I guess life does have cycles. We do everything in stages only to race to a finish line. We spend 18 years to get good grades and to figure out where we end up in terms of who finished where within their class and we focus on getting into that school to do our race all over again but for shorter periods of time. This race ends and some continue on their education track while others dive into a career and yet there are many detours, stops and starts along the way but we're all on our grind hustling and trying to figure out where we're going. There's no rule book to success but the more you're out there, you're bound to get it. But where do we need to be and what is the holy grail of "it"? It can be a little daunting and at the age of 30 I find myself saying what is it that I want and how to reorganize some of my priorities as I need to make sure that I am taking care of myself. Taking care of myself does mean staying fit, eating right etc but it's to also remember that I am a multi-faceted person with various needs. Your body knows what it wants if you listen.

I had heard about S Factor from the beginning of me coming to NY but it took until earlier this year for me to go to an open house that Crystal at Tasty Morsels Bakery participated in at S Factor for me to see a demo that kept me in awe. To have the body control to do the amazing tricks that were done on the pole was definitely a mind bender and it was a few days later that I took the intro class. I love challenging exercises that stimulate the body and the mind and I had nothing but positive things to report on this site but life is interesting. A person can do the same activity within months of each other and gain a completely different experience. Fast forward to about 6 months or so later and I find myself with various colleagues within the blogging community at an Editors S Factor session (complete w 6" stilettos). The person sitting in this session is someone that has had a lot of personal growth over the past few months and not only realizes that she is closer to what she wants but wants more personal fulfillment as well. I want to know more about me and to hear me and today's session does just that.

Our S Factor session combined yoga, pole dancing and a dance routine while encouraging that hearing yourself is an essential tool to your growth within the various courses (they run 8 weeks but there are 6 levels and unlike most classes where the conclusion of all steps have a finality, you're able to continue to grow). Jill was one of our teachers (I was fortunate to have her as my teacher in a previous introductory course) and she is a power ball of energy, understanding and sisterhood. To be able to slow down is something that I have been thinking a lot more of and it has been something that fellow Editor, Keren has been telling me and all of us via her Project Detox series. Did I wake up feeling sore (absolutely - you have a lot of ab and lower back work to do all of the sensual things that you do in class) but did I feel empowered with the idea of working within a women's only studio and to hear nothing but positive affirmations? Absolutely. For those of us that work to do the impossible whether it's within our family, career goals, etc - we need to get out our emotions and to realize that beyond being fearless trailblazers, we are still women who have sensuality, femininity and qualities that set us apart not only from men but other women as we are individuals. I can't wait to start taking courses as a student and to create a sense of balance and to get in touch with areas that I may not focus on in my day to day but can within a 2 hour session. Whether you're doing a full on course, an express, focusing on lap dances and more - you're bound to find something that speaks to you. If you're interested in finding out about S Factor and your S, from now through Dec 1st of 2009, you can contact your local S Factor (they're in CA, IL, NY and TX) and use the code kitten09 to get 50% off of your introductory class.