The Pole Bar

A pole fitness guide featuring tips, tricks, advice, how-to's and MORE! By a pole dance instructor, performer, and wannabe competitor from Austin, TX to LA.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

[amberinhollywood]

Haha! Prepare for your future today. Get in that studio and practice. :p

[amberinhollywood]

Um...PROPS. I love people who don't make excuses. They don't let 'life' or circumstances get in the way of their goals. They accept their unique attributes and they tell everyone to 'fuck off.' Everyone has this weird, set attitude on what beauty is. They watch the Victorias Secret fashion show and wish and hope they looked like 'them' without even realizing majority of those biotches are like 5'10+ and haven't had a gaddam burger in who knows how long. You might not ever look like them! You don't need to look like them. You just need to appreciate their beauty and look like YOU. Rock that out for a change, and if you have a prosthetic leg or 5-head, big ears or a chest like a boy throw some fucking glitter on it and move on. This chick, Viktoria Modesta is the first person I've ever seen break the mold of what a 'pop star' "should" look like. She said screw us lol. She's gonna decorate that leg and dance anyways. I haven't been this inspired by an artist since Lady Gaga first came out. 💛 Amber

[amberinhollywood]

There’s not much to comfortably getting into this position. Start by doing the yoga pose “cobra” and simply scooting yourself closer and closer to the wall until your chest is fully touching the wall. You kinda gotta wiggle and inch your way in like a worm.

Start by placing your palms on the wall, shoulder width apart at chest level. Give yourself a few deep breaths and when you are ready slowly bring both arms straight up! I find it a bit easier to do both at the same time BUT if doing one arm at a time helps, do that!

Settle in, sink down - inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.

Allow yourself to relax in this position! Loosen up your GLUTES, do not hold your breath, keep your pelvis on the floor.

#3 and #4 are some leg variations! I usually lift one at a time and then both, dropping my head and just allowing myself to get comfy in this position while playing a little bit with flexibility.

Enjoy. ❤️

[amberinhollywood]

Practice makes progress.

I have made a particular mistake a thousand times over and I will gladly share it with you in hopes that you will not do the same. -Allowing my circumstances to hinder my practice. Whether it was school, work, partying, going on vacation, a break-up etc. It is too easy to let your current circumstances get in the way of practice. You've heard this before and it was probably in reference to math lol "if you don't use it, you lose it". This couldn't be more true when it comes to pole...when it comes to anything, really. So take my advice when I tell you NOW to always make time for practice. If you can only stretch for 10 minutes a day, fine. If you have to practice floor work in your tiny living room because your work schedule won't permit you to get to the studio during the week, do it. If this means practicing your handsprings at the local park playground early in the a.m when kids are in school, so be it. If you are on vacation use your hotel gym. If you are tired watch videos, take notes, educate yourself in some form or fashion. It will payoff sooner than later I guarantee it. The gigs, opportunities, and events will roll in and you will be prepared. The auditions will not terrify you because you will be prepared. Life gets in the way but only if you let it. So practice and perfect the art of shaping your craft in someway - somehow to fit with your current circumstances. Practice makes progress! Need a little inspiration? Check out the film "First Position" on Netflix. It has nothing to do with pole but everything to do with hard work and discipline. Even the children followed in this documentary are a force to be reckoned with. 💛

[amberinhollywood]

#Goals!!!

[amberinhollywood]

I'm up early today to stretch for 1hr. Recently I've been focusing on my back flexibility and working on my left splits! I will post a couple helpful exercises. ❤️

[amberinhollywood]

QUICK TIP!

Stretch DAILY! DO NOT forget. If you can only dedicate 10-20 minutes a day, great! Try to push for at least 1hr! 😉

[amberinhollywood]

😂 It's true. You can! I love Britney.

[amberinhollywood]

If you're going to be or you already are in Atlanta this is a sign-up MUST!!! My boss Nicole the Pole will be performing and teaching, she's a beast. 😜 Hurry and register, ladies!

