Ava Devine Goes To Pole School With Claudia Renée | She Talks Confidence, Sensuality & Her Journey

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This week on Ava Devine's Bad Advice, we're going to pole school.
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I'm joined by international pole dancer, instructor, fire performer, and team based work founder Claudia Renee for a conversation about strength, sensuality, confidence, and what really happens when women discover what their bodies are capable of.
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Pole dancing is often dismissed because of its association with midnight ballerinas.
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But behind the pole is an incredible amount of strength, flexibility, coordination, artistry skills, and research suggests the benefits can extend far beyond physical fitness, with women reporting greater body appreciation, confidence, self-acceptance, and even improvements in sexual self-esteem.
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But I don't want to sanitize pole dancing to make it respectable.
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We're talking about its relationship with erotic dancers and why something should not have to stop being sexual before a society takes it seriously.
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Claudia also takes us inside her own journey from discovering pole to teaching around the world and building team base work and explains what she's learned from watching women transform through movements.
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So if so get cozy if you're watching from home and turn up the volume.
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If you're listening, this is Ava Devine's bad advice.
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So thank you so much, Claudia, for joining me on my podcast.
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Thank you for having me.
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I'm so excited.
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No, let me let me just like help the fans understand.
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Um, I met you through mutual friends.
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Yeah.
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And Claudia is so warm and welcoming, and like she makes you feel like there's a safe space.
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So of course, I got immediately, and she's gorgeous.
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So it's like, of course, I'm immediately attracted to her.
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And we conversed the whole night, and I was like so enthralled.
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I like blocked out everybody else.
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No offense, guys.
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But I was like so like into you because of your conversation, your skill, and how you took this as a career, as a sport, right?
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So why don't you tell the fans and the audience who you are, how it started, what team base work is, and so on and so forth.
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Yeah.
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I mean, all obviously, same about you.
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Like I was immediately drawn to you.
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It was so easy to chat and just like connect.
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And you and I both realize that we're empaths as well.
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So we definitely have that in common and we were like feeling each other's energy and just like connecting.
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So um, yeah, I've been in this industry since 2009.
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I walked into my first class on my 21st birthday, and I was so nervous.
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I was really shy growing up.
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So stepping into this environment was not like natural for me in any way.
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Um, but I fell in love immediately because I felt this like sense of confidence that I had never felt before.
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I felt empowered.
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I just felt like I was in this like almost private club too.
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And it just sparked something in me that made me really interested in like where I could take this.
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So since then, I have, you know, traveled the world, taught people from all different backgrounds.
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Um, I've shared my craft with thousands of women around the world.
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It's been like such an honor.
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Um, I built my own business in 2020 and have been running that ever since.
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Um, and yeah, it's just been like such a wild ride.
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Obviously, choosing the path of being an artist versus like a regular job can be really scary.
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And there were definitely some ups and downs throughout.
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It was not smooth sailing throughout, but I'm really glad I chose the path that I did and like I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.
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Like I do feel like I'm living out my life's purpose.
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So it feels great.
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That's great.
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Okay, so so let me rewind.
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So in 2009, what made you enter a pole dancing, uh, a pole fitness class?
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Like, did it you friend tell you?
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Did you hear about it on social media?
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Tell us.
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So my friend got me a gift card for my birthday, and she was like, You're going to this class, but we're also joining you.
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So I had like eight of my girlfriends with me.
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And the best part was is that later that night we had a party bus with a pole in it.
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And all I wanted to do on my 21st birthday was go to the strip club and like make it rain on the dancers.
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So it was the perfect entry into that.
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They're like, We're gonna go take a pole dancing class, we're gonna pole dance on the bus, then we're gonna go to the strip club.
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So um, I probably wouldn't have done it on my own, to be honest, because like I just wasn't in a mindset at that point in my life to like take chances or just like be bold.
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Yeah.
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So I am forever grateful to my friend who gave me that gift card and told me like this is what we're doing on your birthday.
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It changed my life forever.
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So thank you, Alex.
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Shout out.
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I love it.
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Thank you, Alex.
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Yes, thank you, Alex.
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So, what did you do while you're like before pole dance, pole fitness?
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Yeah.
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So um, I was in school full time and I was working at an orthodontist.
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Okay.
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So I was like doing braces and all the things.
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Um, it was a cozy job.
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It was comfortable.
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It got me through school.
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Um, but I felt like something was missing.
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And I think that pole dancing was like that missing puzzle piece that really started to like spark my life and spark my interest in like what else can I do in this life?
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Like, what is my true purpose?
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Yes.
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See, I love that.
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And and let me just uh uh like articulate or or um tell you that like when you said you were when we're when we were discussing we were empaths, yeah, you also told me that your fan base is women.
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And I mean, that's crazy because you're drop, not crazy, but it's you're drop dead gorgeous.
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And I would think that like your likes and all that would come from the the men or the heteros or whatever, but you were like, no, women support you.
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Yeah.
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So tell us about that.
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Yeah, I mean, it's kind of always been that way.
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I've never been in a space where like I've got men in my DMs like saying inappropriate things.
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Like, of course, you've got the occasional one here and there, but I think it's the way that I present what I do.
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Like it is very much for women.
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Yeah.
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Um, it's very much like to help inspire them to like tap into their sensuality and like become confident.
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And I think for some men, that is a little bit scary and like intimidating and maybe doesn't really speak to them.
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So um, yeah, my voice has always been for women, and I think that that translates even when I'm not trying to be intentional with the way that I'm translating that message.
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Um, so yeah, I mean, I'm thankful for that.
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I did try to open an OnlyFans like in 2019 there was like two fans.
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I was like, oh, okay, all my fans are women.
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Got it.
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Well, that's okay.
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But but yeah, because you but I think like what I said when I first met you, you completely like made me felt like safe.
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Like we hugged immediately.
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Yeah, and I mean I'm a hugger, but like not a lot of people are like that, you know?
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And it was like you immediately like had no barriers, no walls.
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It was just like warmth, like like sliding into like home base.
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I was like, Oh, I'm home.
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Okay, you know, it was it was like that, right?
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Yeah, and then we chatted the whole night, you know.
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You did so easy.
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So so having that aura about you, right?
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That energy, I think it like brings that safety.
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And that's really, really important because speaking for myself, being a woman, I'm pretty guarded through past trauma.
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I'm I'm pretty defensive, and I trust no one.
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So, you know, so it's like really hard to like for to feel that way, and especially something that in poll, it's it's very intimidating for me.
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Like even as a midnight ballerina throughout the years, I just uh didn't just went up and down it, you know, and that was not even crawled, like like I was penetrating it.
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That was it, that's all I could do, and that was it.
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But like tell me about the skill, tell me about it's a sport, yeah, right?
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Okay, it definitely is.
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I mean, look, there's there's no denying that pole dancing, whether you kind of want to call it a sport or like a sexual act or whatever you're doing with it, it comes from a strip club, right?
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So um I feel like that is always where the inspiration came from.
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And then you take with it what you choose.
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Some people want to go and do more like aerial tricks and you know, go up the pole and do death-defying drops.
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That's great.
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Some people want to be at the base of the pole, which is like my current niche.
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Um, I've kind of done it all and explored all facets of pole and like found that I definitely enjoy being down here more because I feel like a dancer and I feel like I can really get in touch with my sensuality.
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Um, but yeah, it's an interesting um development for everyone.
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It just kind of depends on what you want to do with it.
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Yeah.
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And by any chance, like, did you have a background of dance?
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Did you have a background of gymnastics?
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Like, tell me about that.
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Can anybody go?
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Can just a regular housewife just say, Hey, yeah, I want to learn how to flip around the pole.
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You know, if you have the right teacher, the answer is absolutely a resounding yes.
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Anyone can do it.
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It doesn't matter your background, it doesn't matter your, you know, age, nothing, nothing matters.
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You have a good teacher, it doesn't matter.
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Like there is a space for every single person, and there's obviously a lot of misconceptions when it comes to pole dancing.
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I think for me, um, something that really helps people feel comfortable training with me is me letting them know very early on that I have no dance background.
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My dance background started when I stepped inside of that classroom at 21 years old.
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I had never danced a day in my life.
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I felt like I had two left feet.
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Uh, my background was volleyball and like a little bit of gymnastics when I was probably four or five years old, but like nothing advanced, just like running around a gymnasium doing whatever you do at four years old, and that was about it.
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Um, so I am living proof that you don't need a background to do this.
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If you are resilient and you work hard, you can do it.
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I love that.
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Okay.
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So now, so continue.
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Tell me about team base work.
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Yeah.
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So team base work is my virtual pole dancing studio, essentially.
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Virtual.
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Yeah.
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All virtual.
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I do host in-person camps one to two times a year.
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Um, that was more recent.
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That happened about two and a half years ago, where I really wanted to bring the virtual space into like an in-person experience because the brand grew so much.
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I wanted to bring everyone together and see what we could create together and like build a real in-person community.
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Um, but my business launched in April of 2020.
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I was already working on a virtual space, and then COVID happened in April of 2020.
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And I was like, well, this could not be perfect timing.
