Super new, super inspired... a bit worried...

asmara started this discussion · 9/26/2009

Hi everyone! 🙂 I just signed up on this site, and I'm so excited! About a year ago, I took a sensual dance class and learned basic spins on the pole, but I haven't touched a pole since. I'm also about twenty pounds heavier... (about 185 lbs)... and I'm worried I'm too heavy to pole dance. 🙁 One of the poles I researched supports up to 180 pounds, so I'm thinking I should just drop a few pounds before I actually commit to a pole. I am so inspired by the beauty in pole dancing, and I truly regard it as an art. I would also like to use the pole to get in shape, but I'm just concerned I'm not in shape enough to start. Are there any other dancers here who started when they were very overweight? Would any of you advise me to just drop a few pounds first, or is there an at-home pole out there that can support larger dancers? Thank you to anyone who responds!! 🙂 -Asmara

6 replies

FreeTheSun · 9/26/2009
Hi and Welcome! Sounds like you've already got yourself a healthy addiction to pole! Don't worry about not being "in shape enough" to start. Pole will help get you in shape and you'll have a blast doing it. If you're truely worried about weight limits, you might try lil mynx (last I check had a 200 lbs limit) or x-pole (I've heard has no limit when put up proper). Have fun! ☀️
Layla Duvay · 9/26/2009
That's right you WILL get in shape! Don't worry about the weight. I went down from 191 lbs. to 188, but lost four sizes and MANY inches! It's all muscle now! 🥂 I can hold myself up (bent arms) for about 15 seconds or so now and can do tricks I NEVER thought I'd be able to do. The best way to prepare for poling is...to pole. Veena's got some great strengtheners, but really, there's no substitute for flying around a pole--thank goodness. You go girl! Just get on that thing! You know you want to 😀
asmara · 9/26/2009
Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂 FreeTheSun: You're absolutely right, I am addicted already! I'll definitely check out Lil Mynx and X-Pole. poleophile: You are so inspiring to me! Four sizes is amazing! I feel a lot better knowing I can hop on that pole immediately, haha! Thanks again!
Tine007 · 9/27/2009
Hi asmara, I'm same weight as you and I'm very happy with my X-pole, as long as it's properly tightened it's not going anywhere. In class we also use the X-Pole, so I was lucky to try before I ordered mine 🥂 It even holds my guy friend, who is 240 pounds, with jumping on, no problem 👍 I even trust my pole more that I trust my ceiling, but it's on the joist and life is good 🙂
Rouge_LAmour · 9/27/2009
Get an x-pole, we've had 100kg plus rugby players (All Blacks if you follow rugby) swing on ours and they haven't pulled them down! Chris Measday told me that Xpole have a sideways force rating of 2500kg, which is huge!! Any static, permanent pole should be fine, I weighed a fair amount more than 180lb when I started and didn't pull over static poles. According to health nazis, I'm still morbidly obese, but what do they know! What you will notice is that the fat will drop and muscle will build and you should avoid measuring toning etc via the scales, measure it by your new achievements: Strength, flexibility, new poses / spins etc.
asmara · 9/27/2009
Tine007: Thank you for sharing your satisfaction with the X-pole! I think that's going to be my choice, too. 🙂 Rouge_LAmour: The rugby players have me convinced that I will definitely be fine with the X-pole, haha! I'll take your advice about measuring progress through my dance accomplishments instead of pounds dropped on the scale. I just can't wait to get my pole and get going! My only hesitation right now is that I'm planning on moving at the end of November, and I'm wondering if I should wait until then to get my pole, that way I'll be sure to get the right length. I wish I wasn't already addicted to wanting to learn pole until November! Grr... I guess I just have to be patient (not a virtue of mine)...