Pole dancing aka pole-fitness, pole-nastic, cardio pole, or vertical fitness has experienced an extreme rise in popularity in recent years. More and more women and men are committing to pole dancing to get stronger, increase their flexibility and embrace their bodies. Since pole dancing is a female-dominated sport, I’d like to focus on what it is from a female perspective and how it can help. Pole dancing is a lot more than dancing or doing tricks on a pole. The motives that encourage women to join this form of athletic, as well as artistic self-expression are countless, and the healing potential attached to it is widely overlooked. All I can say is: POLE CHANGED MY LIFE. I started pole fitness in the middle of the pandemic. First I just wanted to find a good alternative to the gym, since everything was closed, but I soon realized that my intrinsic motivation was rooted deeper. When I make up my mind about something I usually just go ahead and do it, so the next day I bought a pole and installed it in the middle of my living room. I started my pole journey on YouTube, watching tutorials. My interest got bigger with every video I watched, and my mind was blown by how beautiful and elegant the women in those tutorials move. I quickly realized, that even basic moves are harder than I thought, and without the right technique I might hurt myself, so I signed up for pole classes in a studio nearby. Joining the studio was my life changer. I entered a community of strong and unique women, who are there for each other and embrace their bodies. I didn’t know what to expect, but the diversity I encountered was amazing. Age, size, looks, or profession don’t matter. We are there for each other and help each other grow physically, and mentally. I have never had an issue with my looks, but the confidence and strength I get from pole definitely changed my life. Unfortunately, pole dancing is still characterized by negative stereotypes, directly connecting it with the sex industry. While some women definitely use pole dancing as an outlet for expressing their sensuality (which is totally fine), others just love being part of the community and love the intensity of the workout. The very few people who still judge in today’s evolved society are the ones that are still holding on to patriarchal values. Values that find their foundations in keeping women small and shaming them for literally everything. It’s time to move on from outdated belief systems and embrace a new generation of strong and independent females, who are proud of their bodies, appearance, and sensuality/sexuality. Pole dancing is more than just an exercise and helps to empower more and more people every day.
Here’s how getting into pole fitness could empower you:
+ Promotes Strength & Flexibility
Pole dancing is a full-body workout that activates muscles you probably didn’t even know you had. Holding your whole body weight while hanging on the pole is not easy and requires physical and mental strength. You have to know how to move your body, how to wrap your leg around the pole so the grip is strong enough to hold, how to bend your back, and the list goes on and on. The first milestone every poler has to accomplish is just ‘simple’ climbing which is not as simple as it seems, but with patience and practice, anyone can do it. The first time you master a new move or pose is a very powerful and rewarding feeling. But it is not only a strength exercise. To be able to flow around the pole, flexibility is a big must. That’s what makes this workout so special. It’s in perfect balance with strength and flexibility, and balance is one of the most important things we need to incorporate into our daily lives. Many girls who practice pole fitness also go to stretching and yoga classes, which creates mental clarity and increases awareness, leading to the next topic.
+ Helps Dealing With Emotions And Boosts Mental Health
Body, mind, and soul are not the same but they are definitely connected to each other. The connection, as well as communication between those, is enhanced by performing exercises that bring your attention and awareness to your body and breathing. Since pole dance is this balanced training it can help open up emotional blockages and increase overall mental health. Being able to fly around the pole and hold your body with one hand, spin, invert, and face the ground while hanging high is also a very empowering feeling, which has a positive and healing effect. In addition to the physical aspect of the workout, many women feel safe, seen, and heard when visiting their pole classes. Pole studios are viewed as some sort of ‘safe heaven’ and judgment-free zone, which can be very liberating. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you’re wearing, where you’re working, or how physically fit you are. Everyone has the same goal, and there’s this extreme community spirit, understanding, and readiness to help.
+ Increases Self-Awareness And -Confidence
When performing tricks on the pole you must be very aware of your body because you can also hurt yourself if your grip is not proper. For me personally, whenever I prepare myself to train, I enter “the zone “and go into a flow state where my mind and body are focused and clear. You start feeling your body and work towards perfecting the poses you have learned. That is a very important step when it comes to self-awareness. When performing on the pole, your skin is your main grip. Therefore pole outfits try to not cover too much skin, otherwise, you could fall off and seriously injure yourself. By showing the body women learn to embrace their bodies regardless of size and shape. It helps build confidence, strengthens body image, and helps women to celebrate their femininity.
+ Empowers Sensuality
It’s not about being sexy, but it can be if you want it to be. Female sexuality is one of the things women have been shamed of for centuries. ‘Don’t do this, don’t wear that, you’re not allowed to be sexy.’ The bitter result of this conditioning is that many women lost the connection to their own bodies. Pole dancing reestablishes this connection. A better understanding of your body and the encouragement to move freely automatically makes you enjoy your body more. Many women have confirmed that pole dancing has opened up new doors. They have learned to move their bodies in new ways and were more confident in expressing what they wanted. It’s like reactivating and freeing your inner goddess. #powermove
+ Promotes Creativity
Once you got the basics down and learned a couple of poses, it’s up to you what you do with, or on your pole. There is an unlimited amount of combinations and variations of moves you can do, and it’s all up to you. The good news is: pretty much everything you’ll do will look amazing! You can dress up, wear heels, create your own photoshoot ideas, and make videos. There’s also a wide variety of beautiful pole outfits that will make you look amazing. I always get my outfits from my dear pole instructor Alice, who’s also a designer and a real queen. Check out her Pole-wear here. The opportunities to turn yourself and your performance into an artwork are innumerable. Being creative can improve overall mental health and increases positive emotions, reduces anxiety, lowers depression, and boosts the immune system.