Flying Laura is the 2011 American Pole Fitness Champion. In 2009 and 2012, she placed in the California Pole Dance Championships, earning awards of “most flexible” and “most artistic”. Best known for her fast, no handed pole movement and dynamic style, Flying Laura offers a unique and passionate style to the pole dance world.
She has been performing for nearly 5 years, as a soloist in music events, to working with production companies, and circus style shows. Flying Laura is an XPERT certified pole fitness instructor since 2011, earned a NFPT personal trainer certificate in 2009, and has been performing acrobatic pole dance for nearly 15 years.
Laura is also a national gold medalist in Southern Shorthand kung fu and disciplined in kung fu, mixed martial arts, boxing, yoga, and overall performance conditioning for stamina and strength. She later became a group fitness and boxing coach, as well as San Diego’s first pole dance performing artist and one of the city’s first pole fitness instructors in 2008.
Achievements of Laura Martin
- 2011 American Pole Fitness Champion
- 2010 California Pole Dance Championship 3rd place and most artistic
- 2009 California Pole Dance Championship 2nd place and most flexible
- Official X pole girl
- Bad Kitty Exotic Wear PoleFIT brand ambassador
Performing alongside big name DJ’s such as Mimosa, and UK breakbeat legend Krafty Kuts, as well as a solo tour across mainland China. She worked along side past and present cirque du Solei artists at Shine Alternative fitness in Las Vegas in 2012, travels nationally and internationally hosting workshops and personalized instruction for pole dance, and fitness for health and empowerment.
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Laura Martin (Flying Laura) winner of American Pole Fitness Championship 2011 is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You started pole dancing about 15 years back and reached the pinnacle of success by winning the 2011 American Pole Fitness Champion and stood third place in 2010 California Pole Dance Championship and being most artistic. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Laura Martin:
Persistence. showing up and making sure I do the work. my athleticism, and pushing myself physically became my priority for years. challenging myself to work on new skills and pushing my limits in flexibility and stamina over time showed results.
Over the course of the last 15 years, I’ve pursued multiple athletic disciplines, (swimming, boxing, calisthenic training, mixed martial arts, kung fu, yoga) which no doubt attributed to my ability. Once i committed to competitive pole dance, I had to put most things aside for the better part of three years just to have time and resources to move forward in my pole dance career. So aside from learning, and being consistent, CLEAR VISION of what i wanted to achieve allowed me to prioritize.
Other than persistence, I would say having a positive mental attitude and passion for the art of training and pole dance led me to achieve, as well as using a healthy competitive desire for wanting to improve through competing. Above all though, none of these things would have been possible without the heart to push through.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have are a national gold medal in Southern Shorthand kung fu and you are disciplined in kung fu, mixed martial arts, boxing and yoga. How this knowledge and conditioning helped you in competitive pole dancing?
Ms. Laura Martin:
I would say, since in the beginning, for me pole dance was a “free form” of dance.. where I did not have any structure to my learning it, I simply learned through freestyling. Kung fu provided the discipline, ideology and guidelines to training I needed to progress. Martial arts theories often teach beyond just the movement you see physically. Kung fu taught me the idea of a moving metaphor. You read yourself and your opponent… by emotional reactions in movement, and how you react while training.
Learning to use the training time to push through internal limitation, and train your mind to lead your body with positive or neutral affirmations. So, you work to improve yourself. Training becomes a form of meditation. Of course, the physical training for skill, strength and flexibility are essential to movement based arts, but most importantly it taught me self discipline, and how practicing is more valuable then perfection. Meaning, making it your lifestyle, a routine.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are best known for your fast, no handed pole movement and dynamic style, this is your own innovation and mesmerizing style of pole dancing. Elaborate on this concept ?
