Last September, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and do something totally different. On a whim, I signed up for a 6-week beginner series of pole dancing lessons at the pole fitness studio near my house. I’ve never really liked working out, partly because it’s been challenging to find a routine I like enough to stick with. I hate going to the gym and as much as I’ve tried to force myself to like running, it’s just not going to happen. But I wanted to start working out on a regular basis and be around other people because I can’t motivate myself to workout alone.
And so my journey began! Now, five months later, I’m absolutely in love with pole fitness and my Tuesday night class is the highlight of my week! There’s nothing like releasing all my stress and tension from a long week of classes and work with two hours of dancing and getting a full body workout! I can get all the benefits of working out but it doesn’t feel like work! I want to share some reasons why I love pole, and why I think you’ll love it too!
- Challenge Yourself to Break Your Routine!
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It’s easy to get stuck in a workout routine that can become boring or stale. You might be looking for something new to challenge yourself, to work new muscles, or just experiment with a different way to get those feel-good endorphins rushing! Pole fitness is great because it combines dance with a conditioning-style warmup. You start by warming up your arms, legs, abs, and obliques and then get on the pole and work those muscles while you dance! There’s also lots of stretching so you don’t pull any muscles and can become really flexible. It can be fun to try something new and get your body moving to burn calories.
- Confidence
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I’m definitely not the most confident person. I have social and generalized anxiety so feeling comfortable enough to dance around other people can take some time. I didn’t know what to expect during my first class. We started by sitting in a circle on yoga mats and took turns introducing ourselves; then we did a warmup and started learning a few basic moves. To pole dance, you do not have to fit any one body type or age group. One woman came to class with her granddaughter because she was, in her words, “65 and ready to try something new!” All the women in class are so encouraging and as you learn more you become comfortable and confident. With dimmed lights and loud music, it’s easy to become lost in the movement and sound and let go of your inhibitions.
- Community
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The pole studio I attend has a group chat for attendees where we discuss techniques, events, and plan meet ups for coffee or drinks at the end of the week. There’s college students, business people, stay at home moms, grandmas, and even professors that attend the studio. My class group of 6 people has a group chat through which we shared a spotify playlist that we can all contribute to and play during class. Every person I’ve come into contact with in pole class is extremely friendly, encouraging, and helpful. Any community of women supporting women is one I want to be a part of!
- Strength
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The first thing I learned at pole class is pole dancing takes a TON of muscles! As you can probably guess by my hatred of working out, when I first started classes I had no muscles. Five months have passed since I started pole fitness and a few weeks ago I was able to do an invert (where you’re upside down on the pole)! I feel so much stronger and just generally healthier. I can go hiking longer without being out of breath, I can lift furniture I definitely wouldn’t have attempted to move alone before, and I have developed core strength for basically the 1st time in my life. Even just going to class once a week has greatly improved my strength and I feel so good!
- Fun
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The 2-hour, once weekly pole fitness class I attend has quickly become my favorite hobby. Taking time out of my ultra-busy week to do something fun (that simultaneously improves my fitness) has become a great form of self care for me. Getting to see all of my friends from class, learn new tricks and techniques, and then apply them during a freestyle dance is a great workout–and it’s so much fun!! I urge you to seek out a pole fitness studio near you and give it a try. I can promise you, you’ll most likely love it!