Paradisaea Adult Student Showcase – Winter 2021

Our Sunday night Silks class agreed that we all would like to perform in a little showcase at the end of our December session (following Covid protocols). I also was able to invite a student that I have been teaching privately at my home studio to perform. It was going to be her first performance ever, so we worked on her routine together.

Covid numbers had been increasing and there was talk of new restrictions being implemented. I debated participating in the showcase because I was a little nervous about Covid. But I remembered how disappointed I was when we didn’t perform at the Army of Sass showcase in March 2020. I wanted to be able to live my life a little after 2 long years.

Since it was been 2 years since I performed in front of a live audience, so I was excited but very nervous too. I felt better when I realized everyone was nervous about performing and we supported each other. I was also so excited for my student performing and I was a proud pole momma that she came out of her shell to perform.

I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare routines for the showcase. I used a chair routine I was currently teaching, since it was familiar to me, but I didn’t have an ending for it so I freestyled the last part of the routine. I wore sequined elf slippers and had lots of fun with them in the routine. I had a beginning for then pole routine planned out, the rest I freestyled. I was more nervous with the pole routine but overall, I was happy how both routines turned out.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things – Fall 2021

Because of covid, I ended up having to take a year and a half off from silks classes at Paradisaea. It was so hard on me during the long break as I was going to class weekly for 4 years. I missed training and missed my silk friends so much. My first class I was nervous as I was unsure what I would remember and if I lost any strength. It was a little bit of a struggle that first class and I did notice a loss of some of my strength. And I hurt and could barely move for 4 solid days after that first class. But each week I noticed my strength improving and coming back and my muscles hurt less the days after class.

It has felt so good to be back training and reunited with all my aerial friends. It is a little bit different training with a mask on and not being able to see everyone’s smiling faces. But it is a different world right now and it is important to keep each other safe.

It is such a positive and fun environment as we all support and encourage each other. That’s not something felt in a gym and is why I love aerial studios so much.

The Student Becomes The Teacher – Summer/Fall 2021

Once the lockdown restrictions lifted mid summer, I started teaching pole classes at Paradisaea. Having this opportunity to teach at the studio was a big achievement for me as its been a goal that I have been working so hard towards. Having classes that I had to prepare for really helped me get back into pole training after lockdown as well. I was fresh off my Canfit Fitness Instructor course, so I could use what I learned about class programming to create my classes.

I have such a passion for pole that I love that I now have the ability to share that passion with other woman. It makes all my blood, sweat and tears throughout my own journey worth it when I can now inspire other woman on their own personal journey. I can be having the worst day, but when I get to the studio and start teaching, all the negatively melts away and I leave feeling happy that I have made a positive impact on someone else through my class.

In the fall, I started teaching Chair Burlesque at SASS. I have divided my 6 week sessions into 2 – 3 week choreography sessions to a song. It has been a really fun class to teach and I really enjoy preparing the routines for this class as they are a little more sexier.

My 2 year anniversary of my pole Instructor certification was up, meaning I had to re certify for the second time since I took then initial course 4 years ago now. I had to take a written exam and then submit a video of me teaching 2 pole movements, which I passed both components and received my recertification.

Sunflowers and My Birthday – End of Summer 2021

Summer came and went way too quickly. Although the end of summer also means 2 of my favourite things: sunflowers and my birthday!!

I took the kids to Howell’s farm at the end of August to visit the Sunflower fields. We did a little photo shoot together and of course I found a pole to play on!

Advice from a sunflower.

Be bright sunny and positive. Know your roots. Spread seeds of happiness. Rise, shine and hold your head up high. Keep on growing. Even on the darkest days, stand tall and find the sunlight.

Mid September brings my birthday, I turned 38 this year. To celebrate, my husband booked a beautiful hotel in Brockville and we went got away for a night. I haven’t been anywhere for the past 2 years due to COVID, so it was the best gift to get away for a little bit. We had a lot of fun exploring the Brockville, it’s a pretty little turn, reminded me of Niagara on the Lake.

My husband spoiled me rotten this year by also also me my first pair of Hella Hells!! I am absolutely in love with these boots, they are very well made and comfortable. They are my highest pair of boots I have and very different than all the Pleasers I have.

Pole Friends Are The Best Friends – Summer 2021

I love my pole friends. We always have so much fun together as we all share similar interests. This summer we got together and did a float on the Chippawa River. The girl that organized the float was so well prepared and we all had such a fantastic time. I didn’t know about floating before this and it is such a fun local thing to do in the summer. I actually loved it so much that I bought river inflatables and did a float for my daughter’s 10th birthday party.

I also threw a party in my backyard and all the girls from the studio came. We had drinks, food, games and karaoke…and non stop laughter. I’m so fortunate that I found such a fantastic group of people to have in my life.

