Phoenix Kazree is one of the most beautiful pole artists I’ve seen. She produces some of the most stunning and original pole combos that leave you in awe and she executes them so gracefully. Last week Phoenix posted this really neat spin combo and I am determined to learn it! Check out her execution of the combo below..
This clip below is of one of my attempts. I modified the end just a bit to make it my own. I really like the way that it came out. Now I just need to work on cleaning it up a bit. I reached out to Phoenix to get some tips on cleaning up the trick. Hopefully I’ll hear from her soon and I’ll be sure to post the details!
Yesterday I started a new diet in hopes that I can finally get the rest of this weight off. I’m tired of being in this weight limbo, not knowing if I’m a fat skinny girl or a skinny fat girl…and not being able to buy new clothes that actually fit. So needless to say, I am really determined to finish up this weight loss journey. I’m on a low calorie diet which means that I really have to watch what I eat. Lots of veggies and chicken for protein, some fruit and water galore. Not being able to eat any of the foods I like (which includes french fries and bread) is dreadful but I know that this temporary sacrifice will be worth it in the end. While I’m not exactly sure what my final weight will be, I do hope that I can at least break 170 by end of this 21-day phase. Eventually I would like to get down to 150 but I’m going to take it one step at a time and focus on making it to the 160’s. To dedicate myself even more to my goal I have decided to find other healthy and positive changes that I can make in my life along the way. I am hoping that these additional changes (big and small) will help keep me focused, motivated and that they will result in a better me overall in the end.
Day One: New Diet. OK so much like everyone else I don’t really care for the word “Diet”…so let’s just say I’m cleaning up my eating and making better decisions in the kitchen. As I mentioned above, today marks the first day of my 21 days of change. The basis of this 21-day phases is to eliminate the rest of this weight – hopefully in time for my competitions. The from there I can get back on a regular training schedule so that I can tone up my body, get some abs and maybe even some more booty!
Day Two: Natural Nails. Over the last year I’ve really enjoyed getting a little wild and sexy with my nails – longer lengths, fancy designs, bold pink tones and more recently black tips. I guess it was my way of having a little personality and freedom at work (since Pink hair was out of the question lol). I really enjoyed wearing the long, bold and unique designs, but I also hate the pain that comes with breaking them. Instead of getting the plastic tips, I usually just get the colored powder over my own nails…which means when I break a nail: I REALLY BREAK A NAIL. I was on Pinterest the other day and came across a more natural looking style that I really liked so I decided to give it a try. And since I’m currently training for two upcoming competitions I decided to go shorter as well.
Day Three: New Shoes. New Brand. A peek in the gym section of my closet will tell the tale of a woman that adores her NIKE gear. Pretty much all of the gym clothes and shoes I buy are NIKE…except for a few pieces of Under Armour that I really like. I had a gift certificate for DSW and finally decided to go check out their shoe selection. Since my focus is currently on getting fit, I decided to go with what I needed most: comfortable gym shoes. No normally, it’s NIKE or nothing, but today I decided to try on something different…and to my surprise I really liked they way they felt. And they were PINK! While I’m not giving up my love for NIKE gear, I think I may be a little more open to trying out other brands of gear.
Day Five: PoshMark. Today I discovered PoshMark. It’s a new iPhone app that is designed for individuals that want to buy, sale and trade clothing and accessories…basically like an eBay for Fashion. This app makes it easy for you to shop other people’s closets from anywhere. The items range from gently-used clothes, new clothes that are no longer wanted, new clothes that didn’t fit properly and an endless supply of new and gently-used accessories. What’s really neat is that it’s built in the form of social media where you can make posts, set up parties, upload pictures, comment and chat about the various items. I’m a big fan of online shopping myself, so I think this is a really neat way to clean out and add to your closet. And I think it just might come in handy in the near future with cleaning out my closet since many of my clothes no longer fit.
