Welcome back Pole Dancer to Science of Slink! Today we are discussing my opinion on whether Pole Dance should be in the Olympics. We are going to explore: What problem is it addressing, Would it be good for individual movers or businesses? (Spoiler: the research suggests probably not,) Who would be harmed, and an overarching question: Why do we treat sports as more than or better than other types of movement? We are wrapping up by seeking a resolution with the question: What can we focus on instead?

To start, let’s look at what problem Pole in the Olympics addressing. The desired perception is wanting more status or "legitimacy" for the activity. The perception is that the more legit feeling the exercise is, the easier it is to break into the activity as not only a mover but also as a studio owner. Furthermore, there has historically been an association (even though it may be a loose one) between sports-focused campaigns and distancing pole from its stripping roots.

Secondly, Would it be good for individual movers or businesses? Unfortunately, the research suggests probably not. "little evidence of an increased uptake of sporting activity following an Olympic Games event." (Mahtani KR, Protheroe J, Slight SP) This means that though people may find it interesting, there isn’t a direct benefit to business owners. "Since the turn of the century, a growing number of empirical studies has increased the realization that elite sport does not automatically initiate positive societal impacts. Moreover, the various ‘dark sides’ of elite sport seem to be underestimated." Negative impact may include sexism, exploitation, discrimination, injuries, distorted body image, etc. (De Rycke, J., & De Bosscher, V. 11(3))

Lastly, who would be harmed? Strippers would be further marginalized. The perception of strippers is based on societal ideals that don’t often account for not only strippers being human but also the increased safety in areas with sex work. This leads us to a bigger question: Why do we treat sports as more than or better than other types of movement?

So What we can focus on instead: Overall, I think we have more important priorities if our goal is to make pole dance accessible & equitable:

• Helping address discrimination by payment processing services (the ACLU is currently pressuring Mastercard about this)

• Decriminalization of SW more broadly

• Pushing back on age verification bills that require collecting IDs or biometrics (both a security and privacy risk to users & and huge burden on businesses)

Join pole instructor & personal trainer Rosy Boa as she chats with experts about the evidence-based practices you can introduce to your pole journey to improve your pole journey and feel better. The Evidence-Based Pole Podcast aims to help pole dancers feel better on and off the pole by talking with experts and diving into relevant scientific research to find evidence-based insights we can apply to our pole journeys. It’s a production of Slink Through Strength, the inclusive, evidence-based online pole studio, which can be found online at slinkthroughstrength.com.

Edited by: Simone Rossette

Simone.rossette77@gmail.com

Sources:

This BBC article has some really clear examples of whorephobia: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/10/18/pole-dancing-in-the-olympics-international-sports-federation-recognition-helps-pave-the-way/?noredirect=on

https://www.bbc.com/sport/41652997

https://www.dailydot.com/irl/notastripper-pole-dancing-instagram/

Yes a Stripper podcast: https://yesastripperpodcast.com/

Mahtani KR, Protheroe J, Slight SP, et al. Can the London 2012 Olympics ‘inspire a generation’ to do more physical or sporting activities? An overview of systematic reviews. BMJ

Open 2013;3:e002058. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002058

De Rycke, J., & De Bosscher, V. (2019). Mapping the potential societal impacts triggered by elite sport: a conceptual framework. International journal of sport policy and politics, 11(3), 485-502.

Hello Pole Dancer and welcome to a new episode of Science of Slink, the podcast where we talk about the research on movement, explore social constructs, and explore how movement helps mental health. Join me on this podcast journey by subscribing to the podcast and signing up for my monthly newsletter. If you'd like to become a part of the community, hit the link below to join the waitlist for the Science of Slink Membership.

