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Where did you start and where are you now?
My pole arrived yesterday!! (it is still in the box, I have a few other projects to move along before I can bust it out)
I have never poled and I'm nervous, excited, etc… I am 5'10" and 160lbs, not very flexible, and moderately strong.
I'm curious, where did you start out in your pole journey and where are you now? How long have you been poling?
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24 Replies
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I started 4 years ago not being able to lift myself. I am now entering the advanced phase of my dancing. I had about 1 year off in poling part way through my journey then got back into it when I moved. I stared out learning all spins in a studio, then moved and started learning tricks thorough the lessons here.
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Hello welcome to poling!
I started as a fan of the art…for about 12 years I just admired it from afar wishing I could learn but back then there were no pole classes available like there are now. The only people I knew who knew how to pole dance were my friends who were exotic dancers…so yeah, I spent alot of time hanging out at strip clubs lol
Then a lil miracle happened, pole became the new fitness craze and I could finally learn! My journey started 2 1/2 years ago when I tried a trial pole class. Immediately at the end of the class, I was obsessed with pole and signed up for classes!
Of course the first year was the hardest…I poled on and off that first year often having a love hate relationship with my pole at home. I almost gave up on pole several times during the first year but I am happy that I stuck with it. The first year was full of building strength, confidence and learning to trust my body.
Year 2 was a little better and the year of discovery– about myself as a person, about what my body was capable of and my limitations in pole and pushing beyond that to become a better poler.
Now heading into year 3 the up and down days are back (because I am now learning advanced moves that again take lots of patience and MORE strength than ever before) and developing flow, grace, fluidity, dance & floorwork are my focus as I work on becoming the best overall poler I can be.
Welcome to the wonderful journey of poling, hang on, because it's a wild ride but sooooo worth it!
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I started poling when I though I was reasonably fit… but I could barely lift my own weight on the pole after 30min of practice! I used to go to the gym 3/4 times a week and do a mix of cardio and weights. But I'm SO much fitter now with just pole workouts and acrobatic lessons. My legs are more toned, my core and upper body are stronger, my balance and control is MUCH better…
It took me two terms of pole classes (16 weeks) to do an inverted V whne I first began. Now I can do Inverted V's from up the pole, and I can do them repetitively. So I have definitely become fitter in 3 years of poling, even if my weight (kilo's) hasn't changed much. But I know I can get stronger – the best things about poling instead of gyming is that the journey is FUN and feels cathartic in a way…. the self-ecpression and artistry is good for the soul I think. 🙂
SO don't be too hard on yourself to learn everything asap, it takes time and perseverence, but you will get there~! 🙂 xo
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2 years and a couple months. I started in studio, taught myself for a little bit, then went back to in studio. Then I recently moved, so 5 of the last 6 months have been quite sporadic pole-wise, but a visit back home sparked my motivation and so I'm back to being fully addicted.
I love the user videos on here and seeing everyone's journeys.
Welcome! Be patient, rest your muscles when you need to…and most of all, have fun!
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I began poling about 4 years ago, without the ability to lift myself- a Fireman spin was hard. Most of it was hard. I didn't have the confidence in my body and spirit… though I pushed myself hard.
And then, I saw a picture of someone doing a "Jade," saw a stripper (who really was more of a pole dancer, she didn't seem into the strippin' part) walk on the ceiling, and I realized… I want to do THAT!
So, I've been off-and-on with pole ever since. My longest hiatus was 8 months, which really set me back…
But, now, I can do a basic invert, I'm working on my inverted crucifix (pushing past the fear, rather than the physical inability), advanced plank, superman, inverted V, and reverse grab spin. I freestyle every time I dance, I'm starting to choreograph, and I've decided to work toward a shoulder/elbow/hand stand.
I have never been happier with how much energy I have, my spacial and self awareness, and my fitness. And, I know that I'll just get better from here!
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I have been poling for a month and a half (feels so much longer). I came from being a out of shape, overweight ex dancer. I wasn’t able to lift my body weight and was petrified. I’ve had 6 private lessons and two group lessons and I have a pole at home (I got the bug so bad) my videos pretty much show my ability.
I have a lot to learn and build on strength, finesse and knowledge. I am feeling impatient but I try and take every sessions one at a time and take pleasure in simple improvements (longer in air, further rotation, better automatic placement) but I can’t wait for the day I am looking back and thinking “gosh remember when I couldn’t even climb the pole”.
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Hi. I'm Little Engine and I'm a pole addict.
{{Hi Little Engine}}My first hit was many moons ago when i saw my 1st strip performance done by a insanely beautiful women named Essence. She performed like no other and it always struck a cord in me. Not necessarily to become an exotic dancer but the performance and skill of pole-ing. But sadly there was no class dealers to be found in the area so I naturally lost interest.
Fast forward to this year and 3 months ago, I was on random new hobby search when I found pole fitness being offered at a local Yoga & Pilates Studio. I immediately signed up, met my pole pimp Lucy and I've been going to class once a week ever since.
3 months in and Level 2 later……I pole at parks, wear Alethea's hoodie and watch WAY to many pole videos on here and YouTube. I can't go a week without class or I get insanely moody. I tend to talk about it excessively and am usually riddled in bruises. I plan on getting my own pole and setting up a garage pole room come Xmas.
Its a powerful drug man. Lol.If I could give one piece of advise it would be prepare for the "dark cloud". Also known as bad pole days. Where nothing goes right, your body is just not working, and you end up feeling hopeless. I've had plenty. Whatever you do, DO NOT GIVE UP. That horrible cloud passes! Brush it off and try again tommorow. And take your time! No need to get all upside down and crazy. Simply enjoy the ride.
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I started 14 years ago. I needed money for college and had a friend who was an exotic dancer. It took me about two days of watching the money she brought home to decide that was a better way of paying for college than working at McDonalds. I was terrified! My first night, while wating for my first turn on stage, I carefully watched what the other girls were doing – hoping that I could get some idea of what to do up there. One of the girls was an amazing pole dancer. She just seemed to defy gravity as she floated around the pole. I immediately decided that I wanted to do that.
So when my turn came the first thing I did was grab the pole and fling myself around it. Hard. Oooops. No one had bothered to mention to me that it was a spinning pole. It was all I could do to hang on. As I was flying around the pole at warp speed I quickly realized that another thing no one had bothered to mention was that, if you're going to spin around a pole rapidly, shoes with ankle straps might be a good idea. Mine did not have ankle straps.
My shoe went flying across the (very busy) bar and cleared most of a table of drinks. Once I finally got the pole stopped I got to gimp across the bar on one (6" platform) shoe and ask the men at the table for my shoe back. I was mortified – and hooked. I knew I had to get on that pole again. And I don't think I've gone a week without being on a pole since.
I think that for a long time, before pole became a mainstream fitness activity, I danced in clubs as much to have a pole to play on as for the money. Now I have two poles at my house and I'm teaching at a studio. I can't pass a park without trying to flip upside down on some random piece of playground equipment. I love that, no matter how long I've been doing this, there's no way I can ever learn everything. There's always someone creating a new move or a new combo that I just have to try!
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Hello, my name is Lindsey, I am also a beginner, ive had my pole for about two months and i have never had lessons, im trying the self-taugh thing first… so far its going pretty good, i can do some spins and am getting better at climbing… I do feel a bit impatient… but its all good fun! I like how I can see my progression though i have a Long way to go:)
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@ little engine you crack me up. lmao pole pimp i LOVE it lol
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I started in August of last year as a total beginner… I really sucked at first! Like really! I was one of the worst in my class. I had such awful newbie death grip that I was literally ripping the skin off my hands every class and had to wear a bunch of bandaids to even participate. I was fairly active with some other activities, but like most of you, I couldn't pull myself up at all. Not much flexibility and 0 upper body strength.
Fast forward one year later today and I am at a pretty advanced level, have become an instructor, and just competed in my first competition last weekend (Midwest!) I have even taken steps to start making a career out of pole and my life has really fallen into place since last year… I have no idea where I'd be without it. Getting off track though…
Pole is super rewarding because there's just always something fun you can work on, whether you're a complete beginner or a pro. There are good days and bad days of course… some days you get on the pole and nail 4 tricks you've been working at forever, and some days you get on the pole and feel too utterly useless to even do a fireman spin. But you are constantly building strength, stamina, and coordination, and you will get better each practice.
One piece of advice: video yourself frequently! Whenever you doubt your progress and ability, just look at your old videos and you will be amazed at how far you've come. And don't be discouraged in the beginning, even if you completely suck. Even the most advanced dancers have been there!
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I started one year ago drooling over videos on YouTube and now I am finally spinning on pole! (kinda, since I’m only beginning my third week, lol). Still can’t lift myself for more than a second, though… But I’m getting close! And that’s what matters. Progress 🙂
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I am going to be late to work, but typing all of this for you (and also myself) will all be worth it.
I started watching Felix Cane on youtube when I was 18. When I went to a bridal convention, a local studio was hosting for bachlorette parties only in their booth. I refused to let my fiance at the time pay for lessons (or anything, really) so I didn't do it. Probably one of my greater mistakes in life.
When I turned 19 (the day I turned 19, actually) I kicked him out and broke up with him and spent six months looking for a job. Then I found a job as a waitress at a strip club, and got forced into exotic dancing. It was either "stop being a waitress and dance" or, "get the hell out of my club." It was the only source of income I had had for two and a half years, so I accepted the position, even though I didn't want to.
I hate my job, but the one thing I can look forward to, every day no matter what, is that I can pole. I've been poleing for 6 months and am more advanced than a majority of people. I can shoulder mount, invert, aerial invert, superman, etc. So through poleing 4/5 days of the week (for many hours with breaks between stages) I've advanced far in a short amount of time. While I hate my job more than anything in the world, poleing makes me better.
Whenever I get upset that I can't do a move, a go through all the moves that I can do, and the ones that I can sorta do, and then I go and look at old videos where I couldn't even do a hold, or pull myself up, or not kick into an invert. Or whatever. "JUST FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DO GREAT" is honestly the best pole advice I've ever recieved :>
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Wow!! All of the responses, I wish I had the time and focus to respond to everyone, thank you ALL for sharing!
I am amazed that some of you have been doing it for so many years, how awesome that there is so much room to grow in poling.
I'm perfectly happy to start slow- I'm going the self taught route until I can afford the time/money to travel and take a studio lesson. Since I'm going to rely on online lessons I plan to take it easy… but we'll see what happens once I actually put the pole up!
Y'all are rock stars https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif
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Now that I have more time to think about it…
It is really interesting how so many of you saw someone pole dancing and just knew right away that you had to do it. That is how I got into sailing. I knew nothing about tall ships, but one came to my town when I was 16, and once I saw everyone aloft in the rig working, climbing, setting sail, I just HAD to do it! I went to the boat that night and signed up, I was on the boat the next week.
I "met" Jag on another forum, she talked about her pole dancing there a few times, and it took actually seeing a video to understand… and it never left my mind. I watched another one a few weeks ago and said, "That's it! I have to do this!"
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ok, so I'll make a confession years ago someone very close to started dancing at a club…yes, the waitress first then the dancing I was mortified! Had no understanding of it and never connected it all to my own love of hitting the night clubs and dancing and grinding and whirling. I can't say I came to accept it at that time because it was many, many years ago when it was just not a thing you did. Now I feel bad for that.
Then a couple of years ago I stumbled across Venna's videos on Youtube looking for a way to try and find a way to build up my body because I am so small. I saw Veena and flipped… for weeks all I could do was watch one after another then I joined the Free Studio Veena online..starting reading the stories and then when I realized you could actually take classes at health clubs I was elated but I live in a very small town so the closest thing I could find was bellydancing. I signed up and they canceled the class because there wasn't enough participation. So when I realized you could actually buy your own pole I was like WHAT!!! a pole in your house. well I put a Venna membership on my hubby's credit card and my journey began. He thought I was completely insane …well until he saw my first dance. It wasn't great but it was unexpected. lol
After that I found I also loved "THOSE" shoes and had to have some…now I have a closet full. lol Ten I got a few little yoga/dance shorts/crop tops…followed by gloves and leg protectors..followed by some sexy little outfits but I realized I was addicted long before that.
So quickly approaching 57 years old and my pole stands in my living room and sometimes I hate to fight for time with it because my 6 year old autistic grandson who is with us a lot has taken to it as well and really it has almost been therapy for him. So I guess Veena and Youtube…then everyone here who have been amazing and last but not least tht instant feeling of impowerment, fun and pull to the pole that makes me know when I do have to give it up ine day I will never ever be sorry I tried it. And I have since told that person I loved so much that I have an understanding now of how she was able to be a dancer in a club. Because back then when she went to work she loved the pole and they didn't have poles in your house back then. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif and that is my story…along with the wish I was much healthier and younger so I could do it for many more years.
I just took a spin on it and I was hopelessly in love https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif
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Btw when you go to put it up…and try to get it straight use your eyes to line it up with something straight like the frame of a door, a big piece of furniture or if you have paned windows use that as a guide. Oh I meant to tell everyone…I spent hours the last two times still trying to get it straight then it hit me I have a CROOKED wall in my house so had I realized that sooner it would have been much easier. Damned crooked wall…https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif also if you have problems there are so many people here to help you. Welcome to flying or that's what my lil Noah calls it. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif
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I started impulsively when a coworker mentioned it. I signed up without thinking twice. That was last year, Dec that I started. Of course, one spin and I was addicted. I followed along in class nicely for the first 8 week session, until I learned to invert.
I’ve always been into climbing trees, heights and being upside down. I think that learning to invert turned pole dancing lessions upside down. I started learning more advanced things on my own, going to open pole at our studio to progress faster and got my own pole.
Now, I feel like I can’t progress and learn new things fast enough. I’m always bookmarking YouTube videos and breaking them down to teach myself new things. I like saving pictures and figuring out how to get into moves. Because I don’t have an instructor most of the time, I set my camera up to record, then I compare to what I’m trying to learn. It’s lots of fun, but a huge drawback is that I find myself bored in class. It’s difficult when you already know how to do things that are being taught. I’ve tried to work on other more advanced things, but I’m told that that is not what we’re working on now. Oh well.
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wow this is the most interesting thread! it's so interesting to hear what prompted people to start, as we all know it's such a niche sport/hobby and we're all so different yet ended up here….!
For me, I was naturally slim and never did ANY exercise for years. Like, NOTHING. my maternal grandma has type 2 diabetes and heart problems, but generally my family is pretty healthy but i was never encouraged to exercise as a kid. Then two years ago my dad was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and found to have type 2 diabetes, and serious heart problems… and amidst all the chaos over the next few months whilst he basically lived in hospital all the doctors said to me, really forthrightly, that I had to get my act together and not just rely on "being skinny in your twenties" as that did NOT mean I was healthy and had a family disposition to all these horrible diseases…. I don't know how true that really is, but i also did a body fat percentage test and found out my body fat was verging on 35%… pretty high for a supposedly skinny chick!
So I went to zumba for a year, and loved it, but then got bored… i knew dance was the only sort of exercise i'd ever stick to so I had to find something as good… and a friend wanted to try pole! i went along with her and i was skeptical (how could this possibly be exercise?!) … i must admit, i was NOT hooked in the first class. I was "mmm, that was fun but whatever" but then i changed studios and was totally hooked!
So now I've been poling for a year, my body fat has dropped to a much nicer 25% (although my weight has stayed the same, lol) and i've never looked so toned and muscular! and i feel so much healthier. my friends even comment that i look nicer now i have shape and tone than when i was just a skinny twenty-something 🙂 i'm so glad i have found a FUN fitness which i love!!!
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I bought a stripper pole as a joke for my boyfriend for Christmas one year and I just loved the way I felt dancing around the pole, I felt sexy and in control. I really wanted to learn how to do stuff on it and randomly googled "how to go upside down on a stripper pole" and a couple of videos came up and the vertical dance website. I didn't realize pole dancing was a real thing that people did for fitness. When I did – I felt a lot better! I wasn't alone!
Flash forward 5 years (6 in Jan) and I've worked at 2 studios, competed 3 times, come in 2nd place twice, organized 5 showcases and 1 festival (working on fest 2 and an upcoming competition.)
I'm totally self taught – only in the last 2 years was I able to take lessons. I've been able to take with Amber Richard, Wendy Traskos, Karol Helms, Michelle Mynx, privates with Alethea Austin, David Owen & Natash Wang, spent 6 weeks training via skype with Leigh Ann Reilly and worked with Kelly Yvonne.
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I had been lifting weights since I was 22 but I never stretched. I was pretty strong because of it and eventually decided I could teach people about fitness and getting into shape. I got my BS. In Kinesiology in 2000. I had been a certified personal trainer for 3 years when I got my degree and hoped the higher education would help me advance my career. It didn't.
I started dancing over 11 years ago. When I first started I couldn't even touch my toes. I heard about “the pole Olympics they have in Vegas” and I thought to myself, “No way will I ever be able to do that stuff”. The first time I did a CAR I swore I’d never do it again. I had a customer “spotting” me and it hurt my legs so bad I’m still amazed I didn't fall on my head. It was 18 months after that I got it for the first time.
I never got the chance to practice much at work because by the time I was working I was too old and tired to be any more than an on again off again dancer. I tried to work four nights in a week once. Once. I was exhausted to the point where I didn't even care if I made any money. I stuck to three nights and then only two. I hated it and when I got engaged I quit. My engagement however, was not to last and I started again to get away from him. And that’s when my self-esteem began the climb. Leaving that disaster was the best thing that I ever did for myself. Six months later I met my current and very loving fiancé, we've been together for 8 years now. I was done with the business but still drawn to the fact that people were teaching pole as fitness.
I was meeting a friend for lunch one day and she was late as usual. It turned out the place we were meeting was a bar next to Xpose fitness. I walked in and told the front desk girl that I was a stripper with a degree in fitness and I wondered who would learn more from who, me or them. Turns out the answer was not so simple. Xpose was opening a location in my town so I got a job there. Because we were a new studio in the area there really wasn't anyone around who had more pole skills than I did at the time. (If I had worked at the established studio instead of a brand new one they woulda kicked my butt.) I was left to learn stuff from youtube but because I have a degree in the study of movement I never questioned my ability to teach myself from video nor my ability to teach others what I knew.
I researched stretching to learn as much as possible and hopefully make the quickest gains. My classes always began with a shoes-off long warm up and long cool down which consisted of stretching. Eventually my boss gave me a stretch class and then two to teach for my schedule. My flexibility greatly improved though I suffered a few injuries that set me back I also learned how to rehab them. All of the flexibility I have acquired has been in my 30’s and I would say about 60% has been in the last 4 years. I can learn from anyone but I have never had the opportunity to take a workshop or go to a convention. I am not teaching anymore because our studio location closed and I moved out of state but until I find another gig I am still trying to train 3 times a week and point my toes!
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I met that girl in my German class at University and saw in her agenda the word "POLE" with hearts and stars and smileys. I asked her if it really was pole dancing. She said yes. We talked about it for the rest of the semester, she sent me the link to sign in for classes. I was like, there is no way I can do this, I'm not strong or flexible at all. But I tried anyways cause I loooooooove dancing, I had do 10 years of informal dance lessons and had stopped for 5 years. I started taking classes in Ferbuary until May, then I got my pole and found Veena's website, that's when I really started to improve (wannabe upside down, plank, climb, CKR, almost gemini) and I self-taught for the Summer, I signed in yesterday for Level 4, which means I'll skip level 3 yay I'm so proud of myself I neeeeeeever thought I could do anything like this. In high school I was failing PhysEd classes. This is crazy, pole is the best thing that's happened to me this year. I broke up last week with my 2 years mexican boyfriend when he asked me to marry him in secret so he could become canadian and I realized he had totally been using me. Pole is helping me handle this, I get so happy and crazy when I pratice, I forget about this nightmare. I can't imagine myself not poling. And I have just spent a very long time reading all your comments and this is awesome 😀
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I started because I went to a strip club with an old boyfriend and saw a girl do an inversion. I thought it was awesome and went home and googled it, and came across a video of Veena. A few days later I went to Home Depot and bought a pipe for a homemade pole. I learned basic spins on that and then got an X-Pole about a year later, the same one I am using today.
I had taken up somewhat of an interest in fitness before pole so it wasn't hard to get started, but it is the only workout I have stuck with. I have been doing it on and off for about 4 years now. I have no dance experience besides 8 weeks of ballet/tap class when I was 8 and a few years on and off of taking and teaching belly dance when I was in high school/college.
Pole has changed my life and allowed me to travel to places I never would have visited otherwise. I have met the most fabulous people and pole has helped me find a part of my personality that never came out before I became a stage performer. In high school I was too fat to run the mile, now I am a 2 time pole fitness competitor and performer with a title and a trophy. My fiance and I are thinking of moving to Vegas so I can be a performer of some kind, pole has opened me up to discover other styles of dance like burlesque and re-visit belly dance. I got my stage name tattooed on myself so I can remember how much fun I had doing this https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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I didn't really intend to take lessons, I just wanted a "Bacheloresse" party for myself after my divorce. I couldn't talk my friends into it, so instead I decided that the lessons would be my 55th Bday gift to myself!
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