Who do I think I am?

I often get asked why I do what I do.  First off, you may be asking yourself, what is it that she does?  Well, let's start with the pole dancing.  Teaching.  Then the blogging.  The "pole ambassador" stuff.  Pole councils and boards.  Showcases and an upcoming competition. 

What are my intentions?  Do I want to be famous?  Do I want to make money?  Do I think I'm such a badass poler and writer that absolutely everyone must meet me?

To be honest?  I don't know.  It started so small, with one simple pole class on December 2, 2009.  Then it turned into a blog in January 2010 -- mostly to chronicle my own journey for myself.  When setting up my blog, there was never a thought that I might actually get a ton of readers.  I thought maybe some of my fellow Twirly Girls might read it and cheer along with me.  There was a realization that girls my size weren't "supposed" to be able to pole and I wanted to prove people wrong.  Then the adventure turned into offers to write for other websites and magazines.  I got to interview pole dancers, both in written and video formats.  I worked with The Pole Dancing Shop and wrote somewhat regularly for them for a year or more.  That opened the door to go to Pole Show LA and do video interviews of some of the performers.  I have been to pole events, then have been able to write about them for Vertical Magazine.  I got invitations to meet with other polers to talk about the industry.  I would get recognized at events as the girl who wrote that blog.  It has all been very fun and exciting.  It has not been profitable whatsoever.  So for now, I'm doing this for the adventure.  I fully recognize I am not the best pole dancer out there -- not by any stretch of the imagination.  I have also been humbled in the last year as I have dealt with a foot injury and subsequent surgery, and have realized how much strength and stamina I lost.  For the most part, what I'm really, really good at is meeting people and putting them together with other people.  I have a full life outside of pole and sometimes it is hard to DO more but I can sure tell you WHO can do what you need done.  

If you read my blog, you know I'm not just about pole dancing.  I also write about my struggles with my weight and food addiction.  I talk openly about family issues, depression and anxiety.  I also talk about fun stuff like Chunky Girl Comics.  I realize that pole is very important to me and to other people, but I also realize that no one is *just* a pole dancer.  So I share those sides of me as well.  I realize that there are a lot of people who go through things thinking they are alone.  And I want you to know that you are not alone.  Even if I over-share a little too much or get overly heated about certain topics, know that my intentions are good and I really do hope that I can inspire people in some way -- whether that is to try pole or some other activity outside of their comfort zone, or to seek help for an eating disorder. 

So, there you go.  Why do I do what I do?  For the fun of it.  There's no big ulterior motive.  I enjoy helping and connecting people and, at the end of the day, I enjoy adventures. 

I would love to know where you heard about me and how we met, if we have met in person.  Please feel free to leave comments below! 

Pole Dancing Bloggers -- Weekly Photo Challenge #poleblogphoto

I have made it through!  Five days post-surgery...and I already want to pull my hair out.  I can't participate, but I did want to make sure everyone was aware that the Pole Dancing Bloggers have started putting out a photo challenge and I would love for everyone to submit their photos.  

Follow the PDS on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PDBloggers

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/pdbloggers

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/pdbloggers

Even if you don't follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, use the hashtag on public photos to participate: #‎poleblogphoto‬

 Here are August's challenges:

Here are some rules/suggestions by our fearless leader, SLY:


PDBA presents the AUGUST POLE PHOTO A WEEK CHALLENGE

The Pole Dancing Bloggers Association has just launched a fun, new social challenge for the Pole Dance & Fitness community. Let’s all do a twirl or maybe a booty pop for the “Pole Photo A Week Challenge” created by the PDBA.

PDBA INTRODUCTION
For those of you who don’t know, the Pole Dancing Bloggers Association (PDBA) is a community for pole artists to share, connect, create and report engaging content about the ever growing and evolving world of pole dance. The group exists to encourage community by sharing resources, prompting dialogue and establishing contacts within our field. Currently the PDBA consist of over 100+ pole dance/fitness bloggers who create fun, sizzling content on a consistent basis while sharing their personal journeys.

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE
Each month the PDBA will release a series of 4 -5 challenges that are to be completed by the Saturday of that week.

HOW TO PLAY

• Take a look at the August photo a week challenge list.
• Take a photo according to whatever the prompt is.
• Once you’ve taken the photo, SHARE IT. (See below for sharing techniques.)
• Connect with others by viewing their photos too. Browse through them on social media platforms by searching the #poleblogphoto hashtag. Check out our facebook page too.

WHERE TO PLAY

• Instagram: Upload your photo. Add a caption like “Week 1 – Favorite Pole Move. I love the fireman!” and then add the hashtag #poleblogphoto.
• Facebook: Upload your photo onto the Pole Dancing Bloggers facebook page and add the hashtag #PoleBlogPhoto.
• Flickr: Upload your photo, by using the app or the website. Remember, use the hashtag #PoleBlogPhoto.
• Twitter: Upload your photo on twitter and share it using the hastag #PoleBlogPhoto.

THE PROMPTS
Right click the list above and save it to your desktop or take a screenshot and save it to your phone. You can even print it, if you want. You can also reference the list by visiting this blog post and visiting our facebook page.

There are no rules when it comes to our photo a week challenge. Everything is up for interpretation as you see fit. Get creative. Have fun! For those who need suggestions, check out below.