Sign up for the Science of Slink membership waitlist: https://mailchi.mp/slinkthroughstrength.com/science-of-slink-waitlist

Slink Through Strength Email Sign Up: ⁠http://eepurl.com/iimjnX

⁠Today we are going to explore my biography and what my classes are like, as well as how I came to teach the way I do. We will explore my professional background, how I organize my classes throughout the class and time windows, my movement background, and recommended research to read! My professional and movement background varies widely and has been shaped by what inspires me over the years. My professional background starts with a Research PHD, and Lots of continuing education (Ex: Emily Scherb's workshops in Seattle, reading, keeping up with research.) Additionally, more in the pole world, I became an ACTION-certified personal trainer and completed a 6-month pole teaching apprenticeship & certification. As a professional and movement background bonus, I've been pole dancing for 12 years. My training gives me a great perspective on pole over the years through trends, the way bodies change, and the way your practice changes over time from mindsets to movements. My movement background and where I get my inspiration from are robust as I try to keep my knowledge rounded out and up to date. Some of my background is pilates/yoga inspired though I'm NOT trained, Weight lifting/strength & conditioning, including circuit training, Calaesthetics, Flexibility/contortion training (I am NOT a contortion coach,) Some therapeutic techniques (e.g. nerve glides,) and last but not least, I develop exercises (e.g. squat clap drill for power)This knowledge greatly shapes how I teach and organize my classes. Here are some bullet points to break down what my main focuses are as I develop my training guides. All of these points are greatly expanded on in the episode :)

In a class:

- Warm-up

-Skill work

-Cardio/cooldown

In a week:

-Start with skills

-Then freestyle (place to practice skills)

-End with conditioning

In a month:

-Periodization

- deload week-Increasing challenge over the month (why membership doors are usually closed)

-Conditioning is generally a two-part split circuit (equipment optional) designed for whole body focus over the month; compliments our skill workIn a year

-Rotating focus every month (capability, ability/skill, artistry/expression)Every three months there's a body part focus

Last but not least, here are some readings I recommend:

-Strength & conditioning for pole by Neola Wilby

-Upside Down Injuries: Prehab and Rehab (Bendy Kate)

-Applied Anatomy of Aerial Arts by Emily Sherb Join pole instructor & personal trainer Rosy Boa as she chats with experts about the evidence-based practices you can introduce to your pole journey to improve your pole journey and feel better.

The Evidence-Based Pole Podcast aims to help pole dancers feel better on and off the pole by talking with experts and diving into relevant scientific research to find evidence-based insights we can apply to our pole journeys. It’s a production of Slink Through Strength, the inclusive, evidence-based online pole studio, which can be found online at slinkthroughstrength.com.

Edited by: Simone Rossette

Simone.rossette77@gmail.com

Email for Podcast, Video, and Audio editing, show notes, as well as Digital Marketing.

Hey Pole Dancer, welcome back to Science of Slink, a podcast dedicated to research of exercise, healing, and body image. Today we are joined by Dr.Melanie Stucky, Researcher - Performance and Social at École Nationale de Cirque.

Dr. Stucky recently published the paper Four Domains for Development for All (4D4D4All): A Holistic, Physical Literacy Framework. (source and link below) this paper talks about the division and interconnectedness of 4 domains: creative, psychological, social, and physical development. These 4 domains are important components of physical literacy because they help us learn movement and have the highest potential to build our confidence when used correctly. This framework is meant to help define the most important aspects of creating an empowering culture in a studio and in our practice.

We also looked into the Contexts which is the outer influence of the domains. These contexts are physical, social, and movement. Physical context is the environment you are in, this can be where you live and the set of tools you need to achieve your movement. Social context touches on culture, social norms, injustices, and in general, things affecting us more emotionally and mentally.

You can find Melanie on Instagram @melirene13 and @thevolairlife

Slink Through Strength Email Sign Up: ⁠http://eepurl.com/iimjnX⁠

Join pole instructor & personal trainer Rosy Boa as she chats with experts about the evidence-based practices you can introduce to your pole journey to improve your pole journey and feel better. The Evidence-Based Pole Podcast aims to help pole dancers feel better on and off the pole by talking with experts and diving into relevant scientific research to find evidence-based insights we can apply to our pole journeys. It’s a production of Slink Through Strength, the inclusive, evidence-based online pole studio, found online at slinkthroughstrength.com.

