Dry Body and Mighty Grip

At Pole Expo, someone from the Mighty Grip booth gave me a couple of samples of Dry Body.  It stops sweat, they told me.  Stops sweat?  This can't be true.  Yeah, I've heard of the medications you can take to stop sweat.  And yeah, I'm a sweaty person, so you would have thought I'd have looked it up before now.  But I guess I'm just lazy and until someone handed me a product, I never really thought to try it. 

[Want to catch up on my sweaty adventures?  Read THIS about my issue and THIS about magnesium.]

Anyway, back to the Dry Body.  My first concern is that sweat rids your body of toxins, so will stopping the sweat allow toxins to build?  According to THIS article, we have nothing to fear: "Another common concern about antiperspirants is that they may plug sweat glands and prevent toxins from leaving the body through underarm lymph nodes. However, there's no connection between your sweat glands and your lymph nodes [source: American Cancer Society]. In addition, your body doesn't get rid of waste through the sweat glands -- your kidneys and liver filter out toxins."  I mean, if it's on the internet, it MUST be true, right?

Dry Body is essentially like rolling your anti-perspirant all over your body.  You can read up on how that all works HERE:  "When an antiperspirant is applied to the skin surface, its active ingredients – usually aluminium salts – dissolve in the sweat or moisture on the skin surface of the armpit. The dissolved substance forms a gel, which creates a small temporary ‘plug’ near the top of the sweat gland, significantly reducing the amount of sweat that is secreted to the skin surface."

In this case, Dry Body, however, claims to work for an entire week.  I felt like the best way to find out if it worked was to try it!  So, here are my sweaty times.  I sweat in the middle of the night.  I sweat after showers.  I generally sweat when I get to work (left-over post-shower sweat plus now I've walked to work).  I sweat when I work out.  I sweat when I get nervous or am in pain.  I sweat when I eat sugar.  I sweat under hot lights.  I pretty much sweat all the time (which I have always attributed to my clear skin, so I'm mostly okay with it!).  My sweat mostly comes from my head, which then drips down my body.  I don't get super sweaty arm pits or palms.  If I am doing a crazy work out, then I will sweat all over my body, but for the most part, I have wet hair constantly from sweating (losing weight did help me be less sweaty but I've never been non-sweaty, regardless of my weight; my grandma is sweaty, as are a few other people in my family). 

So I followed instructions to dab (not rub) the towellette on my scalp, hair line, neck, and then, for good measure, added in some dabs under the boobs (yeah I guess I do get boob sweat) and arm pits.  Then I went to bed.  I did NOT like the tingle it gave me around my face.  It felt like little needles poking me over and over.  However, it didn't kill me and I was able to fall asleep fine so I wasn't uncomfortable for long.  It also smells like cloves, which triggers some old memory that I can't exactly put my finger on.  So it brings me to a weird place mentally when I use it.  That's not the product's fault though. 

Day 1:  Woke up un-sweaty.  Normally I sweat in the middle of the night.  After my shower?  Not sweaty.  Got to work?  Not sweaty.  I was even wearing Bb cream on my face and didn't sweat thoguh that!!  (Oh yeah, heavy lotions, especially on my face also make me sweat.)  Day 2:  I did sweat a bit in pole class that night but it took longer to start and I didn't sweat as badly.  Days 3 and 4?  No sweating.  Day 5:  Back to normal levels of sweat in all areas.

So maybe I didn't get a full week of non-sweatiness, but four days wasn't so bad.  I did another wipe again last night, and this morning, have had very little sweat.  I am still nervous about not sweating, so maybe this isn't something I would do to myself every single week, but perhaps before large events where I don't want to sweat through my performance, this would be perfect for me.  In fact, I wish I had used it before our pole show on Sunday, because I was a freaking wet wreck before/during/after that performance.  It does require a little forethought, as you are supposed to apply it the night before (and I don't like how it makes my hair feel, so a wash is definitely required in the morning). 

Below, you can see some photos of the packaging, the towelette and how I used it.  If you are interested in checking out Dry Body, please visit Mighty Grip's website HERE.  If you use the product, let me know how it works for you!

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Pole Style

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: FIVE Nadia pole ninja lessons! Four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: six months of Vertical, five Nadia pole ninja lessons, four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!



Thanks to Robert for being our Twirly Santa and to Liquidpulp
Photography for always taking amazing photos for the Twirly Girls!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: seven ounces of Mighty Grip, six months of Vertical, five Nadia pole ninja lessons, four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: eight weeks of pole class, seven ounces of Mighty Grip, six months of Vertical, five Nadia pole ninja lessons, four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: nine contortion classes, eight weeks of pole class, seven ounces of Mighty Grip, six months of Vertical, five Nadia pole ninja lessons, four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: ten jars of iTac, nine contortion classes, eight weeks of pole class, seven ounces of Mighty Grip, six months of Vertical, five Nadia pole ninja lessons, four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: eleven poling outfits, ten jars of iTac, nine contortion classes, eight weeks of pole class, seven ounces of Mighty Grip, six months of Vertical, five Nadia pole ninja lessons, four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels and a pole, all bright and shiny!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: twelve shiatsu massages, eleven poling outfits, ten jars of iTac, nine contortion classes, eight weeks of pole class, seven ounces of Mighty Grip, six months of Vertical, five Nadia pole ninja lessons, four iTunes song credits, three days of pole camp, two hooker heels...and A POLE, ALL BRIGHT AND SHINYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Happy Holidays!! Thank you to everyone who supports me and my blog!

The PULSE Project!

The PULSE Project

Interview with Brook Notary - Creator / Artistic Director - The PULSE Project

Dancers: Jenn Freeman (Assistant Choreographer,) Mahalia Miner-Le Grand, Penelope Armstead-Williams, Ashley Browne, Anna Grundstrom, Jacklyn Walsh

The PULSE Project photographer: Whitney Browne

I first started seeing posts about The Pulse Project on Facebook.  Shelly Lamb e-mailed me and said, "you've gotta get Brook Notary on your blog!"  A day later, Climb & Spin released a two-part interview.  So I have asked Brook Notary to chat with us here.  Rather than rehash the great interview from Climb & Spin, check out their posts here:

Part 1:  http://www.poledancersblog.com/my_weblog/2011/11/what-is-the-pulse-project-what-inspired-it-the-pulse-project-is-a-theater-experience-centered-around-contemporary-based-po.html

Part 2:  http://www.poledancersblog.com/my_weblog/2011/11/the-pulse-project-re-envisioning-pole-pt-2.html

For those who don't know, please explain The Pulse Project:

The Pulse Project is an Off-Broadway show in the making, combining contemporary dance on, around and throughout poles, Parkour, and Aerial Theater.  Due to my choreographic career and interdisciplinary approach to athletic movement I believe I am the right person to bring this strong and powerful female voice to the stage.  It will celebrate the beauty and raw athleticism of women. It will be loud and without high heels....  It's pole dancing re-envisioned.

Recently, there does seem to be a shift in the pole-dancing world, to take some of the "sexy" out and move more toward the fitness aspect.  Busting out sexy moves or not, pole dancing is hard work.  Here are some of my regular blog questions...I can already guess your answers, but would love to hear them anyway:

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

I prefer...Dancing....  The pole happens to be part of our playground, a fully explored apparatus, an extension of the body, and part of our 3 dimensional stage set.

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

I am not aware of this debate....  I like to stay focused on my personal vision and I tend to stick to just that. We are all 100% focused on creating the best show possible that we feel will be accessible to a wide audience and excludes no one.

Do you like to dance in heels or barefoot?

I prefer barefoot.  The floor is another texture and play space for creating.  I like to be in touch with it. 

Acknowledging that pole dancing IS hard work, here are some questions about how you stay in tip-top shape:

What is your fitness background?

I have a fitness addiction. I am a certified Pilates Instructor and have always used that as a base warm up.... I also run, swim, box, lift weights and of course dance. I am currently working on crafting a PULSE Pole / Dance warm-up with my Core 6 PULSE dancers.... It's tough but gets us very warmed up and we have all noticed that our obliques have definitely benefited from it as well as our stamina. 

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

I lift and do some form of cardio 6 days a week. I swim or just stretch the 7^th day.  But I’m a little nuts like that.  Cardio helps me clear my head, organize my thoughts and just makes me more ready to attack a rehearsal.

