The First & The Last, The Beginning & The End

My very first show at the old studio (Ampang) shortly after it opened. This was kinda like the 'opening party' and I was so very nervous as I've just recently been 'Bobbi-fied' hence the slow-rock song choice. I remember I choreographed this piece whilst driving back from Singapore on one of our trips... and I surprised myself actually as the combos and moves I had visualized seemed to fall right into place so it didn't take as long as it would usually take for me to put something nice together. A great start I'd say!


And this, was my last show before we moved away to Bangsar - 3 years later. It was also an emotional time and this Korean song, oh.... I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. Such a beautiful song don't you think?!

Miss this space and all the hardship that came with it! I trained and trained, failed and failed, tried again and again, it was in this space that I challenged myself, discovered myself, built myself, molded myself, and became myself. As the saying goes "you are what you are today because of what you did yesterday". Here's to growing more terrific tomorrows!



My first magazine shoot. With JUST DANCE magazine in 2010 :

And my my last magazine shoot at the old studio with NEW TIDE magazine in Aug 2013 :

TIRAMISU : Pole Dancing in Malaysia

It has been a very very very long time since I last posted anything.... this clip is my latest and a real 'tiramisu' (pick-me-up) therefore I shall start with this.

With so much to do and so little time, I do most of my postings on Instagram and Facebook instead these days, so look me up!

FACEBOOK : Maple Asaro
INSTAGRAM : @mapleloo
TWITTER : @BobbisPoleMsia

Hope life's been especially good for you as it has been for me in the last so many months!

2013 Body Talk!

Lifestyle Asia recently published an article on how to get rid of holiday weight. And YAYY!! Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia got recommended!


Speaking from experience, as a dancer and fitness enthusiast all my life, there's no other way faster and more effective for women in shedding fats and getting lean and toned like pole training.




And because pole dancing is a weight-bearing exercise, it's particularly great for our bones and joints as it increases our bone density. Strengthens our joint, ligaments and tendons too.

And when we pole dance, we're doing body-weight training - we learn to handle and manage our own weight as we hoist our body off the ground, upside down or  while spinning on the pole by using our arms, upper body strength and core power. Overtime, our arm, core and upper body strength will gradually develop as our muscles are working and stimulated on a consistent basis.

Body-weight training is a fantastic alternative for women who dislike weight-lifting at the gym. What we do in class is a complete strength and flexibility method that will give women a lean yet feminine physique because we combine dance, stretching and body-weight training to equip the body not just with muscular power but also conditioning your small muscles (that we don't see) that prevent injuries. 

Many things happen to your body all at once when you pole train. It is not an easy craft either! But because it's so much fun, you won't even realize you're working your body so hard; you won't feel bored and you certainly could never get enough of it! HAH!

I hope you've set some fitness goals for 2013. Whatever you choose to do to achieve these goals, make sure it's an activity you LOVE and enjoy doing or you won't be motivated enough to stick with it. And understand how food works. Make an effort to learn what's good and bad for your diet so you see real results in your workouts. There's always a choice - make the right one. You don't wanna sabotage your own goals:)




Anyway, click here to read the article by Lifestyle Asia! Yeah! Come 2013, we're spinning on a new axis! Skinny is out and strong is IN! Yeah STRONG is definitely sexier, isn't it.

Pole Dancing with Malaysian Women

Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia  has, in the last 2 years, taught over 250 students. Many, both local and foreign media have asked if pole dancing and lap dancing is something that would work in Malaysia and if women here are too conservative to do it.

 

I say ABSOLUTELY! Malaysian women are actually not as 'conservative' as what others may have perceived. There're many like me in this country, Malay Chinese or Indian women. In fact I find Malaysian women less judgmental, very open-minded and warm-hearted compared to women from other Asian countries.

