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Friday, March 25, 2011

Firemen rock

This is a post that has been a year in the making.  I was so angry about it for a long time that I just kind of let the topic sit in the back of my brain.  Until today.  I'm sure I have mentioned it in passing in other posts but I haven't addressed it directly.  Now I'm making it sound way more exciting than it is probably going to end up being.  Oh well, drama queen...that's what they call me. 

Last year, Bel was doing little challenges at Twirly Girls.  We would wear our shirts around town and take pictures at different places.  One suggestion was to find poles at fire stations.  I started researching fire stations that actually had poles (they aren't very common in California) and fired off e-mails to try to set up appointments.  It never once occurred to me not to mention that we were pole fitness students coming in our Twirly Girls shirts to take photos with them.  They all had a policy of allowing the public in to see the facilities -- hello, our tax dollars pay their salaries. 

I was denied by every single station.  Some were kinder in their wording than others.  A few were outright rude and said it would be inappropriate to have anyone from our studio come take photos near their pole. 

Part of me was FURIOUS.  If I had just requested a tour, and had shown up in my TG shirt and jeans to take photos, they never would have known and I would have gotten my photos. 

Part of me was sad.  The stripper stigma strikes again. 

A friend had a hook-up at a fire station.  Said station will remain nameless to protect the innocent.  But they allowed us to come in, put on their gear and take all kinds of photos.  We never got naked.  We didn't do any "stripper moves" off their trucks.  But we did have a fun day and met some awesome people.  And, for that, I thank them. 


Thursday, March 24, 2011

Bel and PoleSkivvies!

http://poleskivvies.com/pole-dancing-clothing/2011/03/bel-jeremiah-pole-instruction-with-deaf-students/

Bel Jeremiah – Pole Instruction with Deaf Students

Bel Jeremiah of Twirly Girls shares her experience teaching pole to deaf students.

What are the primary things to keep in mind when teaching pole to students who can’t hear?

That everything is visual. It’s important that each step, each move is done slowly and broken down in small segments. I also found that it’s important to show the move, then break the move down, step by step. After each step, I stop, and allow the interpreter to explain the move, then I do the move again. The girls can’t watch me and the interpreter at the same time, so it’s important to give the interpreter time to explain the move. It’s a slower process, but deaf people are very visual so they watch everything. Facial expressions, body movements, they pick up on movement from watching.

How have you altered your approach to pole instruction in order to connect with this group of students?

I’ve always broken down moves step by step, because it’s the way I like to learn things myself, so I don’t think I’ve really altered my style of teaching. I do have to remember to talk slower to the interpreter because I talk fast and I need to give her time to sign to the girls. I’ve asked her to let me know how to make things easier for her, since this is new to me also. At the end of each of my classes, I let the girls do a free dance. To feel the music and let their body move, incorporating the moves they learned that day. Well, since they can’t feel the music, they ask me to show them how much time they have, since they can’t tell when a song starts or ends. So I hold up my finger to let them know how much time they have left. I’m amazed at how sensually they are dancing and how much rhythm they have. I’m also creating different hand signals for a Twirl, or move. Bringing my hands together like I’m praying is the sign for The Prayer, crossing my wrists stands for Fairy … anyway … I’m creating hand movements for various moves and it works because when I do the motion they know what move I’m talking about. It’s really pretty awesome.

Has what you’ve learned in teaching deaf students been something you’ve now added to how you teach all your students?

I don’t think so. I think all beginner students need the same attention and need to have each move broken down so they understand the whys and hows. Most of these women are teachers or in the teaching field, so they understand the concept of teaching. I don’t want to treat them any different than any other student.

Anything else you’d care to share:

I’m so lucky to have this opportunity and these women are so awesome…Last week was their last session with Twirly Girls. They had all bought a one-month Groupon Deal because it was so affordable. They gave me a beautiful card saying how much they loved their experience and how they didn’t want it to end. Hugs and sad eyes. The interpreter told me they were very sad and hated for the sessions to end but they couldn’t afford the classes on a teacher’s salary, and a few are unemployed.

Since it was their class, I had them dress up with wigs and costumes and takes lots of pictures … we must have been there for 2 hours.

Then, I realized, I didn’t want it to end either, so I gave them an offer they couldn’t refuse. :)

So … the Visual Twirlers will be back to class on Monday!