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So everything slowed down for me.
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And I said, all right, I'm gonna spend the next couple of weeks just like getting everything in order, launching the business and seeing where it goes.
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And um, it's grown really big in the last six years.
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I have 35 instructors from all over the world that teach for me, and it's so special.
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Like I have people from all different backgrounds, all different sizes, all different countries.
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Like it just feels like such a beautiful, diverse community.
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And I'm so proud to call it mine.
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I love that for you.
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That's amazing.
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Okay.
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Wow.
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It's my baby.
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Yeah.
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Now, also, you were telling me too.
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I think either uh you were going or you were coming back from like you did a class in Fiji.
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I did.
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Yeah.
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Alice Moore.
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Yeah.
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So actually, this was the first time since 2012 that I invested in being a student.
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I've been so wrapped up in being a teacher and like developing that skill and building my business that I didn't make time for being a student.
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And so my friend Kayla, she owns a company called Body Love and it's an incredible, incredible community.
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It's not pole dancing, it's like regular dancing.
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Um, and she invited me out.
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She said, like, I think that this would be really good for you.
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Um, I want you to come.
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I want you to experience my retreat and also come and teach a class.
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And I couldn't say no.
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I'm like, okay, you're asking me to come to an island full of women and teach with the ocean behind me.
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It's a yes.
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Yeah.
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And it was really cool.
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And it's also a great experience for me because it was a chance for me to like intersect the dance world and the pole dancing world, which has been a really big goal of mine for the last six years, is like trying to find the intersection between those two industries because they usually don't intersect.
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Okay.
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And like her and I have been able to find ways to blend the two together, which has really helped like pole dancers go and learn fundamentals from her because that dance fundamental is going to pour into their pole, and vice versa.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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And how did that work out though?
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Like, were you able to like blend the two?
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Yeah.
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And and how how did it benefit?
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Tell me about how to benefit for both both parties.
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Yeah.
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I mean, I think for all the pole girls who have now been like interested in learning fundamentals, you can just see the development and like the skill that's starting to translate into them being in high heels around the pole.
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Their form is better, their shoulders are back, their chest is high.
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You know, it's just like better core engagement, learning those fundamentals.
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Um, for me, it really catapulted me into a space where it was like all floor work.
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We're on the floor, we're dancing, we don't have a pole, but we have stripper heels on.
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Yes.
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So, like that was my way of intersecting it, which also like goes back to the roots of stripping.
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A lot of strip clubs don't even have poles, they have a stage and you work the stage.
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It's the same thing.
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So I feel like the intersection was actually really beautiful and like blended kind of seamlessly, at least for me.
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Um, and it's been really cool because it's also like grown my um grown my following, grown her following.
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And yeah, it's been great.
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Now let me ask you this.
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Do you think there was a negative connotation to like uh from a dancer's point of view, looking at a pole dancer?
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Do you think there was like, oh, it's it's a little trashier or like I don't know.
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I'm just saying, because you know, as I grew up, dance was like like really high-end, like ballerinas.
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And you know, for us to even say exotic dancer, it was like gross, no, no, no.
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Yeah, like even the movie uh flash dance, like I don't know if you remember that or you've ever seen it.
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Yeah, it was like they had to like sneak and do it, like you know, they weren't allowed to be known.
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Like, how did how did the dancers feel about you incorporating pole fitness?
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I mean, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience, I'm sure some people had their reserves, you know, just like I had my reserves of walking into a poll room when I was, you know, 21 years old.
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But I like to think that like dancers are open-minded enough to create space for that kind of movement.
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And at the end of the day, like if you are on the floor dancing in a non-stripper heel, doing similar movements to a stripper, then I would hope that you'd be comfortable with girls doing it in a different kind of heel with a little bit of a different pizzazz to it.
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You know what I mean?
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Yeah, sure.
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And maybe this was your opportunity to break that cycle, right?
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That that negative thought.
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For sure.
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All right, there we go.
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Okay.
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So now tell me more.
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Um, you know, we were talking earlier, and um I I did a little research too, and I I really remembered when J-Lo for the Super Bowl in February 2nd of 2020, she did a whole pole dancing act.
00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:15.200
And um, I read up on it, and it said she uh learned that for her movie in 2019 called Hustlers.
00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:15.919
Yeah, right.
00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:21.120
So she was 49 in 2019 and 50 in uh 2020.
00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:21.440
Yeah.
00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:26.159
So, you know, so I was like admiring that, you know, at 49, she's learning.
00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.360
She's learning, right?
00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:32.000
And and the strength and the ability and the capability that she had to learn.
00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:37.120
But then I was telling you, and then you mentioned something about one of the actresses there.
00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:37.600
Yeah.
00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:42.960
Tell me all about that, and let's talk about J Lo uh starting at 49 years old.
00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:43.759
Tell me about that.
00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:48.639
Yeah, you know, it was actually an interesting time because I remember it like it was yesterday.
00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:53.679
J Lo's on screen, she's pole dancing, and some people were upset about that.
00:15:53.840 --> 00:16:01.679
Not just the people that you would think were upset about, it's some people who were strippers were upset about it because they're like, you know, why is she up there?
00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:03.679
Like it doesn't make any sense.
00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.519
Like it's just it, and for me, I'm like, it's giving us more exposure.
00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.919
You know, like I don't see the problem with it.
00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.720
I think it's great.
00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:15.600
Like, if a celebrity wants to go up there and dance, as long as you are supporting both sides.
00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:21.519
If you're supporting sex workers, if you're supporting pole dancers, then like you should be able to do whatever you want to do.
00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:24.240
Like it's a collective, no matter what side you're on.
00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.320
We just need to support each other.
00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:30.799
Um, but I did I did train Constance Wu for hustlers.
00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:40.960
Her scene did not make it in, which is super, super sad because we trained for six months and she worked really hard and she developed some incredible skills.
00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:46.000
But even during that time, we dealt with some negative feedback.
00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:51.919
So we filmed in a strip club, of course, in New York, and she flew me out to prepare her for the scene.
00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.840
So I was on set with her.
00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:54.799
I was super excited.
00:16:54.879 --> 00:17:00.320
I'm like, this is such a like pivotal moment of my career, like being a part of such a big production.
00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.240
And I'm riding on this high.
00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:10.079
And as soon as it was, it was it was over, people were mad that these strippers were out of work for the night because the club had to get shut down for production.
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.880
And for me, I'm just like, man, you really can't win.
00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:31.279
There's at that point in my career, I kind of had this mental switch too that I've just got to like focus on what I'm doing, sure, know that I'm doing it from like a good place and just move on and not let those things bother me because it's so easy to be on like a high and then be hearing all of these voices and then just be like knocked down.
00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:39.759
Um, and also like we have to understand that as a stripper or as a pole dancing instructor, like you're all independent contractors.
00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:42.640
You have to financially prepare and be smart about your finances.
00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.839
You don't know what's gonna happen.
00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:47.039
You know, your club could be shut down for two weeks because there's a flood.
00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:47.359
Sure.
00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:50.960
You're gonna blame a production company for shutting it down for a night.
00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:53.279
Like it's not the production company's fault.
00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:54.160
You know what I mean?
00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:56.880
So yeah, I mean, I could go on and on about this.
00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:02.000
At the end of the day, you just gotta like know that what you're doing is coming from a good place and like lead with your heart.
00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:02.880
Most definitely.
00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.720
I always say I gotta check my motives.
00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.119
Yeah.
00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:05.359
Right?
00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.079
Right?
00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:09.200
If I have pure motives and healthy motives, then game on, right?
00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:09.599
Yeah.
00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.240
We know.
00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:17.680
Yeah, but I understand you're such an empath that you were probably like, oh, sorry, ladies, for closing the that was my first instinct.
00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:20.240
It's like, oh, am I the terrible person?
00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:20.720
I know.
00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:22.880
So how did Constance find you?
00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:24.160
So it's a funny story.
00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:35.119
She came into the pole dancing studio that I was working at off of Sunset Boulevard in LA, and she took a beginner class and she was on like the far pole in the corner, like away from the mirror.
00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:37.200
I had no idea who she was.
00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:40.079
She came up to me after class and she said, Hey, can I have your number?
00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:41.200
I'd love to do private lessons.
00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.079
And I was like, sure.
00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:46.640
And she walked out and all of my students were like, jaw on the floor, like, do you know who that is?
00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.559
I was like, I do not know who that is.
00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.160
They're like, It's Constance Wu.
00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.240
Like, she's the star of crazy rich Asians.
00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.680
Like, how do you not know who that is?
00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:59.599
So I ended up watching her movie um about a week later and just like gaining some serious respect for her.
00:18:59.680 --> 00:18:59.759
Yeah.
00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:09.359
Not only as an actress, but also like seeing how much time and energy and work that she put in to pull and like she really respected the craft enough to put in the work.
00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.400
See, I love that.
00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:10.799
Yeah.
00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.440
I love that.
00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.960
And how was her performance?
00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.319
Like, tell me about that.
00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:19.920
Yeah, I mean, you know, in in the movie, she only had a scene where she was basically learning to pole dance.