Lockdown Running Challenge – Spring/Summer 2021

As a way to continue to exercise and stay in shape while the studios were closed when lockdown #3 began, I gave myself a challenge: run 4 times a week, with 3 runs being 3km and the 4th going for at least 5.5 km, with slowly adding distance.

I succeeded in my goal for the most part, I only had to take 1 week off in 3 months because I pulled my hamstring.   In every type of weather – cold, rain, humidity, it didn’t matter, I went for my run. The longest distance I achieved was 7 km at the beginning of July, but then I pulled my achilles tendon and I had to take a few weeks off to heal. I was very proud of how well I kept to my running schedule and pushed through the harder runs and never gave up on my goals.

Runners High: is a brief, deeply relaxing state of euphoria. Euphoria is a sense of extreme joy or delight. In this case, it occurs after intense or lengthy exercise. Often, people who experience a runner’s high also report feeling less anxiety and pain immediately after their run.

Running helped me deal with the anxiety’s I have been having during Covid. Running in the morning also gives me much more energy throughout the day. I guess the affect of the runners high. The other positive affect of running is that I’m training the endurance of my cardiovascular system, which helps my endurance performing an aerial apperatus.

Getting Certified During Lockdown #3 – Spring/Summer 2021

This lockdown was easier as the weather was better. Over these lockdowns, gardening has become a way to de stress. Planting, nurturing and watching my gardens grow really helps me find my inner peace. I would get lost in weeding for hours. When I needed a break, I would jump on my pole in the backyard and play.

I also choose top be more productive during this lockdown. As soon as a had gotten laid off from my job, I signed ups for Canfit Pro’s Fitness Instructor Specialist Course. The course was 30 hours divided over 2 weekends over Zoom. A few weeks after the course, I had a Theory Exam that I had get over 80% to pass. I studied so hard for this exam, there was so much memoriziation of anatomy. I passed with 87%! The final component/hurdle to complete was my practical exam. I had to teach an hour fitness class with 3 participants on zoom with my instructor on zoom as well grading me. I had to have a warm up, strength, cardio and cool down/stretch components all choreographed to music. I had the whole program written out with the timings on white boards to keep myself on track during the workout. I had 2 friends and Shanyn, owner of SASS, be my participants. It was actually a lot of fun having my instructor be one of my students and it definitely made me want to impress her. I practiced the program lot and felt pretty well prepared, which paid off as a I got 86% and become a certified Fitness Instructor Specialist!!

Black Tape Project – Summer 2021

It has been a long time since I have done a photo shoot. I seen a post looking for a model for a black tape photo shoot, which is something I always wanted to do. I was nervous but decided to do it. I had done a nude photo shoot before, but this was different as the photographer was applying the tape on my body.

The photographer was very professional about and I never felt uncomfortable. We looked at tape designs together and came up with plan. He got me to put the tape on my private bits myself, then he did the rest of the taping from there. We did some shots in his home studio then we ventured out to an outside location. We found a pretty area under an overpass that was private enough that I felt comfortable in just the black tape.

I was not 100% happy with my body but the photos turned out pretty good. Sometimes its good to take risks and step outside your comfort zone to try new things.

Dancing in a Music Video – Spring 2021

A friend of mine asked if I could help him with his music video and of course I said yes! The video concept was to have clips of girls dancing to the song at home during lockdown. I took a few videos and sent him the best one. The video dropped during the 3rd lockdown and I think it turned out great! I was honoured to be a part of this project and I now can add being in music video to the growing list of opportunities pole has brought to me.

Lockdown #2 – Winter 2021

Starting on Boxing Day, Ontario went back into lockdown. This lockdown took a mental toll on me and depression set in. I suffer quite hard with seasonal depression. As days get shorter and there is less or no sun at all, I loose almost all motivation. It’s too cold to run. During lockdown with the studios being closed, I wasn’t training very much. I was stuck in the house all day with the kids home schooling. My husband was still working so it was hard on me being the one home all day, every day. No work, no training, no friends. A lot of Netflix was watched. I was even running out of projects around the house to keep myself busy. I spent most days in sweat pants and hoodies, it was an accomplishment just to shower daily and sometimes even do my hair and make up.

Another layer of depression came on when I discovered that my favourite musician is a woman abuser. Matt Good’s music helped me through my struggles as I found comfort and solace in his music. I was a fan for over 20 years, went to 20 concerts, met him a handful of times. I spent a lot of money on his albums and merchandise and I even got a tattoo of his lyrics on my ribs. It had recently come to light that he mentally abuses woman. I was completely heart broken as I ended becoming part of the inner circle of fans and former woman that were abused by him and heard their personal experiences with him. My heart heart for those woman. He is a manipulator and liar, just like my father and many people ex boyfriend friends I had. I felt of these woman and I could no longer be a fan of a person like that. I took down all the signed posters and packed them up along with his albums and merchandise.

Pole had helped me get through this difficult time. I discovered some new bands and danced through my emotions.