Ashley

Following up part one’s introduction to building strength and endurance with my poolside workout, which includes a great line up of off the pole exercises. Hopefully by now you have a better understanding of how your strength and endurance play a role in your performance, and you’re ready for more exercises you can do to improve your conditioning. If you’re just joining us and missed part one go ahead and soak up that information before diving into part two.

So amping up your conditioning will help you perform better, without ending up feeling like you need an oxygen tank. Once you’ve gotten a feel for your breathing and playing with your dance endurance, the next thing you should do is build a personal off-the-pole conditioning routine (or follow mine below!). This can be done before class, after class, during open studio or as a personal home workout. Now, there are all sorts of bodyweight exercises you can do, as well as workout gidgets and gadgets galore, but I am going to share with you a few of my favorite conditioning exercises using Rubberbanditz resistance bands. I like using bands because they have so many uses and they are super easy to tote around in my pole bag. Plus these key moves can be done just about anywhere as they don’t require much space. My pool made the perfect outdoor gym!

The Workout:
1. Hip Abduction
2. Straight Leg Kickbacks
3. Quad Pulses
4. Hamstring Press down
5. Hip Bridge
6. Hamstring Curls
7. Duck Walk
8. Squat
9. Shoulder Press

Perform three rounds of each exercise before moving onto the next!

If you’re able to do more than 10-15 reps then you’ll want to advance to a heavier band. Keep it challenging! If you’re getting less than 8 reps then switch to a lighter band. Remember: heavy weight, low reps builds muscle; low weight, high reps helps build endurance. We want to be in that sweet spot!

When listening to your favorite song, those 3-4 minutes always seem to fly by! However, when it comes to endurance for routines, that same 3-4 minutes can seem like an eternity, leaving you exhausted, weak and out of breath. If you often feel like you’re lacking the endurance for routines, you are not alone! Building up the necessary strength and endurance to get through a 3-4 minute routine is often more challenging than choreographing the routine itself. I mean, there’s tricks, transitions, flexibility, dance, emotion…so much that needs to packed into such a short amount of time and with precision at that. I know what you’re thinking: WHY is it so hard?!?! The answer is your level of strength and endurance, or for simplicity: your conditioning.

Since your first day in class, you’ve learned a collection of moves, that individually look and feel great. The trouble tends to arise when it’s time to combine them into combos, a freestyle or a fully-choreographed routine that requires stamina. Why is that? Well, if you were to watch a video recording of an entire class, you’d likely discover quite a bit of downtime where you’re listening to and watching your instructor, waiting for a spot, socializing, drinking water, posing for a photo, or just trying to steal a moments rest. In a routine, there is no downtime.

One solution I often hear thrown around to improve endurance is: do more cardio. Sorry to say, but this is NOT the solution. While cardiovascular endurance does play a role in your pole endurance, it is only part of the solution. Cardio endurance differs from pole endurance. Although stepping up your cardio game won’t hurt, and will have some appreciated benefits in the waistline and in your cardiovascular health, spending countless hours on the treadmill or track won’t build the necessary endurance needed on the pole.

So why is strength and endurance training (conditioning) important anyway? Strength and endurance are key for efficiency. If we are struggling to get up the pole (lyra, trapeze, silks, rope, etc) then we won’t have the energy required to execute the move efficiently or to add personalized flare. The lack of efficiency also makes it hard to work on the uber important things including straight lines, fine tuning, accents, holding moves longer, and being able to play and explore new transitions into/out out of the move or new variations of the move. All key things that judges look for at competition – wink wink!

Right now your probably wondering: do I really need super hulk strength to put on a great performance? Well no, but you do want strong and conditioned muscles that support your performance movement. Fatigued muscles often lead to broken lines, especially when it comes to straight legs and pointed toes. Having the necessary strength and endurance (let’s also highlight core strength and active flexibility) can make a huge difference in your performance ability. This allows for less struggle into and out of moves, proper muscle engagement, stability and much more. Learning to build muscle endurance will help supercharge your muscles to activate and stay active throughout your dance.