Day Six: Homemade Strawberry Lemonade. With the diet I’m on, my options for snacks and drinks are seriously limited…well more like nonexistent However in addition to an unlimited amount of water, there are a few fruits that I’m able to have (in moderation of course). I decided to use my fruit options to make a fresh and yummy lemonade…and to give myself just a “taste” of something other than water. I used strawberries, lemon, ice, water and stevia to create this quick and easy drink. I simply cut up a few strawberries and added them to my tumbler cup, along with some fresh squeezed lemon juice, the ice and a few packets of Stevia…just for a little natural sweetness. Super good and still healthy! I actually found an article last week on how to create your own naturally flavored water using various fruits and herbs. Once my diet is up and I can consume some additional fruits I think I’m going to give a few of the recipes mentioned in that article a try!
Day Seven: AM Pole Class. Typically my schedule keeps me on the GO 24/7, which means that I don’t usually have as much free time and pole time as I’d like. Right now I’m lucky to have just a little bit of ME time each day that I’m able to steal for myself although I usually end losing it back to work in the middle of the night. With my ME time today, I decided to go check out a morning pole class at The Girls Room – Frisco for the first time. With the exception of a few Saturdays, I’ve only every poled at night. So being able to take a class during the day was new and exciting. Being able to pole so early in day actually made for a really great start to my day. The class was small but lively. I was able to get in there and really focus on tackling some moves that needed my attention. This is definitely something that I want to try and do more often!
Day Eight: Sweet Treat. Being limited in my food options during this 21 day phase is starting to take its toll. I miss food variety and eating what I want, when I want. While I know that having a clean and healthy diet is best for me, I’m still human (and a woman) and have those sweet cravings. I’ve been eating a handful of strawberries as a snack here and there, but tonight I thought I’d try and sweeten them up just a bit to help with my sugar craving. Since I am able to have Truvia and Stevia sweeteners, I decided to sprinkle a bit over my bowl of strawberries and boy was it Yummy!
Day Nine: Closet Organization. My closet is one of those places in my house that gets a lot of action. Typically, I’m buying new things and trying to make room for it in one of my closets – which are all pretty packed. But lately I’ve found myself getting rid of a lot of things that are now too big and no longer fit (yay weight loss!). So while doing laundry today I went on a cleaning binge and decided to organize my drawers…which have spent the last few months packed with unfolded clothes. I’m happy to now have a little less clothing clutter and more organization and order in my closet.
Day Ten: Watch Lust. In the past I’ve never been much of a watch fan. I’ve had plenty of nice ones but never really wore them. Then last year I bought a nice Rolex for that special man in my life and have been a little envious of his new piece ever since…it just looks so damn good around his wrist! In addition to the physical transformation of my body, I’ve also noticed that my style is starting to change and mature as well. Which is probably why I really want some dazzling wrist gear of my own. Then by chance today I ran across an image of a watch that I’d seen a few months back and realized just how much I liked that watch. I love the fact that it has both PINK and diamonds. I’m thinking that I might add this to my accessory wardrobe to help further evolve my new style and look 🙂
Day Eleven: Stage Poling…and in public. Last night one of my pole sisters invited me to a local event she was performing at that featured a handful of fun local bands. The invitation to tag along gave me the opportunity to practice poling on a stage pole and performing in front of a crowd…of people that I don’t know. In the past I might have strayed away from the opportunity but I decided that I needed to do it. I have two competitions coming up in March and one of them will be using stage poles, so this was a great chance for me to really test out my courage and ability to perform on a mobile pole. I’m glad that I didn’t pass up the event because I was able to run through my list of tricks that I was considering for competition and get some real practice experience on the stage pole. I might even invest in my own stage pole in the future.
Day Twelve: Aerial Yoga. I’ve been trying to make sure that I’m being active every day, which means cardio, pole or dance of some sort. This morning I decided to check out the Aerial Yoga class at Vertical Fitness Dallas and OMG it was amazing! It was the perfect blend of stretching and strength – without the usual pressure that traditional yoga puts on my feet. And when you’ve had 4 broken feet and had surgery to put in a screw then any foot-friendly workout opens a window of new opportunity and possibility. I was able to get in a great stretch to undo some of the damage of last week’s workouts, worked my core and enjoyed some relaxation. I’ve already signed up for class again next weekend and I’m looking forward to making Aerial Yoga a part of my weekly routine and my ME time.
