I’m sure you’re aware how important it is to fuel your body properly. Especially if you are moving your body regularly. And I’m sure you’re a lot like me – you don’t want any stress around your meals, but wanna keep it simple and tasty (similar to our moto for our pole dance clothing style is).

Perhaps you find it a bit tricky how to handle it before your pole dance classes, since you know you’ll be probably spending quite sometime up-side down. So I guess you still want to stay relaxed around food and avoid the unpleasant feeling in your stomach – I think we’ve all been there, so we all know what I’m talking about.

It is important to give your body the right nutrients at the right time. Yep, the timing of your pre-workout meal counts.You don’t want to feel bloated during your workout … or feel like your stomach is full and heavy like a rock. That’s why you should get your last (proper) meal before your pole dancing session around 2-3 hours before. This meal should contain all the macronutrients: carbs, proteins and some fat. Choose foods that do good to your body. You know your body best and should be aware of what kind of food gives you energy and what kind of food only drains you. If you ask me, I would go for whole grain pasta or rice, some kind of protein, or any other plant-based protein source and some high-quality fat.

But if you decide to eat sooner before the workout, for example, an hour before your training, then I suggest keeping it as simple and light as possible. Foods you choose before your pole dancing session should be healthy and easy to digest. My favourite choices would be yoghurt and fruit, a smoothie or a protein bar – since I don’t like to complicate things.

As you know, warming-up before pole dancing class can be pretty intense, and the training itself can also be a challenge. There’s a lot of elements when you turn upside down on the pole and that’s why it is so important that all your focus is on your physical activity not on digesting your last meal (luckily with Poledancerka clothes you also don’t have to worry  about exposing unwanted body parts in this position).  It’s really unpleasant to feel any stomach discomfort. A workout should be the time you take for yourself, helping you to do something good for your mind and body. But if you have that annoying feeling in your stomach, and you can’t focus, then you don’t have enough energy and your workout just isn’t what it should be.

When it comes to nutrition, it’s vital to listen to your body (similar like you trust yourself when you have to choose the right pole dancing outfit).  You should ask yourself, what kind of food gives you energy and is easy to digest at the same time. I would recommend you choosing whole foods, avoiding junk and at the same time keeping it simple. Don’t stress too much over your food. Nourish your body and enjoy every single bite so that you can do your best on the pole afterwards.

 

What is your favourite pre-workout meal? I would love to hear your suggestions in the comments down below.

 

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and we are getting ready for the red. Yes, sometimes we are definitely in need of this color! And Valentine’s Day is the perfect time, since red is the color of love, passion, energy and action.

Putting on red clothes or accessories awakens a true feminine side in us. The color red gives us additional confidence and in general, makes us feel our inner power. What can I say – there can never be too much confidence and power.

But don’t get me wrong – I don’t always feel like wearing red. This color is sacred for me in its own way. I keep it for special occasions and moods. And Valentine’s Day is definitely one of them.

As a devoted pole dancer, I also want to spice up my Valentine pole dancing outfit. And my red knee pads are just a perfect choice. Putting those knee pads on and spinning on the pole gives me a special boost and makes me feel like conquering the world (or my pole).

If you’re also thinking about spicing up your pole dance outfit, give red knee pads a try on Valentine’s Day this year. They are so stylish and I guarantee that you will be a star on the dance floor. And at the same time, your knees are gonna be protected.

And if your darling still has no idea what to give you for Valentine’s Day, maybe this is the right moment to give him a hint and show him a pair of those stylish knee pads … Then you can surprise him and show him some of your pole dance moves at home …There isn’t any better way to say thank you, right? Just let your imagination run wild. :) Have an unforgettable Valentine’s Day!

 

And now a question for you: What does the color red mean to you? Do you like it? Does it have any special meaning for you? Leave me a comment in the section down below.

 

 

No, pole dancing is not only reserved for girls. That’s really miles away from the truth – which is why I think it’s time to debunk the myth.