So how do you build up endurance needed for performances? The answer is conditioning through strength and endurance building. These are best done as drills that target the muscles usage required for pole/aerials and the specific moves you’re planning to include in your routine – although things like HIIT, TRX, Crossfit and cardio-core workouts can also be beneficial. As an instructor, endurance and strength building are a standard practice in ALL of my classes. Our warmups include intense core work and conditioning combos. I design these at various levels, with progressions to help strategically build strength and endurance. Okay, I know what you’re thinking: I’ve got the why…now tell me HOW! (Please) I got you boo! I’m going to share some of my fav and most used tips and drills to help you. I’m going to share this with you in three parts, so it’s easier to digest and work on without body and memory overload. Part one (which you’re reading now) will touch on breathing and dance endurance. In part two I’ll share some key off the pole strength and endurance exercises using my Rubberbandtiz resistance bands. Part three will cover drills you can do using your pole at home or at the studio. Leggo!

1. Breathing
Be aware of your breathing. This may sound silly, but it can actually be a challenging task because our bodies have always done this automatically, meaning that we have likely given little to no thought to the process of breathing. When we dance, we require additional oxygen to support the increased muscle movement we are putting our bodies through. Breathing supports our movement and without proper oxygen intake our body will tire more quickly, leaving us fatigued and without the necessary stamina to perform efficiently. We must learn to be aware of and control breathing patterns while in motion. Connect your breathing to your movements. Practice inhaling when you grow your movements (moving away from the body or moving upward) and exhaling when shrinking your movements (bringing them into the body or down towards the floor). Likewise, do not hold your breath. This is a common occurrence I see when people are trying to hold a move and one that is extremely counterintuitive.

2. Just Dance
One of the best ways to get better at having the energy to perform is to just dance. Scratch that, get yo boogie on! Yes just by dancing you can build up your endurance. Nothing fancy, simply work through a freestyle freestyle. Can you dance continuously and comfortably for 4-6 or even 5-7 minutes? Step it up a notch by challenging yourself to work on just floor work, or around the pole work (nothing higher than your head), and then aerial work up the pole. Then combine all three. This will help with your cardio pole needs. Be sure to pay attention to your breathing throughout your dance. Don’t leave yourself waiting to exhale.

Ready for more? Check out part two for my resistance band workout with Rubberbandtiz!

Over the last few years, I’ve been on a journey of physical transformation or in muggle talk: getting in shape.  When I started FlexyFit.co, my focus was to share my love of flexibility and fitness…more specifically sharing my method of enhancing your level of fitness through the practice of flexibility.  And yes, that’s how the hashtag FlexyFit was born!  Over the last year, however, I have come to realize that the transformation goes far beyond the body.  To have a truly successful transformation, you have to also transform the mind and spirit. In reality, this transformation actually starts from within. Yes, that means that I had it backwards. What I failed to realize, was that the aesthetic changes and successes I’ve accomplished actually began on the inside. I made a choice about what I wanted, decided to take action to make the necessary changes. So I guess now what I’m really doing is looking back and starting to connect the dots. They say hindesight is 20/20, right?  With the personal changes I’ve gone through, I’ve found that I can apply the idea and practice of being #flexyfit to more than just my fitness level and flex-ability.  Being FlexyFit is now a way of life that applies always, in all ways; and I’ve found a new purpose through this idea.  Moving forward, I want to share what I’ve discovered about living a #flexyfit life and I want to help others achieve growth beyond fitness and flexibility of the body.
Stay tuned for more articles and videos (Yes, FlexyFit.TV is coming!) about living a healthier, happier and more productive life.

It’s official! I’m a UNICORN!!! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be an ambassador for Pole Sport Organization and do my part to support and promote pole athletes entering the competition arena. Making the decision to compete, and then prepping for said competition, is a challenging, yet rewarding journey. Like I tell my students: you have nothing to lose, and EVERYTHING to gain. However, the road to competition can be scary, confusing and, at times, stressful. So having someone that knows the road ahead can help immensely. If you’ve got questions, I’ve got answers! And if you need competition training, I can help do that too.

So: If you’re considering competing and don’t know where to start or would you like to train with others at your studio or in your area, but aren’t sure where to go then don’t fret. As a PSO Unicorn, I am a studio ambassadors for a few of the local DFW studios and I know the ins and outs of PSO. (And if I don’t know it, I WILL find out for you!) As an ambassador, I have previously competed AND coached other pole athletes for PSO competitions. Rest assured, you’re in good hands.

