LET'S REFLECT ON 2016

New Year is almost upon us, which means its time to start thinking about New Years Resolutions. Considering our ambitions and goals for the shiny new year. Before I get ahead of myself, lets take a moment to reflect on 2016 and everything I've achieved and experienced. 

Well, what can I say ... 2016 has been an interesting and fulfilling year. As always there has been ups and downs but at the end of the day I made it through the year in one piece.

Moved house

After years and years of my family home being on the market it finally sold! My parents moved into the new place and my sister and I moved in with my auntie on a temporary basis until the new place is refurbished. Life with the auntie isn't too bad at all, she's so welcoming (not that she had a choice).

Alcohol free

For the past 7 months I've been alcohol free, I don't know why I decided to stop drinking, it was a sudden urge one day and now 212 days later I'm still sober. It's not like I had a issue with abusing alcohol, I was just ready for a change and it was either this or chocolate. Not drinking has changed a few social events, especially when others are getting merry. Although, I don't need alcohol to have a good time, I simply go home when people get overly drunk.

Dealt with an injury

Around August time I injured my handstring. I thought I had just overstretched my muscle slightly so I took a week off to recover. I went back into my fitness routine as I thought it had healed but I was very wrong ... It appears that I had torn my muscle in several places and this is what was causing my issues. This delayed my progress in all aspects of fitness as I had a shooting pain when I pushed myself, finally in November I sought out help and started the process to truly recover. I should be back to 100% by the New Year, then I can focus and regain the fitness levels I've lost over the last few months. This experience has taught me to always seek out help when I injury myself.

Travelled

This year, travel hasn't been my main priority as it was last year. I've been staying closer to home and saving some pennies. Although, that said, I did fly off to Edinburgh to meet my Aussie friends. We were there for 5 days together, fringe festive was on so we experienced loads of comedy nights, musicals and magic shows. After that I jetted off to Barcelona for a solo trip, 10 days in this beautiful place and it wasn't enough. I explored most tourist attractions and got lost in the city, I met loads of awesome people who I shared loads of laughs with. People say that travelling alone is lonely, although I've never felt so surrounded.

Pole Dancing
I love pole fitness, its been a huge part of my life for a few years now. I finally took the plunge and did a pole photoshoot this year, it was an amazing experience and I'm so proud of my photos! Another huge highlight for 2016 is I decided to become a pole fitness instructor, early next year I'm hoping to get certified so I can teach my own classes.

Photography
This year, I decided to develop my photography skills and really learn how to use my camera. I've been going out with a friend to get some awesome shots of wildlife and the city. It's been great to work on getting the right angles and lighting so I can produce the best possible quality photos. I've also been working on Photoshop and Lightroom to edit my photos which is surprisingly easy to use!

Acting
I filmed my first scene this year for my showreel and it was extremely nerve-racking but I got through it and love the finished product. I've also been working closely with a director and other actors to produce a series of comedy sketches, this was interesting as I never saw myself as a comedy actress. I'm not the fun loving, bubbly, dippy comedian, I tend to lean more towards the serious parts because that's what suits my personality. Until I learn more and develop my skills I'm quite happy going for roles within my type cast.

Career

I've been back at Equator Design for over a year now and have a much better idea of how my career is going. This year I was promoted to Production Account Manager so I must be doing right, aye?!

Chopped my hair
This year I took the plunge and chopped my hair above my shoulders, for some people this may not be a huge deal but it was a difficult decision as I've spent years trying to grow it. It was the best decision I made and I love it.

Call me Auntie Kim
My best friend had her 1st baby this year, little Thea. She's so adorable and I love to spoil and spend time with her, watching her develop and learn new things is amazing. I can't wait to do this for my own little niece or nephew next year. In July my older sister told us she is Pregnant and the little bundle of joy is due in March. It's very exciting because it's the first baby in my direct family. Unfortunately we don't know the sex of the baby as my sister wants it to be a surprise, which I find frustrating because I can't buy gender specific presents! 

What to expect of 2017?

I always find it difficult to predict what will happen, I find that the unexpected seems to make life interesting so I enjoy not knowing. That said, I've got a few things that I would like to continuing improving and developing. Watch out for my next post where I'll be talking about my ambitions and goals for the next coming months.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

POLE PHOTOSHOOT

I've been wanting to do a pole photoshoot for a while, I finally took the plunge and booked one at Emma's Pole Dancing studio in Derby. The shoot was £55 for 6 edited shots on a white background and you could pay extra if you wanted additional photos on the day. The photographer was David J Harrison, I knew what to expect as I had seen his work previously so felt confident that he would get some amazing shots!

A month before my shoot I started considering the best poses/moves to do, it was a tough decision as there are hundreds to choose from. At first I was going to do 4 strength moves which would require a lot of energy, after thinking about it I decided to go with a few simpler moves mixed with the strength ones so I would't feel as pressured on the day.

One of my biggest concerns was finding something amazing to wear. Considering your outfit ahead of your shoot is important, think about the best colours that will sit against the background. Normally the background will be white or black but some photoshoots do use different colours or patterns. Bright colours will always look great against a black or white backdrop as they will stand out. I was struggling to find the perfect outfit until I came across Siluet Yoga Wear where I found a beautiful royal blue set with highwasited shorts and a sports bra with cross strap back. It was important for me to feel comfortable and confident during the shoot so the highwaitsed shorts were perfect!

