-
Why are you addicted to pole?
So I’m jumping in after lurking.
What is it about poling that makes it your buzz, over any other kind of dance or fitness activity?The bruises ain’t pretty. The chance to show and share with family and friends pretty limited. The prejudice and preconceptions you encounter are tiresome. But we love it and we can’t stop wanting to do it!
Me, it’s the thrill of holding a lovely shape in space without a partner lifting me up. Spinning and flying so it looks effortless even though its hurting.
Scaring myself doing moves and then wanting to tell everyone I DID IT but keeping it a secret and somehow that making it better.
Seeing muscles and finding strength I never knew I had. Burning up the men at TRX core class. Throwing my head back and doing splits when I’m a 40+ mum. Being awed by the best of the best on YouTube.
Cheering another woman I barely know
when she nails it, spotting her and grabbing her as she falls off swearing and I stagger to hold her safe, and we only laugh once her feet are back on the ground.Realising that there’s so much scope to be any kind of dancer I want to be – from balletic to hardcore strength to burlesque to plain rude – and all in one routine if I want!
Being genuinely excited for and admiring of everyone else who poles. New people – you got such a great journey ahead! Experienced people – wow, I just can’t wait to pick up tips.
Never met anyone who puts others down in the pole world – unlike any other dance world I’ve tried [ narrows eyes: ballet, I’m looking at you].Cheers to pole – enough from me, why do you love it?
-
10 Replies
-
It makes me feel so good that each time I finish my workout, I give a kiss to my pole! It makes me feel that I stand out from the “crowd”!:)
-
I can express myself in so many different ways. I love the feeling of getting stronger. I am in the best shape I have been since I stopped gymnastics a little over 20 years ago.
I am doing things I couldn’t imagine my body doing. My boys think I am a cool mom 😉
I am more flexible. I enjoy watching my pole friends conquer new tricks and learn from each other. The pole world here where I live is so much nicer then some of the other exercise formats. -
Because its the best way for me to express myself. 🙂
-
Of course we could all state so many reasons… for me, I think it boils down to expression, but also because it is the most fun I think I’ve ever had.
-
I pole because yes,it’s a way for me to express myself,I can destress,I have a greater and broader appreciation of dance thru pole,it makes me strong and invincible,it fulfills me and brings me a lot of joy,it is the one thing that I truly look forward to despite any on or off days I may have
-
It’s the first exercise class where I have not experienced debilitating self-consciousness. I’m not the most confident girl in the class, but I definitely feel stronger, more confident, and more capable when I leave a class. It’s an exercise that makes me stronger without me noticing and that’s important because as soon as I think about building muscle then I lose interest in working out. Pole distracts me from the exercise part by telling me to get that next move. It’s the first thing I’ve ever done that’s built muscle and confidence at the same time.
-
For me it was the first fitness class that I ever took where everyone was a beginner. That was a huge deal for me because when you go into a step class, yoga, Zumba, etc. and someone is better than you, it can be discouraging. I know that you shouldn’t base yourself on someone else but it can be difficult to motivate yourself to continue if you feel like you’re lagging behind. By the time I was in a mixed levels class, I was already hooked on pole (literally and figuratively) so I began to see others as my motivation.
I will also say that I do occasionally like to stand out of a crowd and it helped that no one I knew had ever taken pole.
-
I’ve been thinking about this since I first saw the question posed. I’ve answered it in so many different ways in the past but the answers always seemed to be missing something fundamental to what I consider to be truth. After thinking about it and reading the last answer, I think its the opposite of her answer. I was always the girl who would challenge by myself to become the best in the zumba class, the best in the aerobic class, the best in the step class, etc, etc. but these weren’t competitive exercises. I would get bored at some point and quit and I never wanted to just build muscle for the sake of building muscle. Now, when I went to my first pole class and I couldn’t do anything…I mean anything so I had to and continue to try to gain the strength to do these moves. Each new trick means that I have accomplished something and I never get bored because there is always a new trick or move. Then there is the whole expression thing that I get do while learn these tricks. I never get bored and I keep finding new challenges which provide me with new muscles and the best shape of my life. What is there to not be addicted to?
-
As you all have stated there are sooo many reasons why I am addicted to pole. As a former gymnast of 20 years I had wanted to get involved in a fitness activity that I wouldn’t get bored with. I was immediately excited when a friend told me about pole. My husband bought me my first month of clases 3 years ago and I never stopped. Pole, for me, was a form of working out that was right up my alley. Vertical gymnastics. A sport that involves acrobatics and dance. I was amazed at what I was capable of learning at my age(39 when I started). At 41 I am in the best shape i have been in for the last 20 years. I was building muscle strength and flexibility without even realizing it because I was having so much fun. Who wouldnt be addicted to that. I (as we all have)learned that pole is not a prissy sport. It takes drive, determination and the bruises become a symbol of what you have accomplished. Kind of like a gold star except their all over your body and purple!! Call us crazy but we dont mind the bruises!!! I personally wear them with pride because I know how hard I worked to get that beautiful bruise!! Enough about the bruises but my point is I am addicted because Its a tough sport that has redefined the kind of person I am. This sport has motivated me with other aspects of my life and I will pole as long as I am breathing
-
Feeling strong, sexy, and confidant. Not just on the pole but in life. Pole had positively affected all aspects of my life by making me stronger, happier, and more confident in myself.
Log in to reply.