No matter if you are new to pole or a seasoned pro, somewhere along the way you’ve run into issues with grip.  Grip and fear of slipping are a common theme amongst pole dancers, especially when it comes to competition.  There are endless articles and shared posts about various grip aids: types, what to use, what works best, what to avoid, etc.  Therefore, I am choosing not to address the topic of grip from those previously and well-covered perspectives.  Rather, I want to share some insight and tips on things that I’ve discovered over the years, that hopefully will shed some light on the issue of grip and give you a good starting point for improving your grip issues.  Overcoming grip and slip is a very personal journey, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution.  I’ve included a few key tips to help you better understand the common causes of grip troubles, a quick into to grip aids and a few strategic and creative ways to solve them.

Understanding the source of your grip slip is key. I like to identify what it’s not, and use that to get closer to discovering what the problem is. There are both internal and external factors that can impact your grip-ability. And just because the popular Mighty Grip powder or Dry Hands that your pole peers use don’t seem to work for you, doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Keep in mind that everyone’s body responds differently to the chemicals in grips.  It just means that you have to dig a little deeper to find the right solution for you. The internal (or personal factors) that affect grip include your skin type (is your skin normal, dry, oily?), body temperature, grip strength, and fitness/endurance levels. Then there are also external or environmental factors like temperature, humidity, class size and pole diameter.

The biggest thing to understand is that some grip issues may be completely out of your hands.  This can include things like Primary hyperhidrosis (consult your physician) and actual hand size.  Primary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating, not typically related to your body temperature or physical activity.  Having small hands can affect the ability to grip a 45mm or 50mm pole and can make even the easiest moves more challenging. Good thing 38mm and 40mm poles are becoming more popular! So what can you do and where do you start? I’m glad you asked! Read on!

