Kaylie started this discussion ·
I am curious on how your life is different since pole dancing. How has it changed your life physically, emotionally and spiritually? Thanks for sharing!!!
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It's very difficult to express exactly how much pole dancing has changed my life, so I'll just start babbling about it. I no longer really know or care how much I weigh. I used to check every once in a while, but now I'll see it when I have a doctor's appointment and think, oh that's where I am now? Ok. It doesn't matter what that number is, because I look and feel great. I'm more concerned about how slowly I can deadlift my shoulder mount than I am about the concentration of fat cells on my body. Picking things up, moving things, carrying things, and opening jars have all become easier. It's so wonderful to be strong, to know that I'm strong, and to be able to do things that before I would've had to grab a guy to help me with. I love that I've discovered dancing through my experience with pole. Before I would just do my best at a dance club, but none of that was really personal or emotional in any way. Now I can express myself through my movements to songs that speak to me. I find that to be such an incredible release and I am so thankful to have this expressive outlet in my life. My horn playing is expressive, yes, but I am more-or-less regurgitating music that someone else wrote, as opposed to the free, spontaneous, and raw expression of a freestyled pole dance. I've discovered that I have the capacity to be graceful and beautiful, and it is powerful. Pole has also given me another job, though it doesn't feel like one. Teaching pole dance is a reward in itself. I love the look on my students' faces when they nail a new trick or complete a freestyle to their favorite song. I love when they discover, like I did, how beautiful and strong they really are and how much potential they have. I'm very thankful that I can bring this wonderful adventure to women in my community. Pole dancing has made me strong, keeps me strong, makes me feel beautiful, and motivates me to improve myself. I will always be in love with pole. <3
It has given me SO much confidence. I don't even mean confidence in being sexy but confidence to accomplish anything in any aspect of my life. Growing up I've always been bad in sports so discovering that my body is capable of doing things I never imagined is such a high for me. Also the process it has taken to learn certain moves really showed me that if I work at something and regularly put my time into it (even outside of pole) I can accomplish it.
Kobajo84 ·
Pole changed my life in such a postive way. (I actually wrote a blog about this in the past). http://poleharmony.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-pole-dancing-has-taught-me-lesson.html To summarize, pole dancing has changed my entire lifestyle. The community as a whole has taught me an enormous amount of invaluable information that has formed the dancer and instructor I am today. It's been a lot of work on my part full of hours of research and dance but overall it's been a journey that I feel has impacted my health in a huge way. Pole dancing is more than just a hobby to me. It's embodied a lifestyle of healthy choices I feel will benefit me in the long run for my health physically and mentally. As a bonus, I get to share my passion for dance with others. There is nothing better than seeing someone glowing because they learned something from me. It's moments like those I'll forever cherish.
Lana Lee ·
For me, pole dancing has changed my outlook on my life and how I feel about my body. As girls, we've all gone through that phase where we are awkward in our own skin and insecure about the way we look. At the age of 26, I was STILL stuck in the phase. I never liked the way my stomach look or how flabby my arms always were or how blubbery my thighs were. It came to the point where I was so unhappy about the way that I looked that it affected my self confidence. I never felt sexy, I never felt like I could wear these really cute short shorts or tube tops without feeling ugly. I had literally hit rock bottom during summer of 2011. Having bipolar disorder did not help the fact that I hated the way I looked. I decided then and there that I really needed something that'll change the way I felt about myself. I had always wanted to try pole dancing but was too insecure to go and try it out myself. My best friend had already moved away to another city, so I didn't really have anyone I could ask to try pole dancing with. I decided "it's now or never" and went and signed up for a Level 1 pole dancing class alone. For the first 3 classes, I felt really awkward and out of place. I kept asking myself "what the hell am I doing here?". Before the 4th class of Level 1 started, I decided to buy a pair of Lulu Lemon "Boogie Shorts", quite literally the shortest shorts I've ever worn in my life (other than swim shorts). After that, I've never looked back. Pole dancing at my studio has given me confidence in the way I look and feel about myself. It's given me confidence in the things my body is able to do. I feel sexy in whatever it is I choose to wear. Pole dancing has helped me become healthier as a person not only by ensuring my heart gets a good workout, but the foods I choose to eat. I've started to become particular about the things I put in my system by choosing to eat much healhier meals and snacks. I am generally a lot happier and more positive about life. I laugh more. I am finally able to say that I love my body the way it is, even though it is not perfect. I have never felt better.