00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:23.279
So she was like purposefully being a really bad pole dancer.
00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:28.160
And I was like, damn it, we didn't get to use any of the skills that we worked on.
00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:32.640
But her performance, as far as like when we were working together, was so great.
00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:38.400
Like seeing someone go from zero to a hundred in six months is an incredible feeling as an instructor.
00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:38.880
Okay.
00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:52.559
So what did you discover through that that learn that learning process or teaching process of have her having zero skill to becoming this beautiful butterfly metamorphous pole dancer?
00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.519
Tell me about that.
00:19:53.759 --> 00:20:03.119
Yeah, I mean, I think it just teaches you that if you're resilient about anything and if you have passion behind it and maybe like a little bit of pressure, you can get good at anything.
00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:03.839
Wow.
00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:04.400
Okay.
00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.119
Okay.
00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:07.039
Well, actually, I have another fact.
00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.319
I love facts.
00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:29.440
So um, it says here that there was a study done that found that after an eight-week poll program, participants showed improvements not only in mental well-being and body appreciation, but also self sexual self-esteem, sexual self-efficiency alongside reduced sexual anxiety.
00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.799
Do you want to touch on that?
00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.039
Do you feel have you discovered that?
00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.400
Is that is that a true statement?
00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:36.000
Oh my God, absolutely.
00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:56.400
Um, I feel like everything that you do on the dance floor, if you're really serious about it and you're not just coming in as like a hobbyist and doing one or two classes here and there, like if you let a pull penetrate you in the way that it like can, um, all of that carries into life.
00:20:56.640 --> 00:21:02.079
You know, like I see women walk differently through life after learning how to pull dance.
00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:08.079
I see women go and ask for the raise that they didn't ask for because they didn't have the confidence to do so.
00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:22.400
Um I just see women walk differently through relationships, realize that maybe this relationship that wasn't really serving them and they weren't ready to let go of, now they're ready to let go of because they're, you know, carrying themselves a little bit different.
00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:26.400
Um, but yeah, I mean, that statement couldn't be more true.
00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:32.880
Like pole dancing is more than just dancing and becoming more flexible and strong and sexy or whatever else it does for you.
00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:42.079
Like it is so mentally and physically and emotionally um profound, you know, it changes who you are as a person.
00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:42.720
Sure.
00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.039
Yeah.
00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:43.440
Okay.
00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:47.359
Now, what about the function functionality of pole fitness?
00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.319
Tell me about that.
00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:54.559
Yeah, you mean like um just how it changes the way that your body works or well, well, sure.
00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:58.799
But also like um when someone I'll speak for myself.
00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:08.000
When I was doing Pole, I gripped onto the pole because I took a couple of classes and I realized how much of my core is needed.
00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:16.480
Not necessarily my leg strength, perhaps a little bit more arm, upper body strength, but I realized that my core was everything.
00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:24.160
So when I grabbed onto that pole, and luckily enough, like I said, I I've taken dance lessons as a young girl, jazz, so uh jazz lessons.
00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:26.559
So my core has always been very strong.
00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:29.440
So I was able to throw my legs up in the air.
00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:29.839
Okay.
00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:35.359
And believe it or not, that's like functional training because like you're using your core, you're you're engaging it, right?
00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.400
And then guess what?
00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.319
I'm able to like lift my legs up.
00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:41.759
It's not about lower body strength, it's basically the core.
00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.880
So tell me about that.
00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:46.960
How does an average person use functionality in pole?
00:22:47.359 --> 00:23:00.240
Yeah, I think that one thing that pole dancing really misses, as far as like all the studios I've been to, I've traveled to probably thousands of studios at this point, um, is not drilling that they need cross-training.
00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:00.880
Sure.
00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:06.880
And a lot of pole dancers, they fall so deeply in love with pole that that's all they're doing for fitness.
00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:09.440
And I would say that it's good and it's bad.
00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:11.519
It can be really imbalancing.
00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:16.559
Um, as you can imagine, usually one person is gonna like lean to one side more than the other.
00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.839
They're gonna do their more dominant side and it creates a lot of imbalance.
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:26.240
Um, but on the positive side of pole dancing and what it does for your body, like it it builds strength throughout throughout your entire body.
00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.359
It's not just one thing.
00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:31.519
I think a common misconception with pole dancing is that it's all upper body strength.
00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:33.839
And as you learned very quickly, it's really not.
00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:38.799
And I think too, that there needs to be um a program for people when they start.
00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:40.960
Like it needs to be step by step by step.
00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:46.400
A lot of people get so excited about pole dancing that they just want to like go to the top of the pole and do all this crazy shit right away.
00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:55.279
And it's like where you might be able to perform that, like, are you really doing it from a place of understanding your connection to your body and your muscles?
00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:55.759
Sure.
00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:58.720
Like, is that mind muscle connection there yet?
00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.480
And the answer is typically no.
00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:03.119
Um, but it does build like strength.
00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:11.200
And and not to mention, when you're in heels and you're you're dancing in heels on a regular basis, like your booty starts to lift up, your legs start to get stronger.
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:16.799
Like, even having those like four-pound weights on your feet can make a world of difference in your body and in your strength.
00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.200
Yeah.
00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:23.920
And and how do you think it taps into people's confidence in sexuality or even their sexual efficiency?
00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:31.359
And like you even said, uh, people became more confident in their own relationships and personal life, like outside of the bedroom.
00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.559
How did that come about?
00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.920
How do you think that comes about?
00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:36.319
Yeah, I think it just makes you feel powerful.
00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:39.680
Like confidence is sexy and confidence is powerful.
00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:46.720
And when you feel powerful, you feel more comfortable with asking for what you want, whether that's in the bedroom or everyday life.
00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:55.359
Um, and just like being able to tap into your sensuality when society has done nothing but tell you not to, that also feels like a big fuck you.
00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:55.759
Sure.
00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.359
You know, and that's also powerful.
00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:03.359
So um again, like everything that you do in the dance room carries into everyday life.
00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.440
Like I would not be the person that I am today.
00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:21.759
I would not be able to have this conversation with you if it wasn't for pole dancing, you know, like me being my own personal experience, being super shy, you know, not being able to, you know, do speeches in my college classes, I'd be freaking out, having an anxiety attack.
00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:29.200
And then to becoming a teacher and being able to be in a room of, you know, tons of women and be able to just carry myself.
00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:31.279
Like that's what poll did for me.
00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:36.640
And so I know it's a powerful tool to help you access both your sensuality and your confidence.
00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:39.599
And um, it just carries into everything else you're doing.
00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:41.039
Sure, most definitely.
00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:41.279
Yeah.
00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:49.599
And do you feel that them feeling the your clients feeling safe with you is kind of like a therapeutic experience, right?
00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.240
It is.
00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:50.640
Yeah.
00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:56.400
I actually had a client that um came to this space recently and she's never done a pole dancing class.
00:25:56.559 --> 00:26:05.839
Um, she's a good friend of mine, and I think she's like maybe in her mid-50s, like such a badass businesswoman, stunning, gorgeous, like sweetest personality.
00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:09.279
And she asked, like, would you be willing to do a class with me?
00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:17.200
Like, again, saying all the things that most women say when they enter into this space, which is, I'm not strong, I'm not flexible, I'm not sexy, I'm not this, I'm not that.
00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.119
And I'm like, look, we gotta release all of that.
00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.480
Just come over, let's hang out.
00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:24.720
Obviously, this situation was a little bit different because she's a personal friend of mine.
00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:37.279
But we sat down, we had a glass of wine, um, we just talked about life and I started understanding more about her like past traumas, her life experiences, which really set me up for understanding where her mind was going into this class.
00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:44.880
And when you carry a lot of trauma as a woman, that sticks into your body unless you've released it, which most people haven't.
00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:51.759
And even if you have worked on releasing it, there's still it still is in you, you know, you can still access it, you can still feel it.
00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:59.279
And we sat down in the space and we started stretching, and she was like, Oh my god, my hips are so tight, which is a common place for you.
00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.000
Whole trauma.
00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:02.400
And so I was like, All right, we need to focus on our breathing.
00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:07.920
So we started doing some breath work and I started telling her and reiterating, like, you are in a safe space, no one else is here.
00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:08.880
It's just me and you.
00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:15.200
We're friends, yeah, we've got this, but you need to access your breath and connect your breath to releasing your hips.
00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:18.880
So we sat there, we did some other stretches, and I was like, How are your hips feeling?
00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.000
She's like, they're tighter.
00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:22.160
She still wasn't feeling safe, and I could tell.
00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:22.720
Sure.
00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:30.000
So we spent a little bit more time, and then all of a sudden her hips were just like just open.
00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.960
And I couldn't believe it.
00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:42.000
I was like, I mean, I could believe it, but at the same time, I was like, this is a real life example of, you know, letting someone facilitate the safe space, trusting them and being able to release.
00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:45.440
And it was such an emotional experience, both for her and for me.
00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:51.039
And being such an empath, I'm like trying to hold it together and not be emotional because I know what she's going through.