1. Explore grips.  If you haven’t explored grip and dry body options then start there so you can get educated on grip and test them out. There are lots of different types of grips, each with a different purpose and each can respond to skin types differently.  Within the world of grips, there’s a variety of options, and each carries a different purpose. Some grips are designed to dry your skin, while some are slightly tacky, others are super sticky and finally, you have some that are antiperspirants.  You’ll also find that some grips work on your hands and others are better used on various parts of the body. A few quick examples include: Antiperspirant grips such as Tite Grip can combat perspiration, sticky grips such as Firm Grip can offer a ruthless stick, iTac can be great for knee and elbow pits, but not so friendly on the hands. For more details, check out  Aerial Amy’s grip aids post which explores more grip aids and offers some helpful insight.
2. Apply Correctly! Not all grips are made equal and each have their own best practices. Make sure you are aware of the application procedures and you follow the recommended steps. For example, Might Grip powder is heat activated. This does not mean that a warm body will activate the grip, what their directions actually require, is FRICTION. It is Friction activated, so you really have to rub rub rub those hands together (almost like you’re trying to start a fire) and that is what makes the magic happen. Other grips like Dry Body wipes require you to shower first, some do require clean, freshly washed skin. So be sure to read the instructions on the labels. 
3. Explore grip alternatives. For some, solution grip aids such powders, liquids, rosin, sprays, etc., may not be an option or just might not work. In this case, try looking into alternatives such as glove, tack anklets and knee-pads with tack. This is also ideal for those who work with their hands and need to protect them from the callousness of pole such as massage therapists or doctors, who need soft hands.
4. Warmup. Make sure that you are always properly and fully armed up. A warm body will always be grippier than a cold body. Getting your heart rate and body temp up will provide a natural stick which goes a long way. You’ll also find that your body temp can also affect the way grips work once applied.
5. Respect your level. When it comes to routine building, select tricks that work with your current body type and grip type. This will change as you progress in your pole career, but for the time being, stick with what works best for the you that you are now. Especially when it comes choreographing routines for performances and competition. For example, if elbow holds are not your strong suit, then don’t try to force one into your routine…sliding out of it may be more of an issue with upper body engagement and being able to manipulate your weight distribution than it is with actually grip issues. So play it safe and save it for a later performance.
6. Routine sequencing.  Order matters! Put your more difficult moves at the beginning of your routine when your hands are most dry, freshly gripped up and when you’re less sweaty and your energy levels are still high. You start at 100% and every move from there drains you, so sequence accordingly.
7. Personal Sequencing. Learn how to sequence in ways that work for your body and grip ability.  Some combos may have to be remixed for successful execution. For example, maybe you envision a pole climb to a sit and then into a jasmine, but during execution, you end up sliding down the pole not able to nail your jasmine. On the other hand, your jasmine from a floor cupid is strong and steady. Go the route of least resistance. Execute your jasmine from the floor cupid and then maybe see if you can pull up into a pole sit from there.
8. Personal Fitness + Endurance. One thing I found true to my personal journey is that sometimes the sweaty factor is caused by fitness level and endurance. These go hand-in-hand with your pole fitness journey. Routinely working on fitness and endurance, through cross-training and conditioning, will improve your ability to grip the pole in various moves, improve strength and give you the energy to go harder, longer. If you’ve ever taken a class with me, then you know I’m BIG on this. My students do a LOT of conditioning, so we can make sure that their bodies are working with them and not against them.
9. Core, core and MORE CORE. If you are not utilizing your core during pole then your shoulders are having to take up the slack and take on more stress…which in turn can be the source of grip issues. Core warm-ups and core conditioning are vital. Another fun part of taking class with me! 😉
10. Building Grip Strength.  Improving grip strength in the hand can help, so make sure that you working to build a more powerful hand grip. There are a variety of hand grip strengtheners and finger strengtheners that you can invest in.
11. Mask it.  This specifically applies to sweat attacks that catch you off guard during a performance, or if you’re in a bind and need a somewhat “quick fix”. Let’s face it, sometimes things just catch us off guard or don’t go our way.  In that case, sometimes, you just have to get creative and learn how to hide grip on your body or casually wipe your hands on your clothing to reduce sweat. A few ways you can mask a quick hand dry are: tugging on your clothes, crossing the arms across the chest (self-hug) and wiping them on your shirt as you uncross, a gentle squeeze of the buttocks.  Just make sure that it fits into the theme of your routine and your music and also that the outfit you’re wearing will work with your plan. Props that you can wipe your hands off on or choreo where you can wipe your hands on your clothing
12. Costume selection. There are three key things I like to consider here (other than picking a costume that fits your theme/character. The first is anchor points: make sure that you know which body parts need to be free and clear of fabric so that you can grip the pole. The second is airflow to overheated areas: if your neck sweats then keep your neck clear of hair and fabric so it can breathe.  The third thing is: covering areas that sweat with fabric…as long as they aren’t a required anchor point or a cause of overheating. For example, if your armpits sweat and you don’t need a pit grip for any moves, then find a fashionable top with short sleeves that can soak up that sweat so that it doesn’t travel to other parts of the body inhibiting moves. A personal example, my forearms sweat like crazy. I’ve found that wrist bands can help with traveling sweat, so costumes where my armpits and sides are revealed but my forearms are covered are ideal.
13. Hair styling.  Styles such as hair up in a ponytail/bun or in a side ponytail will allow the neck to breath and help keep the body remain a little cooler. And speaking of hair, keep your hands out of your hair so you don’t transfer hairspray, gel or other hair product to your hands.
14. Towel selection. This is minor, but I’ve found that it does matter.  Not all towels are absorbent and wipe down the poles the same. I’ve found that some types work better than others. Microfiber towels clean and dry whereas others just seem to smear the sweat/moisture more.
15. Talk to your doctor. If all else fails, seek medical attention from your doctor to check for any sort of conditions (or side effects to current medications) that can cause excessive sweating, such as Primary hyperhidrosis –  a condition where you just sweat excessively, typically on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and armpits.

Side note for those on the competition circuit: I often hear talk about how “if only they [the competition] would let us put grip on the pole then I could grip and execute my routine successfully”. Newsflash, this is absolutely NOT the solution. Sorry! Although I too will apply grip on poles in class from time-to-time, I am actually happy that this practice is not allowed at most competitions. I realize that there are many people that will disagree with me and that’s okay, we’re all entitled to our opinions.

Here’s where I feel we need to step back and look at the bigger picture. Individually, we’re all focused on what’s best for “ME” to help “ME” grip and be most successful at competition. The competition organizer’s job is to do whats best for ALL of the competitors as a whole…and this is the perspective I choose to share from. It makes a tougher job for the pole cleaners to clean and takes longer between each performer, which ultimately can throw the schedule off. Additionally, the guarantee that each pole gets completely clean and de-gooed also goes down, which could affect you negatively, as the more grip build-up on a pole can change the consistency of the poles finish to the touch. What you feel can help your chances can hurt another person’s chances and vice versa. And best believe, if you even thought that a previous performer’s grip affected your performance, you’d be extremely vocal about it – and with good reason.