Edited by: Simone Rossette

Simone.rossette77@gmail.com

Sources:

The paper we mostly talk about: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10413200.2024.2342323

Agans, J. P., Stuckey, M. I., Cairney, J., & Kriellaars, D. (2024). Four domains for development for all (4D4D4All): A holistic, physical literacy framework. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2024.2342323

Another paper I mentioned at the end:

Preparation For Flight: The Physical Profile of Pre-Professional and Professional Circus Artists in the United States https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11065775/

Grab your FREE ticket to the Unraveling the Myth of Flow Summit! https://courses.circusmobility.com/a/2147870041/2uiBQNdv

Welcome to a special bonus episode with pole and aerial coach Jessica John of Circus Mobility. In it, we talk about flow, freestyle, pole vs. aerial, training within your capacity, and how to unlock more flow in your movement.

One topic that came up was the idea of cross-pollination, this is an idea that has been a theme of the year. Cross-pollination in pole is the idea of bringing together values and teachings of dance, aerial silks, pole, and more. What we feel threads all these topics together is the curiosity of research and movement backgrounds.

We also touched on the idea of cross-training and how when training we sometimes think multiple areas are being strengthened which isn’t always true. This idea impacts us because our bodies are prepared for one modality of movement and we try another kind of movement, unexpectedly needing different training. An example of this is going from aerial to pole, grip strength is going to have to be very different and the strength that you need for both kinds of movement is different even if the movement seems similar. One way to mitigate this gap in variation is to do conditioning such as strength and mobility training regularly paired with freestyle and skill-building classes. This gives you a wide range of abilities to move through movements with ease and doesn’t stick you in only one form of movement.

We touched on goals and how they change over time, especially with age. We have come to move from chasing a rush to moving to feel good and have a practice that grows with us. This change of mindset changes the goals that we set and why we set them. Frequently people will set goals based on how they think their training should look rather than what they feel is best for their practice. As instructors, our goal is for our students to enjoy their own journey and to help guide them in ways that align with them.

Instagram: Aerial & Mobility Educator (@circusmobility)

Slink Through Strength Email Sign Up: ⁠http://eepurl.com/iimjnX⁠

Join pole instructor & personal trainer Rosy Boa as she chats with experts about the evidence-based practices you can introduce to your pole journey to improve your pole journey and feel better. The Evidence-Based Pole Podcast aims to help pole dancers feel better on and off the pole by talking with experts and diving into relevant scientific research to find evidence-based insights we can apply to our pole journeys. It’s a production of Slink Through Strength, the inclusive, evidence-based online pole studio, which can be found online at slinkthroughstrength.com.

Edited by: Simone Rossette

Simone.rossette77@gmail.com

In this episode we're joined by Sally Radell, Professor of Dance at Emory University, to talk about her 30 years of research findings on mirrors and body image in dance. We talk about, among other things, body image issues in dance, when mirrors help/hurt, and how to build better body awareness.

One of her most prominent findings is that body image, when low, can poorly impact growth in dance by 6x. This means that another student who’s feeling more confident will more easily refrain from looking in the mirror and self-critique thus, helping them tap further into their body. When students are more in tune with their bodies they find positive growth with technical development and can align their movement with a sense of body awareness even without a mirror.

Another interesting finding is that not only does body image impact growth on the way into class but even at the beginning of your dance or exercise journey. This is reflected by newer students doing best with a mirror to start as they enjoy dressing the part and learning what the moves look like. As the movement journey progresses and the learner understands how a move should feel, the need for a mirror and the impact of a mirror changes.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sallyradell

Slink Through Strength Email Sign Up: ⁠http://eepurl.com/iimjnX⁠

Join pole instructor & personal trainer Rosy Boa as she chats with experts about the evidence-based practices you can introduce to your pole journey to improve your pole journey and feel better. The Evidence-Based Pole Podcast aims to help pole dancers feel better on and off the pole by talking with experts and diving into relevant scientific research to find evidence-based insights we can apply to our pole journeys. It’s a production of Slink Through Strength, the inclusive, evidence-based online pole studio, which can be found online at slinkthroughstrength.com.

