Unicorn Porn with Josh Taylor: workshop review

Prior to registering for Croatia Pole Camp, I had never heard of Josh Taylor. I booked his Unicorn Porn workshop PURELY because of the name. I mean, who in their right mind would decline to participate in something called Unicorn Porn?? And while there were many, many wonderful things I got from attending my first pole camp, discovering this incredible man was one of the top highlights.

About Josh:

Josh is an absolute firecracker of a personality. He’s loud, proud and waaaaaay out there in the most fabulous way possible. It’s also really clear as soon as you meet him, that he has a passion for people. In fact, my first interaction with him was not in his workshop! It was when my friend Megan and I were browsing the event sponsors. He joined us, even though we had never met before, and quickly convinced Megan that she needed some shiny disco-ball pole shorts (she definitely did). We felt like old friends even though it was the first time we had met.

About Unicorn Porn

Josh’s Unicorn Porn workshop is, in essence, a filthy basework class with a Josh Taylor twist.

Like every class and workshop I have ever participated in, we started with a warmup. The twist here was that we did the whole warmup in heels. There was no running, jumping jacks or burpees. Instead, we performed a series of basic exotic pole movements that utilise the whole body. I find running on the spot mind-numbingly boring, I hate jumping jacks (I don’t think they belong in a group fitness environment that contains women who have had children), and EVERYONE hates burpees. Plus, we got to be complete hussies from the very start of class! Needless to say, it was one of the best warm-ups I have ever done.

Once we were warm, we did a bit of core work and conditioning. Again, it was not the typical planks, cobras and v-sits that I’m used to. Instead of that, Josh had us doing shoulderstand prep-work. Conditioning is so much more fun when it fits into the theme of the class, and you can see the practical application of the work you’re doing.

Once we were done with conditioning, it was time to start working on the choreo. 

Josh has a really lovely way of teaching. He’s able to break each movement down into manageable, bite-sized chunks that feel achievable, even when you’re HORRIBLY out of practice. His style is very chilled out and internally focussed. He likes his students discover a movement that works for them and their bodies. This is a stark contrast to many other trainers I have experienced, who focus much more on creating big movements, with a “larger than life” dance style.

My goodness did it feel good to be working on a bit of a filthy flow. When I very first started dabbling in Pole Dancing (ahem, 12 years ago) I trained at Bobbi’s Pole Studio. Bobbi’s is pretty universally recognised as one of the founding schools of Australian Showgirl style pole. But I stopped 9 years ago, and only just re-started with pole 12 months ago, at a studio that focusses more on tricks than flow or basework. 

If you’re interested, you can watch the video below for an example of just how out of practice I am.

I walked out of Josh’s Unicorn Porn workshop feeling completely inspired and uplifted. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I signed up for another of his workshops (a floorwork workshop called “Floor Surfing”) on the spot. Unicorn Porn reinspired me at a time when I was feeling a little flat about pole, gave me the motivation to focus a little bit more on my basework and flow in my own regular practice. 

If you ever get the opportunity to attend a workshop with Josh Taylor, I highly *HIGHLY* recommend you do it. He’s truly an amazing individual. His passion for people, his passion for pole, and his hilarious sense of humour combine to make him an incredible instructor.

L-R: Me, Josh and Megan (Megan is wearing the shiny disco ball shorts Josh made her buy!)

While he’s not a huge fan of social media, he is quite active on Instagram, and you can follow him here.