In recent years, pole dancing – once confined to strip clubs – has been given a chance to shine on a much larger stage; from the 2020 Grammys, when the beautiful FKA Twigs performed in tribute to the late singer Prince, to appear in large gyms. Not only that, the life of pole dancers also becomes material for filmmakers to exploit, possibly next like “Hustlers” (2019), “Zola” (2020) or “P-Valley” ( 2020)… Recently, female photographer Adrienne Raquel chose to take a closer approach when taking photos of real dancers working at Onyx – the most famous strip club in Houston, Texas, USA. The series was presented by Raquel at her first solo photography exhibition, ONYX, at the Fotografiska museum (Stockholm, Sweden) at the end of April. The exhibition celebrates black women. South – they have long been a source of inspiration in music and visual culture. Raquel sees the changing attitudes around pole dancing as a sign of a major cultural shift. “I clearly feel that this exotic dance is no longer a taboo as it used to be. Women in general are gradually showing confidence and really showing their sex appeal. It has become more normal in our society,” the photographer said in a video interview. Adrienne Raquel, who lives and works in New York, has collaborated with many international stars such as Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Nas X and Travis Scott. She came up with the idea after visiting the club in 2017. At that time, she went to Houston for her aunt’s birthday and they chose Onyx as the party venue. Once, the experience made her cherish the dream of returning to capture the shining moments of female strippers in a candid and intimate way. She describes these women as complex, hard-working, talented individuals and extremely adept at their work. “Onyx is one of those rare strip clubs where I really feel welcome. It feels like home,” Raquel said. Raquel was mesmerized by the space covered with velvety pink and red light, and the deep and sensual shadows mingled with the dancers’ movements. “When you walk into a strip club, you’re a bit surprised at first. Then it brings a sense of debauchery. Once I got over that stereotype, I really noticed the dancers – not just in terms of their physical beauty or sex appeal, but also the relationship they had with each other.” explained. The exhibition “ONYX” is an expression of beauty, from the way the light curves around the back and heels, to the silent, contemplative moments of the women backstage. However, what Raquel wants to convey goes beyond that external beauty. “I think, there is definitely external beauty. But the way they move, walk and talk shows that they have innate confidence,” she emphasized.

Find joy in your practice

Women with a well-proportioned body can start the exercise with the desire to be healthy and beautiful, but what makes them persevere with those high-intensity exercises every day finds joy in the exercise. They practice ballet, pole dancing to boost the happiness hormone, jog to clear their mind and feel focused, find peace and stability in their daily exercise ritual. Regardless of the form of the practice, if they are purely to-do and without joy, you will soon be discouraged.

Think about what you should eat instead of what you shouldn’t

Diet has taught us to focus on what not to eat: fat-free products, low-carb diets … Instead of worrying about it, healthy women get excited about their food. Eat: salads, delicious vegetarian dishes, smoothies, juices … Thinking about options that make yourself happy will relieve the pressure of giving up too many unhealthy favorites.

Always be active

Women who always keep in shape without limit activity in just one exercise session lasting 60 minutes; instead, they live a more active lifestyle as a whole. It was natural for them to move more and sit less. They set themselves up with many challenges such as having to walk 10,000 steps a day, standing and walking more while working, to ensure at least 2-3 / day cooking a week … for example.

Balance between exercise and rest

If you think staying healthy is just about exercise levels, think again. Women who keep fit and know that the key to health is balance, not perfection. Your body needs recovery as well as exercise, so take advantage of the rest days.

Never eat too full or leave an empty stomach

The feeling of extreme hunger causes us to make choices based on taste. If you find yourself getting hungry quickly after a meal, try adding fiber with vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Always carry healthy snacks in case of an empty stomach, a mid-afternoon mixed salad or snack with some veggies if the gap between lunch and dinner stretches. On the other hand, overeating can make us feel lethargic and interfere with digestion.

Healthy secrets come from within

Diet can help you get in shape, but not help you stay in shape. In fact, pursuing a diet is not a belief among always healthy women. They see the eating method as a way of life, not a diet. They know what foods make their body feel good and what isn’t. Your body knows what it takes to be healthy and you just need to listen to it.

Drink a lot of water

This is the most basic nutrient with so many health benefits that we often forget about it. Up to 60% of the human body is made up of water, so we can help more than half of the body function by staying hydrated. It is not uncommon for women to keep in shape constantly sipping water.

Be loyal to the habits

Staying in shape is a series of simple habits, which means that women of good shape always know how to create habits and then make them an integral part of their daily routine. Just like when you wake up, the first thing is personal hygiene, you don’t need to spend time fighting over whether or not you should do it.

Create joy in life

Perhaps healthy habits are underestimated as being constantly refreshing your life; This means we will try new exercises, experiment with new recipes … They will not make you more muscular or slim, but will help you to be mentally healthy and special. is happier.

Be aware of the need to love yourself

We often struggle with eating healthy, taking care of ourselves or exercising because we don’t really find ourselves in need of the best. When you love yourself enough, you know how to invest and don’t feel lazy in training yourself.

Perform: Huyen My Truong