Malaysian women are also more laid back. That said, don't expect them to pick up the phone right away to book a class!! I've had students who eventually signed up for class after keeping my magazine or newspaper article for over a year! But once they put their foot in through your door, they're game:)

My studio is like Bhutan. My tiny little space with a big fun bunch of excited and excitable women, over-the-top enthused to learn our craft AND ever-ready to exhibit their newly discovered not-so-tame-anymore selves, quite possibly has a happy index of  9.5 over 10!

 

The studio is tiny but it's constantly bustling... sounds of my students' laughter, busy chatters and their frantic frolic on poles and chairs.... they create such a great vibe in the studio. Their satisfaction with their own growth, their relationship with the environment and feeling safe, make the studio a place everyone of them look forward coming to. Isn't it just awesome. But gratification to the highest level for a teacher is her students' strong sense of belonging to her and her space. I consider that success in itself.

 

Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia breeds happy and healthy women. Only when one is WILLING to put aside all the taboos that surround pole dancing and striptease lap dancing will one see what a fantastic and sexy way of fitness in body and mind the craft really is for women of all ages.

 It's also digging deep into the self, believing and accepting our deep-rooted desire to want to be sexy and supple and sensuous. More so as we age. Flexibility has never been quite as important; stamina was never an issue; muscular and core strength were never really talked about as much as today. We want to be healthier.

 STRONG is the new skinny. STRONG IS SEXY.

 So many students of mine first came to class not able to touch their toes even. Some have never even exercised before! HATE exercise with a passion they said, but would love to learn how to dance, how to 'move correctly'.

 And after 2 months of classes, they're suddenly doing professional stripper moves! They're pole dancing in 7-inch killer heels! They're spinning on the pole and doing splits on the floor! They're even hanging upside down on the pole, using muscles they never knew they had! The few bruises they got, merely a small price to pay for feeling superhuman.

 Happiness is a choice, I always say. It rings true.... but putting that in practice is not so easy sometimes. All the women who have chosen me to be their teacher, our school to be their outlet and our craft as their practice, thank you with all my heart.... you came to the right place:)

To all my Bobbi's girls, know that you're courageous and brave. I'll make sure your nose-dive into pole dancing at Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia, whether whimsical or deliberate,  is one of those best choices you've ever made in your life!! Love you all.

Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia on NTV7's Women Zone

This is my first ever attempt teaching pole dancing in Cantonese :D And of course it has to be on national TV?! God was it hard work....Hahhahaa.....God especially the interview! Yah well.... things we do for passion despite the possible public humiliation? :P

So this program was designed for women. Once again I was honored when the producer approached me to do a feature of my then newly opened Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia, to promote women fitness, sensuality, self-confidence and overall wellness, all through the art of pole dancing. Yes, pole dancing in Malaysia indeed exists.... as a matter of fact, this day my studio is therapy for alot of women. My students have built a necessary feel-good network and the studio is therefore an important social house that they all share. I love it! The power of Venus at work....

Life-sized barbie girl Kim from Bobbi's Perth is in the show too! Dang.... Cantonese for Dummies didn't quite help with the express learning but watch her actions that speak louder than words. What a chance, that the shoot coincided with her short time of visit! The power of Venus at work;)

Thank you NTV7! You've definitely made women in Malaysia see pole dancing in a totally different light. I know so:)

Enjoy the show! And to those we know me, please don't laugh, buggers?

Pole Dancing in Malaysia

Week 8 of each term is showtime! Students from every level perform the routines they've been learning for the last 8 weeks in front of friends and family they invite.
Our studio is an elegant, cozy and friendly domain, with instructors who are helpful, inspiring and unpretentious.

For a life-changing experience, write to me at malaysia@bobbispolestudio.com.au

Meanwhile, catch me on a live interview recently on Bernama TV with Ben Ibrahim on pole dancing + fitness + womanhood.

BOBBI'S POLE STUDIO IS POLE SCHOOL OF THE YEAR!!!

Thank you so much to all who voted for us! xoxoxo

My Spectacular Spectacular Weekend In Perth

Let's see. We started off with some ROUGH SEX....
Or rather, foreplay. Yes indeed, we had rough sex as foreplay didn't we.

