Losing my interest in pole!!!

goldendiva started this discussion · 8/8/2014

I've been poling for about 2 years and this year I feel like I've started losing my interest/motivation to pole. It started after I had to take a few months off earlier this year due to a shoulder injury, when I came back the enjoyment I used to feel going to pole class wasn't there. I think part of this loss is due to me losing a lot of my strength and gaining a few pounds which made tricks that required a lot of strength to be much more difficult than they used to be. The other problem I'm having is what's being taught in the classes at my studio. I have been a dancer and a gymnast all my life and when I started pole I really liked learning fluidity of movement accompanied by tricks that showed of my strengths. Over the last year I noticed the studio where I train has lost all but one of it's advanced instructors that focused on combinations and fluidity. Most of the current advanced class instructors are now more interested in teaching tricks they see in pics on social media that require minimal points of contact without having a clean entry or exit. While the tricks are great I don't feel like there is a focus on the quality of the tricks or movements anymore, I've noticed some of the instructors don't even understand the breakdown of the tricks they're teaching because they're trying them for the first time in the class where they're being taught. I've been trying to figure out if my lack of motivation/interest is due to my personal struggles or if the classes at the studio I workout at are no longer catering to the style of pole that I like. I have noticed there has been a decline in the attendance of the advanced classes at my current studio over the last year so I'm wondering if other girls who left the studio had similar feelings. I'm thinking about taking another break and maybe even looking for a new studio, but I'm concerned that I may never come back to enjoy pole dancing the way I used to. Has anyone else ever dealt with this? If so, how did you handle it?

12 replies

Kira · 8/8/2014
that is a shame :( I think everyone loses motivation at some point regardless of what studio they are at/what they are learning. Saying that you do sound like you are wanting a different style to what your current studio is offering. I would say try out different studios and see how their classes work. Quite a few places put on routine courses so you will learn linked moves rather than the odd trick here and there. btw I have felt like that before. I LOVE free styling and trying to find ways to link moves and floor work but that requires a lot of practice and time to perfect. And a lot of people at the studio I go to want the instant gratification of getting a move - more importantly a photo or video of the move rather than getting into and out of a move nicely. I've been really lucky that I get to use the studio for private practice now and then and I'm really happy just poling and working on transitions by myself. I believe it's important to stick with what makes you happy and not what is popular at the moment. I post videos of my freestyles quite a bit on FB and hardly no-one ever watches them because there's no crazy tricks in it lol but I still love what I'm doing :) I hope you find your passion for pole again soon, there's so many types of pole classes and styles to choose from!
ChrisVaile · 8/8/2014
I am feeling similar now. My old studio was the same with tricks, trick tricks... and now I am a sloppy pole dancer. I am trying to build up, and what I have been doing is taking super simple moves.. like 3 moves... and combining them into a tiny routine. For example.... A pole walk, into a dip, into a pirouette. And I reverse the order, and I make the movements bigger, or smaller... or more dramatic. Or wiggle my butt. I can still do the tricks, and not prettily. But I WILL get there. The when I am done, I'll look where I'm at and say "Ok, now what can I smoothly do from here?" It's very challenging for me, but it's fun, and frustrating, and wonderful. Good luck... I hope you find what inspired you in the first place!!!
Phoenix Hunter · 8/8/2014
sounds like you are not really losing interest in pole but, rather, you are becoming more defined in what style of pole you want to do. try other studios/instructors if you can. And pole at home. start developing your own routines and videoing them.
chemgoddess1 · 8/8/2014
Do you know what happened to the advanced instructors that you enjoyed? Some times management becomes too much for them to bear, sometimes they go to other studios, etc. See if you can track them down. I will say it is hard coming back from an injury and dealing with what you used to be able to do and what you can or cannot do now. I am also not about the tricking. Can you talk to the owner and request more dancey type classes be added back to the curriculum?
