp your feet to make a loud noise.  Add in some twirls to automatically cause their eyes to trace your movements.  Go extra slow to drag out anything scintillating and force them to feel antic………….pation.

If Tha Mood

The second milestone is a little bit tricky.  And by that, I mean you have to make a choice.  Do you want to notice your audience or do you want to ignore them? Each choice will cause your audience to react in a different manner.

If you ignore your audience, they will feel like they are spying.  They may feel guilty while watching you but unable to stop as you lead them through an exhilarating secret moment. This is the easiest method, but can sometimes backfire if you don’t allow some playfulness to show through.  The audience must believe that you are giving them this glimpse of your own free will.  If they believe you don’t want to be there, they will notice this negative emotion instead of your beautiful movement.

Alternatively, if you pay attention to your audience, they will feel as if they are participating in the dance. As if you are playing with their emotions.  This method requires that you use the SMILE you learned in the previous exercise and make eye contact.  Even if it’s only for a moment.  As you catch someone’s eye think “this is my stage”, “I am beautiful”, or “I feel amazing.”  Besides being the absolute truth, these thoughts will send a strong vibration throughout your audience and fill you with courage.

What the Fuck is LadyLike

With each performance, whether its for your class or at a pole showcase, you’ll feel the anxiety fade.  By facing this fear, you will actually know more about your inner self and learn to express that feminine fire in your everyday life. You’ll discover that it is better to laugh at your small mistakes and simply stretch through them playfully.  85% of the time your audience won’t notice the mistake anyway, and 10% of the time they’ll think you did it on purpose.

The Power is yours already, you simply have to accept it.

Little Johnny & Jane are playing in the garden when they begin having an argument over whether girls are better than boys.  Johnny pulls down his pants and says “Boys are better than girls ‘cos you don’t have one of these!” Jane bursts out crying because she knows she doesn’t have one of those. She rushes inside to her mother and a little while later comes back outside with a huge grin on her face.  “My mom says girls are better than boys,” she says with confidence. “Are not” says the boy, “You haven’t got one of these.” Jane looks at him, raises her skirt and pulls down her panties.  “My mom says that as long as I have one of these, I can have one of those anytime I want.”

How do you eliminate shyness? Do you enjoy performing for your class or for groups? 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!