Pole fitness

I'm sure you all were wondering how my rest day was going.  I actually feel sore from my first experience at pole fitness, a pole-dancing based fitness class that incorporates parts of dance and gymnastics into routines.  I think it's a great way to become stronger and toned, all while becoming comfortable and confident with your own self (i.e. learning through "sexy" moves how to find power within your body using a pole--same as using weights or bands or anything else).  Plus it's a fun and refreshing way to sweat.

I think a lot of the images we've seen in the movies give us a little exposure to how to make your body look sexy.  But just like an entertainment show, you have to balance the technical skill with showmanship.  The "Wow" factor from the spins and the climbs--and eventually inverts--has to mix well with the hair flips, the exaggerated high stepping with heels on, and slow back bends.  Otherwise, you might get confused with the Indian men's sport of Mallakhamb.

 A video I saw a year ago... hope these are splinter free:

The first five minutes of the warm-up, I already had wet spots under my arms.  Gross, I know.  But to show the exertion in this form of exercise, I want to share with you that it is not an easy class.  Luckily, I feel like I have a headstart than most because I can already carry my own body weight because I've practiced pull-ups.  Like anything, if you practice doing pull-ups, you will eventually be able to do one, then two, then five, etc.  Same with the splits.  Same with spinning around on a pole while looking graceful.  It takes repetition and a strange awareness of your body.

Sidenote: When you run, you're technically supposed to be aware of your body.  Before, most of the time I become a mindless moving body, not paying attention to my alignment.   Thinking of my feet and thinking of my arm sway takes me to more of an active role whilst running, which helps me focus on my breath more, increasing my endurance.

So here is a video giving you an idea of how a typical pole fitness class is run.  I was in a small studio in someone's home with five poles (I am thinking of investing in one myself, but waiting until I find $100 on the street one day).  This morning, I woke up feeling sore in my calves from all of the toe pointing we were doing (imitating heels).  I also felt the great change in the area near your armpits--the area where we usually find that side fat poking out of the bra.  It was like I had done a million arm circles.  Or machine cable pulls. 

I was not wearing a pink sports bra, although I think that would be such a cute thing :)

Oh, almost forgot to list off my food.  Yesterday, after the pole class, I drank 2 cocktails and a beer after a beautiful sesame salmon + veggies dinner at a gay bar.  Lunch was a bit of turkey embotido (ground turkey with bits of hard boiled egg, raisins, carrots, and peppers) and salad.  We can all assume now that breakfast will always be Shakeology + fruit.

Today I had penne pasta for lunch and dinner with arrabiata sauce (spicy red sauce) and baked cookies.  I cheated with two oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.