Day Thirteen: Snacks! Decided to try out a yummy snack idea to help calm some of my cravings. Since I am not able to go out to a mexican food restaurant and enjoy a bowl full of chips with salsa and guacamole, I came up with a pretty good, easy-to-make substitute. My version of chips and guacamole uses wheat Melba toast topped with home-made avocado spread. To create the spread, I mixed avocado, lime, cilantro, onion, pepper, cayenne red pepper, and minced garlic together. It was a great way to get a taste for what I’d been missing…without going overboard.
Day Fourteen: Handstand Variation. I’m part of a group on Facebook called Dallas Handstand February. Everyone in the group is dedicating February to working on their handstands. This is a great way for those that are new to get started and for those that are already experienced to really push themselves to the next level. Today I was able to push myself to a new level with this handstand variation that includes a super back arch. Despite being super sore I felt accomplished. I am still hoping to get my handstand balance (no wall) back soon…haven’t been able to do that in years.
Day Fifteen: Inversions and Conditioning Class. To help myself get prepared for my upcoming pole fitness competitions, I’ve been attending pole and dance classes daily. Tonight I decided to try out the new Inversions and Conditioning class at Vertical Fitness Dallas. We started off with a 10 minute run, then moved on to some light weight lifting and then finished off with a few really awesome pole combos. I really liked that the class had a mix of pole and a real gym workout. I was especially excited about the pole combos that we learned, which included a run that I’d seen Amy Henderson do at her Burlesque performance. Now my attempts at the combo drop weren’t nearly as awesome as hers [Amy], but I’ve got the mechanics down and now I just need to work on cleaning it up.
Day Sixteen: More FOOD! Being on this VLCD diet and trying to come up with snack and food ideas that don’t violate my diet has reminded me of how much I really like to cook. Over the last couple of years I’ve been lucky enough to have a special guy in my life that also likes to cook and handles most of our meals…but now I’m back in the kitchen and loving it! Tonight I took my daily chicken lunch/dinner and added in some bell peppers and onions. I cooked the pepper and onion blend on the stove and then added in the chicken and a little avocado on top. It was a nice change from my usual chicken and asparagus matchup…not as good as a plate full of sizzling fajitas but still yummy!
Day Seventeen: They FIT. This is actually more of a celebration post. Last night I decided to try on a pair of old (as in I bought them two years ago) but new (as in, I’ve never worn them) shorts. I bought these shorts about two years ago and couldn’t get them up around my thighs and over my bum. I’m usually a big picture freak and take pictures of myself daily, but for some reason during this 21 day phase I’ve been either a little camera shy, lazy or just more focused on food and working out. So anyways, I randomly decided to try on these shorts – figuring that would be a true test of my progress…way better than a picture right?!? And to my surprise they FIT! So excited that I wore them to pole class. Celebrating my success! Mission get fit or die trying.
Day Eighteen: Aerial Yoga Saturdays. So today I went to my second aerial yoga class at VFD and fell in love with it all over again. Today was more challenging for me than last week’s class. I know that part of it was because I was tired and feeling weak from the diet and all of the physical activity I’ve been doing. But this class is so helpful and rehabilitating. Once school starts back I won’t be able to go to the Saturday classes, so I’m going to enjoy them as much as I can for now. At least I have the sunday classes!
Day Nineteen: Leg warmers and Leggings. So my last few classes I’ve been wearing leggings…mostly because that’s all that fits these days (yay weight loss). Anyways, I’ve found that I’m really liking the combination of leggings and long leg warmers to dance in, and as long as I’m not doing any serious pole work that requires leg to pole contact then I’ve been able to get away with my new look in my dance and pole classes. It actually works out great for Aerial Yoga as well, as some of the poses we end up in will make the silks tug and pull on your skin in uncomfortable ways. To top it all off I threw on my heels today and really set the look off. Loving the my new pole style…it makes me feel super sexy.