goldendiva · 8/9/2014
Thanks everyone for the feedback!I think I will try some other studios during my break Kira- I do think the focus on getting a trick just for pics and videos for Instagram is becoming a huge focus, even by the studio owner. I've even had to tell instructors (who are usually friends of mine) that I won't try a move that I'm not ready for just for a picture. I don't really post pole pics to social media anyway since I use it mostly to advertise for my own business. ChrisVaile & Phoenix- Chris I completely understand your feeling of becoming sloppy in your poling, I don't feel like I'm anywhere near as good as I was about a year ago when I had instructors that focused on technique. I started poling with SV at home and ended up going with a studio so I could learn from others in a class setting. Poling at home by myself isn't as much fun but I'll try getting back into it and maybe inviting a friend over to workout with me to make it more enjoyable. I need to get back to creating combos with moves I prefer to work on and start videoing them to track my progress. Chemgoddess1- I know some of the advanced instructors stopped teaching pole due to life changes such as jobs, kids etc. I know one that I really liked is working on opening her own studio but it's quite a ways from where I live so I wouldn't be able to take classes there regularly. Several of the studios I've tried near me have instructors that I like but their class times are limited since they are pros that do a lot of touring. I have also tried talking to my studio owner about the classes but they're not really into that style so it doesn't seem to change much. It's kind of a difficult situation since I started my studio training there and have become good friends with the owner and most of the instructors. I have noticed that many of the instructors who are there now do teach a more structured flow/combo oriented class when we have a few visitors in class from other studios but it goes right back to the tricks when it's a class full of regulars.
CD Hussey fka Jivete · 8/9/2014
Have you thought about cross-training in other aerial sports? I know I like to break it up or I get bored.
Runemist34 · 8/9/2014
Hey there! It sounds like you've got a decision already, but I wanted to add my experience here, in case it helps you out. I've taken a lot of "breaks" in the past 6 years of my pole dancing. I've stunted my progress very much because of it, but I've also learned to find, and find again, my motivation. It's waned, it's existed when I couldn't dance, and I've danced when it's not there (which is horribly difficult and I'm very bad at it). I started off, waaaay back, in a studio, and eventually was forced to transition to home-pole due to money and time constraints. Finding my motivation has been a lot of searching of WHY I like to pole dance. What about it appeals to me? Once I have that move, will I want to continue pole? Why? Or, Why not? I discovered it was because there was so much to learn- there are so many styles, so many moves, and so many ways to put it all together! I knew I wouldn't get bored if I didn't want to, and that's pretty big for me (I get bored easily). I also determined that, when doing aerial moves, I end up feeling like I'm made of magic, and that's all I've ever wanted to feel like! I love the strength building, I love the flexibility goals, but those are things I'm not super good at... and so I try not to focus too much energy on them, and instead keep looking at the things I love about pole. It DOES sound like your studio is no longer giving you what you'd like, so I can suggest a couple of things: Home poling, while different and sometimes boring, can be made much more fun. Doing skype pole jams, and even having the freedom to just fiddle around and see what you're made of can be super awesome. It also allows you to plan and focus on what YOU want to do, rather than being at the whims of instructors who want a good Instagram photo. A different studio may help, and if you find a great one, I think that a somewhat longer drive would be worth it! Unfortunately I have no studios in my area, so this isn't something I can vouch for personally... but, if I could, I'd do that. You COULD also consider talking to the instructors of advanced classes, and see if you can request more of a focus around flow. Talk to the other students, too! If a bunch of them would rather focus on flow, and not "the latest trick," perhaps that would help your studio understand that they may not be teaching the correct thing for everyone. Maybe they could also split up some of the advanced classes- some for tricks, some for flow.
