International Pole Dance Fitness Championship 2009

There's nothing like traveling to one of your favorite places and having the excuse of being there because of work....of course, it never hurts to extend the time spent there.... mwa ha ha ha! 

One thing I really don't like is the 2 hr bus ride from Narita airport into the city.  This time, I decided to rent me a phone because I figured it would be better than using those phone cards and payphones.  I've always had so much trouble using those!  I was a little sad that my day would be pretty much gone from traveling.  I took an early flight at 9:25am and arrived by about  2:30...only to miss one bus and have to wait another hr before boarding the next one!!!

I have seriously been eating non stop since landing in the airport until leaving from airport again....  I just can't get enough of Japanese food!!!  It's so good and so expensive!!!  But, I just have constantly been eating and now I'm worried that there may be some consequences showing up on my stomach and maybe other parts...I can't help that I LOVE food!!! 

I could pretty much go on about food for the rest of this blog..but, let me just explain what I was doing in Tokyo.....

 Last year I had to compete in the International Pole Dance Fitness Championship....but, this year, I got to be a judge!   Yes, I was invited to judge this year and  I was soooo excited to see all the contestants.  It was definitely much more competitive this year.....and I'm so happy that I didn't compete!  hahaha....These ladies were amazing!!! 

 My favorite contestant was the winner of the Ultimate Pole award.  Her name is Mai and she represented Japan.  I was very very impressed by her from the first moment she lifted herself off of the floor.  Her alignment, her pointed toes, her flexibility, and her grace.  Everything seemed so effortless.  It was really amazing and beautiful.  She proved to the world that Pole Dancing is an art and it is beautiful and doesn't have to be sexy.  If your interested to check out the other winners of the competition and see if there are any videos, you can go to this site.

http://www. polechampionship.com/

there are also clippings from international news

http://www. polechampionship.com/#/media/4537326502

photo with Motoko (my best friend from High School who played vball with me)

and Lu, the owner of one of the biggest pole dancing studios in Tokyo

me with Amanda from the U.S.A. (extremely fit pole dancer who won the pole fit category) Lu, and Vee (my aerial arts teacher)

anyone interested to take classes...check out the website

www.aerialartsacademy.com

I will soon be teaching silks and hoops there as well!!!

this is Vee teaching a workshop no the silks

at the after party...no more stress!!!

Anyways....the rest of the trip was fun.  I got to hang out with my good friend Motoko, who used to play volleyball with me back in High School.  I also had to rehearse with my teacher (Ania) because we are going to be performing this Sat on TVB for the Tung Wah charity show.  We rehearsed for about 3 hrs!!!  I'm feeling the pain in my body today....and I've got a few bruises....So...hopefully, that will go well....

so...stay tuned to TVB on Sat night around 10pm?  I'm actually not sure when we are on. 

one more photo with Ania at the Grand Hyatt buffet...a tradition for us to go when I'm in town