00:27:51.279 --> 00:28:02.480
Um, but that's like probably the most uh profound recent experience that I've had when it comes to like holding trauma and how like the poll and movement can facilitate releasing some of that.
00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:02.880
Yeah.
00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:06.799
Was that like your first experience when you took a poll class?
00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:09.200
Like, how did you befriend a teacher?
00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:14.960
Or like how how did this how did this happen where you evolved, where you're able to pass this forward?
00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:15.759
Yeah.
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:18.400
Um, God, so much self-work.
00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:24.960
Honestly, I think I did more work outside the studio to be able to do that and be that for other people than I did in the studio.
00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:41.599
Um, I did have some good instructors in the beginning, but I also had some really bad ones who like were not acting as you should as a teacher and like treating me poorly because they saw how, you know, not confident I was and how they could take advantage of me.
00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:56.000
So I feel like my entry into poll wasn't like the greatest, but continuing to work on myself, believing that poll could really change women, seeing the small changes that were happening in me made me so excited to be able to give that to other women.
00:28:56.079 --> 00:29:02.400
And I was like, all right, I'm gonna make it my life's mission to share this with every single woman that's willing.
00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:02.880
Yeah.
00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:03.519
You know?
00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.000
Okay.
00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:07.920
So take us to like um what would a consultation be like for you?
00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:12.799
So say, say if I'm meeting you for the first time, just you know, you have no clue of my background.
00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:14.799
How would this, how would this go?
00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:18.079
Yeah, I would first ask, like, what is your goal?
00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.119
Like, why are you here?
00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:21.359
What inspired you to step foot in this space?
00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:23.440
Cause the mindset really matters.
00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:25.599
It's like, did somebody tell you to do this?
00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.880
Did you see this on TV?
00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.799
Are you wanting to tap into your sensuality?
00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:32.480
It really gives me an understanding of like where you're at mentally.
00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:39.839
Like, have you already built a little bit of confidence and comfortability in your sensuality, or do you need someone to facilitate that for you?
00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:46.079
So I would say on like a very basic level, asking those questions and understanding their why of why they want to do it.
00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.839
Um, and then going from there.
00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:50.720
And I also learn a lot by just watching them move.
00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:57.599
You know, they might come in here and they seem confident, and then the second they start moving, they start dropping their shoulders and going into their shell.
00:29:57.680 --> 00:30:06.079
And you've got to be empathic enough to understand what's happening and try to like create that space to help them open up.
00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.480
Sure.
00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:09.200
So you could like read somebody's body language immediately.
00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:09.920
Absolutely.
00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.319
Okay.
00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:16.160
And what is usually like the the reasons why people come into uh their first class of poll?
00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:20.640
What is what is the general usual response when you ask them why?
00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:24.319
Yeah, I would say curiosity is the main answer.
00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:24.559
Yeah.
00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:27.039
They're just like, I just want to try something new.
00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:27.839
I'm curious.
00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:29.200
I want to feel sexy.
00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.440
Yeah.
00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.000
You know?
00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:37.440
And I would say like my main clientele is probably like 40 plus, and they're at a place in their life where they just want to explore that.
00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:39.839
Maybe they've never tapped into it and they're curious.
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.240
Yeah.
00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:40.640
Wow.
00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:54.160
Have you ever met any uh clients that were kind of pushed by a significant other, like um kind of pressured, like maybe they were like kind of forced to be more sexier, or like has that ever happened?
00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.119
Yeah, for sure.
00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.799
And they're no longer with that partner.
00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.920
I figured that.
00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:00.640
Yeah, because like that's what happens like in 12-step programs.
00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:02.720
A lot of people like, I'm doing it for my wife.
00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:05.359
And then yeah, it doesn't work out very well.
00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.400
Yeah, 100%.
00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:12.079
Because I think like you realize very quickly that pole dancing isn't really for anyone else other than yourself.
00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:21.200
Like when you're diving into this and you're seeing the changes that it's creating, like, yes, it does carry into your relationships and carries on to every aspect of life.
00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:24.880
Um, but you start to realize that it's really for you.
00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:28.720
And it's such a gift to want to share that with someone else.
00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:34.319
Um, so if someone else is pressuring you to do that, it's it's usually not for the right reasons and they realize that very quickly.
00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:34.720
Right.
00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.440
And what do we say?
00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.559
Check your motives.
00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.359
Exactly.
00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:40.960
Okay, now how does this tie into sexual independence?
00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.079
Yeah.
00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:50.880
Um, I mean, I would say that it's really important to explore your sensuality for you and not for anyone else, right?
00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:57.920
Um, I personally grew up being told that like I grew up in a really Catholic, like very conservative family.
00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:04.559
And it was very ingrained in me that like your sensuality is not yours.
00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:07.119
It's gonna belong to someone else at some point.
00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:12.079
Um, and that needs to be protected until that point happens.
00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:15.359
And that never really sat well with me.
00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:15.599
Yeah.
00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:17.839
I was like, that doesn't feel right.
00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:20.000
Like, why can't it belong to me?
00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:22.720
Why can't I explore that because it feels good?
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:23.039
Yeah.
00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:30.240
And so I think that pole dancing definitely facilitates that sexual independence because you're like, oh, I can be sexy just for me.
00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:44.720
Like the amount of times that I have been in this space or different spaces alone, put on like a super sexy song and had like the horniest dance of my life by myself that no one else experienced and no one else saw.
00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:47.200
Like I couldn't even tell you how many times that's happened.
00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:52.400
And it feels so powerful to access that just for you and not to share it with anyone else.
00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:59.279
Or is it because of that connection of like mind, heart, and body of knowing what your body's capable of?
00:32:59.359 --> 00:32:59.519
Yeah.
00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:04.799
Or is it just like getting in touch with oneself and like getting romantic with yourself?
00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:06.400
Yeah, I think it's both.
00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:08.799
Um, and it like also pours into self-love.
00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:13.839
Like if you're not pouring into your own cup, then like where is your energy to pour into other parts of life?
00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.880
Most definitely.
00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:15.279
Yeah.
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:21.039
And it's such a beautiful form of self-love to just be like sexy and like touching yourself and feeling good.
00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:21.279
Yeah.
00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:24.000
And like and it's like a bonding moment, right?
00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:26.640
And it's pretty spiritual, to be honest with you.
00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:33.519
I feel, you know, but but also like when I understand my body's capabilities, yeah, that's exciting.
00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:35.519
I'm like, I didn't know I was that strong.
00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:40.960
I didn't realize I was, you know, whatever able to lift that weight or or do that twist or whatever, right?
00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:43.039
And it's like it gets impressive.
00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:44.559
And then it's like, I want more.
00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:44.960
Yeah.
00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:45.440
You know?
00:33:46.160 --> 00:33:46.319
Yeah.
00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:48.960
Do you find that with your clients and even yourself?
00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.400
Yeah, absolutely.
00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:54.400
Um, I think that too with pole dancing, like the limits are endless.
00:33:54.559 --> 00:34:03.759
You know, when I first started, I was doing all of these crazy tricks to try to prove myself to like the world, you know, and be like, oh, I can do all this athletic stuff.
00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:06.880
And like, I don't need to be, you know, just doing whatever on the floor.
00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:08.400
Like I can do it all, you know?
00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:15.679
And I feel like there's definitely been like a massive uh development of, you know, doing all the crazy tricks, doing low flow.
00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:19.119
I've always been really interested in like base work and dancing and heels.
00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:20.639
I've been doing that since the beginning.
00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:24.000
Um, but I definitely did all the crazy things as well.
00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:28.000
And it just makes me realize that like literally you can do anything with pole.
00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:34.639
You can just keep going and there will always be something new to learn, which I think also keeps it super exciting because it's never boring.
00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.199
Sure.
00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:36.639
No, it's beautiful, yeah.
00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:39.440
So, you know, I have a misconception I'm guilty of.
00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:49.360
I'm when I think of pole fitness or pole dancing, I'm thinking of the flips and the twists and the and the you know, one leg up and and doing twirls.
00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:52.239
What what other misconceptions are there?
00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:54.079
And and and help me on this.
00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:55.840
Is it just you said floor work?
00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:57.840
What exactly is base and floor work?
00:34:58.159 --> 00:35:00.719
Yeah, so I mean, floor work can be a number of things.
00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:05.440
Like the way that I interpret floor work is just dancing on the ground, super sexy without a pole.
00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:12.400
And then base work is dancing on like the lower one-third of the pole, basically from like standing height to below.
00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:16.000
Um, and it doesn't mean that you can't be acrobatic.
00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:23.440
Like I can do handstands and flips at the base of the pole and still be super athletic without going all the way up the pole.
00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:24.159
Okay.
00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:27.360
Um, so yeah, again, there's just so many things that you can do.
00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.480
Okay, so great.
00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:32.960
I was a bass pole dancer back in the day at Crazy Rest 2.
00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:33.840
Base pole.
00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:34.480
That was it.
00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:34.880
Okay.
00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:38.880
I thought I thought it was just dry humping the pole, but okay, base work.
00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.920
There we go.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.480
Okay.
00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:41.760
I remember okay.