Paunobs ·
Pole dancing has given me strength i never imagined i could have, it has given me the body i never imagined i would have, it has given me sex appeal and confidence i never thought i woud have, It has brought me the most joy and fun i never thought i could have, but most of all it has given me the best friends i never though i would have.
Tali Kat ·
All your responses are so inspiring!!! <3 <3 I can't really answer this question as I've only just started but reading these posts make me so happy and excited that I finally got around to giving pole a shot. I hope oneday I will have a similar post to share!! :D
I only started poling in Oct last year but immediately became totally addicted and by the end of Nov I had my own xpole at home. I am still totally addicted and obsessed with getting better and better. In December in took a level 2 exam in pole dancing and achieved 'highly commended' for which I have register a certificate and a trophy. The trophy is a piece of tack but I am as proud of it as I am my degree, because I have never achieved anything in sport since I was a small child. Aside from my achievements so far, I am most proud that I have found something I love and always want to do. It's all I think about all day everyday- my boyfriend laughs and mimicks me all the time saying 'pole pole pole pole pole pole' but he understands my addiction because he is equally addicted to jiu jitsu and MMA. Out mutual addictions have helped our relationship because I now understand why he wants to spend all his time doing that and he is pleased I want to spend time poling. The biggie is how my body has changed. I am pretty body confident anyway but prior to poling my body lacked any muscle definition at all, within 5 weeks the muscles on my arms starting popping up and then my bum moved upwards and my boobs got firmer and my stomach is hardcore underneath the layer of 'chocolate and wine fat' lol!! Overall, poling is one of the best decisions I have ever made :-) I love it !!
Plus poling takes guts to start which is a life achievement in itself :-)
You know how some ppl just dont know what to do anymore? Nothing seems to interest them. Or they just cant find something to stick to ? Where they dont know what to do with their lives.? Well pole dane to me, is that life time long goal that ive been searchin for. Never ending, never quits, never boring, never the same. Its always different and you can never stop learning.
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Oh wow, where to start...I think pole has honestly changed nearly every part of my life...during the course of this journey I lost a lot of excess weight (nearly 50lbs), I am more confident then I ever have been before, I have this amazing outlet for expression (it really is therapy). My marriage is better, my friendships are more honest and sincere, I have so many new wonderful friends who understand me in a way no one else can...now I work out to become a better poler! I love that...its no longer about the impending swimsuit season LOL...its about being strong and whatever the hell else I wanna bring to it! I could go on forever...I am more "me" now then I was for a very very long time. 😀
I started pole a month after my last surgery and after 4 years of laying in bed unable to do much due to cancer treatments. Pole saved my life! My journey started in Aug 08 when I stumbled across a video of Karol Helms and thought. I love to dance, I loved gymnastics this would be a perfect way to build up my strength! After talking my ex husband who was taking care of me at the time into buying me a pole my journey began. In the beginning it was all about getting strong agian but over time I learned that I could pour my emotions out when I dance weather anyone else got it or not and mentaly I felt better. As my body has changed and I've gained some much needed weight I started learning that thin doesn't mean healthy and it's ok NOT to have a perfect body. So basicaly pole has not only made me stronger, made me want to pay more attention to what I put into my body but has made me feel sexy. Imperfections and all.
Missy27 ·
Pole also saved my life. I was very depressed about my life. Feeling stuck in the day to day rat race and being a Mom. Same job for years taking advantage of me. And I needed an adventure. Unfortunaly I found one and had an affair on my husband. When the whole thing came crashing down I was forced to look at WHY had this happened. Really I didn't feel sexy, happy, secure, inspired, determined....Nothing. Pole gave me all those things!! Like some of the other comments, I would say as well that I was terrible in all sports in school. I could never really get into working out in a gym or running. so thankfully I have found an amazing excersice that I am addicted to.