Day Twenty: New Sites and New Ventures.I have a couple of new projects that I’m working in for my pole adventures and also my photography. One of them (FreeStyle Friday) is already in motion and the other in still in the planning phase. I am super excited because I’ve been keeping a log of notes and plans for both (a mix of sticky post-it notes all around my house and also on my phone and iPad) and I can finally see that things are coming together very well. I am looking forward to really getting these ventures off the ground, sharing them with you all and watching them grow!
Day Twenty-One: 10 Pounds Down. Today is a day of accomplishment. During my 21 days of change I was able to drop 10 pounds and reach another milestone in my weight loss. The last few weeks have been challenging and tiring. I worked really hard to stay active and keep my workouts intense. The change in my diet had its ups and downs…and some intense moments of cravings. Thankfully I didn’t fall off course too much and was able to stay focused and achieve this wonderful goal. I’m going to take a few days off and then go at it again. If I can lose 15-20 more pounds and tone up I think my body will definitely be beach and pole ready!
So last night I found out that I was chosen as a finalist for the Miss Pole Dance Oklahoma competition and I’m thrilled about this opportunity. I am one of three wonderful ladies that will be going there to represent Texas. I’ve dubbed us as TEAM TEXAS, which consists of myself, Tricia Lauerman (2012 Miss Texas Pole Star Masters Champ) and Stephanie Brinlee.
I’ve grown a lot since my first pole competition (MTPS 2011) and I am looking forward to showing everyone. Last November I competed at the Southern Pole Championships in Houston, but I don’t feel like I was as prepared for it as I would have liked. This time around I plan on crossing all my T’s and dotting all my I’s – this means actually having a plan for makeup and hair before the day of the competition! And I’m lucky to have a great support system behind me to help me along the way.
With the competition literally just around the corner I know that I need to turn up my training. Over the last month I’ve been going to Stretch and Contortion class at Vertical Fitness Dallas twice a week, and also going to Pole After Dark at Zensual once a week. I can already seen progress in my flexibility (as seen in the photo) and my dance fluidity. In addition to keeping these classes as a part of my weekly practice routine, I plan to also add 2-3 additional days of pole practice into the mix. This past week, I’ve also started a new diet and hope to drop a few more pounds before competition. I think I’m off to a good start for competition prep! Now I just need a song and a few good runs!
Trick of the week is a continuation of last week’s 2-point handstand. If you missed it last week or if you haven’t gotten it all the way down then continue working on it this week. Here’s the how to: http://bit.ly/VmhSAw
Transitioning into the Chopper
Make sure that you’re in a stable, well-balanced handstand. Rotate at the waist as you own your legs to a straddle position to allow your inside leg (hint: the one closest to the pole) to move behind the pole. At this point you should be in a straddled 2-point handstand. Making sure that the hand on the pole has a firm grip, go ahead lift your floor hand and bring it up to the pole to meet your other hand in a traditional chopper position.
Watch and Learn!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5xdcaIrT8Y
Things to keep in mind when doing this trick:
1. Use your CORE to control your movement.
2. Do NOT bend your arms when doing handstands. Bend (also called “breaking”) your arms that will cause you to buckle and hit the floor head first.
3. If you feel like you’re falling out of the trick lower your feet back to the ground or tuck your chin into your chest and then roll forward.
