These are the unexpected lessons I learnt from pole dancing

It’s harder than you think.

Throughout my life, I’ve generally felt confident about my body and comfortable in my skin. Overall, I feel good about my physique. I’ve always ensured I’m doing some sort of physical activity on the regular, and  I’m an enthusiast for a reformer pilates class. But I have to admit, the same set of exercises can become quite mundane after a while.

I decided I wanted to incorporate something into my daily routine that was a little more exciting and wasn’t necessarily just for exercise. I had the desire for something that made me feel more in tune with my sense of self.  With that in mind and a little motivation from JLO in the movie Hustlers, I decided to sign up for pole dancing classes.

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Arriving at my first class, I realised wearing my longest pair of Lululemon shorts wasn’t the smartest decision. I had to roll them up as much as I could because as I soon learnt, pole dancers wear minimal clothing. Not only because it looks hot but because the more skin exposed, the easier it is to grip and do tricks on the pole. 

The nervous sweats weren’t helping the situation. I could barely lift my body weight up because my hands were so sweaty they kept slipping off. ‘Maybe I’m just not strong enough. Honestly, how does anyone do this?’ I thought. It seemed impossible. And no one warned me about the bruising. You bruise in places you didn’t know you could bruise. 

I was so naive walking into the studio for the first time. I was caught up in the excitement of being surrounded by pink neon lights and floor-to-ceiling poles. It felt like I was part of something very thrilling and somewhat exclusive. But let me tell you, pole dancing is tough work.

Pole dancers make it look easy. There’s not enough credit given to those who can full-body grind while being suspended in the air without looking awkward. I thought my experiences dancing in the mirror and dropping on dance floors in clubs would be enough. I was wrong. Pole dancing is a whole other realm of fitness. I was looking for something truly challenging but still enjoyable, and pole dancing was it. 

Like anything, practice makes perfect. I could barely get myself up the pole for the first few classes. But there’s always a satisfying feeling of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. The mental game of being consistent and sticking at it, of one day finding yourself stronger and able to climb the pole a little higher, is very motivating. It also became way more enjoyable when I started to actually be able to perform some of the tricks being taught. 

When it comes to pole dancing, the shoes are an essential aspect. For my birthday, I received a pair of eight-inch pole dancing heels as a gift. There was an overwhelming sense of confidence I got when I put on these heels. They made me feel like I could do anything (just maybe not run a marathon). The first class I wore them, I felt so sensual. My legs looked longer and my bum looked perkier. I discovered the secret to tapping into my feminine and sexual side – it simply requires wearing a pair of eight-inch high heels.

When I began taking pole classes, I was hesitant to share it with everyone. I was selective because pole dancing can, unfortunately, be seen as ‘too provocative‘ and people negatively over-sexualise those who choose to engage in it. But I realised it’s more of an art form than I initially thought. Even the simplest pole tricks take months to perfect. 

As I continue attending classes and gaining experience, I’m more comfortable telling people I pole dance. It helped me overcome my subconscious shame of wanting to be seen as sexy or sensual. If you’ve ever considered trying pole dancing, this is your sign.

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