00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:50.559
Now tell me, so how do you eventually get into the do your do your clients get eventually start becoming acrobatic?
00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.119
Yeah.
00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:57.679
I mean, I would say that my acrobatic clients are less and less now because I've like moved on to a different niche.
00:35:57.920 --> 00:36:08.400
Um, but I mean, I've trained circus artists, I've trained people who were in shows on aerial poles, which is like basically a pole that's floating in the air and is not attached to the ground.
00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:10.159
Um, so it just depends.
00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:10.800
Yeah.
00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:11.440
Wow.
00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:11.760
Okay.
00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:19.519
So basically, poll when when you instruct your clients, it's not necessarily about climbing up and spinning and see, I didn't know that.
00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.639
So you're educating me.
00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:30.400
Cause when I took that poll class, that poll class at uh City Athletic years ago, it was about like we just worked the pole and we were trying to learn how to flip and all that stuff.
00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:33.199
So I didn't know it was like there was more to it.
00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:40.239
Yeah, I would say too, like in Vegas, it's definitely a different kind of vibe because there are all these circus shows.
00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:47.039
And so most of the poll studios know that they need to market towards the clients that live in this town, which are acrobatics.
00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:48.719
Yeah, or midnight ballerinas.
00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:49.599
Exactly.
00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:55.039
But even that, like I think that there is a huge missed market here in Vegas.
00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:58.559
There aren't really a lot of heels classes, sure.
00:36:58.719 --> 00:37:04.800
Um, they're again mostly like focused on going up the pole and doing tricks and things like that.
00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:07.599
But again, it's probably all of like the Cirque performers.
00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:08.079
Yeah.
00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:09.360
Now tell us about that.
00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:11.920
What did you get a lot of Circ performers?
00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:16.559
Because they even incorporate that in their like magnificent shows.
00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:19.119
There's like people going up and down the poles.
00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:25.440
Have you have you uh had clients that are in like the shows in Las V in Las Vegas?
00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:30.000
Um, you know, I'm trying to think if I've had anyone that's been in a show in Las Vegas.
00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:33.440
Probably not because I was in LA for like a decade before moving here.
00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:33.920
Okay.
00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:41.920
Um definitely like random shows throughout LA that I was training them for, um, you know, various aerial acts and things like that.
00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:45.599
Um, but as far as like in Las Vegas, I don't think so.
00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:46.159
Okay.
00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.039
All right, yeah.
00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:51.199
I guess they're their years in Russia or Germany, they learn they're like, we don't need that.
00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:51.840
Yeah, okay.
00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:53.199
All right, wow.
00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:53.760
Okay.
00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:55.360
So tell me more about this.
00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:59.280
Tell me about team team base found uh what team base?
00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:00.079
Team base, right?
00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:00.400
Yes.
00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:01.519
Okay, tell me about that.
00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:03.119
You do virtual appointments.
00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:03.920
Yeah, yeah.
00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:06.800
So I basically host virtual classes.
00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:07.119
Okay.
00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:12.079
And, you know, I wasn't really sure when I started this if it was gonna be successful.
00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:15.039
Of course, when you're starting a new business venture, you're like, okay, is this gonna work?
00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:15.599
Is it not?
00:38:15.840 --> 00:38:22.079
And it's funny, it actually started with an Instagram live video during the height of the pandemic.
00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:29.760
I was at home and I was like kind of building the back end of the website, and I said, I've got to test this out and see if people are even interested in learning from me virtually.
00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:34.880
And I've been doing Zoom and Skype lessons with various clients around the world for years.
00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:42.960
Um, I would just get like a random client through Instagram who would be in like India or, you know, in a different country, and they'd be like, you know, can you train me?
00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:51.199
So I was already familiar with the virtual space and I knew that I had some clients around the world and I had already traveled to like probably 20 countries at this point and taught.
00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:56.320
But again, you don't know if that's gonna translate into a business that's gonna be like sustainable.
00:38:56.559 --> 00:39:01.440
So I did a free class on Instagram live and I said, look, I'm just giving back to the community.
00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:02.719
Come join me.
00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:05.360
We'll have some fun for an hour, see what happens.
00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:08.559
And my reach was much bigger than I thought it was gonna be.
00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:11.199
And it gave me the confidence to be like, okay, I can do this.
00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:12.159
I can launch my business.
00:39:12.239 --> 00:39:13.920
I think it's gonna be successful.
00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:15.920
So um I launched the business.
00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:21.199
And the way that I started it was doing collaborations with other instructors that I knew from around the world.
00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:30.800
So I would hit them up, we would get on a call, um, we would create choreography together, and then we would pull our followings together to then teach a virtual class at the same time.
00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:31.119
Wow.
00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:38.880
So it would be like me teaching a portion, then they would teach a portion, and then we'd have this like classroom full of students who are learning the choreography alongside us.
00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:40.480
So it started out as that.
00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:47.199
Then I started teaching the primarily all of the classes, and then I started bringing more instructors on because I couldn't keep up with the demand.
00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:49.440
And that's kind of the evolution of it all.
00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:57.679
And then two years ago, I did my first in-person camp again, testing the waters to be like, okay, is this virtual space going to translate into an in-person experience?
00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:58.800
And it did.
00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:00.239
And it was super successful.
00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:04.320
Okay, so I'm not sure if this is an ignorant question, but does everyone have a poll?
00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:04.880
Yeah.
00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:09.760
Your clients that that you're doing like a Zoom chat with, they have to have a poll installed.
00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:10.320
Okay.
00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:14.480
I mean, I do have floor-only classes, but it's primarily pole dancing.
00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:14.960
Okay.
00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:29.599
Um, and funny story, during COVID, they wiped out all of X Pole's inventory, which is like the go-to brand, wiped them out because everyone was stuck at home and they're like, okay, I want to pole dance, I want to do this at home, so I'm gonna put a poll in my living room.
00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:32.719
I did see a lot of those on like TikToks and Instagram.
00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:33.679
Yes, okay.
00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:34.480
Yeah.
00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:39.360
Now, also, um, I would like to know more about are there like competitions?
00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:41.280
And there's tell me about that.
00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:43.199
There's competitors, there's contests.
00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:43.440
Yeah.
00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:44.320
Tell me about that.
00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:47.199
Oh my gosh, competitions all over the world, all the time.
00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:52.960
Um, that's really how I got my first um exposure was just putting myself out there and competing.
00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:55.360
I personally hated competing.
00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:56.239
I really hated it.
00:40:56.320 --> 00:40:57.440
I'm not a competitive person.
00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:08.480
It gave me a lot of stress and anxiety, but I pushed myself to do it because I knew the only way I could get my name out there is getting on a stage, competing, and showing that I was like worthy of being in this space.
00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:12.480
So um I started competing probably three months after I started pole dancing.
00:41:12.559 --> 00:41:15.599
I had no business being in a competition, but I did it.
00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:16.639
Good, good.
00:41:17.199 --> 00:41:20.159
Your confidence is built that that strongly.
00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:27.039
Yeah, I mean, barely, you know, I barely got through it, but it helped like build those, you know, blocks for me and to keep going.
00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:35.599
And so um my first international or my first national competition was in 2014, I believe, in LA.
00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:38.159
And that's actually what caused me to move to LA.
00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:47.280
I was living in Texas teaching poll, and one of the owners of like a big studio in LA was my judge at the competition, and she gave me an offer to come and teach in LA.
00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:53.360
And so I like packed everything in my Mini Cooper and drove to LA and did the damn thing for about 10 years.
00:41:53.599 --> 00:42:05.760
Um, so I would say that like, even though I didn't particularly enjoy competing, it definitely created a huge outlet for me to be able to like get exposure and travel the world and share my craft.
00:42:05.840 --> 00:42:09.119
Because if you're not being seen, then how do people know where to find you?
00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:09.840
Exactly.
00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:13.440
Um, and I have a lot of students that I've trained for competitions as well.
00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:27.280
And I honestly enjoy being like behind the scenes more than being like in the front end um because I get to get really creative and get wild with concepts and just help them like create their biggest version of what they can do on stage.
00:42:27.679 --> 00:42:28.239
Oh, okay.
00:42:28.480 --> 00:42:35.119
So so there's really like a big uh compet competition uh type of contest out there.
00:42:35.280 --> 00:42:35.679
Oh yeah.
00:42:35.760 --> 00:42:35.920
Yeah.
00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:41.840
So what is like one like the best poll instructor, or or like tell me what what kind of like leagues are there?
00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:43.039
So it depends.
00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:45.360
There's um a couple different ones.
00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:46.960
There's one that's been around for a really long time.
00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:49.039
It's called like pole sport organization.
00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:58.159
They also have like a sexy style category that was created like a couple years ago, but they were more focused on like the acrobatic sport side of poll.
00:42:58.480 --> 00:43:09.039
Then you've got um, you know, like the more exotic competitions that are really open to sex workers and they don't have any um regulations when it comes to what they can wear.
00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:14.239
When I started, you literally had to have your gluteal fold covered.
00:43:14.559 --> 00:43:18.159
Like you could not have it out in any circumstance, which was crazy to me.