Pole dancing is my distraction to my life long battle with anxiety and depression. I deal with anxiety and depression every single day and I just find that when I'm forcused on pole, I find a sense of relief. I also had major issues in self esteem and body image but I love how pole changed all that for me to a healther me. :)
I'm always amaze at how pole dance change our life and people still think were wanna be stripper lol. My story probably look like many of your, almost a lifetime dealing with depression. I can rely to so many things the other girls have already said. Pole change it for good, i'm stonger not only in a physical way but i have built some confidence i never thought i could have. Finding some amazing friend on my way is just the cherry on top. Simply i didn't know how bad your cancer was, i'm really happy you're back on your feets and even better than before.
jade s ·
What a wonderful topic! I love everyone's responses! I started poling because I heard that the workout was awesome, but I've gotten so much more out of it than I ever expected. After my divorce and another bad LTR, my self esteem was pretty much gone. My first class, when the instructor said "put your hands on your body", I was like "what?!", but I was alredy hooked. It took me two whole sessions to even start feeling somewhat comfortable with that. Now, I couldn't care less about the workout aspect, although it's definitely a benefit. Poling has given me so much confidence in my sensuality, and my ability to do things I never thought I would do or even dare to try. I'm now more accepting of my body, (and it's limitations), and who I am. I think it's that confidence that helped me attract a wonderful man, and get a huge promotion at work. I love that no matter what I'm going through, and what I'm feeling, I can work it out on the pole. Two years ago I was in a pretty bad car accident on my birthday. That night I went to class a,d worked out my frustration on the pole. When my brother passed away unexpectedly, I danced and cried the whole time, but I got all that emotion out of my system. I've never been one to have many female friends, but now I've made some of the most wonderful friends through pole dancing. Pole dancing keeps me sane. If I didn't have pole, I'd probably spend all my spare time in bed with the covers pulled over my head! Poling cleanses my soul. I don't know where I'd be without it! I just pray my body holds out!!
Ive ridden a long roller coaster when it comes to pole. Ive lost weight, got pregnant, gained it all back, lost it all and gained a poriton back and fighting to keep it off. Pole has become therapy for me. Its my happy place, its where I cant be judged, go wild and crazy and can be myself for a moment. Last year I was diagnosed with PCOS which was a hard diagnosis to handle at first. I promised myself I would not let it take over my life and I was gonna live my life to the fullest and kick PCOS's butt! There are days where its harder than usual, I really havent felt like myself in the past year but im trying to turn it around. Thats where pole comes in, it makes me forget about the stuff that comes with PCOS (anxiety, depression, odd weight gain) and that I can just have fun and not worry about it. Its also brought press about me and my pole skills. Seeing those positive comments make me happy so see. Some of them I start tearing up while reading them. I now have a brand ive created, a sponsored contract and lots of tv things that are coming up for me. I wouldnt have these things if it wasnt for pole and You Tube.
AvaBabe ·
I was diagnosed with PCOS several years ago, I understand you're desire to live life despite the obstacles it presents. At first I was angry at some of the adjustments in my lifestyle I would have to make, but in time I came to see them as opportunities rather than obstacles, and now I have come to adopt that ideal in all aspects of life... There are no obstacles only opportunities to see and do things differently! The future holds many opportunities, may they all lead you to success, even if the path is a little unexpected! :)
Pole changed me fundamentally--actually, maybe it didn't change me so much as it allowed a part of me out that I'd always pushed down. Since I started poling I carry myself differently. I stand taller. My strides are purposeful and thoughtful. Everything about my movement and my carriage I owe to pole bringing it out in me. I feel like a woman. I feel strong. I feel beautiful in ways many women never get to experience, which is unfortunate.
Pole has changed me a lot. I used to be A LOT more self conscious than I am now. Nowadays, yeah I'm fat..but I have tone, you can see I have muscles/tone, and hell.. I'll beat anyone that criticises me by plank competition any day-sipping a cider while I do so!! I needed that confidence, and am so happy for it. On the standing taller thing, I REALLY wish I did.. but I don't.. call me crazy.. >.< but my head/neck hang as I'm always looking down to make sure I'm not walking on ants, lizards, bugs of any kind, etc. It bums me out as I want better posture, but I don't want to kill or harm something else just for that. Argh. >.< Mayhaps I just need to work on lowering my gaze..