[amberinhollywood]

Back-bend walk downs: Here's a simple excercise that will help you get to your backbend or simply improve on your backbend flexibility! You can do this using a pole or a wall. If you can, have a spotter for help and support. ;) 1. I stand with my feet slightly further than shoulder width apart, at a comfortable distance from the pole (if you're too close you won't have room to bend back. If you are too far you will lose your balance). 2. I reach behind me keeping my head forward. If you are twisting and turning your neck to find the pole or wall you are throwing off you alignment. This will cause you to get cricks and other injuries in your neck and spine! Not fun. Now, SLOWLY walk your hands down the pole or wall (I use "dry hands" to keep from slipping. You can order this online or purchase from most pole studios). If I'm on the pole I walk my hands down 'hand over fist'. If I'm using the wall I keep my hands shoulder width apart and walk them down one hand at a time while keeping my focus on my hands. Walk yourself down as far as you can! If you can go all the way to a full bridge, perfect. If not, stop where you feel comfortable and push yourself a little bit more next time! *** you have to bend at the knees the further down you go AND walk your feet out!*** OH! Don't forget to breathe. I know that sounds crazy like "who forgets to breathe?" lol but it happens all the time! Inhale deeply through your nose, and exhale through your mouth throughout the whole excercise and TAKE YOUR TIME. I hope this helps. Stay bendy, my friends. 😜

[amberinhollywood]

10 Lies You Should Stop Telling Yourself:

I get inquiries DAILY from women who have concerns about taking a pole class. I’m not kidding when I say daily, so I thought I would address them. Below are 10 lies, reasons, excuses you should stop using and why.

1. I’m too old. 2. I’m not sexy enough. 3. I don’t have dance experience. 4. I’m too big. 5. I’m too skinny. 6. I’m not a stripper. 7. I have no rhythm. 8. I have no upper body strength. 9. I don’t feel comfortable in shorts. 10. I will never be able to do all those crazy moves!

Here’s my answer to all of those: NO ONE CARES. Honestly, no one cares but you. I’ve been a member of many gyms and I’ve tried my fair share of new fitness fads or dance classes. I totally get how one can develop a complex to certain things: “I have no experience” or “everyone will stare” etc. the list goes on. The pole gym is a different ball game. We leave ALL of that shit at the door. There is ZERO intimidation. It’s all positive reinforcement and 100% support from your instructors AND fellow students. No one cares if you are 65, or if you don’t like your thighs. We don’t care if you have never stepped foot in a fitness class, or if you have kids, if you’re a school teacher or if you can’t do a body roll to save your life. All those little insecurities are left at the door because the truth is there is no room for them. We are all too busy having a damn good time trying to get fit by doing freakin’ booty bounces and hair flips. If you don’t think you’re sexy give yourself two weeks (if anything). It won’t be long before you’re raising your hand to demonstrate a move. There are short women, tall women, big women, old women, young women, tomboys, drag queens, school principals, gymnast, non gymnast - shall I go on!? ALL IN ONE ROOM helping one another accomplish whatever personal goal one set out to accomplish, in heels. 😉 Simple as that. You will get fit. You will develop strength. You will learn to do a proper body roll. You will gain flexibility. Anything you don’t know, we will teach you. You will gain confidence and watch others gain confidence and I think that is the biggest reward from pole dance. I could go on for days but I don’t think you want to really read all that so just TRUST ME and try it. You will not disappoint yourself.

[amberinhollywood]

Pole FAQ #1: 1. I don't have upper body strength; how will I be able to lift myself on the pole!? Fact: I've seen body builders try to do the Flag hold and fail miserably! Reason being..they are lacking TECHNIQUE! It's not about being muscular and already having the strength to do advanced moves before you even start with beginner moves. That's just crazy. There are like a handful of people who can jump on the pole and lift themselves up right off the bat, and those peeps are probably gymnast (lucky bastards). As for the rest of us... we all have and must start at the beginning. Technique is learned and developing upper body strength comes with consistent training and practice. When men try to challenge us and act like certain holds are easy breezy they are usually shown up real quick! That's because they don't know proper placement!! So if you can't even do one push-up, perfect. You're the perfect candidate for pole fitness. You WILL eventually be able to do a push-up, and then climb the pole, and then hold yourself up by one hand hanging upside down in a splits - I don't know. :p But you get my point. There's is a learning process and adventure with pole. That's the fun part! You will bust your ass a hundred times. You may not get a move until week 3. You will bruise. You will be quickly introduced to pole burn and believe it or not you will keep coming back because it's addicting. You will learn all you need to know from day-1 in INTRO TO POLE so get it out of your head that you aren't strong enough to try!!!