00:43:18.239 --> 00:43:19.360
I'm like, we're pole dancing.
00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:20.480
Where do you think that this comes from?
00:43:20.559 --> 00:43:22.320
And you don't want my ass cheek to come out.
00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:22.639
Sure.
00:43:22.800 --> 00:43:25.039
Also, like you need your cheeks for grips sometimes.
00:43:25.119 --> 00:43:26.639
So it made it really difficult.
00:43:26.800 --> 00:43:50.320
Um, but then you've got competitions that have really like tapped into like the sex worker community and the stripper community and created a really safe space for them to get on stage and do whatever they want to do and win a title, which is a really cool development with the pole industry because, of course, as you know, you know, especially two decades ago, there was a lot of division when it came to, you know, a stripper, not a stripper.
00:43:50.559 --> 00:43:50.719
Yes.
00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:59.760
And so I love to see that there are, you know, more spaces for strippers to feel safe in a competition space and not feel like they have to hide their bodies to compete on a
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:00.719
Poll for sure.
00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:04.800
And even poll, it's an art, it's a skill, it's a sport, right?
00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:09.360
It's not just oh, because uh you're an exotic dancer, it's like there's more to it, right?
00:44:09.519 --> 00:44:10.400
Yeah, of course.
00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:13.599
Okay, well, Claudia, we have a lot of fan questions.
00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:17.119
Yeah, they want to hear Claudia's bad advice, shall we?
00:44:17.440 --> 00:44:18.880
Let's do it, let's do it.
00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:20.639
Okay, okay.
00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:22.320
Question number one.
00:44:22.559 --> 00:44:23.039
Yes.
00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:24.880
Hello, Miss Claudia.
00:44:25.280 --> 00:44:32.480
Do I need to eat healthy or exercise regularly to be a pole fitness dancer?
00:44:32.880 --> 00:44:36.239
So quick answer would be no, but it always helps.
00:44:36.400 --> 00:44:36.639
Sure.
00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:45.679
You know, like being fit and cross-training and you know, lifting weights just to support your body to then be able to translate that onto the pole is really important.
00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:52.639
And also, if I'm gonna eat a really shitty meal before I pole dance, I'm probably not gonna have good energy to then perform.
00:44:52.800 --> 00:44:55.519
So, no, but also highly recommend.
00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:57.199
Yeah, good, good answer.
00:44:57.360 --> 00:44:58.400
I highly recommend doing.
00:44:58.639 --> 00:45:01.280
I don't know nothing about it, but okay.
00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:07.119
Uh, question number two Do you see longevity in this career or is there an expiration date?
00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:09.760
Can you teach this in your older years?
00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:11.199
Yes, absolutely.
00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:13.440
I know teachers who are in their 60s.
00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:13.920
Good.
00:45:14.320 --> 00:45:18.880
And I also hope that I can make it into that space and still do what I love.
00:45:19.119 --> 00:45:21.679
Obviously, there's um a development that's happened.
00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:28.880
As I mentioned earlier, I used to teach, you know, aerial tricks and combos where we would be up in the air for three, four minutes at a time.
00:45:29.119 --> 00:45:31.760
And, you know, I had to start focusing on my longevity.
00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:34.079
Like, how can I do this for the next two decades?
00:45:34.239 --> 00:45:37.599
And that was me saying, okay, I'm gonna start focusing on base work.
00:45:37.760 --> 00:45:50.079
Like I can still look, you know, strong and flexible and challenge my strength and my acrobatics down here, but also not put my body at risk to, you know, possibly cause an injury that will put me out.
00:45:50.320 --> 00:45:50.800
For sure.
00:45:51.039 --> 00:45:56.239
And this isn't a fan question, but I do I'm asking, is there a lot of injuries that occur?
00:45:56.320 --> 00:46:01.280
Because I do remember there was a girl that was doing aerial dancing with the chiffon.
00:46:01.920 --> 00:46:03.840
Uh is that it with the chiffon?
00:46:04.320 --> 00:46:05.519
Oh, the aerial silks?
00:46:05.679 --> 00:46:06.960
Yes, yes, the aerial silks.
00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:07.360
That's it.
00:46:07.760 --> 00:46:11.280
And she injured herself somehow and she was out for like months.
00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:12.079
Yeah, yeah.
00:46:12.480 --> 00:46:14.320
Is there a lot of injuries that can occur?
00:46:14.480 --> 00:46:15.199
A thousand percent.
00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:15.440
Really?
00:46:15.679 --> 00:46:15.840
Yeah.
00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:21.760
And I think again, it has a lot to do with maybe dancers who aren't cross-training and they're just doing the same moves over and over and over again.
00:46:21.840 --> 00:46:23.760
It just puts so much stress on your joints.
00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:26.480
I would say the main injury is always shoulders.
00:46:27.119 --> 00:46:28.800
Yeah, lots of shoulder injuries.
00:46:29.119 --> 00:46:29.280
Really?
00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:31.519
And why, why, why, and why is that?
00:46:31.679 --> 00:46:32.800
Why is it so popular?
00:46:33.119 --> 00:46:42.000
I would say that sometimes it has to do with hyperextension, girls being super flexible and not engaging their muscles properly when they're trying to lift themselves.
00:46:42.159 --> 00:46:48.639
There's a lot of moves that require, you know, deep reaching and your shoulders being put in a stressful position.
00:46:48.800 --> 00:46:53.679
Um, I've had a full slap tear in my shoulder, you know, just number of injuries.
00:46:54.159 --> 00:46:57.039
So do you stretch before you start dancing?
00:46:57.280 --> 00:46:57.519
Yes.
00:46:57.760 --> 00:46:57.920
Okay.
00:46:58.320 --> 00:46:59.599
So that's that's key, right?
00:46:59.840 --> 00:47:02.159
I am like so serious about my warmups.
00:47:02.239 --> 00:47:02.480
Yeah.
00:47:02.639 --> 00:47:02.880
Okay.
00:47:03.039 --> 00:47:05.199
So your bad advice is to stretch.
00:47:05.519 --> 00:47:05.840
Okay.
00:47:06.159 --> 00:47:07.039
I like it.
00:47:07.280 --> 00:47:07.599
Okay.
00:47:08.239 --> 00:47:10.239
Um, question number three.
00:47:10.400 --> 00:47:11.199
Oh, no, I'm sorry.
00:47:11.280 --> 00:47:11.519
Yes.
00:47:11.599 --> 00:47:12.320
Question number three.
00:47:12.480 --> 00:47:13.840
Do you bring your work home?
00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:17.840
Does your lovers' partners get to experience your pull skills?
00:47:18.159 --> 00:47:20.239
The only, that's a really good question.
00:47:20.639 --> 00:47:21.280
Sexy question.
00:47:21.440 --> 00:47:26.719
Um, you know, I don't think that any past partners have been worthy enough to experience that.
00:47:27.519 --> 00:47:29.760
My current my current one is the only one.
00:47:30.079 --> 00:47:31.039
Okay, good.
00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.679
Good.
00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:32.960
I know your current.
00:47:33.119 --> 00:47:34.400
I was like, yikes.
00:47:34.960 --> 00:47:35.440
Sorry.
00:47:36.400 --> 00:47:36.800
Really?
00:47:36.960 --> 00:47:37.679
Good for you.
00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:40.000
Yeah, it's like such a sacred space for me.
00:47:40.079 --> 00:47:45.039
And I've got to be like in a really, really safe space to want to share that.
00:47:45.440 --> 00:47:45.599
Yeah.
00:47:45.760 --> 00:47:46.239
I love that.
00:47:46.400 --> 00:47:46.639
Okay.
00:47:46.800 --> 00:47:51.519
So yes, this is like very uh spiritual, and this is how you bond, right?
00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:52.239
Yeah, for sure.
00:47:52.480 --> 00:47:52.639
Right?
00:47:52.719 --> 00:47:56.239
You don't give out your uh yeah, a wise PI told me.
00:47:56.559 --> 00:47:58.320
Game is told, it's never told.
00:47:58.480 --> 00:47:59.920
Shame given for free.
00:48:00.079 --> 00:48:00.320
Okay.
00:48:00.639 --> 00:48:01.280
Not for free.
00:48:01.440 --> 00:48:01.760
Okay.
00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:02.239
Okay.
00:48:02.400 --> 00:48:07.360
Another question is um, I can only imagine the beautiful ladies you instruct.
00:48:07.760 --> 00:48:12.400
Have you ever fallen in love or got romantic with any of your students?
00:48:13.039 --> 00:48:13.360
Okay.
00:48:13.599 --> 00:48:18.880
Not a student, but an instructor who also worked at the studio with me.
00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:19.440
Yes.
00:48:19.760 --> 00:48:21.039
Have been there for sure.
00:48:21.280 --> 00:48:21.599
Wow.
00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:26.639
You know, I feel like pole dancing definitely creates like such a community.
00:48:26.719 --> 00:48:30.400
And sometimes those lines can get a little bit blurred.
00:48:30.639 --> 00:48:35.280
As far as with the student, I would never allow myself to cross the bat line.