I have talked with many people who have seen male performances on the pole and they would all give very emotional comments – something along these lines: “Wow, It was sooo masculine… such male power on show. I didn’t imagine that men could do such an astonishing performance on the pole. It’s definitely obvious that pole is not just for women.”

So I guess it’s no surprise that many men who try to pole dance get hooked instantly. They soon realize that pole dance is not just about sensuality and feminine energy, not at all. More and more men that try it are amazed by how challenging and addictive this activity can be. It soon becomes obvious to them that pole dance is a type of exercise not unlike cross fit or weight lifting.

On the other hand, since pole dancing is also a great opportunity to express an artistic side, some men also love to use pole as an expression of art.

So nowadays, there are quite a lot of professional male pole dancers out there who achieve amazing results, proving that pole dance is a serious sport. I want to present you just a couple of male pole athletes. I am pretty sure that their performances will blow your mind away. They really are fantastic and it is truly breathtaking in how many different ways they express themselves through pole dance. Before I start, just a little disclaimer: there are many more elite male pole athletes worldwide – just because I have picked these guys, it doesn’t mean that others are less skilled or have achieved less than others. Not at all.

Dimitry Politov

Dimitry Politov is known for his unique artistic performance that includes a lot of mind – blowing acrobatic moves and other very challenging figures and flips. He started pole dancing back in 2012 and has achieved a lot since then. He really has a unique style of performing – check it out here.

Miha Černe (crni pole)

Since I am Slovenian, I have to mention a very talented pole dancer named Miha Černe (you can find him on Instagram as crnipole). This young man tried pole dance a year and a half ago, and was hooked instantly. I really do think that a very bright future is in front of him. Check out one of his amazing performances.

Photo: Matic Klanšek

Coco Ke Hong  & Mario Turco

In my opinion, Coco Ke Hong and Mario Turco have a really unique artistic style of pole dancing. They also dance in high heels and are soooo good that many girls can learn from them. They both express strength and flexibility, but they do it with so much grace. That combination really leaves me speechless. Girls, you really should check them out.

Coco

Mario

Even though it requires enormous physical strength, male pole dancing is still not widely known, but it’s developing – and I am very happy about that! At this point, I want to say that it’s time to put aside all prejudices and finally accept pole dance, male and female, as a serious sport that, like any other, requires a lot of training, persistence and commitment.

 

And now it’s your turn: What are your thoughts about male pole dancing? Yes or no (and why)? Leave them in the comments down below.

 

 

December is the month for celebrating, making new memories, and spending time with our loved ones. Yet it’s also that time of year when we look back on the past months, and our achievements and hardships for which we should also be thankful, because they help us to grow and mould us into stronger, better people. It’s also a time when we set new goals for the coming year.

At Poledancerka we aim to fulfil all the goals we set and so far I’m proud to say we are doing great! This year we’ve taken a huge step forward by making lots of progress in building the brand’s integrity and by adding a lot of new products to our collection. Our New Year’s resolution is to keep bringing you original and innovative designs alongside products made from materials of the highest quality.

So from all of us at Poledancerka, we wish you many happy blissful moments that make us thankful to be alive, many goals set and many goals achieved, no matter how small, as well as many opportunities to help you grow and zero bruised knees. ;)

Happy Holidays!

It all started with a serious knee injury at a hen party

I will always remember my hen party – but not in the way that most of you will yours. Mine ended with a broken knee. Wait… it’s not what you might be thinking. It really was a case of bad luck in totally normal circumstances. I fell directly on my knee and the worst happened.

I fractured my patella and surgery was unavoidable. It took me almost a year to recover from this bad injury. Two years after surgery, I became a mother and felt the urge to get myself in better shape. One of my friends had just started teaching pole dance and I joined her. This workout required a lot of floor work, and some of those moves were really painful for my knee. So I asked my friend how could I help myself and protect my knees. She suggested I wear knee pads that were normally used by volleyball players.

The idea was great, but just the look of those knee pads was unattractive! At that time I was restarting another old hobby − sewing. Since I really like aesthetic and beautiful things, I decided to made myself prettier knee pads.