4. Before trying the transition into the Chopper be sure that you have a STABLE 2-point handstand.
5. When you start the transition to chopper be sure that your pole hand is secure.
Also, if you’re doing the February Handstand Challenge then this is a good way to get your handstand for today in! 😉
So school is officially back underway and I’ve literally been buried in my studies. In the last 3 days alone I’ve read two books (over 500 pages) and written 11 pages of reports. Despite all of the reading and course work, I must say that I am very much enjoying grad school. My current course is Management Operations and it has been the best class of grad school so far. In addition to gaining a wealth of new knowledge and practices, I’ve also been able to gain deeper understanding, appreciation and history for concepts that had previous been introduced to me by others. I knew the “What” but now I better understand the “Why” and “How” of things, and I am looking forward to applying these concepts and methods to my business endeavors.
What I finding most interesting about grad school is that despite the amount of work it requires, it’s not all that hard. Though at the beginning of this graduate program, I almost feel as if this has been more beneficial to me than my undergraduate coursework. I really think that this should have been the level of learning and work endured during my undergrad years. Or maybe it’s just the maturity and experience experience I’ve had since my ACU days that has better prepared and equipped me for this journey of educational development. Regardless, I am really happy that I finally got myself back into school…and that I have a 4.0! Grad school has always been a goal of mine. Unfortunately because of my foot problems (4 breaks in 4 years and a surgery) I had to keep putting school off. Now I am finally back on track towards earning this Master’s degree, even more so looking forward to putting the information, concepts and methods I learned to work.
I love doing handstands during my routines and coming up with fun ways to get into and out of various handstands. I call this week’s trick a “two-point handstand”…because you have two different points of contact that allow you to execute your handstand. Before attempting the trick you should be comfortable with doing a traditional handstand. If you’re not quite ready for this handstand variation no worries! You can start by working on traditional handstands against the wall or against your pole.
Getting into the Move
Your first anchor point (hand) will be on the pole. This arm will be in a twisted grip position, thumb up. Your second anchor point (hand) will be on the floor in a traditional handstand position. Be sure that you are pushing hard into the floor with this hand, as this will help you keep your shoulders tight so that you can hold the elevated position. You will also want to slightly contract your abs, as they will stablize you. As you are going up into the handstand be sure NOT to lean forward or allow your legs to push your torso forward past the pole.
When beginning this trick it helps to first pop up into a tight ball. This will centralize your motion and once you can hold the position then work on extending your legs up straight. When doing the straight leg extension be sure to keep your feet together as flailing legs will disrupt your ability to balance. If you want to do a more advanced version, instead of popping into the ball you can use your core to slowly bring legs up from the floor in a Pike or Straddle position – you’ll want a steady balance before making the ascent. Make this trick your own by playing with the leg positioning. You can lower your legs into a pike position or do a controlled straddle decent into a split.
Watch and Learn!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnsdUD7eFHQ
Things to keep in mind when doing this trick:
1. Use your CORE to control your movement.
2. Do NOT bend your arms when doing handstands. Bend (also called “breaking”) your arms that will cause you to buckle and hit the floor head first.
3. If you feel like you’re falling out of the trick lower your feet back to the ground or tuck your chin into your chest and then roll forward.
I think Thursday is now my other favorite day of the week in addition to FreeStyle Friday! Even though it is the longest night of my week, I’m definitely digging Thursdays because of my new class routines. I started off the night with some cardio; I made it a little past my goal of 45 minutes. Then ran home with just enough time to shower, empty my memory card, talk my bestie into going to pole class with me and make it to Vertical Fitness Dallas for Stretch and Contortion class. During class we worked on straddles and splits. While my middle split is S-L-O-W-L-Y progressing, I am happy to say that my left split and my over-split on my right side are coming along very well! We did’t get to work on back bends this week but I’m looking forward to hopefully getting that in next week or maybe a little practice on my own. After stretch class I stayed for a bit to record some spins for possible use in a future VFD promo. It’s funny how your mind goes blank when you’re put on the spot. I couldn’t remember half the spins that I know. But I was able to knock out a few good ones, including my all-time favorite: Kandy Kane!
