Laura Martin (Flying Laura) winner of American Pole Fitness Championship 2011 is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You started pole dancing about 15 years back and reached the pinnacle of success by winning the 2011 American Pole Fitness Champion and stood third place in 2010 California Pole Dance Championship and being most artistic. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Laura Martin:
Persistence. showing up and making sure I do the work. my athleticism, and pushing myself physically became my priority for years. challenging myself to work on new skills and pushing my limits in flexibility and stamina over time showed results.
Over the course of the last 15 years, I’ve pursued multiple athletic disciplines, (swimming, boxing, calisthenic training, mixed martial arts, kung fu, yoga) which no doubt attributed to my ability. Once i committed to competitive pole dance, I had to put most things aside for the better part of three years just to have time and resources to move forward in my pole dance career. So aside from learning, and being consistent, CLEAR VISION of what i wanted to achieve allowed me to prioritize.
Other than persistence, I would say having a positive mental attitude and passion for the art of training and pole dance led me to achieve, as well as using a healthy competitive desire for wanting to improve through competing. Above all though, none of these things would have been possible without the heart to push through.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have are a national gold medal in Southern Shorthand kung fu and you are disciplined in kung fu, mixed martial arts, boxing and yoga. How this knowledge and conditioning helped you in competitive pole dancing?
Ms. Laura Martin:
I would say, since in the beginning, for me pole dance was a “free form” of dance.. where I did not have any structure to my learning it, I simply learned through freestyling. Kung fu provided the discipline, ideology and guidelines to training I needed to progress. Martial arts theories often teach beyond just the movement you see physically. Kung fu taught me the idea of a moving metaphor. You read yourself and your opponent… by emotional reactions in movement, and how you react while training.
Learning to use the training time to push through internal limitation, and train your mind to lead your body with positive or neutral affirmations. So, you work to improve yourself. Training becomes a form of meditation. Of course, the physical training for skill, strength and flexibility are essential to movement based arts, but most importantly it taught me self discipline, and how practicing is more valuable then perfection. Meaning, making it your lifestyle, a routine.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are best known for your fast, no handed pole movement and dynamic style, this is your own innovation and mesmerizing style of pole dancing. Elaborate on this concept ?
Ms. Laura Martin:
I have innovated my style over the years, In what started out from free form pole dancing, and a few happy accidents, turned into something unique. What gives me my style, is my speed and precision on movements. Also, because I learned in the beginning by freestyle .. not so much a structured training environment. gives me a “flare” I believe that sets the movement apart from when others may do similar moves. Combined with the amount of years I’ve practiced, has given my dance it’s fluidity, and personality.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Laura Martin:
Complex calisthenics, dynamic body weight exercises, flexibility and joint mobility training. While in between events, I mostly train Chinese pole, yoga to stay limber, and pole dance. I also love staying active in fun physical activity, I love surfing and martial arts. as well as getting into nature.
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