A few years later, one of my colleagues from pole dance class became a pole dance teacher. Many girls at her class had problems with their knees so she asked me to make those pretty knee pads for them too – and so I created the first four knee pads for somebody else.

Sometime later, an owner of one of the pole dance studios asked me to make 20 knee pads and also mentioned how cool it would be if those kneed pads could have a grip. I got to work and made an upgraded version of my original knee pads. During that time, I also tried other pole dance styles and realized that knee pads were simply a must-have!

Suddenly, I became aware that I could offer my knee pads to almost every pole dance studio. I immediately searched for some local dressmakers and started with a bigger production of 100 knee pad pieces.

I also wanted to know what professional pole dancers thought about my product, so I sent a sample of my knee pads to Maddie Sparkle, who I had met at Croatia pole camp. I only expected her opinion on my knee pads, but she actually published a video on Instagram, where she really praised my knee pads. So a big thank you, Maddie Sparkle!

I published photos of the knee pads on my Facebook and Instagram profile. When other girls saw those knee pads, they wanted to have them. I started to get my first real orders and wholesale enquiries. From that point, it all went in the right direction.

I had an opportunity to collaborate with many professional pole dancers, such as Marion Crampe and Maddie Sparkle, Sergia Louise Anderson, Phoenix Kazree, Amy Hazel, Daria Chebotova, Kira Noire, Anamarija Nyman, Anastasia Skukhtorova… And I am really so grateful for the great feedback. I was the first one who offered knee pads that were designed especially for pole dance. Our knee pads are thin and also have a grip. The pad insert doesn’t wrinkle. Besides that, my knee pads are very elegant. When I started making them, I immediately copyrighted my design and model.

Along with the knee pads, also came the idea of matching pole dance clothes. As a pole dancer, I know what are the most important characteristics of a good and really comfortable pole dance outfit. We have just started a brand new chapter and did a serious upgrade of our knee pads − removable pad inserts. But there’s a lot more to come, as we are constantly getting new ideas. ;)

Now, I would like to finish with a little pep talk: When I started with a sensual pole dance, I was 35. I didn’t have a dancing background and I also wasn’t very flexible. Yet, I made progress at my own pace. This year I turned 40 and I still lack flexibility, but I have definitely gained a lot of strength and am super proud that I can do some elements that I never thought I would be able to do. So, it’s all about never giving up. Don’t you ever forget that, ok? :)

I can say that my story also serves as an example in practice – how we can turn our weaknesses into our strengths, or even into a successful business.

Do you have your own story, how you turned your weaknesses into strengths? Please feel free to share it in the comments below.

 

I can’t deny it − it truly matters to me, what I wear at the pole dance class. I don’t know about you, but I’m a demanding customer, since I don’t want to sacrifice aesthetics for comfort and functionality.

I want to feel especially safe and secure that all the parts that need to stay hidden, stay there. I mean who wants to wear pole dance apparel that isn’t reliable? It’s more common than you think. How can you focus on the pole dance elements if you’re always scared that the most delicate body parts can fall out and be exposed to the world? …

When it comes to choosing the right pole dance apparel, I’ve seen a lot of mistakes, especially with beginners. It happens very often that girls think that a bathing suit is just as good as a dress that was designed for the pole dance. Very soon they realize how wrong they are. A bathing suit usually doesn’t fit our body well enough and it stretches too much. As a result, it can happen that unwanted body parts pop out from under the bra. While we can wear our pole dance apparel as a bathing suit, the opposite unfortunately just doesn’t work.

What if you could avoid making similar mistakes when choosing the best pole dance apparel for you − that would be awesome, right? That’s why I’m sharing some tips on how to choose the pole dance dress that would suit you best and expose only those body parts that need to be exposed. Believe me, I’m talking from my own experiences with using and also designing pole dance clothes and accessories.

It is important that pole dance apparel is just as tight as it should be. Both shorts and tops should be cut properly and thus completely comfortable to wear. Girls with bigger breasts should be a little bit more careful when choosing the right top for them. There are also some differences between the apparel made for different styles of pole dance.