What kind of diet do you follow?

I am very anti-diet.... I do believe in moderation and that 80% of how your body feels is due to what you put in it.  Food is energy so I just try to be smart about how I fuel up.  But diets...No way! Being happy is the best way to feel good about yourself and your body.

Do you have a dance background?

Yes. I am a classically trained dancer.  I went to an arts high school, UC Irvine for undergrad (full scholarship) which has an amazing dance program and I received my Masters in Dance at NYU Tisch School of the Arts ( full dean’s Scholarship.)  I was also a nationally ranked Rhythmic gymnast and much of my performance experience is in the Aerial theater genre i.e. De la Guarda NY.

What first interested you about pole dancing?

So many aspects of pole dancing struck me when I was first introduced to this art form.  I love the athleticism, the artistry, the strength it takes and the feeling you have after learning a new skill.  It is very empowering.  I seem to occupy my place in space differently since studying this incredible and challenging dance form.  It gives you a certain internal confidence that you always carry.  It’s pretty badass.

Where do you train? 

New York Pole Dance!! Love that place.  It is where we rehearse as well.  But I really appreciate how owner Wendy Traskos takes the technical aspect of the art form very seriously.  Her teachers are outstanding and their classes are a perfect combination of challenging, artistically stimulating and fun as hell.  It’s the place to study whether you want to compete, teach or want to walk away with a great new experience.  She also holds many interesting workshops and training seminars.  The studio just has a great vibe.  Very inviting.  If you have not tried a class.... get over there.  You will love it.

Do you have sponsors you'd like to acknowledge?

Yes.  I would like to thank Mighty Grip and NY Pole Dance and The USPDF.  Most of all I would like to thank Wendy Traskos for believing in the PULSE project and allowing us to create and rehearse at her studio.  She has supported us from day one and for that I am eternally grateful.

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

My hands, straight up.  Maybe a small spray of rubbing alcohol on them.  My hands have definitely gotten tough.  They are certainly not as soft as they used to be.  But I like it. 

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

Yes this is a new issue in my life.  I just do not use any lotion on pole rehearsal day.... But that’s about it.

Where do you like to buy your pole clothes?

Mighty Grip just sent my dancers a bunch of fun tops and shorts…  They love them.  I am personally a shorts and t-shirt girl...nothing fancy.

What did you do before, or in addition to, The Pulse Project?

I am a professional choreographer.  I have some fun credits including creating an aerial live show for Usher.  But I guess it’s best to visit my website and just read my bio if you are interested.  www.thepulseproject.com or www.Brooknotary.com

I find Bios a bit boring, sorry.  I've done a ton of work that I am very proud of, but nothing has come close to how I feel about the PULSE Project.  This is my baby!

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

OHHHH.... this is a tough question. Music is such a driving force...Wow.  Ok this answer changes daily...but today I had 3 songs on repeat while I was on the treadmill.

1. Can’t get enough… J Cole.
2. Sonic love… Florence+ the Machine
3. Go it Alone… Beck

When will The Pulse Project officially open?  Do you have any other upcoming events/competitions you'd like people to know about?

We are heading into Phase 2 of Production.  Aerial workshop!

We just finished a formal showing for producers and investors 2 days ago and had incredible response....  Standing ovation both nights and I have tons of meetings lined up....  I am dedicated to forward momentum.  When will we be up?  Hard to say.  We are still on the hunt for the right producer to join our PULSE family.

What else would you like people to know about you and/or The Pulse Project?

I would like you to know about my 6 Core dancers!!  They are the first true investors of this show.  Not only are they the most incredible, classically trained dancers, fearless athletes and artistic pioneers, they are 6 of the nicest most down to earth women you could ever meet.  The PULSE started out as my vision...Now it is OURS!  They want this as bad as I do.  I have a visceral response in my whole being when I watch them dance.  I am so excited for our audiences to experience their talent and energy.  5 out of 6 of my dancers had never touched a pole until 10 months ago.  They are sick!  I pinch myself every rehearsal, that I have such talent in one room.  Please visit our website to learn more about them and see video and pictures.  My 6 Core Dancer - Jenn Freeman (assistant Choreographer), Mahalia Miner-Le Grand, Penelope Armstead-Williams, Jacklyn Walsh, Anna Grundstrom, and Ashley Browne.  These are my badass sirens!!

