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Are you an athlete?
*This will probably be a long post, sorry.* So I had an interesting discussion with someone recently when I was looking for good protein powders/workout supplements. This person knows I pole dance, as well as do other things to cross train about 3x a week. I have a big passion for fitness and take pole very seriously, it truly changed my life and turned me into the stronger, body-conscious, more confident person I am today. When showing interest in brand 'X', I was told not to use that because that's for "athletes", and what I do is more of a hobby than an 'exercise'. Do you consider yourself an 'athlete'? What defines an athlete in the pole world, exactly? Of course there are varying degrees of the intensity and time that all of us spend on the pole, but in my mind all pole dancers can be athletes, whether you are an exotic dancer, do it strictly for exercise/sport, as a hobby, or an aerial art. I don't think that just because someone doesn't compete or isn't a 'pro', that they are less serious than anyone else. I was not offended by what this person said, just confused as to what defines 'being an athlete', and what the heck it is I'm doing day in and day out if not training hard for something very physically demanding. I get asked from time to time from massage therapists and chiropractors if I am a gymnast, and I truly do not KNOW how on earth I can be mistaken for a gymnast, little ol' me- and then I remember that my biceps do not look the same as they used to 3 years ago…lol.
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10 Replies
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One definition: ath•lete (ˈæθ lit)
a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, coordination, stamina, or strength.And another: ath·lete (http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/abreve.gifthhttp://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/prime.giflhttp://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/emacr.gifthttp://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/lprime.gif)
A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.
I don't consider myself an athlete, I consider myself a dancer. What we do is athletic, yes, but it seems like competing is where the difference lies. Though I still would define myself as a dancer more than an athlete if I competed. Interesting discussion!
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I think what is interesting about this is that the word 'athlete', whilst has fairly clear dictionary definitions (thanks sparrow 🙂 ) it means different things within the world of exercise. We are all definitely classed as athletic, as well as a whole mess of other wonderful terms, but generally within the protein powder and enhancer world, supplements aimed at 'athletes' are for those who train 3 times a day type deal. When I was competing in martial arts, this was what I needed to do, and I took some of these types of supplements. I do disagree though in something the supplement guy said – that it is a hobby rather than exercise. That is just a bit ridiculous to think that, however I think he did steer you in the right direction away from the 'X' – that is crazy stuff 🙂
I tend to think of myself as an aerialist. That is just my personal preference, and I often love to hear where others like to choose their own terms for themselves. Pole in itself is so diverse that we can choose our own direction, and thus our own definitions. 🙂
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My definition of sn athlete is Someone whose idea of a workout doesn’t involve a playstation 2.
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Seriously, I believe an ATHLETE is someone who sets a goal and works hard to achieve that goal. Someone that challenges themself to do something they consider impossible and inspire many along their journey.
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Interesting discussion, I guess the definition between being a dancer and being an athlete are floating.
The competition thing makes sense, but does not cover everything I think. And I guess all athletes do sports (in contrasts to dancers), and a sport is something that you can compete in if you're good enough at it and want to. But not all sportsmen are athletes Shooting ducks may be a sport but does it make you an athlete?
But still, I think I consider myself an athlete even if I don't compete and I suppose it is because my whole experience of what I'm doing is athletic. Training 5-6 days a week to be good enough to pole dance and then show my endeavours to other people online just seems serious enough to feel like an athlete :).
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Very pleased to see discussion like this 🙂
For me, an "athlete" is someone who does fitness, or physical "work" (be that play, going to the gym, dancing, gymnastics, or whatever tickles your pickle) often. Say, they place it in the "Top 5" of things they like to do. I could even see an athlete being someone who does Parkour, or staff spinning, or rowing or hiking or even archery.
All of the things I've listed require a certain amount of physical fitness, focus, and training. You've got to practice it, physically, and get to know it. If you stop, you lose the skill, little by little.
Also, if you're looking for protein powder to put into your diet because you need more protein in order to achieve your goals… that's a pretty good sign that you're an athlete right there.
I could also accept the idea, however, of an "athlete" taking something physical further than "just a hobby." They make it their life. The way we say "That person is an artist!" Because they spend most of their time making art, and they live and breathe it.
So… I'm of two minds about it. Either way, I think it's YOU who defines whether you are an "athlete" or not. Just the same as you define what else you are! Artist, baker, writer, pole dancer, music connoisseur. 🙂
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I just think that the person you were talking to just doesn’t really know what they are talking about
Being an athlete has nothing to do with what protien and supplements you are looking into…. is a marathon runner as athlete?? Yes….. is the worlds strongest man an athlete?? Yes……. do they have the same nutrition requirements?? I should hope not
Protien and supplements depend on what your exercise regimes are…… that jacked guy/girl in the gym may not be an athlete but they could sure benefit from some nutrition supplements to aid in recovery and what not
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Wanting to add protein to your diet does not make you an athlete. I mean, if i want to add more chicken or beef or hemp powder to my diet, does that make me an athlete??
Protein is not divided into "hobby" and "athlete". Protein is just protein and powders are pretty much just a convienent and expensive way to add it. That person had no clue what they were talking about.
We see this a lot from bodybuilders, they say if you are training for the bikini division, you are not an athlete. Even though those girls work their tushies off. I hear it a lof about crossfitters not being real athletes, because none of their "games" are real life scenaros. I hear it from crossfitters about cardio bunnies.. because they dont lift hard core…
I wish people would just accept that their way isnt every ones way and what makes you an athlete is the work you put into your sitation. I consider pole a sport, as it combines lots of the things that make fitness as a whole. Strength, flexibility, cardio training, functionality, etc…
Besides if someone tells you you are not an athlete, i think an appropriate response is to tell them to hold their entire body weight sideways in the air and then tell you you are not an athlete or "exercising"
seriously, outside of pole, how many people can do flag or iron x???? What we do is amazing, even if we dont think so sometimes, and others may not understand the level of training that goes into it, They think we just swing around a pole ;D
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Oh man someone tell me how to add a pic for this thread I’ll upload a pic of my guns(arms) and its strictly pole and by the way level 4 at APC had the biggest muscles I. Have ever seen on woman and its all pole! People often font grasp that we are lifting our body weight and do we are lifting at 100% of our weight. U have to explain this to people.
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In the beginning of learning pole, I never would've considered myself an athlete. I suppose I would've thought of it as a hobby or fitness in order to lose weight and build strength. But now, its so much more than that. Now, its not a hobby, its not just for exercise. I purposely train myself 3 to 4 times a week. And I know some people in this thread have said they're dancers and it is pole DANCING. But in my mind, its not even dancing anymore lol. It reaches a level above that, if that makes any sense. It's acrobatics, gymnastics, ballet << ok that's one's dancing lol.
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