And then there was alot of giggling & laughing, VERY little sleep, a far bit of coffee...

....more goofing around in after-show deliriousness....
...some delicious midnight salads (yes, Felix makes salads and LOVES all the vegetables I hate; Kim's just a life-sized barbie domestic goddess so I'd just be happy to eat anything she makes and eats)

in Kim's kitchen at 4am
with Butch....

Oh and there was this one such wicked Mars bar-milk concoction that was introduced by Jedda (may as well be described as "Russian Roulette").... heh.... you know how it is - what's bad for you always tastes good. And there's the super powerhouse show that we all flew in for (5 poles, 20 acts, 60 performers - including Miss Pole Dance Australia 2010 ALLEGRA, 2-time World Pole Champion Felix Cane plus a rare performance by Bobbi herself and her costume was absolutely out-of-this-world amazing).

and this is the lovely Brooke, youngest sister of Bobbi & Kim who helps run Bobbi's Perth and had organized this spectacular Christmas Show! Some sisters are just lucky to have a sister like that:)

And seeing Jedda nail her most spectacular JEDDA move, her Russian Roulette routine was just spectacular.... so sexy, beautiful and just magic....watching her dance and remembering her practising back in KL just made me cry! Oh those shoes.... they're definitely worth all the trouble hey!

And so the Spectacular Spectacular Christmas Show was nothing less spectacular. I finally got to see all of Bobbi's Perth's gorgeous instructors perform and I can never get tired of watching Kim. Lush has the longest most stunning legs any woman would dream to have and she's such a beautiful dancer. Emma's solo routine was really pretty, just like her. They're such a great bunch of beautiful people.

Then after the spectacular show, there was the after-party at VooDoo. But SPECTACULAR continued - TA DA! Felix went full NUDE - yes...from seeing her pole with no shoes for the first time to seeing her butt naked ALL in one night, was this playground extreme? From remote goddess to honest-to-goodness blood,sweat and lipgloss sweetchild stripper Felix, I LOVE IT)



And then there were some zen moments with Kim on koi pond, stoned walls, paradise-home and such...with one most adorable pitbull-scoobydoo named Butch and a blind cat named "Blindy" in between all of that.

In between all of that - the sum of all my influences in a given moment. Everything was the highlight and I was definitely star-struck and so excited to finally be in the action! I've never really been surrounded by so many powerful women all at once but most defining was still to see everyone in their real self, their faces devoid of make-up, rehearsal clothes yet readily consumed by the process of performance.

Another one of Bobbi's ingenious craft. The talent of great stars who sustained was that they keep regenerating themselves, keeping others interested and that's why they're colossal.

I love that.... I've always loved the process of a performance.... and definitely would love some ROUGH SEX too!

backstage warming up, getting decked out, photo time...

...getting the bling on (that's Felix just before her stunning lyrical performance to Hide & Seek) ...and getting BOBBI-fied (this is Emma, instructor from Bobbi's Perth)

I'm flanked by Chilli (my right), Sassy my left) + Jedda from Bobbi's Sydney

how to be a world champ

Felix & Jedda - in the calm after the stormAnd then it all summed up beautifully with a finale of home-grilled sausages, fresh Perth strawberries, Moscato (heh, there's always an Italian somewhere) and a birthday cake.... out in the garden with the family....hahhhhhhh....under the sun. Brunch in the sun... it's right therefore it rhymes....

....and that was the ONLY day I didn't need Felix's Uggs or Kim's winter-rejects :D

it was belated Bobbi's but premature Felix's

THANK YOU SO MUCH Kim, Brooke, Bobbi, Jedda and Felix for a truly heartfelt spectacular weekend. And of course all the men of our superwomen - Lino, Cristian & Josh - you're not forgotten in fact you're loved:)

Special thanks to Frank and Muriel:)

It was special.