http://www.thepoledancingshop.com/news/40/Powerful-bodies%2C-Even-more-powerful-minds-by-Lori-Myers.html
Powerful bodies, Even more powerful minds by Lori Myers
Posted on 14th May 2010 @ 4:32 PM
While pole fitness is definitely my shiny new toy, I am not new to the fitness world. I have spent a lot of time and money trying to get myself into shape over the years. I am six feet tall, so regardless of my weight, I've always been a "big girl". I gained significant weight in my 20's while in college. My highest weight was almost 350 pounds. On March 17, 2004 (at age 27), I had RNY gastric bypass surgery at UCSF. I ended up losing 165 pounds. I am now 33 years old and have put on about 40 pounds. So, I decided it was time to find a new, fun way to lose weight and get in shape. That is what brought me to Twirly Girls Pole Fitness in Pleasanton, California. Clearly, at over 200 pounds, I am not the "normal" vision of a pole dancer. Twirly Girls' owner, Bel, said that when she met me, she immediately thought of a viking warrior. I get an image of a strong woman with long flowing hair, carrying a bow and arrow or sword and wearing a fur-lined bikini. I can live with that image! Because of my height, I am often called Amazon, so it's not too far from something I've imagined before. I may never have the slim, dancer's body, or a super-toned, muscular body but I can always be me. So who am I in the pole dancing world? I am fun and silly. I like to dance crazy to loud, dirty rock songs. However, I think I've limited what I allow myself to do because I've always made the excuse, "I'm sure I'm too big to do that".
At my studio, there is a girl named Jen. She has the most amazing body, flexibility and strength. She can do all the things I want to do on the pole! She's also the size of one of my legs. So, then I started asking myself: Even if I was in the best shape of my life, would *I* be able to do what Jennifer does? I would guess her to be under 5 feet tall and under 100 pounds -- PURE muscle. I'm well over twice her size! Can a six foot tall body hang off a pole and do all the things that a five foot tall body can? Her toned muscles have to hold up a lot less than my flabby muscles do. I'm not taking away from the amazing things she can do! But am I setting myself up to fail by thinking or hoping that I too could hold the poses that Jennifer can?Recently, I had a conversation with Amber Richard, who is also a tall pole dancer. She gave me a whole new respect for what taller bodies can acomplish. So I have a new mission to get myself into better shape so that I too can do all of the cool pole tricks that Bel, Jen and Amber (just to name a few...) can do. I don't want to hold myself back anymore.
Now I'd love to know... What is holding you back? Is it you? Leave me a comment below!
Until next time, keep twirling!
Lori Myers
Student at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness Studio in Pleasanton, California
http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/
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