For more information about The PULSE Project, and how to get involved, please visit: www.thepulseproject.com

Pro Spotlight on Estee Zakar!

I am very excited to spotlight Estee Zakar today.  She will be performing at Poletential's Air Show next month, and I will be there front and center!  She is also on the current cover of Vertical Art and Fitness Magazine, for which I will soon be a contributing writer!  


What is your fitness background?

I have always enjoyed any type of physical activity. Taking and teaching fitness classes was a large part of my weekly routine. I always loved dance and gymnastics and participated on my high school and university dance teams.

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

I get bored easily, there for I try to vary my workouts, it is also great for building and sustaining strength and flexibility.

I do everything from boot camp, cycling, yoga, kick boxing, and anything else I can get my hands on. I also teach 10-15 classes a week in addition to training private clients. My flexibility and conditioning classes are brutally intense and my advanced pole warm ups and conditioning are no walk in the park.

I try to get in 1 day of pole a week for myself to work on new tricks and strength training on the pole.

I travel constantly to teach workshops and perform worldwide. I will get some training sessions in before performances and guest appearances.

What kind of diet do you follow?

I don't really believe in dieting. My greatest joy is trying new foods from around the world and enjoying my favorite foods. Therefore, I workout hard so I don't have to restrict my diet. I also believe that our bodies crave things for a reason.

I eat every 2 hours, lots of protein, 3 big meals and lots of snacks. cupcakes and chocolate are my weakness.

Which competition(s) do you like to do?  Do you have any title(s)?

I am the 2010 Miss Trixter title holder from the National USPDF competition.

Where do you train?  Do you have your own pole studio?

I am currently in Denver, CO. I teach at Tease Studio and hold workshops at every other studio in Denver. I teach private sessions at my in home pole studio.

Do you have sponsors you'd like to acknowledge?

I am the X-Pole USA and X-Pole Mexico fitness model, representative. I am the brand director for Bad Kitty Pole Fit Apparel, I am also the model for their logo. I am sponsored by Mighty Grip, and the cover model for Vertical Art Pole Magazine. I was the US representative at the first Pole Convention 2010.

What first interested you about pole dancing?

My best friend dared me to take a class and I was instantly hooked!

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

It depends who is dancing, what their style is, what the theme of the performance is. Regardless of what we call it, we are all pole athletes!

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

Some girls do not have a stripping background and started out in the fitness world. Others started their career on a stage. No matter what background we came from, we are building a community together and can learn a lot from each other.

People outside our industry may need to be educated on the subject. As soon as they see what we can do, they are usually instantly impressed.

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

I love what Mighty Grip does for the pole industry and I stand by them but I am always open to trying all the different agents.

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

Aveeno lotion is my favorite. It is extremely dry in Colorado, therefor not enough lotion is as bad as too much lotion. I think almost any brand works fine as long as it is applied the night before and not the day of.


Where do you like to buy your pole clothes?

Bad Kitty pole fit provides all of my fitness apparel as well as most of my performance outfits.

Do you like to dance in heels or barefoot?

Barefoot usually due to many of the tricks I am performing. I also like the raw look. However, heels are always fun to break out now and then. Every girl loves feeling hot in her heels!

What did you do before competing and/or opening your pole studio?

I was an instructor at BeSpun. then performed at a venue where the X-Pole team picked me up and made me the face of their product and sponsored my to start competing nationally.

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

Changes every day.

Do you have any other upcoming events/competitions you'd like people to know about?

Airshow at Poletential, Tease December showcase


What else would you like people to know about you and/or your studio?

I love teaching and pushing people to their limit. The best feeling is accomplishing a goal you never though you would be able to overcome. I am there to make sure that happens! I am a huge believer in this sport - I am stronger, more flexible and more balanced then ever before. Pole has giving me physical and emotional power, wellness and stability. I am so in love with the sport and the pole community. I can wait to partake in more pole events and inspire more pole athletes!