[amberinhollywood]

This blog is comical but yet so true! Im from SoCal and this is hilarious!

Lol. Thank you!

[amberinhollywood]

I change my mind!

I hadn’t updated my blog in quite some time simply because I didn't really have much to talk about when it came to all things “Hollywood”. Originally, I wanted to base this blog around how to “make it” in this city when you’re pursuing anything in the fitness and entertainment industry (acting etc) BUT along the way I found that I really like to eat burgers with a lot of fucking ranch dressing, and that I’m actually enjoying a mini break from acting. So who am I to give advice on those two topics? What I CAN really dive into is pole fitness, and because I feel like I’m focused more than ever on the sport I will be making a slight shift in the topics I discuss on this blog. I will still make a few jibs and jabs about Hollywood and my adventures in Hollywood; just know that when I’m not in the studio or at the beach I prefer to spend a lot of my free time at the corner table of It’s Pho eating seafood Pho and watching Netflix on my phone. I’m not the most qualified to give you the scoop on what’s happening at the local bar or latest after-party. However, I will be able to better inform, motivate or entertain my pole enthusiast and anyone else who cares. In the meantime, I will also work on my ever so growing obsession with ranch, and finding a good balance in the whole healthy eating thing. Feel free to hold me accountable. 😝

[amberinhollywood]

The SXSW asshole...

You know, the one who is so completely and utterly immersed in SXSW that he makes you regret the fact that you ever moved away from a state known to host such a grand festival. The one who wakes up knowing he's going to start his day with a leisurely stroll through a crowd of easygoing hipsters, enthusiastic foreigners, and proud locals; and he's probably going to end his day crowd-surfing at Jay-Z's concert because he can do that. He can crowd surf without being dropped. He's that guy. The one who is going to stop in his tracks at some point just to smile to himself because he knows he just tacked on one too many wristbands to last year's collection...and he can't help but to bask in that fact that his wristband collection is bigger and better than any other devoted SXSW attendee. He's got super human powers because he'll somehow manage the impossible... to see EVERY show. He'll meet really cool celebrities. He'll float freely through large crowds all week reeking of quality beer and festival food, and he probably won't give two shits about how late he stays out or how hung-over he may get because unlike the rest of you he's off of work all week. He's an asshole, my friend, and the unofficial king of SXSW.

*DISCLAIMER: He's not really an asshole and that makes hating his guts this week really hard.

IG: @Jasonjermaine

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ThePlutonian

[amberinhollywood]

I said my blog would feature some undeniably unique individuals and I meant it!

I give you, Angelyne. If you don't already know this Hollywood icon and you find yourself standing face to face with this Barbie-being you will undoubtedly ask yourself these three questions...

What does she do?

How big are her tits?

...but what does she do!?

And then... in the midst of you trying not to stare at her tits...she'll pop open her trunk only to display self merch like you've never seen. Magazines, t-shirts, bumper stickers, key-chains and more! You will then be asked to donate to her fan club... in which you will. You'll take a picture with OR of her, exchange a few words, and you'll walk away with a new found sense of understanding because it will be at that moment that you would have finally grasped the concept of "Hollywood". Hollywood is whatever you want it to be. It's an illusion. It's a funky, funky town that is swarming with mysterious characters who have one thing in common, big dreams. Angelyne is famously known as "The Billboard Queen". She woke up one day and said "I'm going to make this town my bitch" and she did. She plastered herself on billboards. She drove (and still drives) a sweet, hot Pink Corvette, and she made a name for herself. She's a Hollywood symbol, singer, actress and model who found her niche and ran with it. Her last words to me were "someone's gotta do it" and it's true! Her thing may not be your thing but whatever your thing IS is yours. You, too, can make a big dream your bitch...and I think that's pretty cool.

[amberinhollywood]

Don't be a sucky grown-up.

Live a little! Or a lot!

<3