00:48:35.440 --> 00:48:40.639
Um, just you know, professionally, but um definitely an instructor, yes.
00:48:40.960 --> 00:48:41.519
Really?
00:48:41.840 --> 00:48:42.159
All right.
00:48:42.320 --> 00:48:43.679
Next fan question.
00:48:43.840 --> 00:48:45.280
Are you bisexual?
00:48:46.079 --> 00:48:47.519
Resounding yes.
00:48:48.400 --> 00:48:48.719
Okay.
00:48:49.199 --> 00:48:50.800
Good question, fan.
00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:52.400
All right.
00:48:52.480 --> 00:48:57.280
The next question is um, do your students tend to use you as a therapist?
00:48:57.519 --> 00:49:02.719
Uh, there must be a very vulnerable, they must be very very vulnerable with you and feel safe.
00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:04.559
Yes, absolutely.
00:49:04.800 --> 00:49:08.960
Um, I feel like if I had another career, it would be therapy.
00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:16.000
Um, I actually, two of my closest friends are therapists and they often come to me for advice, and that makes me feel so good.
00:49:16.079 --> 00:49:18.159
I'm like, okay, I am worthy to give you advice.
00:49:18.320 --> 00:49:23.119
Like you've spent your whole life working on this, you know, very serious craft.
00:49:23.360 --> 00:49:27.119
And um, yeah, I feel like again, those lines can be blurred.
00:49:27.760 --> 00:49:34.159
And sometimes you have to kind of put up that boundary because you don't want to cross that line too far.
00:49:34.719 --> 00:49:52.480
Um, but I would say like the main thing I have dealt with with students is them being in relationships and ending those relationships because they realize that they didn't serve them or like being with a partner who was just toxic and finding pole dancing and being like, all right, bye, I'm good, I don't need you anymore.
00:49:52.639 --> 00:49:54.719
And then coming to me for advice about that.
00:49:55.039 --> 00:49:55.920
Sure, that's great.
00:49:56.079 --> 00:50:02.960
So you do you feel that like maybe your um the pole fitness is kind of building, helping them understand their boundaries?
00:50:03.360 --> 00:50:04.639
Absolutely, yeah.
00:50:05.199 --> 00:50:06.159
Yeah, that's great.
00:50:06.320 --> 00:50:07.119
I love that.
00:50:07.360 --> 00:50:09.360
Well, you're giving some great bad advice.
00:50:09.519 --> 00:50:11.199
How's that therapist?
00:50:11.360 --> 00:50:11.679
Okay.
00:50:11.920 --> 00:50:14.960
Um, back to the uh romantic question.
00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:15.440
Yeah.
00:50:15.599 --> 00:50:17.199
How did that like it?
00:50:17.360 --> 00:50:24.559
I know I'm jumping around, but did it work out or like when it ended, was it odd that you guys were still working together?
00:50:24.719 --> 00:50:29.679
Or how did no, honestly, we're still friends to this day, and that was 15 years ago.
00:50:29.920 --> 00:50:30.800
See, I love that.
00:50:31.119 --> 00:50:34.320
It was like a mutual understanding of like, okay, that was fun to explore.
00:50:34.400 --> 00:50:36.320
Now we're gonna go back to like living our lives.
00:50:36.559 --> 00:50:36.880
Sure.
00:50:37.119 --> 00:50:37.440
Sure.
00:50:37.840 --> 00:50:39.760
We've always had like mutual respect for each other.
00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:40.639
See, I love that.
00:50:40.800 --> 00:50:44.159
Yeah, you don't seem like you'd burn bridges or hold a garage.
00:50:45.280 --> 00:50:46.559
Well, yes.
00:50:51.039 --> 00:50:52.960
Um, okay, here's another question.
00:50:53.119 --> 00:50:58.800
Um, how do you feel with the competition amongst the other cult uh pole competitors?
00:50:59.039 --> 00:50:59.280
Yeah.
00:50:59.360 --> 00:51:00.639
So you how do you deal with?
00:51:00.719 --> 00:51:01.280
Yeah, sorry.
00:51:01.519 --> 00:51:01.920
Yeah.
00:51:02.159 --> 00:51:05.039
Um, you know, again, I'm not really a competitive person.
00:51:05.119 --> 00:51:11.599
So I've always just kind of like backed away when I felt weird energy in like a backstage space before competing.
00:51:11.760 --> 00:51:20.159
I like to be in my own little world, just like, you know, focusing on what I want to deliver and try not to let any outside distractions um mess up my flow.
00:51:20.400 --> 00:51:30.079
Um, but I would say like I've definitely dealt with as a teacher seeing some weird competitive vibes or like words exchanged in my classroom.
00:51:30.159 --> 00:51:31.920
And like I shut that shit down really quick.
00:51:32.480 --> 00:51:37.519
And if you're gonna be a facilitator of that kind of energy in my classroom, you're probably not gonna be allowed back in it.
00:51:37.679 --> 00:51:37.920
Good.
00:51:38.079 --> 00:51:38.239
Yeah.
00:51:38.480 --> 00:51:38.639
Good.
00:51:38.800 --> 00:51:40.000
So there's your boundary.
00:51:40.159 --> 00:51:40.480
Yeah.
00:51:40.639 --> 00:51:47.840
But is there a sisterhood amongst the uh people, the women, the the teachers, the women, the students?
00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:48.880
Tell me about that.
00:51:49.119 --> 00:52:00.079
Yeah, I mean, I think it's impossible not to feel such a bond with these women that you're growing with, that you're like experiencing this like really cool space with.
00:52:00.320 --> 00:52:02.639
Um, and like you're just growing together.
00:52:02.800 --> 00:52:04.960
So it's impossible to not feel that bond.
00:52:05.440 --> 00:52:08.800
I would say most of my friends are from the pole world.
00:52:09.119 --> 00:52:10.320
Wow, that's great.
00:52:10.639 --> 00:52:10.880
Okay.
00:52:11.039 --> 00:52:12.960
And how how do you deal with the cattiness?
00:52:13.440 --> 00:52:21.679
Um, again, like I I'm in such a privileged position being a teacher because I can shut it down and I can create the space that I want to create.
00:52:21.920 --> 00:52:29.039
Um, also creating my own platform was also like a really cool way to not ever let that in.
00:52:29.519 --> 00:52:32.880
Um, I'm very specific on the instructors that I hire.
00:52:33.119 --> 00:52:39.599
I only hire people who I know personally or who have been highly recommended by a lot of people.
00:52:39.760 --> 00:52:49.039
And I need to know what kind of person they are before I let them come into my business because one bad person can change everything, right?
00:52:49.679 --> 00:52:51.440
So I'm really serious about my hiring process.
00:52:51.519 --> 00:52:54.880
I mean, I have DMs on a regular basis like, hey, can I work for your platform?
00:52:55.039 --> 00:52:56.719
Can I be a teacher on team-based work?
00:52:56.880 --> 00:53:03.199
And I have to usually quietly shut them down and just be like, hey, I don't have space, or, you know, this and that doesn't work.
00:53:03.280 --> 00:53:12.880
And sometimes, like, you know, you get a bad response and they're upset and they think that you're just like, you know, not creating a space that feels like inclusive enough.
00:53:13.039 --> 00:53:14.559
But like, it is quite the opposite.
00:53:14.880 --> 00:53:18.079
My community that I've built is so inclusive.
00:53:18.159 --> 00:53:21.280
You know, I've like I said, I've got people from all over the world.
00:53:21.360 --> 00:53:22.559
I have sex workers.
00:53:22.639 --> 00:53:27.840
I have, I would say like probably 65 to 70% of my instructors are sex workers or strippers.
00:53:28.079 --> 00:53:30.000
And so the space is very inclusive.
00:53:30.159 --> 00:53:32.880
I'm just very picky on who I let into the space.
00:53:33.199 --> 00:53:38.559
And so far, six years later, we've been able to keep it like positive and chill from the beginning.
00:53:38.800 --> 00:53:38.960
Great.
00:53:39.039 --> 00:53:41.519
Do you have a lot of male instructors or male clients?
00:53:41.760 --> 00:53:42.079
Yeah.
00:53:42.239 --> 00:53:46.079
Um, I've had probably about five male instructors to date.
00:53:46.400 --> 00:53:46.559
Yeah.
00:53:46.719 --> 00:53:48.159
And they're all fabulous.
00:53:48.480 --> 00:53:48.880
Great.
00:53:49.119 --> 00:53:49.440
Okay.
00:53:49.679 --> 00:53:52.079
And how would you vet for an instructor?
00:53:52.159 --> 00:53:53.760
Like, how do you vet your instructors?
00:53:54.000 --> 00:53:54.239
Yeah.
00:53:54.400 --> 00:54:07.599
So if it's somebody that I don't personally know and that I've just like heard good things about, I usually have them send me like a 30-minute video of them teaching so I can evaluate their teaching skills and see how they um how they give cues.
00:54:07.679 --> 00:54:17.679
Um, cues are super important, not only, you know, in an in-person space, obviously, but virtually, there's like a whole nother level of giving cues because you're only seeing someone from one dimension.