Edited by: Simone Rossette

Simone.rossette77@gmail.com

Some of the papers we talked about:

• Adame, D. D., Radell, S. A., Johnson, T. C., & Cole, S. P. (1991). Physical fitness, body image, and locus of control in college women dancers and nondancers. Perceptual and motor skills, 72(1), 91-95.

• Radell, S. A., Mandradjieff, M. P., Adame, D. D., & Cole, S. P. (2020). Impact of mirrors on body image of beginning modern and ballet students. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, 24(3), 126-134.

FREE E-Book! - Science-Backed Tips to ⚡Supercharge⚡ your Home Pole Time: https://courses.slinkthroughstrength.com/research-backed-pole-tips

Welcome back to the Science of Slink Podcast, pole dancer! This week we are talking about learning for mastery, which is a teaching method focused on moving on a more fluid and self-guided path towards goals that we set for ourselves rather than a more regimented system with goals set for us to achieve in a certain order. The learning for mastery method is one that I use at my studio for my students, if you’d like to join a class for a hands-on approach check out my website linked below!

Learning dance in a mastery-focused way looks like a buffet rather than a menu. In this model, there is a choice between several things to learn daily, a “buffet” for learning rather than a main dish you are served. This allows dancers to have autonomy and empowerment in their learning journey while not feeling they are regressing at any point, rather, listening to and respecting their needs. An example of this is when you walk into dance class there will be 3 moves to choose from that day to learn and you can choose which one to work toward mastery on that day. In a more regimented class, there will be levels and you will move up the levels and do the according moves.

So Is learning for mastery better? It depends! But big competition focus is associated with some not-so-great things, like less body appreciation. This method is best for freestyle methods of pole dance and enjoyment. If you are looking for competition pole, the more regimented class system may be more beneficial.

Slink Through Strength Email Sign Up: ⁠http://eepurl.com/iimjnX⁠

Join pole instructor & personal trainer Rosy Boa as she chats with experts about the evidence-based practices you can introduce to your pole journey to improve your pole journey and feel better. The Evidence-Based Pole Podcast aims to help pole dancers feel better on and off the pole by talking with experts and diving into relevant scientific research to find evidence-based insights we can apply to our pole journeys. It’s a production of Slink Through Strength, the inclusive, evidence-based online pole studio, found online at slinkthroughstrength.com.

Edited by: Simone Rossette

Simone.rossette77@gmail.com

Mastery learning model:

Bloom, Benjamin S. (March 1968). "Learning for Mastery" (PDF). UCLA - CSEIP - Evaluation Comment. Vol. 1.

Discussion of mastery in dance:

Andrzejewski, C. E., Wilson, A. M., & Henry, D. J. (2013). Considering motivation, goals, and mastery orientation in dance technique. Research in Dance Education, 14(2), 162-175.

Honors thesis on dance competitions & mental well-being (" However, CCSW

had a significant negative relationship with body appreciation and a significant positive

relationship with ED risk and perfectionism.")

Cary, G. (2023). Dancing like Everyone’s Watching: The Impact of Competition-Contingent Self-Worth and Belonging on Dancers’ Mental Well-Being (Doctoral dissertation).

Hello Pole Dancer and welcome to another episode of Science of Slink. This week we are joined by a special guest, Dr. Cat Liang, Psy.D, who studies dance therapy. She has just published a great research article, The use of dance and movement for the embodied healing of interpersonal trauma in women and girls. We will be discussing her findings in her research and what movement therapy can heal.

We talked about dance therapy and how when movement and joy are incorporated into your healing practice, specifically for healing trauma, students have a greater retention rate. This means that when we incorporate joy into the healing process, we can associate our trauma with new feelings and move past it rather than sitting in it more easily. We also see that people are more dedicated to taking a long healing path because the healing modality being used is bringing us joy beyond just healing the trauma, but also our relationship with our bodies as a whole while enjoying the process.