Hi girls, I'm a newbie on here but this post really seals to me so hope you don't mind me replying. I've been married just over two years and I discovered 18 months ago that my husband was having an affair and that it had started before we were even married. It shattered my world and sent me spiralling back down into serious depression, which I'd suffered from in the past. My confidence was less than zero and, well, I completely let myself go. I gained 30lb and totally just stopped taking care of myself. It was a vicious circle - the worse I looked, the worse I felt, but I just couldn't break the cycle. Then just before Christmas my friend dragged me along to a Poledance class. I stood there feeling so out of place and when I saw what the other girls were able to do my self esteem told me to forget it, get my stuff and go home because there's no way my flabby overweight body would ever be able to any if it. I'm so glad I didn't! From my first attempt at a spin I was hooked and within a month I had an Xpole at home. Pole has done more for me in the past two months than anti-depressants accomplished in a year. It has given me back my confidence. Learning to work with my body is slowly teaching me to like it and be proud of the things it can achieve. I walk differently now, my head is held high and ive started taking a bit if pride in my appearance again. I've even lost 10lb. People have noticed such a difference in me and I do get some strange looks when I tell them it's all down to pole but I really don't care. My Friday night pole class is the light at the end of the tunnel at the end of every week, and the friendship and support of the other girls has given me a bigger lift than any of them will ever know. I'm still at the beginning of my pole journey and can't wait to see where it takes me - the only way is definitely up! x
Hi girls, I'm a newbie on here but this post really seals to me so hope you don't mind me replying. I've been married just over two years and I discovered 18 months ago that my husband was having an affair and that it had started before we were even married. It shattered my world and sent me spiralling back down into serious depression, which I'd suffered from in the past. My confidence was less than zero and, well, I completely let myself go. I gained 30lb and totally just stopped taking care of myself. It was a vicious circle - the worse I looked, the worse I felt, but I just couldn't break the cycle. Then just before Christmas my friend dragged me along to a Poledance class. I stood there feeling so out of place and when I saw what the other girls were able to do my self esteem told me to forget it, get my stuff and go home because there's no way my flabby overweight body would ever be able to any if it. I'm so glad I didn't! From my first attempt at a spin I was hooked and within a month I had an Xpole at home. Pole has done more for me in the past two months than anti-depressants accomplished in a year. It has given me back my confidence. Learning to work with my body is slowly teaching me to like it and be proud of the things it can achieve. I walk differently now, my head is held high and ive started taking a bit if pride in my appearance again. I've even lost 10lb. People have noticed such a difference in me and I do get some strange looks when I tell them it's all down to pole but I really don't care. My Friday night pole class is the light at the end of the tunnel at the end of every week, and the friendship and support of the other girls has given me a bigger lift than any of them will ever know. I'm still at the beginning of my pole journey and can't wait to see where it takes me - the only way is definitely up! x
Now that is inspiring Little Jem...I am so pleased pole has brought back your confidence. Go you :)
Thank you Shona :). Whoops, didnt realise it had posted twice - sorry peeps. And it was supposed to say 'speaks to me', not 'seals to me', stupid predictive text - I'll learn how to use my phone before I post again lol
DaniDuB ·
It has given me confidence and made me a stronger person, physically and emotionally. It made me believe in myself more. When I was a kid, my mom was a manager of a health club and taught a bunch of aerobic exercise classes. I used to take her classes and loved it. I still love the group fitness class environment, because it always reminds me of those fun days getting to take my Mom's classes. I've always dreamt of teaching classes some day. I never pursued it because never thought I could be good enough. Since starting pole a year and a half ago, I've learned so much and am amazed by the the things my body can do. I took the Pole Moves Beg/Intermediate Instructor certification class last month and just passed my ACE Group Fitness Instructor certification exam this past Thursday! I will be taking the Advanced Pole moves instructor cert class in July. I also started teaching Pole classes a few weeks ago at a fitness studio near me and I'm loving it!! Pole made me believe in myself and actually helped me pursue a dream I've had for a long time. If you would have told me I would be doing all of this a year and a half ago, I never in a million years would have believed it. :)))