The buzz on social media is a sizzling feud between two brands that I know, like and support. Maybe you’ve heard, maybe you haven’t. You’re not missing much either way, but by the time you finish reading this, you’ll get the skinny of what’s going on. The dialogue between Liquid Motion® and Xoticy® isn’t the first time brands have been at odds;  nor will it be the last. Now, typically I stay out of drama and socially sustained conversations such as this, however, I actually find this one interesting from a business standpoint. While this is not an attempt to put my two cents in and further perpetuate drama, I did have the inkling to analyze things from a business perspective. And let me go on record now to say that I’m NOT picking sides either. I’m simply looking at the problem, the facts, some of the perspectives and possible solutions from a Business standpoint. 

I was introduced to Xocticy first by some friends that I went to college with. Liquid Motion I came to know not too long after through a friend in the Pole Fitness community. Let me go on record to say that I support both brands and what they stand for equally (Let me point out that I support the BRANDS, now what the owners post on their personal social media and how they react to conflict is another discussion and to that I simply say: to each their own! XOXOXO).

So there’s no denying that Monica of Xoticy has been going through some things lately as can be seen from her more recent posts. I can appreciate the transparency and vulnerability, or what some may describe as a rawness in her posts. Although, personally I do believe that there is a right and a wrong way to go about things. While my personal approach may be different, I get the bottom line and her concerns. HOWEVER, in reading her posts, never once did it strike me that she was referring to Liquid Motion. I only came to realize this today after a post in my feed from Accro Brandon. And perhaps this is what stuck out to me the most and generated the need to write this. A pole fitness professional that’s heavy in pole and aerial community, one would think that I would’ve made the connection, but I didn’t…so that there should tell you something about the distinction between the two brands. While there some similarities and overlap, there remains an enormous amount of difference between the two. 

Similarities

Let’s look at a few quick things these brands have in common (although not a comprehensive list). Both brands are created by strong, fearless women with a passion for movement and dance. Yay for women in business!! Jeni and Monica both stand up for what they believe in and are quick to speak their mind with little regret. These two women took something that they were passionate about, identified an opportunity in the market to bring their brands to life.  Both brands have flourished over the years, creating a movement and army of supporters along the way.  While the concepts learned through both programs can be adapted to any form of dance or apparatus, floorwork is the key commonality and foundation of both.  So who owns the floor? Everyone and NO ONE!  Which leads us in to their differences.

Differences

Understand that products and services can be copied, but a brand is unique. The Brand represents your image, customer perception, how a product/service is able to help customers solve a problem or fulfill a need, the value provided and emotional response generated. As with any business, your mission statement/purpose and target audience is largely what separates you from similar businesses. 

When I think of the Xoticy brand, I see a female owned company that caters to plus size, minority women between the ages of 25-40. Now, of course, there are other shapes, sizes, ages and races mixed in there, but even a quick survey of event coverage from videos and social media posts will support that a large portion of the brand’s following falls within those parameters. Monica positively promotes a safe place for sensual exploration, where women are free to be themselves and be comfortable with their bodies. Classes speak to women wanting regain a sense of self and build confidence. I’ve also seen classes/routines that appear to be catered towards women that might want to perform for their man and create sensual connection…or even a spark in the bedroom 😉

The Liquid Motion brand, to me, promotes movement exploration and fluidity. Jeni’s vision caters to women and men (although like pole the male numbers are less), ages 24-40. Now while some people might see some previous posts from Jeni which may imply moves that are overly sexual, I assure you that is not the case.  That’s  just her personal flare (which I’m not gonna get into right now) but she is DAMN good at! Again, I don’t see that as being what the actual Liquid Motion Brand is about. Secondly, Liquid Motion’s roots are in the Pole Fitness community, and that’s primarily where you’ll find Jeni and her team. Yes I’m sure she has hopes of expanding beyond the Pole and Aerial community, but I don’t see it as anything that infringes upon what any other non-pole/aerial dance brands have going on. Liquid motion has gone on to create a certification program because they’re trying to spread this idea of movement throughout the world.

Look at the brand names. Liquid Motion is exactly what it says it is: a focus on building fluidity in movement. Xoticy is sexy as hell and capitalizes on being more exotic and sensual. The names alone say it all. So then that brings the question: What is the exact issue here? Different names, different brands, different communities, different target audience, different products/services. I can see it. If others don’t then maybe you should really look the state of branding, mission and target audience. There really isn’t a way to think these things are the same because they are not the same. And for anyone that disagrees, I implore you to take a class from both of these women and you will quickly see the difference and have an appreciation for both.  

Quick Case Study

As a fan, I feel like I fall into the target audience of both brands. I am a 32 year old, minority female. I was once overweight and struggled with confidence and have been on a journey to find and redefine myself. I support black owned business, I support small business, I support female owned businesses, and I support businesses that cater to the pole/aerial community.  I am also active in the Pole/Aerial community as an athlete, instructor, performer, competitor, and supporter. See how that works? TWO brands, ONE me and THREE happy campers!

I think what happens all too often, especially in the pole community, is that owners start to worry more about what the next person is doing, who is copying them, and in the process forgets their target audience. Your unique selling proposition (USP) and target audience are largely what differs your brand from another. We don’t see Lexus, Audi, Subaru and Kia out here bashing each other online just because they all decided to offer cars and SUVs (side note, I love Subaru’s current marketing and how the tap into the whole “family and generational” experience).  While offering similar products, each company has created their own customer experience and products that cater to them based off of their target market and USP. Their focus is to fulfill customer needs and maintain customer loyalty. 

What Were We Talking About?

Back to the two brands at hand. These two brands parallel but are not the same. They are on different playing fields. Xoticy was never catered towards the Pole/Aerial community, although I think a lot of people would be interested and enjoy it. On the other hand, you have Liquid Motion which was sort of born from within the pole community. You can take both of these classes and come out with two healthy, positive and fulfilling experiences.

The fact is that both of these brands CAN coexist peacefully. One does not take from the other, regardless of a few commonalities. At this point, I think the focus should not be on the fight for who is right and social media slandering. Rather, it should be on making a better distinction between the two brands and the target audience, and continuing to build your brand…your dream regardless of what you think someone else is or isn’t doing. Don’t put your dream and growth on hold for a fight because there will always be something and time the one thing that can’t be recycled.

Healthy competition is what creates progression. As a business owner, there is a given expectation of healthy competition in the marketplace. If these car companies weren’t challenging each other then we wouldn’t have cars that open and close their own doors, can start with remotes, can drive/park themselves, etc. Or think about cell phones. We’re 7 iPhones deep now, but without healthy competition, we’d all still be using T-Mobile Side Kicks and Motorola Razors.  lol. Or how about this…Take stock of what you have in your house. Now tell me that you only have ONE brand of clothing, one brand of make-up, one brand of food…umm NO! I know everyone has an eclectic mix of everything because we are creatures of exploration, and different products/services fulfill different needs. 

If pole fitness and strippers can (for the most part) successfully coexist then why can these two brands? Here’s some additional food for thought: Xpert, Spin City, ElevatED and Fawnia all have successful certification programs. Why is that? The fact is that brands can peacefully coexist without actively brand bashing and social media beef. 

Personal Note

This right here is a super personal opinion. In general,  I believe there is a right and a wrong way of doing things. Social media perpetuates drama. Most things would come to a swifter, less dramatic resolution if handled directly between the two parties behind closed doors. Additional commentary, likes, dislikes, negative opinions, and attitudes help to solve nothing. Yes feelings are hurt and business might be affected but at the end of the day, your fans and potential customers are watching. What is this behavior COSTING you?

Impact of Social Media

I also have to wonder what impact social media and technology has had on this? And I’m talking about beyond the scope of spreading the word/drama via posts. I’m talking about the capturing and claiming of certain moves. There’s no doubt in my mind that some of these “iconic” movements have already been done in the past without coverage. Hell plenty of our mothers probably did some of these moves in bed when we were conceived and DIDN’T get a sex tape deal out of it nor were they able to lay claim to that move/position lol. (Okay, back to business) For real though, when it comes to dance and movement, there’s really only so many things that the body can do. I’m sure back in the days before camera phones and livestreams, much of what we do and claim today was already being done. Hell, every pole dancer and stripper I know does Jade and the Fireman spin, but I can’t tell you where those moves come from.  Nor are we sitting around fighting over them and bashing each other publicly.

Furthermore, I think dance is often a lot like songwriting and article writing. Like words, some dance moves or elements of movement just flow well from one into the next. There are only so many combinations that you can make up that make sense at times. This is also why transitions are a big key with winning pole competitions; this is where your personal touch and character comes into play. The judges want to see combinations and sequencing other than the standard predictable stuff we learn in class – but that is for another article, at another time.

