"Fear" written by my dear friend, Hollywood

Pole and Aerial dancing requires vulnerability, But vulnerability puts us at risk, not just emotionally, but physically too.
So why do we struggle to be vulnerable in pole? or silks? or trap? or hoop? or love? or life? FEAR! Fear stops us from doing our best by keeping us stuck in our comfort zone. It's SO much easier to agree with our fears and insecurities than to man up and find the courage we need to do want freaks us out. It's kind of crazy but we really do find safety in being afraid. If we don't try...then we cant ever fail.
One way we let our fears pick and choose what we can or cant do...Is by sh*t talking ourselves. We somehow convince ourselves that "I'm too week", "I'm too fat", "I'm too uncoordinated", "I'll never be as good as so-and-so", or, the one I'm guilty of, "I'm not flexi enough for that" I'm sure most of you have heard me refer to my self as a brick with legs... That kind of talk has kept me from trying a lot of stuff. stuff that I have really wanted to learn. like the Oona and the Jade.
Before even trying to attempt something new, we've talked our self's out of it... Yet, underneath that fear, we want to become a bad ass poller. how are you ever going to be a bad ass when you keep telling your self that you suck...HmmMmmm? So to defend our safe choice, we look at those crazy tricks and say "I'll never be that strong/flexi/good" or "that's a stupid move any way" (i have said that before)
By telling ourselves "I'm not sexy", "I'm not graceful", "I'm not creative" or my favorite "I cant dance" we let go of pole emotionally. turning it into a mechanical experience; completely devoid of individuality or self-expression. We hide behind technical proficiency rather than allowing ourselves to feel the music inside us... Some times a pointed toe isn't as breathtaking as the look on your face, or the sway of your hips....We tell our self's that we will look stupid if we try to be sexy wile we dance, or we make Ourselves feel trashy. by saying "if i dance like that ill look like a stripper" and I say...whats your point? your a strong, amazing and sexy...ACT LIKE IT!!! pole dancing gives Lady's a unique opportunity to be super humanly strong and a lustful sex kitten at the same time...you cant do that in kick boxing...or step class, right? We deny ourselves the pleasure of experiencing our own sensuality. And for what...to make someone else 'ok' with what we do...why? who cares? You have stepped out of the norm by taking pole fitness...don't try and force it to be a spin class...all sweat and no slink....dancing without emotion is like love without passion. to be a to be a good Poler you need to have passion... Its OK to close your eyes and celebrate being you.
When we finally face our fears as pole dancers OR AERIALISTS, we're granted this amazing feeling. and we have all experienced this feeling. when you finely nail that trick you have been working on...we all do the same thing we squeal, hug or high five the closest person to us and wrap it all up with a happy dance. Our vulnerability produces strength, courage and confidence that pushes us toward bigger and better goals; even mastering that which at first seemed impossible. So, as that negative mental chatter TRYS TO CRUSH US, we have to stop it as soon as it starts... I want you to look at the pole, or silks, or hoop, or trap, or what ever...take a deep breath and say.... "I am strong, sexy and capable. And damnit, I'm amazing!" If we embrace our strengths, recognize our progress and continue to TRY and become better dancers then we were the day before, nothing can ever get in our way. If you have some crazy trick you want to learn....ask someone to spot you, pull out the big crash mat, take a deep breath and just do it. Come to a classes you think will be harder then the classes you already take, step out of your comfort zone...Push Past as Althea Austin says....Push past the fear, Push past the pain, Push past your self....FLY FIRST, THINK LATTER!!!!!!!!!