They may not realize it, but I’m the one getting so much out of this! Two of the girls already climbed to the top of the pole! It’s amazing how determined they are.

I would love to see more schools embrace anyone interested in taking pole. Everyone wants to feel like they are equal in all ways … and I believe there is a move for everyone. Everything can be modified.

Thank you, Bel – this will be a help to pole dance instructors everywhere!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Second Annual Lovely Rita Fundraiser!

I can't believe it is less than a month before our SECOND ANNUAL LOVELY RITA FUNDRAISER at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness!  If you weren't around last year, and don't know what I'm talking about, search my blog...I posted all kinds of things about our fun event.

Our very own Rita has received THREE kidney transplants in her lifetime.  Last year, Twirly Girls hosted an entire day of classes, a dance recital, silent auction and raffle to benefit the National Kidney Foundation.  This year, we have already put out a Twirly Girls calendar in Rita's honor.  We have also set up a pizza night at Rocco's in Walnut Creek (Thursday, April 28th)

This year, Twirly Girls is going to keep it simple.  We will have a dance recital and raffle to benefit the NKF.  The dance recital will start at 3 p.m., with raffle items being given away between dances.  Raffle tickets will be 3 for $5.00, 8 for $10.00 or, 20 for $20.00 (best deal).  Raffle tickets are ON SALE NOW!

I will do an inventory of prizes this week and do another blog about what you can win.  However, in the meantime, if you have a business you'd like to promote and can donate a gift certificate or item for raffle, please let me know!  We will be doing a poster to thank you for your donation.  If you donate an item, I can give you a receipt from the NKF (sorry, from what I understand, the IRS doesn't allow you to write off gift certificates and/or time donated).   We were so touched last year by the outpouring of donations from local businesses and this year is looking just as awesome!

The Fitness Examiner has kindly included us in a write-up.  We thank them for that.  Check out the article here.   

We also have a link at Patch Pleasanton.  Check that out here.   

If you can't  make it to Rocco's or Twirly Girls, please feel free to donate directly to Rita's page on the National Kidney Foundation's page.   

Everyone is welcome to walk with us during the Kidney Walk 5k in San Francisco on Saturday, May 7th!

Even if money is tight, or you don't have time to visit us at these events, please feel free to share this blog with your friends.  We are also accepting happy thoughts and good wishes.  :-)  You don't realize how important your kidneys are until you don't have them!   

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Brazen Racing

A couple of years ago, I started doing 5k's with Brazen Racing.  Mostly I was walking them.  My motivation behind Couch to 5k was partially to prepare for Bay to Breakers, but also to start actually running the 5k's I do with Brazen.  I did one over the weekend with my injured back.  It sucked.  Freezing cold, wet, muddy.  I jogged the flat parts but there were so many muddy parts on a grade that I had to walk them.  Slowly.  I think my final time was almost an hour so I was doing 20 minute miles. 

Anyway, I thought I'd share some photos since we were so disgusting and muddy at the end.  I definitely recommend Brazen Racing (cool shirts and medals, lots of goodies in our bags and good friends to see), and I look forward to feeling better so I can actually RUN an entire 5k soon!






Friday, March 18, 2011

Updated Pole Goal: Handstand

So I've been working on my handstands.  Mostly trying to hook my leg and then bend my spine away from the pole so that my shoulders aren't touching.  Next I need to start working on doing headstands and handstands without a pole or wall near me.  I have gotten spoiled with the pole because I can kick up, hook my leg and pull myself in.  When Heather was in town recently, I tried to do a handstand against a wall in the hotel and needed help getting up there.  But still, I have made progress and I'm really excited about it!  Here are some photos (and old blog posts about my other goals).  :-)

Here's my January 24th post where I talk about handstands

The handstand pole goal is helping me toward my eventual pole goals of backbends and extended dancer

I remember way back when, I was just excited to do a headstand!








Thursday, March 3, 2011

Next Pole Goal: Dancer

I'm still working on my other pole goals but I have another one in mind.  This one is probably years away.  I call it Extended Dancer.  You know the pose in yoga where you grab your leg and try to pull it over your head?  Yeah, that one.  Anyway, there isn't much to say about it because I am so far away from it.  But I hope to be able to do something close to it someday.

 Jealous of Gina
 My sad attempt
From John Friend's website

*Sigh*

Someday.