00:54:17.840 --> 00:54:20.239
Whereas in person, you can see everything that's happening.
00:54:20.559 --> 00:54:32.000
So um, someone has to have a deep understanding of body awareness and how to give um, you know, cues uh to be able to like get people to understand what they're saying in a virtual space.
00:54:32.320 --> 00:54:32.559
Sure.
00:54:32.800 --> 00:54:32.960
Yeah.
00:54:33.119 --> 00:54:38.960
And what would be a red flag for a student or a teacher that you could see that you could spot right straight on?
00:54:39.280 --> 00:54:47.119
Yeah, I would say that uh when an instructor looks more interested in like what they're doing and not what their students are doing.
00:54:47.280 --> 00:54:54.000
Um, I've evaluated other teachers in a space where they're just like looking at themselves in the mirror and they're not even looking around.
00:54:54.239 --> 00:54:59.519
And that tells me that they're in that space to feed their ego and they just want people to like pay attention to them.
00:54:59.679 --> 00:55:02.559
But as a teacher, you are not there for your ego.
00:55:02.639 --> 00:55:05.039
You're not there for your own like enjoyment.
00:55:05.199 --> 00:55:11.840
You are there to like be looking around every second, seeing that person just stepped wrong with their left put foot.
00:55:12.000 --> 00:55:13.760
That person didn't engage their shoulder right.
00:55:13.840 --> 00:55:16.000
Like, you have to be able to scan a room so quickly.
00:55:16.079 --> 00:55:18.880
And if you're staring at yourself in the mirror, you're not gonna be able to do that.
00:55:19.199 --> 00:55:20.559
How about if they're texting?
00:55:20.800 --> 00:55:22.480
Oh, I've seen that too.
00:55:22.880 --> 00:55:23.199
Oh, yeah.
00:55:23.760 --> 00:55:23.920
Worse.
00:55:24.079 --> 00:55:25.039
Same thing with trainers.
00:55:25.519 --> 00:55:27.280
Yeah, I don't want to see you grab your phone.
00:55:27.519 --> 00:55:28.239
Yeah, exactly.
00:55:28.400 --> 00:55:29.599
Okay, how about with a student?
00:55:29.760 --> 00:55:35.280
What would be a red flag for a student where you're like, I don't think you and I are gonna uh be compatible?
00:55:35.440 --> 00:55:36.400
What would that be?
00:55:36.719 --> 00:55:58.800
Um, I would say if a student is like saying anything about another person's body, or um I would also say like there's an energy that's portrayed in spaces that I've experienced before where they're kind of looking around at other students and like with like a judging eye um and kind of like sitting in the corner, crossing their arms instead of like participating.
00:55:58.880 --> 00:56:01.280
And that to me just like gives me all the bad vibes.
00:56:01.440 --> 00:56:04.400
And I usually will take them aside and be like, hey, what's going on?
00:56:04.559 --> 00:56:05.840
Cause I don't want to make assumptions.
00:56:06.320 --> 00:56:09.599
And like I could also be wrong about the way that I'm reading their energy.
00:56:09.840 --> 00:56:13.360
And so I typically would just take them aside and ask them, like, hey, what's going on?
00:56:13.519 --> 00:56:14.400
Where's your energy?
00:56:14.559 --> 00:56:15.280
What's going on?
00:56:15.440 --> 00:56:18.480
And depending on their answer, like I can just kind of take it from there.
00:56:18.639 --> 00:56:24.800
Um, but yeah, I would say anything that has to do with like talking about someone's body, how they look, what they're wearing.
00:56:24.960 --> 00:56:27.599
Um, because at the end of the day, like you're there for you.
00:56:27.679 --> 00:56:31.119
You shouldn't be paying attention to what other people are doing unless you're the teacher.
00:56:31.360 --> 00:56:32.320
For sure, for sure.
00:56:32.480 --> 00:56:32.719
Yeah.
00:56:32.880 --> 00:56:40.079
And um, how do you would you give them a second chance or how would you like address that just by like calling it out right away?
00:56:40.559 --> 00:56:52.880
I would say a case-by-case basis, but in my experience, if I've called them out and they had like a negative um reason for why they were doing things or they had just bad vibes, they're probably not gonna come back in my class because they've been called out.
00:56:53.039 --> 00:56:54.079
Yeah, most definitely.
00:56:54.159 --> 00:56:54.639
And guess what?
00:56:54.800 --> 00:56:56.639
Claudia reads body language.
00:56:56.800 --> 00:56:57.280
She knows.
00:56:57.440 --> 00:56:58.639
I know she can spot it.
00:56:59.360 --> 00:57:00.719
Spot it from across the room.
00:57:00.880 --> 00:57:01.199
Yes.
00:57:01.280 --> 00:57:01.519
Yeah.
00:57:01.679 --> 00:57:01.840
Okay.
00:57:01.920 --> 00:57:03.760
Well, Claudia, that was so much fun.
00:57:04.079 --> 00:57:04.800
Yes, I had the function.
00:57:04.960 --> 00:57:05.519
Yes, thank you.
00:57:05.679 --> 00:57:12.639
So if you could give, if you could wrap up or give a powerful bad advice message to the fans today, what would it be?
00:57:12.719 --> 00:57:13.519
What's your purpose?
00:57:13.679 --> 00:57:14.320
What would it be?
00:57:14.559 --> 00:57:19.119
Yeah, I would say that um, maybe this is going to be specifically for women.
00:57:19.599 --> 00:57:22.880
Um, women walk through life being told not to be sexy.
00:57:23.119 --> 00:57:27.679
And, you know, our sensuality is always looked at in a negative way.
00:57:28.079 --> 00:57:31.920
Um, I say challenge that in every way that you can.
00:57:32.079 --> 00:57:43.280
Um, challenge it in safe spaces, challenge it in spaces that might make you feel a little bit uncomfortable because finding your sensuality is really, really amazing and so fucking powerful.
00:57:43.519 --> 00:57:44.000
It is.
00:57:44.159 --> 00:57:44.400
Yeah.
00:57:44.880 --> 00:57:46.400
Yeah, we love that.
00:57:47.119 --> 00:57:50.000
Okay, so you want to hear what Ava Devine's bad advice?
00:57:50.239 --> 00:57:51.199
Please, okay.
00:57:51.519 --> 00:57:53.280
All right, I will tell you.
00:57:54.000 --> 00:58:07.760
My bad advice from this episode, Claudia taught me to fall in love with yourself, get romantic with yourself because it's really all about self-acceptance and self-love.
00:58:08.000 --> 00:58:17.760
And stretch before you do anything and uh eat healthy and work out because it's all about mind, body, and spirit.
00:58:18.000 --> 00:58:20.000
Oh, and check your motives.
00:58:20.159 --> 00:58:22.480
Yes, check your motives every time.
00:58:22.719 --> 00:58:24.880
Yeah, that's my bad advice.
00:58:25.199 --> 00:58:26.239
So, where can we find you?
00:58:26.400 --> 00:58:27.440
Do you have a link tree?
00:58:27.519 --> 00:58:28.239
Do you have a plug?
00:58:28.400 --> 00:58:29.119
Tell us, Claudia.
00:58:29.440 --> 00:58:31.119
Yeah, I have a link tree on my Instagram.
00:58:31.280 --> 00:58:33.519
My Instagram is at it's Claudia Renee.
00:58:33.599 --> 00:58:37.039
Um, you have to type it exactly because I am super shadow banned right now.
00:58:37.199 --> 00:58:37.519
Sure.
00:58:37.599 --> 00:58:41.760
Um, per usual, trying to be sexy online and you know haters.
00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:43.119
Yeah, I know you feel me.
00:58:43.280 --> 00:58:43.920
Yes.
00:58:44.400 --> 00:58:48.079
So if you go to Instagram, you will see my link tree.
00:58:48.239 --> 00:58:53.039
And you can find my website, you can find my programs, and obviously send me a DM if you have any questions.
00:58:53.199 --> 00:58:53.760
I love it.
00:58:53.920 --> 00:58:54.719
Thank you so much.
00:58:55.039 --> 00:58:56.079
That was so much fun.
00:58:56.320 --> 00:58:58.559
And you're gonna teach me a little poll in a little bit, right?
00:58:58.800 --> 00:58:59.199
Yes, I can.
00:58:59.440 --> 00:58:59.679
Okay.
00:58:59.920 --> 00:59:00.719
Base poll.
00:59:01.039 --> 00:59:01.519
Baseball.
00:59:01.599 --> 00:59:02.880
That's the kind of girl I am.
00:59:03.599 --> 00:59:04.800
But thank you so much.
00:59:04.960 --> 00:59:08.960
And that was that wraps up another episode of Ava Divine's Bad Advice.
00:59:09.280 --> 00:59:10.000
See you next week.
00:59:10.239 --> 00:59:11.280
Thank you for being on here.
00:59:11.519 --> 00:59:12.000
That was fun.
00:59:12.400 --> 00:59:12.960
So much fun.
00:59:13.119 --> 00:59:13.280
Yeah.