Ms. Laura Martin:
I have innovated my style over the years, In what started out from free form pole dancing, and a few happy accidents, turned into something unique. What gives me my style, is my speed and precision on movements. Also, because I learned in the beginning by freestyle .. not so much a structured training environment. gives me a “flare” I believe that sets the movement apart from when others may do similar moves. Combined with the amount of years I’ve practiced, has given my dance it’s fluidity, and personality.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Laura Martin:
Complex calisthenics, dynamic body weight exercises, flexibility and joint mobility training. While in between events, I mostly train Chinese pole, yoga to stay limber, and pole dance. I also love staying active in fun physical activity, I love surfing and martial arts. as well as getting into nature.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Laura Martin:
I’ve tried a lot of different food programs, from vegan to vegetarian to a meat and low carb. I feel like diet has a lot to do with an individual.. But as an extreme athlete we burn a ton of calories and need long lasting energy. I’ve found for myself, a diet rich in fresh non processed,(organic if you can) produce, lots of leafy greens, low sugar, and lean proteins and healthy fats. (whole fats, non processed, coco oil, avocado) Nuts and fruit are great snacks. For my lean protien, I like fish the best, it digests nice and has a lot of good fat.
That’s another thing people overlook, is healthy fat. Coconut oil, olive oil, avocado, etc… We need fat, from fresh sources. The processed food world is full of empty calories, low nutrition, high in processed sugars, and fats that put the body more into a stress mode which causes fat storage vs energy output. Also, I eat several times a day, and drink lots of fresh water.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding pole dancing girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of pole dancing ?
Ms. Laura Martin:
Ya know… I think the best advice I could give anyone… would be … if you wanna do something, anything… put your best foot forward, and give your heart… that’s the best you can do. Listen, watch, and learn, but be authentic. Try not to complain, instead… have a forward thinking attitude, and most importantly… enjoy yourself.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel before and after winning “most flexible” and 2nd place at California Pole Dance Championship 2009?
Ms. Laura Martin:
Well, considering I had never had any title before this competition, it was an amazing feeling to have some recognition for my work. The thing is – I didn’t know what to expect from the competition, but I spent a few weeks choreographing and really wanted to put on a good show. Of course, I remember being nervous (totally normal butterflies pre show ), but went out and did what I had prepared , and it was so much fun, and a great feeling for the judges to have seen something in me!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your a solo tour across mainland China?
Ms. Laura Martin:
Now that was quite the experience! Myself and Natasha Wang were the first westerners, and I think foreigners.. to have a main stream pole performance tour across mainland china. Not only was I humbled by experiencing a completely different culture. I saw so much, and it truly opened my eyes to the world getting to be a part of pioneering something in such a different world then the one I come from. People were in awe of the performances.
Also, we got to be on a huge TV show ( Day Day up, on hunan TV) with interviews and a performance piece. Apparently, its one of the biggest channels in China, and a very popular show. It was really fun to promoted so well as an artist and entertainer.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive pole dancing?
Ms. Laura Martin:
In competitive pole… well.. I would say I motivated myself.. because I knew I needed to do something with the gift I had.. I felt it, it was unique.. and it was in my heart. I had so much help along the way… I would say the biggest help for me in pole would be Steve Gale. He taught me so much advanced circus pole, which took my pole ability into the next level. He was kind, insightful, very giving and a good friend.
Another one of my biggest inspirations is of course, my brother Rudy Reyes. He was such an inspiring, motivating and truly passionate teacher, and mentor for me in my training in martial arts, swimming, strength and conditioning, and support.
Of course… there has also been the support of the pole dance fitness community. Without our sponsors, and studios, fans and students… we as professionals would be nothing. These people are what make the network which allows this budding art and fitness to thrive.
I feel lucky to have had such wonderful people in my life to share in these experiences. It really does take a team.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your endeavor on being the brand ambassador of Official X pole girl and Bad Kitty Exotic Wear PoleFIT?
Ms. Laura Martin:
I was approached by both companies… and of course.. was honored. Because these companies are doing a lot of work to help promote our industry as a real lifestyle and way of being fit. They share the same vision that many of us pole dancers see, and that is, that we work hard, live to a good standard, and want to make change in the way this type of art is perceived by the many.
Of course as an athlete, we need support. Its aligning with companies like these that can help us reach a larger audience, and at the same time… are providing a quality product that really works for us athletes.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Laura Martin:
What I want to say to the women of women fitness is … way to go! Its important and vital for us to take care of our precious bodies and minds! Its encouraging and inspiring to see so many women taking control of their health!
To know more about Laura Martin, check out at: http://www.flyinglaura.com
Women Fitness Team thanks Laura Martin for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.