The key findings of Dr. Cat's research ia that through dance therapy people's physical ability increased including but not limited to strength, flexibility, and mobility. She also found that their emotional capacity increased and there was a mind, body, and integration. This helps to push past dissociation and creates a sense of safety, allowing them to process in a safer and empowering way. When dance therapy was done in groups, people felt empowered in the community and people felt more safe with others including outside of the dance circle. Last but not least, people had lots of fun which helped people get out of the slump of reliving trauma and into a place to explore the emotions and needs of our bodies and minds.

Dr. Cat's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcatliang/

Slink Through Strength Email Sign Up:

⁠http://eepurl.com/iimjnX⁠

Join pole instructor & personal trainer Rosy Boa as she chats with experts about the evidence-based practices you can introduce to your pole journey to improve your pole journey and feel better. The Evidence-Based Pole Podcast aims to help pole dancers feel better on and off the pole by talking with experts and diving into relevant scientific research to find evidence-based insights we can apply to our pole journeys. It’s a production of Slink Through Strength, the inclusive, evidence-based online pole studio, which can be found online at slinkthroughstrength.com.

Edited by: Simone Rossette

Simone.rossette77@gmail.com

Sources:

Paper: Liang, C. X. (2023). The use of dance and movement for the embodied healing of interpersonal trauma in women and girls: A systematic review. Pepperdine University.

The book I mentioned: Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness by David A. Treleaven (clinician)

Hello and welcome to a new episode of Science of Slink, the evidence based pole podcast! This week we are joined by Dr.Val Oliphant. Dr.Val is a DPT physical therapist specializing in dance, circus arts, and pelvic floor needs, a professional dancer and teacher. Today we are talking about how your pole teaching informs your PT & vice versa, the most common issues seen in pole dancers, the sneakiest (maybe not most common but hardest to notice) issues seen in pole dancers, Progressions, and Regressions. Val discusses how a focus as of recent has been bridging the active/passive flexibility gap. She has discovered over her years as a physical therapist that exercising flexibility during training strengthening is the most applicable to real life, especially with an exercise like pole dance. A recent discovery that we explored was how stretching has evolved as research of the nervous system has recently come to light. One example of this is when we think we are stretching our hamstrings but we are pulling out sciatica nerve. Nerves prefer gente motions back and forth with fewer reps. The sneakiest issues seen in pole we think are elbow, shoulder, and wrist tendon issues created from trying to progress without the background of strength and mobility needed. Another common issue as you progress is only working one side. So what are Progressions and Regressions? This issue began with the isolation of learning to one move at a time rather than seeing the progression of learning. This issue stemmed primarily from social media and a lack of a standardized guide for building pole proficiency. Regressing is something that is very natural in pole and comes with the journey of our lives and changes in how we interact with and set goals in the pole space. Regressing isnt necessarily losing quality, it is changing how we move with the goal of being comfortable in our practice. Val and I like to frame injuries and changes as “de-loading” which is a term typically in sports. This deloading time allows us to explore more sustainable ways to practice and move forward. Where to find more of Val: Rose Physical Therapy Alchemy performing arts Pole Pressure https://www.instagram.com/valpolephant/ Slink Through Strength Email Sign Up: ⁠http://eepurl.com/iimjnX⁠ Join pole instructor & personal trainer Rosy Boa as she chats with experts about the evidence-based practices you can introduce to your pole journey to improve your pole journey and feel better. The Evidence-Based Pole Podcast aims to help pole dancers feel better on and off the pole by talking with experts and diving into relevant scientific research to find evidence-based insights we can apply to our pole journeys. It’s a production of Slink Through Strength, the inclusive, evidence-based online pole studio, which can be found online at slinkthroughstrength.com. Edited by: Simone Rossette Simone.rossette77@gmail.com