Learning to Stand Taller: Lessons from the Posing Floor

It’s 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, and I’m driving down the highway toward Toronto with that soft, pre-show buzz of anticipation. I’ve got my coffee balanced in the cup holder, heels tucked beside my gym bag, and a playlist that’s half empowerment anthems, half chill focus tracks.

I'm on my way to a posing seminar hosted by Natacia Marie Tullo of Nat Marie Posing. I recently started following Nat online on instagram because she is someone not too far from my area that offers posing coaching online as well as in person. I love her way of explaining and cueing for posing her athletes with intention, so when I saw her share a link to sign up for an upcoming seminar specifically about improving stage presence - I sent her a message right away to secure my spot.

As a newbie my goal really is just to soak up as much information as possible so events like this are a great way to connect with other athletes and learn a lot one on one.

Photos by Steph at Blvckstone Media

As I walked into the studio, it was already buzzing with a quiet kind of energy. Everyone in that same headspace - focused, nervous, but smiling. There’s something special about being surrounded by people who get it. That’s what I love most about these types of seminars. They’re generally short, but they’re dense with energy. Everyone shows up with intention. You can almost feel the collective energy shift when the session begins.

I’ve been to a couple local posing seminars before, but this one was organized in such a way that we all got some time to work on our individual presence as well as practice while transitioning between call outs and possible awkward situations that can arise on the stage in the moment. How can we hold poise and grace in our movements throughout and not just perform but embody the essence of who we are.

It seems more important now than ever, especially after Maureen Blanquisco’s crowning as Miss Bikini Olympia this year. Her win reminded me what this division really celebrates: poise, grace and balance. Yes, the physique matters. The conditioning, the shape, the polish - all crucial. But it's undeniable that an athlete that commands the stage is always someone to watch out for.

That’s what we were all tuning into that morning - not just the poses, but the presence. How to make every movement intentional. How to embody grace even when you’re exhausted or nervous or standing under fluorescent lights trying to 'look natural' as your low back is breaking. Nat was wonderful and even helped each of us formulate a little mantra to say to ourselves before stepping on stage. Somewhere between the turns and the walking drills, I got to chat with some of the women and I felt like we all had something to relate to in each other in that moment. We know what it's like to push ourselves to the extreme and how it's not always understood from the outside.

And that’s the magic of being in that space. You see yourself mirrored in others - your habits, your insecurities, your drive. There’s this subtle shift from “me” to “we.”

Because even when we're competing, in another sense we’re also collaborating. Every one of us is contributing to something bigger - a movement toward health, strength, and self-expression. We’re showing what it looks like to take control of our lives, to refine our bodies and minds, and to do it in a way that celebrates dedication and building yourself up.

Each of the athletes have their own circles - partners, friends, coworkers - people who notice the changes, the glow, the discipline. And It spreads quietly. One person starts meal-prepping differently. Another asks about your training split. Someone decides to finally sign up for that gym membership. Ripple effects make waves eventually.

We may not realize it in the moment, but these micro-interactions create momentum. They make health and self-respect contagious. And it’s just kind of beautiful to think that something as niche as a posing seminar can spark that kind of energy.

When the session wrapped up, I left with a few new posing cues, yes, but more than that - I left with a deeper appreciation for this community. For how strong and kind these women are. For how the sport invites us to build each other up even when we’re technically “competing.”

The process of refinement isn’t just about the body. It’s about energy, character, and shared purpose. These spaces remind me of that. They pull me back to the “why” behind all the early mornings and long prep weeks. It’s not about chasing approval - it’s about belonging to something that challenges you to evolve.

Driving home, I kept thinking about how I see this lifestyle now. It’s not a collection of checklists or show deadlines - it’s a community of people continually learning what it means to show up with grace and grit. This weekend reaffirmed what I already knew but had forgotten to feel: that progress happens in small rooms, in shared smiles, in the mirror when you catch yourself standing a little taller than before.

Standing tall, to me, isn’t only about posture. It’s about knowing your ground; your values, your rhythm, your reason. And maybe that’s what the experience was really about. A reminder that growth doesn’t need grand stages - just presence, community, and a willingness to keep refining who you are.

***All photos in this post were taken by Steph of BlvckStone Media - follow her on social media @blvckstonemedia_ or on her website at www.blvckstonemedia.com