After Stretch class we darted around the corner just in time for Pole After Dark at Zensual. This class is so much fun. I love the atmosphere and how relaxed and laid back the class is. We’re able to go in, get some sensual basics and then just let the music take control and move our bodies. Switching the music up each week – R&B and Rock – is also fun. I enjoy being exposed to new music and seeing how my dance and my body adjust to various songs. Despite being seriously tired, I decided to take another crack at our FreeStyle Friday song after class. It didn’t turn out as well as I would have hoped. I was noticeably tired from the 4 miles of cardio, stretch and contortion class and Pole After Dark class that I had done before recording this. However, I am happy that I was able to incorporate some new elements into this freestyle. Take a look…
Getting through last night’s cardio was much tougher than Monday’s cardio session. The stair climber was really kicking my butt! Somehow I managed to push through another 8+ miles and get it done. I admit that once I hit my minimum trainer-required 1,000 calories, I got a little excited and wanted to see how much more I could push myself. I was able to get in an extra 50 calories. Despite being dreadfully tired, seeing myself Push Past the fatigue really got me even more motivated about getting this body Fit and Fab. My poor clothes were weighed down with sweat…I think I was walking around with four pounds of sweat drenched clothes.
The good thing was that I after my workout and a quick shower, I got to go to Vertical Fitness Dallas for Flexibility, Stretch & Contortion Class. This was a great way to stretch out my tired and sore body, giving it some much needed relief. And I’m so glad that they are offering this class twice a week now. By attending both days, I’m hoping that I can really fast track my progression…especially when it comes to mastering my left split and getting my back bendy again. New flexy pictures coming soon! Right now this class and the Pole After Dark class at Zensual Dance are my two favorite and weekly must-have classes!
One of my goals for 2013 was to De-Clutter all aspects of my life – which largely includes reorganizing all of the files on my computers and dozens of flash drives. I’ve slowly been making progress and along the way have come across a few items that had slipped my mind. The other day I actually came across a memory card with pics from Miss Texas Pole Star’s Saturday night competition.
I remember being back stage with the contestants and the pros as they were getting ready but I totally forgot I had shot these. What I like most about these shots is that they were taken in the dressing room before the competition started. Since this isn’t an angle that most get to see I thought it would be fun to share these behind-the-scenes images from the competition. Better late than never! The images really show how fun and sassy all of these wonderful ladies are – despite any nervousness they may have had. I love the camaraderie among our Pole Community. Check out the “Lost” MTPS Album here!
So, even though I’ve been back in the gym with my trainer I haven’t really been hitting it as hard as I need to be…and my cardio game is seriously lacking. And despite being serious in talk about losing these last 15-20 pounds I don’t think I’ve been serious enough in my actions. I guess I’ve come to a point where I feel like I’ve been dragging my feet long enough and I’m tired of being in this in-between stage. I’m not sure if I’m a fat skinny girl or a skinny fat girl. So today I text my trainer (as I was doing cardio) and let him know that I AM READY. Change my diet, up my cardio and let’s get the last of this weight off.
To get this final phase kicked off I hit the gym tonight and got my cardio in on the stair machine. The assignment from my trainer was to do an hour of cardio. I pushed myself super hard and got in my hour and then some. I left the gym with wobbly jello legs but I felt great and reenergized. Oh, and hungry! Tonight is only the first night and I know that I still have a long road ahead. To help me stay focused and motivated on the last leg of this transformation I’ve committed myself up for some pole competitions/performances. And to add just a bit more pressure, my high school reunion is this summer (yep, I’m getting old!) and if I’m going back to Cali then I’m going back look and feeling GOOD.
I’m hoping that with these events on the line it will give me the additional drive and determination that I need to make it to the finish line…because that’s where my goal is…at the finish line. This year’s mission: Get fit or die trying.
So last night I found out that I was chosen as a finalist for the Miss Pole Dance Oklahoma competition and I’m thrilled about this opportunity. I am one of three wonderful ladies that will be going there to represent Texas. I’ve dubbed us as TEAM TEXAS, which consists of myself, Tricia Lauerman (2012 Miss Texas Pole Star Masters Champ) and Stephanie Brinlee.
