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I am part of a secret society. Actually, a pole dancing secret society (exclusive for international pole dancing bloggers only) via Facebook *grins* and am honoured to be able to contribute my thoughts on pole dancing for the May Pole Dance Blog Hop. You may check out others’ answers at the end of this post.

1. How long have you been pole dancing?
4 years since 2009. Took six months off pole-dancing in 2012.

2. What’s your favourite song to pole dance to?
Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap.

3. What’s your favourite pole dance move?
The aerial musical box dancer.

4. What pole move is your nemesis?
The handspring, which requires a lot of strength.

5. If you have to classify your dance style, what would it be?
Lyrical, contemporary, balletic.

6. What inspires your movement? Why do you dance?
Music. Moving to every single beat and rhythm of music. I dance as an outlet of expression, to free my thoughts while having a good workout.

7. Do you study/participate in any other kinds of dancing or other kinds of training?
Yes I do. I sometimes do Aerial Silks. Later this year, I will be attempting the Fly Gym and Aerial Hoop. Previously, I’ve danced Ballet, Indian, Ballroom, Salsa, Belly, Yoga and more. Recently, I have been running and doing some gym workout.

8. How often do you train, dance or attend class per week?
I attend 2-4 hours of classes per week. I train 8 hours a week, practising on my own.

9. Any tips for training?
Always eat before a training session. Avoid caffeine prior. Must warm-up properly and this involves cardio workout like running or cycling to your pole studio, a lot of aerobic-like activity or even push-ups or burpees. A warm body is crucial to prevent injury.

10. Do you train on both sides when you pole? Why or why not?
Recently I try to train on both sides because pole dancing at a higher level requires you to transition into your bad side. However, the naughty me tends to rely on my good side – right.

11. If you’re not a full time poler, how do you balance work and pole? Friends and pole? Life and Pole?
Pole dancing can be addictive. The amount of hours we can spend in pole dancing can be as much as a guy who is obsessed about cars and football. At one point, I was getting overly obsessed with pole dancing where it affected my daily routine (I was spending too many hours looking at YouTube videos, stalking favourite pole artistes like Oona Kivela and almost memorizing their routines from Pole Art 2009 – 2012). I slapped myself into reality and questioned myself if what I was doing would bring home the dough because I am not doing this full-time and it is meant to be a sport. I am managing this properly now, spending hours on the pole at the pole studio and watch YouTube videos only before I go to bed every night. I treat myself to pole classes, outfits and workshops after I achieve a milestone at work (I work from home). I balance friends and pole pretty well, and pole dancing is a good investment in my husband and wife relationship. ☺

12. Is pole dancing, which happens to be a hobby for most, worth the investment?
To me, it is because my husband is a full-time Olympic athlete. Pole dancing is a sport I enjoy within my area of passion (dance in general) and within my reach (never knew I could be this fit before, well now I am!). Maybe some day I will be a pole dancing instructor.

13. Why did you start a pole dance blog?
I’ve been blogging since 2002. I always share my passion online. I want to educate people about the beauty of pole art and fitness.

14. What does your pole dance blog mainly focus on?
My journey in pole dancing, alternative fitness and other discoveries.

15. What’s your favorite post on your pole dance blog?
My Q&A on Pole Dancing. My reply to an email I received questioning culture, feminism and equality.

16. What’s your favorite non-pole blog?
Mummy Blogger from Perth, Australia – Karen Cheng

17. What is your favorite dance studio? (If you teach or own a studio, please list one other than where you teach.)
Pole Divas Australia – I could be biased but I have been to some pole dancing studios in Paris, California, Las Vegas, San Diego and Kuala Lumpur. Pole Divas is by far one of the largest, neatest and most organised pole studio with consistent syllabus and classes that make you feel like you have a good workout at the end of it.

18. If you teach, why did you start teaching, and how did it change your practice? If you don’t teach, do you think you’d ever want to teach? Why or why not?
I want to teach someday but feel I’m not ready yet because I need to build and prepare myself in so many areas. I also need to be fully prepared and ready to commit to being an instructor. I am at a phase where I have just started an online business so this thought of being an instructor is definitely within my books, just a matter of time.