If it still happens that unwanted body part pop out when you are just flipping upside down or doing some serious splits, don’t worry. We are all human. And to calm you down − those things happen also to professionals, believe me.

 

P.S. Still not sure, what kind of clothes to choose for your pole dance class? Share your questions and dilemmas in the comments below. Perhaps you might even have an anecdote yourself? Make us laugh and tell us.

It’s summertime and many of you are enjoying the seaside, so it’s a great time to dive into some deep thinking.

While it’s necessary to think about and take great care of ourselves, it’s also important that we think of others and do our very best to help each other – because life isn’t just all sun and fun for everyone. But it should be. Everyone should have the right to live a decent life.

Dear pole dance enthusiasts, have you ever asked yourself, where do all those lovely outfits that you are wearing during your pole class, come from? Who is the person that makes them? Is that person happy while making your clothes?

I’m sure that you are very well aware of how dirty and unfair the textile industry can be. Many people are working in unbearable conditions and their salaries are pure misery … It really makes me sad. That’s why I’ve decided to open up this topic and show you the behind the scenes manufacture of Poledancerka products.

As you know, I am passionate about everything pole dance and when we started our small family business in Slovenia, Europe, I made a commitment that our products would be made with lots of love and positive vibrations. But that cannot be achieved in bad working conditions, right?

I don’t want to use people who are cooperating in the manufacturing process. Instead, I want to provide them with positive and supportive working conditions and give them fair pay for their work. I can say out loud that women making Poledancerka dresses and knee pads come to work with a smile on their faces, they feel like family and just love working with each other.

I’m not exaggerating, but this good vibration can really be felt in our dresses and knee pads. Maybe you don’t know, but the manufacture of knee pads is a complicated process that requires a skilled and extremely precise dressmaker. If the knee pad isn’t made with precision, it won’t last long, I assure you that.

I don’t want to sound like I’m boasting, but I’m really proud of our team that is doing its best every single moment to give you, the pole dance tribe, only the best products for your pole dance activities.

Now I’ve revealed to you the secret of our high quality and super cool knee pads, as well as other pole dance outfits – it’s all about happy people. I’m so proud that we haven’t lost our primary passion and vision, and that we stayed true to ourselves and to our mission. Especially since it’s a rare thing in business nowadays.

Next time you put on your glamorous knee pads, you can rest assured … the product you are wearing was made in a fair and positive working environment.

By wearing Poledancerka products, you are actively contributing to a better world, without treating other people unfairly.

It’s a pretty good feeling, right? :)

Let’s face it – sometimes life brings you down to your knees.

Of course I mean when you’re doing pole dancing or yoga, or any other type of workout  or body warm-up.

So when your delicate knees are about to get in contact with the rough floor, you will want to insert an intermediary in between, because your knees are everything and you have to protect them! I’m talking about a perfect mediator – knee pads – which can save you so much inconvenience. (You’re welcome.)

I know you (because I was the same until I hurt my knee badly). I bet you are rolling your eyes now, because you like to be stylish even when you do your workout – so you don’t even want to think of wearing those boring medical looking knee pads.

But it’s not what you think. There are sexy Poledancerka knee pads on the market nowadays. And those are a game changer – because they give you functionality and style at the same time.

Poledancerka knee pads can be especially helpful for beginners in pole dancing, because those who haven’t mastered the art of pole dancing yet will have a hard time controlling their bodies with their core. Hitting the ground in an uncontrolled way can be pretty painful and may lead to long-term injuries. In addition, the skin on the knees may become hard and calloused.

The same also goes for any other exercise, such as yoga, stretching, warm-up exercises or floor work.

These are the sexiest knee pads on the market and can also be used as a trendy fashion accessory to your lifestyle: they are available in various designs, fashionable colours, and prints. With Polednacerka knee pads, you can incorporate safety into your look without compromising elegance or sensuality. The back portion of Poledancerka knee pads, which are made out of high-quality vegan-friendly leather, is open and ensures a good grip by allowing the skin to stick to the pole without slipping.

