Yannori of Express the Sensual

Yannori is an incredible pole dancer who also runs Express the Sensual, a site where you can find pole dancing tips and tricks with a sensual spin – plus a ton of FREE articles and videos. I am hooked!

How did you get started taking pole dancing lessons?

I went to my first pole dancing workshop on a dare. I didn’t know anyone, and I absolutely hated the first 20 minutes. They kept asking me to take my hair down and I didn’t want to (imagine me stomping my foot like a silly princess, please). But, the moment I did my first spin around the pole, I knew that I had finally found something that would be tons more fun than the Stairmaster at the gym, help me explore my femininity, and get me in rocking shape.

How did you make the leap to opening your own studio and offering pole dancing classes? What was that like?

After spending a year at one of the popular pole dancing studios in LA, I realized that my pole classes weren’t teaching me the safety and injury prevention techniques that I needed to pole dance forever. So, I checked around until I found Shawn Lee from PoleCat Power. She was everything I wanted in a Master Instructor: a background in classical dance, 20 years experience as a personal trainer, an aerial instructors license, and 15 years experience as a real stripper from Vegas. After taking classes with her for one year, I joined her teacher training program. It was an easy transition, thanks to her instructor training methods. And now, I teach pole skills & pole safety techniques to instructors!

What is the first thing you teach students just starting to take pole dancing classes?

The first thing we develop is a sense of balance in relation to the pole. I absolutely believe that you have to understand how to fly before you can take your feet off the ground. Within the first class, everybody gets that amazing feeling of sensual spinning. They say it’s like drinking just the perfect amount of champagne.

How do you take care of yourself, given all the pole dancing classes you teach?

I make sure that I follow all the safety and injury prevention techniques. I absolutely practice what I preach. I pace out my lessons and make sure that I continue my own pole training so that the exercise I get while teaching is easy for me. I have a special diet that I’ve developed over the last 10 years, which I absolutely love, and I spend plenty of time with my friends and family. If you treat life as one big dance, you’ll always have something to smile about.

Favorite makeup tip:

Use Aveda makeup to highlight your beauty. Their natural products have kept my skin looking amazing at 33 years old.

Barefoot, sneakers, or platform heels?

Actually, I’m big on barefoot dancing, but with jazz dance toe socks. They cover the ball of your foot and make it easier to twirl and turn on any surface.

Read Yannori’s article on Pole Dancing in Heavy Heels.

Favorite grip enhancer:

Eco Balls. I swear by them for learning new tricks. Just don’t overuse them and get dependent.

Pole dance move that made you proudest to learn:

The Stable Aysha. I love being able to transition between the splits, to straight legs, to the Brass Monkey.

Pole dance pet peeves:

I dislike it when people run around the pole to get into flying spins moves and I really hate it when people diss someone else’s pole dancing style. It’s about having fun, getting fit, and being safe … not criticism.

Favorite treatment for bruises and sore muscles:

Actually, I rarely get bruises anymore, but I recommend arnica and a salt bath to my students.

Watch this great video of Yannori:

Who would you most like to have in the audience when you pole dance?

Hmm, that’s a difficult question to answer. I’d say that I have two favorite audiences … 1) Fellow pole dancers who enjoy watching all the different styles in a pole dancing showcase, and 2) People who simply enjoy the feminine nature of my style of sensual and emotional pole dancing. It’s fun to be the eye candy once in a while. *wink*

Who is your hero or role model?

I’d say Shawn Francis Lee, Pantera, and Jamilla. They are all amazing pole dancers and they are all fanatical about teaching pole in a safe and fun atmosphere.

What are your favorite words of encouragement?

I love to teach woman to express their sensual nature through improvisational dance, so oddly enough, my words of encouragement are either “Breathe deep” or “Holy Crap that was F&*^%$ HOT!”

Favorite pizza toppings:

Roasted red peppers.

Cupcakes or ice cream?

Cupcakes. Homemade, dark chocolate, almond cupcakes. YUM.

Anything else you’d care to share:

Practice safe pole!

Yannori writes an incredible pole dance blog at Express the Sensual.

Tags: Pole Dancers, Pole Dancing

June 11, 2009 - Posted by PoleSkivvies 2 Comments
Filed under: Pole Dancing Instructors