Student Spotlight: Nikoo

We are so happy and proud to have Nikoo as part of our studio family! Nikoo started pole dancing with UV 3 years ago and has worked so hard and it shows! While Nikoo had left Toronto (and us!) to go to University, we are excited that we can still keep connecting online.

Q: Where are you from?

I was born in Ottawa, but moved to Toronto in 2011.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself outside the studio.

I am an undergraduate student at Western University. I am pursuing a double major in Global Culture Studies and Geography. I am a proud plant mom of four and enjoy music and art.

Q: How long have you been pole dancing?

I have been pole dancing for a little over 3 years.

Q: What is your favourite class and why?

My favourite class is probably Stretchy Splits with Tara. It gives me a chance to slow down in the day, monitor my flexibility progress, and release the tightness I get from sitting all day. I was also really into Old School Flow on Tuesdays when the studio had it. It’s really spicy and flowy and I love it!

Q: What surprised you about pole fitness?

What surprised me about pole dancing is how long I have stuck with it. The diversity and community within the sport is something I've really enjoyed and it’s just so damn fun!

Q: What is your proudest pole moment?

Possibly when I got my Reiko Split. My feet are always sweaty, so I thought it would never happen. I was wrong.

Q: What is your favourite song/genre to dance to?

Faded Love by Tinashe and Future. It was stuck in my head for the longest time.

Q: What keeps you coming back to Ultra Violet?

Aside from the fact that it’s the first studio I’ve ever been to, I really like the community. I have made friends at the studio and love all of my instructors at UV. The UV studio has been an important safe space for me to decompress and practice self care.

Q: Any advice to students new to pole?

It might look scary, but our bodies are more capable than we think. You don’t have to start off super strong in order to get good at pole; it’s all about the progression. No matter how your body looks or feels, pole is for everyone. That includes you.

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READY TO START POLE DANCING?

Student Spotlight: Olga

Olga has worked her butt off and has made incredible progress in her pole skills! She is an incredible person and is ready to cheer on others any chance she gets. And now let’s cheer on this amazing woman and her incredible transformation throughout her pole journey!

Q: Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Tajikistan and have immigrated to Canada 11 years ago (wow, time flies!)

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself outside the studio.

I work as anti-money laundering associate in one of the major Canadian banks. I love my job and spend quite a bit of my time with my beloved excel spread sheets and regulations :) If I am not working or pole dancing, chances are I am either baking, reading or being lazy on the couch with my partner :)

Q: How long have you been pole dancing?

It’s been a yeah and a half since I took my first pole class - and what a year and a half it has been!

Q: How did you start pole dancing?

Trying pole dancing was on my radar for a year before I gathered enough courage to enter a pole studio. I felt like a fish out of water as I had never taken any dance classes before and I have always been uncomfortable in my own skin, struggled with low self esteem. But pole dancing got me hooked right away :)

Q: What is your favourite class and why?

I have to say inversions/ fusion on Mondays. Working on tricks is my favourite thing and Christine always gives so many progressions so there is always an opportunity to find a sweet spot for one’s level and work from there.

Q: What surprised you about pole fitness?

How much of a workout it is lol!! I thought I was fit when I first walked into UV but let me tell you every single class still kicks my butt! It is amazing how versatile pole dancing is and whether it is strength, dancing, dance art, flexibility - there is something for everyone!

I think another surprise was how many friendships I was able to build at UV - shoutout to all my amazing pole buddies here! :) To be honest, I was expecting catty judgmental atmosphere - I really don’t know where this opinion was even coming from - I am so happy that I couldn’t have been more wrong! Both students and instructors have been nothing short of amazing supportive individuals. I have so many awesome memories of laughing at my failed attempts at a trick or being cheered on as I succeed at one :)

Photo by: Kaylens Photography

Q: Why do you love pole?

It challenges me like no other. Aside from being a great exercise (I have never been this strong in my whole life) , pole has been transformative for my self esteem, it has improved my mental health, allowed me to explore my sexuality in a new way. Without exaggeration pole has become an integral part of my wellbeing and I am so grateful for it!

Q: What is your proudest pole moment?

Two words: shoulder mount.

Q: What is your favourite song to dance to?

Anything pop :)

Q: What keeps you coming back to Ultra Violet?

Community. I always feel safe, supported and welcomed at Ultra Violet. Whether it is in person or virtually, Ultra Violet is my safe space to turn to.

Q: Any advice to students new to pole?

Do not compare yourself to anyone else, listen to your body and have fun!

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READY TO START YOUR POLE JOURNEY?

Creepy Sexy Halloween Pole Playlist

It’s spooky season and Halloween is almost here!

