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Keeping Motivation
I'm sure we've all had the issue of motivation… and I'm curious how you generated motivation for yourself! Not in things like work or anything else… but something like dancing or stretching, where the "goals" are just your own, personal gain.
I seem to continuously say "it's good to be BACK on the pole" and never "It's good to be on the pole all the time!" I get motivation in bursts, as if pressure builds up and then I release it by dancing… and then I have to wait for it to build up again. It comes and goes, and that's plagued me for so very long!
It always seems to me that, if I am the primary reason for doing something (as in, I want to be able to do the awesome things on the pole, have more strength, stay healthy, and I enjoy the heck out of it), I don't stay motivated. If it's for someone else, or for someTHING else, then I'm fine.
So… I'm really curious what everyone thinks, and how you stay motivated to keep at the pole, every damn day, and not get bored, or decide that you'd rather sit in front of the computer, or that you've had a rough time at work and just need a rest, or maybe you shouldn't dance while a friend is staying over at your place because they're visiting from Germany, or… well, you know the drill. Excuses.
Halp! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif
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7 Replies
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You are far too hard on yourself Runemist. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif I don't pole every day, it's just not possible with my schedule and all of the other things I enjoy. I don't think the majority of pole dancers do. Unless, Pole is your profession! It's completely normal and acceptable to pole when you feel like it. That's part of the reason for the 30 day take off. To assist polers back into poling again, it doesn't even have to be used for the full 30 days. It's just a starting point. I'm always "starting over" and I know soooooo many others are the same. We have school, kids, work so many other things in our life. So you have to put things into perspective for yourself…. do you want to be a pro? If so then you need to commit to day after day of practice and maintain a diet that supports all of the training needed. Or do you just like to pole dance? If so, then you need to remember that advance pole work may not be obtainable and there's NOTHING wrong with that. Enjoy using the moves you know, it's a challenge in it's self to learn to be ok with where you are in your pole journey. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif
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In my experience, working out really just becomes a habit. I do it because that's what I do in the afternoons. I'm not saying that I don't do it to stay strong and flexible and get better at moves and that I no longer feel good after working out (quite the opposite), it's just that I don't have to consciously think about why I work out any more. I'm also totally guilty of sometimes waking up in the morning just totally not feeling like working out or I get sucked into reading a book or teh internetz or something during the day. I try to not beat myself for being lazy, and just carry on the next day (or the day after, or the day after). I usually find that having a break is usually helpful, as it helps me refocus and gives my body a break. Sometimes though, I do need a boost to get back in to it. I do things like watch YouTube videos, either new ones or some favorites, or I'll listen to songs that I just like to dance to, or that I'd like to choreograph to in order to summon the mojo.
It seem like it really depends on what you want out of the experience. If you are really struggling to get in a work out every day, maybe you should reevaluate if you should be working out everyday. Try working out every other day, or maybe every couple of days. Try shorter workouts each day, or less days but longer workouts on those days. Really consider why you are doing this too. Are you doing it because it's fun? Because you're training for a competition? If you really need something out side your own self to be motivated, maybe find a friend who can give you that outside push to keep at it. Don't forget, maybe your motivation is just cyclical. Make the most of the time when you have it, back off a bit when you don't, then carry on when you do.
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Great points byrdgrrl. I'll add, even though I don't pole consistently I do workout at the same time 5-6 days a week. You can't find time to workout or pole you have to make time.
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Hehe, I know you don't work out EVERY day, Veena! Just a little exaggeration.
I suppose the trick is that… I want to be able to do that awesome stuff because I think it's awesome, and beautiful! I'm not really a competition sort, though that would be a fairly interesting thing to watch.
I've done it for this long because it's fun, and because I really like doing it. I love the feeling workouts give me, and the challenge of doing new moves or trying new things, and seeing what I'm capable of.
I suppose you're right, though! I am quite hard on myself. I've always been so! I might take a step back and see what I really want to get out of pole, and see what it is that keeps me from making proper habits. I have a difficult time with… well, time, so making a daily habit can be a little bit more of a challenge. When three hours feels like three days, and then five hours can feel like five minutes… sometimes those "habits" become weird 😛
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I tend to be very routine oriented, so once I get into it, it works. May not be as easy for you. Try several different ways, and see what clicks.
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I usually didn’t jump right in learning tricks even though I wanted to try them so badly, but I watched a couple of pole performance videos first and closed my eyes imagining how beautifully and happily I was performing in front of a lot of people shouting in excitement. Then I turned on the music real loud and did some sexy dance to warm up, then stretch a little bit before the practice. Every time people asked me how long I poled, I just didn’t know how to answer them. It varies all the time depending on how my body feels on that day, sometimes one hour, two hours, four hours, or just 30 mins. The most importance is that I always stopped poling before I got bored of it so that I would have stronger motivation to come back next time. Stretching isn’t fun for me either, but the only that carries me through it is the thought of being able to do splits on the pole 😀
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I have a hard time with that too! I am a full time student and every term they flood us with more. I constantly just dont have time and then by the time I do it feels like I have to start over! So I feel your pain! But I find watching other pole videos motivates me and going to a pole studio. Because one your paying for it so you dont want to not go, and 2 you get to meet other ppl who motivate you to work harder. Right now I go two days a week and I just started doing that… before it was one day a week…. but my membership allows two days… poling at home I find really difficult to get motivation, but when i get to the more harder levels I will have things I will want to practice at home just so by the time I go into class next I hopefully can get it down pat! anyways 🙂 yup thats how I feel, I find the first little while…. you dont want too but u force urself to goo and then it just becomes an addiction lmfao I love it … I dont pole as much as I want too and i am definitely not flexible… but everything takes time right? I figure when i am not a student.. I will have lots more time 🙂
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