• Aug 4 – 10 | YOUR FAVORITE POLE MOVE. Take a photo of your favorite pole move. This could be any and everything. It could be an invert, a trick, a pose, a spin….anything!
• Aug 11 – 17 |HAIR. Hair flips. Hair toss. Sexy hair. Hide behind your hair. Updo. How does your hair react to the pole?
• Aug 18 – 24 |BLACK AND WHITE. We want to see a black and white photo that incorporates pole dance and fitness. This is wide open to interpretation to encompass ANYTHING.
• Aug 25 – 31 | POLE BAG. What’s in your pole bag. Show us a snapshot. Or maybe only one item. Or maybe show us your bedazzled bag itself.

FAQ –
Can I use photos I’ve taken before? You could but where’s the fun in that. This challenge is about trying some new things. So if possible, use the entire week to get the best photo that you can for the challenge. That professional photo shoot you did last year generated great photos, but it’s probably not the best option for the challenge. We want NEW STUFF!

I’m not a photographer. This is too hard. I don’t know what to do. Okay. Breathe. And if this brings on panic attacks, it’s okay. Maybe don’t participate. But if you’re up for the challenge, here are a few tips.

1. Download a self timer app such as TimerCam. It’s free. This will help with your selfies when you don’t have a pole partner to take the picture for you. If you’re using a DSLR camera, remotes help as well.
2. Consider your angles. While a crossknee layback looks the same on the pole for most dancers, try getting creative with the angle in which you take the picture. What if the camera is directly below or above you? Is that even possible? What would your photo look like then? 
3. Consider your composition. What if instead of you being in the center of the photo you were at the bottom on the right? What does that do to your photo? 
4. Consider emotions. We want your photos but we also want story, emotions and expressions. So when you’re doing your invert or your crawl or whatever the prompt may be, how can you capture personality, individuality and your own expression into the photo? 
5. TRIPODS HELP!
6. Steer clear of flash. Its usually so unflattering and leaves most people looking overexposed and blown out. 

What if my photo is late? What if I skip a week? Its okay. There are no penalties.

I don’t like the prompt. I can’t do the prompt. Why did you pick that horrible prompt? Remember that the prompts are up to interpretation. If you can’t do a certain move, maybe capture someone else doing the prompt…with their consent. Or maybe your cat is the subject in the “pole pose” photo prompt? It’s also true that you won’t resonate with every prompt. Skip it. Or do the opposite. Or try it anyway. It’s all up to you. It’s just for fun!

I don’t have access to a pole studio this week. I don’t have a pole at home. I want to participate and you’re making it difficult. WAAAAA! We considered this when creating the prompts. That’s why each week, you’ll find that there’s usually only one POLE INTENSIVE prompt and the rest can be done any and everywhere! See, we planned ahead! We’re taking care of you. Also, maybe go to the park and take the pole photo there. Or on the train? Get creative. Try something new.

I have a suggestion that I want you to use for a future prompt. COOL! We love ideas. We keep a list going of prompts. To date we have over 60+ ideas we’re going to be throwing at you. But we want your thoughts too. Send us your ideas and we’ll add them to our list. YAY!!!!!

Confessions of a Twirly Girl Turns Two!

Happy bloggerversary to me.  A little over two years ago, I wrote my very first blog.  Ever.  Confessions of a Twirly Girl has given me an amazing outlet.  Enter the Twirling Viking Warrior.  Also known as lolorashel.  And a monster was born.  :-)

Here's my very first post from January 29, 2010:  http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/2010/01/tales-from-pole.html

Here's my first anniversary post:  http://lolorashel.blogspot.com/2011/03/yer-mom.html

I am now up to 73 "followers" on Blogger.  However, I have 2,000 Facebook friends and over 1,200 followers on Twitter.  I am on tumblr and pinterest.  Between all of the cross-posts, I have had over 60,000 hits on my blog.  I average 300 hits per day.  I apparently also have Klout (today my score was up to 62...whatever that actually means).  I am writing for Twirly Girls and a couple of other shall-remain-unnamed studios.  I am also writing for The Pole Dancing Shop.  I have written various guest blogs for other websites.  I am working with Social Sonar and I am their main blogger on social media topics.  I will soon have published articles in Vertical Art and Fitness Magazine. 

I swore that I was going to brand myself, and it certainly seems to be happening.  Projects for other companies have morphed into starting Lorita Productions so that Rita, Andrew and I (GO TEAM HONEY BADGER) can work as a team to produce videos and photos for the pole community. 

I am not only blogging about pole dancing but I am now teaching two classes at week at Twirly Girls.  I still have my day job, but I am otherwise immersed in pole.  I have met some really awesome people and have checked out some fun studios and events.  I feel very lucky to have the opportunities being presented to me now.  And I owe it all to Bel, Twirly Girls and this blog. 

I have learned a lot in the last two years.  About pole dancing.  About people.  About blogging in general.  Although its very exciting to have a blog that receives 200-600 hits per day...writing provides me with a much-needed outlet, which I would still receive if no one was reading anything I wrote.  However, it is so satisfying to meet people at events or receive e-mails from people who hear my voice and feel their own story is being told as well.  It is fun to talk to pole-celebrities, but I am very much interested in the everyday pole dancers who are like me. 

So thank you to everyone who has made my blog a success.  I look forward to some traveling so I can meet even more pole friends.  Please let me know where you are so I can add you to my map of planned pole travels!