The next thing to consider was hair and makeup, since only half my face would be seen in my chosen moves I didn't need to do anything fancy makeup wise. For my hair I wanted to keep my fringe out of my face because it would be distracting, my talented sister french braided my hair and then tucked the little ends up so everything was neat and tidy. It was the perfect hairstyle and I got loads of compliments.

Before a photoshoot you should try to avoid fizzy drinks, alcohol or anything that would make you feel bloated or sluggish. This is much easier when you have an early timeslot so you can have a light breakfast, although mine was at 4pm so by this time I had breakfast, lunch and a snack. I kept everything healthy and chose lighter options to avoid feeling uncomfortable.

This experience was both exciting and nerve-racking, I was shaking throughout the shoot due to nerves. I believe it was more stressful than I thought it would be. Even though it felt like I couldn't perform properly due to lack of strength, I still managed to do all my moves and get the right shots. After I'd done each move David (the photographer) would show me the photos to ensure I was happy, if not we would re-shoot until I got the best possible shot.

I'm so proud of myself for finally taking the plunge and doing a pole photoshoot, my photos turned out amazingly and I couldn't be happier. I'm already thinking about booking another one!

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

8 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU START POLE DANCING

Pole dancing does wonders for your body from the inside out. I've gain significant strength and confidence through pole dancing. This said, there are a few things you should know before you start.

1. Pole dancing isn't just for strippers

Yes, pole dancing does originate from strip clubs, it's much more than that now. Thousands of women (and some men) have realised the amazing benefits that pole dancing provides. When I tell people I pole dance for fitness I get the odd comment like "you've got your backup career sorted", sometimes people don't believe it can be a sport. Although I've heard people are pushing for it to be an Olympic sport, I can't wait for that!

2. It can be very dangerous without the correct training and supervision

If you haven't attempted a move before it can be extremely dangerous to try it without the correct training. If you want to try something new, ask your instructor and give it a go while someone spots you. You may have to build up more strength or flexibility through other moves or stretches before attempting some new moves. 

3. Your skin is the best thing to use as grip

The more advanced your skills get the less clothing you'll need. As you progress into the harder moves it helps to have your skin out so you can grip and hold poses for longer! 

4. Be prepared for the bruises

Oh, the bruises! This sport has many advantages but the bruises is not one of them. After my lesson today I've come out with 5 new bruises from attempting new moves or simply trying to perfect already familiar ones, but I love the sport so for me it's worth it!

5. "Not having any upper body strength" is not an excuse not to give it ago

When I first started I could barely hold myself off the ground, now I'm able to hold my bodyweight in so many different poses. It's all about building that strength as you go along, each week you will realise the progress and feel motivated to carry on!

6. We support each other

The class I attend is so supportive, when you mastered something new everyone is very excited as we encourage each other to move to the next level.

7. It gives a sense of achievement

The best feeling in the world is when you've mastered a move you've been working towards for weeks. If it's a particularly difficult move, when you've managed it you feel so good and want to share it with the world.

8. It's much harder than it looks

I've been doing pole for over 3 years, the biggest thing I've learnt is pole moves are a lot harder than they look. My tutor does everything with ease and grace, although my approach is less graceful. Sometimes it's hard to see the strength that goes into a move, for example climbing the pole is harder than bicep curls.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

6 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRY POLE DANCING

Left: Ballerina Pose // Right: Bow and Arrow Pose

Working out can sometimes feel like a chore. I seem to have a short attention span so if I'm not learning and seeing results I quickly loose motivation. That's why back in 2011 I decided to try pole dancing, at first I didn't know what to expect. After all pole dancing does originate from strip clubs, although it's far from the truth! Many people, like me, use pole dancing as a way to keep fit while learning something new in the process. 

It's an amazing way to stay fit, although everything comes at a price and I'm not talking about the cost. You will be battered and bruised, that's the truth! I didn't want to mislead you. Besides that, there are so many reasons why you should get involved and give pole fitness a try.

1. Teaches the power of bodyweight workouts

Subject to popular belief you don't need to lift weights to gain muscle, lifting your own body weight can go along way. Pole dancing is a great example of this, using your strength to lift, spin and hold pole poses. Simple moves such as climbing the pole is tougher than biceps curls!

2. It's a great workout!
Hate doing burpees, bicep curls and push ups? Well you'll be happy to know pole dancing combines 4 types of workouts. A beginner can burn anything from 290-400 calories per hour, advanced dancers can burn around 700!

3. You become more flexible 

Flexibility is something I've always struggled with, doing pole has helped me become more limber. As you become more flexible you have fewer problems with back pain and muscle soreness, you will also minimise the risk of sprains and be able to move more freely.

4. It builds your self confidence

After you've mastered the basics and strengthen your muscles, you quickly begin to see amazing progress. Your confidence grows as your abilities do, pole dancing has also helped me see my body in a positive way.

5. Great way to meet people

It's great to have friends with things in common, right? Well if your friends aren't that into pole fitness, give it ago alone. I met so many lovely ladies at pole, they are all so encouraging. Sometimes you need that encouragement within a sport to stay motivated and these ladies do it so well.

6. You learn a new skill

Pole dancing helps develop strength, builds stamina and makes you feel feminine. As you progress and improve your skills, you'll become motivated to continue working hard to maintain the level you've reached.

Have I convinced you to give it ago?

If you live around the Nottingham area, try Venus Pole Dancing. It's an amazing environment filled with incredible people all pushing to develop their skills!

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx