Tabbers,
Recall back to what first made you want to explore the art and athleticism of poling. Remember the exhilaration you felt with your first Fireman Spin or perhaps the nervous giggles that bubbled out of you as you attempted a Sexy Strut. Relive those moments and emotions now through sharing your experience with others, such as blogging, journaling, drawing, photography, talking, etc. Once you recapture or flame your motivation, develop a plan to keep you moving. It’s very easy to get caught up in the “I’m not making progress” doldrums, when you are making progress even if only in tiny steps.
Perhaps make a list of all the things you do really well in relation to poling. You could even break it into sections such as strengthening exercises, stretches, spins, inversions, etc. Then make a list of all the things you’d like to accomplish with relation to poling, whether it is mastering a specific move or gaining confidence or practicing three times a week or whatever.
Now pick just one move or trick you’d like to tackle. Collect data on your present ability to execute the movement. Ask yourself some basic questions. Is it something you need to work up to? If so, are there smaller movements you can build upon to make it happen? What mini-goals and mini-successes can you celebrate on the path to “The Big One?”
Think of your goal in terms of SMART.
S = Specific. Be very detailed about what it is you want to accomplish. Instead of saying, “I want to practice pole more often.” Perhaps say, “I will practice the Fireman Spin five times a day for three days out of the week.”
M = Measurable. In order to confirm (as well as see or feel) your progress, the goal should be measurable. Develop a baseline of your existing ability to execute a movement and the ultimate target goal. For instance, let’s assume you want to increase endurance and are presently able to pole dance for five minutes before your body asks for rest. Perhaps your measurable goal is to increase to ten minutes. Each time you practice, set clock or timer so you can see how you’ve increased. Be sure to track your progress during each session so you can see it build over time. (Ideas for tracking include journaling, blogging, charts you can fill with stickers/stars, Excel spreadsheets, photos of progress, videos of progress.)
A = Attainable. In order to achieve the goal, it must be something physically within your control to obtain. This may mean creating a ladder of mini goals to achieve the ultimate dream. If, for instance, you want to perform inversions but don’t yet have the upper body strength to sustain holding your own body weight while on the pole then your mini goals should be steps to gain the strength.
R = Realistic. The goal must be something you are willing to work toward. If you’re goal is to perform tricks on a spinning pole but you are unwilling to face the fear of spinning then you’ll first need to work on the fear.
T = Timely. Most goals fail because they are vague and don’t provide some sort of guideline or measure. If you attach a deadline or date to strive for, you’re more likely to obtain the goal. So rather than saying you want to learn a Sail Spin, perhaps say you intend to safely and effectively execute a Sail Spin by XYZ date.
Another consideration with regard to goal setting and obtaining is accountability. We are more likely to follow through if we are held accountable for our actions or what we hope to accomplish. Perhaps find an online pole buddy or start your very own progress thread on SV where others can chime in to offer encouragement or the occasional kick in the rump, if needed.
Also remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. Pick just one item you want to work on and focus all your efforts on that one piece. Once you’ve mastered that one, move on to a new one. Attempting to take on new eating, and poling every day, and mastering 10 moves all at once is overwhelming and doomed for setbacks before its even begun. Start small, slow, and steady.
One final (and perhaps the most important) tidbit, remember to reward yourself! You are an amazing woman who wears many hats and fills multiple shoes. If you’re able to dedicate even one hour a week to poling, you should celebrate your commitment to that one hour and everything you achieve in that one hour. You deserve this bit of awesomeness and I know you can achieve it!
All the best,
Krista