While Halloween is going to be a bit different this year, UV has still been getting into the spirit with some creepy, sexy Halloween choreos. Join us this week in class as we head into Halloween weekend for some more sinister fun! All classes are both in-studio and virtual.

Base Flow Wednesday 9pm “I Put a Spell on You”

Floorwork Thursday 8pm “Vowl - Tremor”

Pole Choreography Saturday 2pm “Thriller”

When you aren’t dancing with UV, get into the Halloween spirit at home with this creepy sexy playlist with songs from choreos this month and a few more to get you moving. Throw on a sexy or creepy costume and dance the night away!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

What are your favourite Halloween songs to dance to? Comment below!

Tips to Improve your Flexibility

We all have our flexibility goals. Maybe it’s getting your splits or achieving a beautiful backbend. Regardless of those goals, being overall more flexible will also help with all the impressive moves that we find ourselves in on the pole. Here are some tips to help you in your flexibility journey...

Keep Hydrated!

Your muscles are over 70% water. Keep hydrated to keep your muscles ready to extend and contract in the way that they are intended. 

Listen to your body and don’t push too hard.

The mentality of “No pain, No gain” won’t work to increase your flexibility. You want to listen to your body and feel a productive stretch rather than pain. You want to work with your body’s nervous system to ease into stretches, so that the muscles can relax instead of tense up to protect themselves. 

Strengthen your muscles.

Many work just on passive flexibility, which uses an external force to help you get into a position (think splits on the floor, where the floor is forcing you deeper). This is not enough! Strengthen your muscles so you can achieve those flexibility goals actively. Not only do you want your splits on the ground, but you want to have beautiful splits in the air while on the pole!

Be consistent!

Stretching once in a while will not improve your flexibility. Try to incorporate movement and stretching into every day to maintain flexibility, even if it’s a couple mins here and there. Set aside dedicated time each week to work on improving your flexibility. There is no magic formula, so experiment with what your body needs to see improvement.

Get help to reach your flexibility goals!

You don’t have to do it alone! 

UV has workshops and classes to help you take your flexibility further! 

6 week Flexibility Workshop Sundays 3pm starting October 18th (This Sunday!)

Join in this virtual, intensive workshop on Sunday afternoons to improve flexibility, mobility, agility and overall muscle health! This workshop includes a progress report so you can track your gains and work on your trouble areas when you aren't in class. 

Check out these weekly classes that focus on Flexibility!

Upper Body Flexibility Mondays 3:00pm

Strength and Flexibility Tuesdays 4:00pm

Stretchy Splits Tuesdays 7:15pm

Active Flexi for Dancers Thursdays 4:45pm

Flexibility Saturdays 11:30am

Instructor Spotlight: Lyza Moon

Megan/Lyza Moon is a new instructor to UV! With a background in dance, she stopped to obtain a University Degree in Painting, but realized she missed the movement arts and decided to try out something new. She first entered the community through pole and gradually shifted her focus to aerial hoop and hula hoop. She's been training for 4 years and has been professionally performing go-go dance, lollipop lyra, and hula hoop for 3 years.

Megan Eliza / Stage Name: Lyza Moon

What do you teach and how long have you been teaching?

I started teaching in fall 2019 as a substitute and ran pole parties, but achieved my own class just before the pandemic happened! So I began instructing hula hoop through the online virtual classes, which are now being held in the studio! When the new space opens up, I'll be teaching beginner Lyra as well!

What got you into hula hoop?

I had a go-go dancing gig a few years back, and the event also hired a hula hooper. I was so mesmerized by the art, so I befriended her and took her classes. At the time I had seen a circus hooper, but had never seen a hoop dancer before. There's a much smaller community of hoop dancing in Canada in comparison to the United States, and I hope to help change that!

Why do you love it?

Firstly, it's very easy to bring a hula hoop with you anywhere you go! The styles are also very versatile, whether that be circus, showgirl, street, or primal. The most rewarding part for me is getting into that flow state of mind.

What do you love about teaching?

The part I love the most is when I see a student fall in love with the apparatus. My mission as a teacher is to spark passion, build confidence, and help grow the community. Come try hula hoop and see what happens.. ;)

What other apparatuses do you train on?

Mostly aerial hoop and lollipop lyra. I have a background in pole, and I enjoy cross-training on rope. I also spin fire!

What do you do professionally, other than teach?

A professional freelancer - I thrive off of doing a variety of things. I perform professionally and I'm a lash tech artist. I have been livestreaming since the shift of Covid-19, and I've started a small custom design business with my partner called Khemia Creations.

What would we find you doing when you are not teaching/training?

During the summer months you can find me at the beach or a cottage. I enjoy art exhibits and concerts, otherwise I love being at home with a sketchbook, reading book, or movie.

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Check out our schedule to sign up for classes at UV!