19. Heels or No Heels? Also any good recommendations for heels?
Heels or no heels works fine. Heels are weights and they don’t make it easier to dance in. No heels means you have to point your toes regardless. For heels, the only brand to go with is Pleasers and nothing else.

20. What are your favorite pole clothes?
Nike sports bra, Onzie pole shorts, Bloch pole shorts, 007 Heaven pole skorts, Pole Divas pole shorts.

21. What’s your favorite pole? Size? Material? Height? Static? Spin?
X-Pole 45’’ Static or Spin.

22. If you have ever performed, how do you usually prepare your performance?
For competitions, I usually pick the song, the theme, memorise the song until I can hum the rhythm and then start choreographing. For freestyle performances, I just feel the music and dance away.

23. What’s something you love to do or experience aside from pole dancing?
Prepare healthy meals for my husband.

24. How has pole dancing affected your life?
It has made “the skinny fat girl” much stronger physically! I have also made many friends along the way and also inspired many others to start pole dancing.

25. Looking back at your life, are you surprised that you’re a pole dancer? Like were you a nun five years ago and now you’re a pole teacher? Or does pole dancing seem like a natural fit into the progression of your life?
Pole dancing is like a natural progression of what I had left in those ten years of ballet, except that it’s better now!

26. What’s one pole stereotype that you wish would go away?
“I can’t pole dance. Too difficult for me.”

27. Best reaction when you told someone that you are a pole dancer?
“Josiah’s a lucky man!”

28. Also, since its May… does your Mother [or any maternal person in your life] know that you pole dance and what does she think?
She is fully supportive of me! She’s watched me a few times during class.

29. What’s your pole fantasy or dream?
To become a pole instructor. That means I would be dedicating my life to instructing and motivating others while getting paid to do it.

30. Finish this sentence. Pole dancing is….
Art and Fitness.

I have been pole dancing for more than three years now, and I am at mid Advanced level. You see, every pole term is 8 weeks and we start off with Beginner, Intermediate 1-3, Advanced 1-3. I breezed through the initial Beginner to Intermediate 2 and then the levels got tougher, required more upper body strength and I had to clock in many more hours to have the strength to stay up the pole.

Before I put pole dancing on hold for a while, I was doing about 4 hours of pole dancing each week – 2 set classes (spin and static) and 2 casual classes (stretch, or strengthening of some sort). It was not enough, considering the fact that Advanced levels required so much strength and agility but because my body remembers the same set of tricks each time, it was conditioned to improve for the better. The real professional competitors (pole instructors) clock in at least 4 hours of workout each day like real athletes.

And then I left for Europe and the US with Josiah for 6 months for the Olympics, a holiday and to pursue a startup business idea. When we came back, I started running with the Nike Run Group in Melbourne twice a week to improve my endurance. Today after 2 weeks of no-running, a holiday in Malaysia in spite of the climb up Mount Kinabalu, my body seemed to forget how to do most tricks.

I have missed 8 months of pole work, so it would be 8 pole years altogether.

It was a bit demotivating today personally for myself in A3 class when girls were doing Pantera climbs (imagine pulling your body up to the top of the pole using only arm strength) and I had to simplify the moves to cater to my capabilities. My muscular and fit instructor, Hollie was very encouraging reminding me that it was my first official A3 class back in the studio. I went for two A2 classes in the past two weeks with Gracie, it wasn’t as daunting, but A3 seems to be a different level now altogether. In Pole Divas’ (my studio) Unleashed level, it is considered “Elite Category”.

I will give myself 2 weeks to regain its muscle memory, having the strength to get back on to the pole. I’ve sold my pole at home last year, so it means going to the studio more often. I am going to take it easy, not expect too much at this point otherwise I would risk an injury. But yes, I’m looking forward to a good pole year. Maybe some competitions ahead for fun?