It is early Tuesday morning; "the day of the burn."  My
S Factor class is on Sunday so, Tuesday has become the day my muscles burn from the new moves my awesome instructor sneaks in every week now.  I LOVE the feeling; it lets me know I am building strength and using muscles I didn't realize existed.

I am a 41 year old mother of two incredible teenage boys and currently a Level 3 student.  Sundays used to be a day to catch up on sleep. It's now become
S Factor day for me and I wake up for it at 7:30 A.M.   I drive an hour each way to take class since San Francisco is the closest studio to me. Thank God I have one in driving distance; I am one of the lucky ones. 

About 6 months ago, I heard you on a local morning radio program talking about S Factor and how it started inside of you and grew to fruition.  I was absolutely mesmerized by your passion and the words you used to describe what S Factor is about.  "A movement, freedom, safety, empowering, organic etc.."  I listened as you explained what it is now and what your hopes for it's future are and I had no choice but to explore it for myself.  I felt such a "pull" towards S Factor that it's difficult to explain without sounding strange.  I just knew that it was something I needed to be a part of.  In fact, when I first walked in the doors I told one of the girls (Erika) that I had this gut intuition that I needed to be there and she said "Welcome to the place where that's how all decisions are made."  I feel so fortunate that my first introduction was hearing it from you yourself because one tends to equate pole dancing with well...pole dancing and this was CLEARLY something different; something more.  The moment I had a chance I logged on to the S Factor web site and subscribed to your newsletter.  What a jewel that has been for me.  Those letters are so intuitive and inspiring; I save every one and forward them to my friends and family.  Shortly thereafter, I signed up for an Intro session and was hooked.  I have to say I was a bit nervous and apprehensive going into it. It had been over 2 years since I'd worked out at all and I'd gained 20 lbs after getting married 2 1/2 years earlier, which seems to be a hazard of a happy marriage!   After signing up for my first session, I was so impressed at how well thought out the entire S Factor experience is.  No mirrors, no men, no nudity, AMAZING instructors (shout out to Shannon here),  the perfect place to feel comfortable with all of it....it was more than I could have hoped for.  The studio itself is bursting with the most beautiful energy.  All of the women come for different reasons but I believe we stay for the same;  the one common denominator..........we are all female and what a thing to celebrate!   I've never had a place away from home where I can be completely myself at all times.  When I'm meditating, doing the workout, dancing or practicing pole tricks I don't have to look in a mirror or someone else's gaze to track my progress.  If I can't make it upside down one week, I don't feel self-conscious whatsoever! On the contrary, I feel supported, free to laugh out loud at myself, free from judgment and, most of all, safe.  A couple of weeks ago, as I was reading your "Italy story", it struck me how there truly is no place other than S Factor where we are 100% free as women to be women.  What an incredible beautiful gift you have created for us. 

For some reason, since joining S Factor everything in my life that is important to me has become magnified in a way that has made me want to do it all better.
S Factor has brought out something inside of me that I forgot was there and is blossoming and changing all aspects of my life for the best.  I have been exploring new career fields (it is so time for a change), working out and losing weight (yay!), spending more time with my family etc. Listening to music has even become a different event. I have always loved music but it all has brand new meaning now.  It's like I have these rainbow glasses on and I'm never taking them off!  I know all of the S Factor women know exactly what I'm talking about when I say that the music, the dancing, the fitness, the pole tricks are all just icing on the cake.  I hope so many women everywhere  that are afraid or skeptical for one reason or another has a chance to hear you explain it because S Factor is different from anything they'll ever experience or have the opportunity to be a part of.  I often feel frustrated when I start to explain and get that "Oh, the pole dancing thing" response.  I want to shout it from the rooftops to any woman who will listen because every woman should have a place in their life like this.  It is the best feeling to be able to walk through the doors and leave the past week outside.  I love that we are encouraged to let it all go and, no matter what is hanging on my mind or in my heart, I am able to quiet it for those precious two hours every Sunday and rejuvenate my soul.  That is exactly what it does for me. S Factor is a place of courage and strength, a place of beauty, light and enlightenment.  It is filled with the most incredible women of all different ages and strengths. I met you at an open house in S.F. over the Summer and told you I wished I could live there at the studio. You replied "me too" and I thought you were being polite, but now I believe you meant it.  I get to live at the S Factor for two hours every week and I feel so fortunate for that opportunity.   I hope someday there will be an S Factor in driving or walking distance to every woman on every continent!

Thank you for following your gut instinct and continuing to fight for us.

Always an S Factor devotee,

Denise Stiarwalt