Summer is coming! Don’t let the bruising on your knees spoil your summer style.

Put on your Poledancerka kneepads, stay safe, and the rest will follow.

 

What’s your experience? What kind of exercise on your knees do you find more painful and difficult to perform? If you already use knee pads, for what kind of exercise do you find them extremely useful?

We as a pole dance community have obviously done a lot. (But still not everything yet, so let’s not rest on our laurels.)

Chances are that almost everywhere on earth, there’s a pole dance studio in your city or even in your neighborhood.

And who would’ve thought that the continuation of this initial dream story creates the problem – but it does.

As there might be quite a few pole dance studios around, we bet you can’t decide which to choose from.

At first glance, you’d be convinced that it’s all in the ambience, decor on the walls and interior design. Of course it helps to attract dancers, because it definitely communicates with the visitors.

But then when we think again, or delve deeper, we can all recall an industrial hall or simple basement space that has a really good vibe.

So it definitely can’t be about how the place is decorated, the equipment or what music they play. It must be something more than that.

At pole dance studios, it’s definitely very important what technique they teach (if it’s exotic, sporty…). Because technique is the first important criterion.

But usually in the end, it all boils down to the energy that prevails in the studio. It starts with the owner and filters down to the instructors, who are usually all on the same wave length. And it continues to spread to the students, especially since pole dancers are really a community, a family in its own right.

So if those elements are in place, then it’s more likely that you’re going to stick around. Maybe make some friends and it will definitely motivate you to get more and more involved in your pole dancing.

Besides all that, we must mention one more important thing – the level of professionalism among the instructors. They must be great mentors, have excellent skills and knowledge, and know how to behave respectfully with clients. As an instructor, it’s one thing to be a great pole dancer, but what if she/he doesn’t have the charm and energy to inspire students to learn those skills as well? It’s a must that the instructor knows a thing or two about psychology. She/he should be empathic and able to sense the mood of the students when they come to a class, how to motivate them, how to lift their energy, how to make them feel good about themselves, how to awaken their sensual side….

A pole dance studio gets its soul with all the essential stuff we’ve mentioned! And that makes it special and different from other studios. Pole dancers then feel like home – relaxed, confident (a good outfit helps, too J) and open to new challenges.

 

What are the main characteristics that you find important when choosing a pole dance studio? What makes you stay? What makes it worth coming back to a certain pole dance studio? Please, share it below!

Let me first warn you: don’t take it too personally, though it is personal.

What the bleep am I talking about? I’m talking pole dance of course… And music… Music for pole dancing to.

Exposing your music taste to the public says a lot about you. Similar to expressing your personal fashion style. And you should always be proud of your music and fashion taste, presenting it with confidence. Don’t ever apologize for who you are.

No need to mention that it says even more about you when you expose your body to certain beats and sounds. Especially if you’re on the pole. Pure joy.

But things can be even more complicated or simple (depends on your point of view). Your taste can be affected by various factors. For example, it depends on how you feel at certain moments. And context also plays an essential role.

It’s definitely important and amazing to know that you can practise pole dancing to all kinds of music styles, artists and songs – as long as you know what you like and customize it to your character.

The music style you wanna pole dance to will also vary according to the pole dance style that you practise, what mood you’re in or what kind of performance you have in mind.

If you choose classical music, then the performance will appear more classy and elegant. If you want to express more of your wild side, then metal, rock, rap, R&B or even hip hop will do the job. Yes, you read it correctly! Of course pop music is the most common music genre. But a more energetic performance can be fuelled by disco or dance music. If you’re more of an artistic, creative and dreamy person, then you will love contemporary, unusual, experimental or jazzy music.

Whatever you’re going to choose, it will appear even stronger and more interesting if you emphasize it with the right pole dance apparel style.

In case you have doubts about giving an outstanding pole dance performance to metal, rap, classical music or to any other music style, then check this out:

P.S. What are your favourite songs to pole to?