Club Dynasty · 8/9/2014
Hi Goldendiva! Wow, I feel like you just wrote my story! Fell in love with the sensuality, fluidity, transitions of pole dancing. Check. Choreo pole instructors left due to pregnancy or injury. Check. New instructors focus on spins/tricks, and took awhile before they became better at instructing. Check. Attendance dropped off to be replaced with students who only want to learn spins/tricks. Check. My free styling has dropped off and I don't dance at home like I used to. Check. In addition, now that I'm a year and a half into pole, I know enough about it to be critical of myself, and to have to constantly work on moves to try to get them, i.e., stuff doesn't come as easy as it used to. (Hello fireman spin, where are you?) So those two steal my joy a little bit too! I'm with you, "The thrill is gone." :-) So here's something to think about: have you approached the studio owner about YOU teaching a choreo class? Hear me out first. I did a routine several months ago at a showcase. It wasn't the best by a long shot LOL. But it was me showing the passion and love for pole dance, and having a really good time. Imagine my surprise when the studio owner asked me to sub a class! I subbed a choreo class, basically teaching my routine and it went great! I subbed a second class, trying to teach another routine, with the studio owner in attendance, and it went HORRIBLY! I was so nervous in front of her. Yikes! But then I subbed another (spins) where I taught the spins then combined them in a flow, and I've taught kitten camp, where again the spins I taught I combined into a flow. Soon she asked me to teach at pole parties, which is basic pole choreo--and this is where I have the most fun! It's the same routine sure, but the ladies are different every time, so they don't know :-) Anyway, it helps me get back to my first love and serves as a reminder, which I think will get me through this lack of motivation hump. I'm not brave enough to think that I can come up with different choreo every week or 2 wks, so I haven't approached her with the idea of me doing a choreo class. In time, I may be ready. But since you have been a dancer all your life, I think you could do it, no problem! So think about asking her about you doing a choreo class every once in a while, or hosting pole parties (if you like leading and instructing). The other thing that is going on is that my studio is hosting a Pole Dance America competition in a few weeks. So my motivation has been in preparing for the comp. I never thought I would compete, but since it's at my studio, and would push me, I said, "Why not?". You take the motivation where you can get it in this game :-). So, although I'm not endorsing PDA per se, if there are no competitions readily available in your area, PDA seems like a way to get a competition to your locale, and then you can compete and allow that to temporarily serve as your motivation, until you get your mojo back!
water · 8/10/2014
I'm on and off, was much stronger and can do more a few years back until life happened and a longggg break plus a few pounds. I'm never bored but seem to have much more trouble getting back my strenght again, now with work related injuries in the arms and wrists makes it more chalenging too. I agree with what Runemis said above.
goldendiva · 8/11/2014
I really appreciate everyone's advice! Club Dynasty, it seems like we do have similar stories. I have asked about possibly subbing or instructing but the studio I go to is at capacity for instructors right now, but it is something to keep in mind for the future. As far as competing, I feel like my pole dancing has become sloppy due to the lack of focus on technique so I'm not really ready to get into that yet. Several students and instructors from the studio are competing at Pacific Aerial Arts competition in September though so maybe they will have some choreography workshops that I can participate in.
anngiern · 8/11/2014
I know that is frustrating :( I just love teaching choreo classes...Its so interesting to see how studios in different areas teach different things. I would suggest talking to the owner about adding a flow class...or if she doesn't want to use a peak class time during the week maybe suggesting 1 or 2 workshops a month on the weekend. Definitely talk to your classmates to see if they feel the same way..You might be surprised that others feel the same way and have them email the owner. Hope that helps :)
ORGANIC ANGEL · 8/13/2014
That happened to me at a studio too. While I loved taking classes so much was "missing" for me I learned the same combos over and over and even my freestyles were taken up by them. I moved and for a year focused on my own free freestyles. Now woman keep messaging me saying wow you are amazing a year later(10 years into pole I'm advanced for pole world but not pro pro status I'd say). I love a famous teacher here but he's on your til November and I just don't want to go to class without him. Every class was different. No combos ever repeated which helped my mind not stick to the same combos over and over.look me up on youtube I'm starsmith amy. You can see my difference of flow is better while I still tend to work and develop most common moves for me. I believe in extending on moves you already do well. seeing where u can go from there. Good luck. Also try to book a workshop every now and then for motivation. Traveling a little always helps me.