The sexy Sheena LaShay!

Awhile ago, I started following someone on Twitter who used the name SLY.  Sly.  I like it.  Seems so under cover.  Then Chwenny mentioned the sexy Sheena LaShay in her own blog roll call and I was like, "Hey I know that girl from Twitter!"  So I invited her to be part of our growing pole community!

*****

What is your fitness routine (on and off the pole)?

In pole class, I spend about 30/45 minutes warming up. Warming up entails a sensual blend of yoga and pilates. Next I spend 15 to 20 minutes doing pole work. This either entails learning a new move or articulating moves & combos. Lastly, I spend the rest of my class doing free style or choreographed dance that involves the pole and everything else. I also have a pole at home. I spend a few hours a week concentrating on inversions at home or whatever else I found exceedingly challenging in class. Aside from pole I live a very active lifestyle that lends itself to being pretty physically fit.

What kind of diet do you follow?

I don’t prefer the word diet. It appears to be very temporary. What I do practice is balance and moderation. I eat a lot of vegetables but probably not enough fruit. To balance that lack, I make fruit smoothies in the morning. I seldom eat meat. I don’t eat junk food but then again, I could eat two popsicles in a row! What I’ve found is that it’s not just about what I eat though. I also need to be mindful of my sleeping habits, my stress levels, my activeness and such. All of those things need to be in balance. Mainly though, I just eat a LOT of vegetables.

Do you have a dance background?

I’ve danced my entire life whether it was via dance classes, contemporary dance in community activities or even my stint as a stunting cheerleader in college. (But that landed me in a wheelchair so…. I don’t know about that.) While I’ve never had formal training, I’ve always danced. Even now, I take other dance classes too just for fun like Afro Caribbean, Haitian and Samba. What I find though is that I have a natural disposition towards movement in general with a lot of my movement being sensual, suggestive and seducing thus pole is the PERFECT avenue to express that!

Do you compete (pole fitness or any other kind of fitness competitions)?

I do not compete but it’s a goal of mine to do so at least once. It doesn’t have to necessarily be a pole fitness competition though. I like the other pole competitions too like Pole Art.

Do you teach pole classes?  If so, where?

I do not teach pole dancing but that’s another goal of mine. Pole has literally changed my life and now I just want it all the time! I think I naturally fall into the role of teacher, especially in other areas of my life and so I REALLY want to become a pole teacher!!! But not just pole. I want to teach sensual movement as a whole.

Do you have a preference? "pole fitness" or "pole dancing"

I think both words are sub genres of pole in general. In fact, I was just speaking with another pole lady on twitter regarding this very thing. I think there is also Pole Art in addition to Fitness and Dancing. I do not mind using any of those words no matter what other people’s limited connotations may be. Art, Fitness and Dance are all expressive words and I like what each represent.

What do you think about the stripper vs. pole fitness debate?

Honestly, I’m not sure I get the comparison as it directly relates to pole fitness. If you’re asking what do I think about the stripper versus all versions of pole debate…this is what I believe... I believe I can’t change anyone’s mind. It’s not my role to do so. I know what happens when I go into my pole classes twice a week and I’m not at a strip club. I’m nurturing my body, spirit and sensuality through my movement.

I should also say that I don’t see anything wrong with strippers. I don’t think it should even be a moral debate. Besides I’ve seen other things women do for money too. I’ve seen women dance a certain way in a club just to get a free drink. But it’s not just women. Men and women strip ALL the time. They strip themselves of their true dreams in order to get a paycheck at a 9-5. They strip themselves of their voices in order to blend in and compromise. They strip themselves of many of their values, moral beliefs and general ideas for other stuff. So stripping clothing for money is one of MILLIONS of ways that the ENTIRE world strips for something! Just saying.So what’s so horrible about a women stripping? It’s neither here nor there anyway.  (backing off my soapbox now.)

I just believe that the people who can only envision strippers when you explain your pole lifestyle are revealing a limited mindset about themselves and it has absolutely nothing to do with the artist or athlete that is pursuing a pole lifestyle. Therefore I don’t internalize the BS. That is on them. There is no need for a debate.

What is your favorite product to help you stick to the pole?

I haven’t explored many options. I simply use alcohol on a towel to wipe the pole down and myself.

How do you deal with the dry skin on pole days (and on off-pole days?)?

I’m used to lathering my skin EVERY day in creamy, sensual smelling body butters and I love it. Not using these butters on pole days was a change for me. It didn’t drastically affect my life though. I simply just go without and what I’ve noticed is that its ok. It shows me how I don’t necessarily need it and can get by without it. When I don’t have pole classes, sometimes I remember to use the body butters again. But lately, I’ve gone longer periods of days with what others would consider dry skin and I hardly notice.

Where do you like to buy your pole clothes?

I buy my clothes from ANY and everywhere whether it’s specifically a shop that’s geared towards all things sexual and exotic or my everyday clothing stores that have items that could work for pole. I love dancing in dresses and I usually end up dancing in dresses I owned already whether they came from forever 21, modcloth or who knows. I also purchase clothes directly from the studio that I attend. I borrow my friends clothes. Sometimes I wear my street clothes. My clothes can come from anywhere. Although I am looking for more specific costumes for my inner siren and I’m not sure where to search. Like right now, I need the best whip that suits my dancing personality and I have no clue how to begin that search. Any suggestions?

Do you like to dance in heels or barefoot?

I dance in heels and barefoot. It depends on my mood. It depends on my costume, on my song, on whether or not my feet have been hurting that day. I think both are beautiful. I used to ONLY dance in heels because I never did it before and I wanted to get comfortable and learn how to do it. Now that I’m comfortable, I go back and forth. But heels are sexy and I think whenever you have the opportunity you should dance in them!

What is your favorite thing about dancing on the pole?

I like that the pole gives me a constant. When I dance, I use everything. I use the floor, I use chairs, walls, window seals, pillars, benches, pillows, curtains…whatever is in my environment I use. But I find that with all these props and things, I can always go back to the pole. It’s like my lighthouse. Its my grounding point. It doesn’t move.It doesn’t change positions.Its my constant. It’s strong enough to hold my body weight. I can be aggressive or gentle. I can fly or climb and the pole stays the same. That is what I love. I can keep coming back to it however I so desire and it remains the same, holding me completely.

What is your favorite song to dance to (at this moment)?

I have playlist for every mood, theme and idea that I want to explore in pole classes. One of my playlist is called “Isis Emerges” and it’s what evokes my inner siren, ISIS to come out. (I have two inner sirens. One is called SLY. She’s seen most often when I dance and every now and them ISIS comes out. Isis cannot be contained though.) I know you asked for one song, but I have a couple.

Paradise Circus – Massive Attack

Stork & Owl – TV On the Radio

Bloodstream – Stateless

Bungee – Sonnymoon

Look Out Young Son – Grand Ole Party

Sail – Awolnation

If I Had a Boat – James McMorrow

What else would you like people to know about you or your studio(s)?

I write about my experiences with pole dancing on my website. It’s not strictly a pole dancing blog…even though that’s coming soon! But, I write about my experiences. Two posts that really get to the core of why I am a student of the pole is “Set Your Soul Ablaze" and "Bravery, Boldness Courage & Strength."

*****

This gorgeous lady is in New York.  Please connect with her using the links below:

Website: SheenaLaShay.com

Twitter: SheenaLaShay

YouTube: SheenaLYoung