Moving Foward

While people will continue to add their two cents, I think the focus needs to be on getting back to business. If your business is doing well (and people are coming after you for it) then keep doing what you’re doing. If your customers are happy, your business methods are ethical, you aren’t breaking the law and you aren’t hurting the environment then kudos to you! If your business is struggling or you can’t handle the competition then take a look at your business plan, branding and target audience. While making money is clearly the goal of any business, the objective is to focus on helping your customers so that they 1) remain customers and 2) share your business with others. Word-of-mouth marketing is the best! So what are your customers and non (but potential) customers saying about you right now?

No matter the state of your business, an audit of your business/practices and some business/marketing consulting is something I recommend to every business owner. Especially those that are struggling, haven’t reached all of their goals or that are wanting to take it to the next level.

And before anyone comes for me, as I said in the beginning, I’m not picking sides. This is just my nerdy perspective on something that caught my attention. What gives me the right? My MBA and current pursuit of a Ph.D in business.

Featured Photo Courtesy of Maaillustrations

This is a post about change, but really about nails, that turns out to still really just be about change (and not the kind that jingles in your pocket).

When I started writing (what ended up to be this post) I was actually intending to write about my decision to give up fake nails and go the natural route. Somewhere between reviewing my last word and planning my next, I unexpectedly started to reflect on the journey that led me to where I am now and what I’ve discovered as a result.

The Compounding Effects of Change // The Butterfly Effect

It’s crazy, almost ironic, the things that you can discover just by changing your habits. I’m in awe at how much you can discover just by making a simple change. The effects of change in your life is like a savings account, what you withdraw and deposit is impacted by the interest and thus your balance. And over time, you can end up with something substantial – the compounding effect. The choices we make and habits we have either contribute negatively or positively to our lives. That’s right, every thought, action, and decision impacts other things that you probably never even considered. We are always one decision away from a different outcome and a different life. And if we play our cards right, maybe it’s a life that we desire.

Discoveries > Fake Nails

For example, I made the decision to finally give up fake nails and to invest the necessary time to grow my nails naturally. I’ve maintained this commitment for the past six months and along the way I’ve made a few pivotal discoveries:

1. I found lost (ok, wasted) money
2. My skin has improved
3. I’ve been able to create dedicated ME time
4. I found a piece of me I didn’t realize I’d lost

Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money!

The discovery of extra money was the first big impact of my decision to go all natural and care for my own nails. I found that I’m saving about $120 a month. In addition to my routine full-set, I would often get fancy designs (complete with a fancy additional cost), and I like the gel polish which is typically more expensive – even for take off! As with any products or services, there’s always upselling, so I’d usually end up leaving with a pedicure and/or waxing of some sort as well. So when I cut out the fake nails, I also cut out the unnecessary pedicures and waxing. Now rest assured, I’m still well-groomed, I just took it back in-house. I realized that I am fully capable of doing these things at home on my own and that purchasing theses services just wasn’t as essential as I once thought.

Healthier, Happier Skin

The second discovery was less skin irritation. It’s also the one that I was most surprised by and happiest with! For as long as I can remember, I’ve had bad skin. I break out easily, and dark spots from any injury, bite or irritation are just standard. On top of that, I have a nervous habit of scratching which only makes things worse (Le sigh). As a child, my skin raised a lot of questions and often resulted in me being teased. It was so bad that for the longest time I avoided shorts and skirts, even in the midst of summer I’d rock pants just to avoid having my skin be seen. Hell, I once had a boyfriend (who actually happened to be my first love) tell me that if he could change one thing about me it would be my skin. Anyway, one of the things that I’ve noticed since getting rid of the fake nails is that when I am tempted to scratch, my skin doesn’t get as irritated by my natural nails as it did with the fake nails. As a result, I’ve noticed my skin has been healthier, happier and has even cleared up in some areas.

Back to Me

One of the things I’ve been working on is getting to know ME better and creating the best version of me that I can. So the third thing I discovered is that setting time aside to do my nails has been a great opportunity for Me time. I’ve been able to use this time to reflect, brainstorm and rediscover myself. It has also led to the [fourth] discovery of something I used to really enjoy as a kid. I remembered how much I used to love nail polish and painting my nails. I had a Caboodle filled with every color imaginable.

In Closing

This is just one example of the compounding effect that choices and change have. I’m sure there’s an infinite amount of these that I could trace throughout my life. My goal now is to simply share the power of change and how one relatively small decision has led to even more good than I could have anticipated.

Now YOU

What are your goals? What small change can you make today to help you get a step closer to your goals and on the path to compounding effects?