[Cher]

I’m 42, been doing pole for about 5 years. I love it! Like a lot of other people have posted, I wish I would have started many years ago, but cant turn back time. I was never athletic by any means at anytime in my life, but one video of Karol Helms changed that for me. Then I found this site, purchased my own pole and started in. I have never looked back. In fact, I find I actually look forward to “working out”. Its always a new challenge, a new struggle, a new determination to get that move. Good day or bad day, I love pole, I can express it and I feel good about it! I have never felt better about myself, mentally, physically, and emotionally. This is a great discussion! I don’t normally contribute, but seeing so many have the same concerns (flexibility, getting hurt and healing…) I wanted to chime in, knowing I’m not alone. 🙂

[Cher]

I have been a member on this site for 3+ years, purchased the lessons, have DVDs. I can do all kinds of tricks, but putting them together and then adding dance to it?! I still think I suck at it. I make videos constantly, but never really share them, all I kept seeing is the negative things, and an occasional “oh, that trick looked awesome” I finally signed up at a local pole place. (I am way out of my comfort zone, now). I’ve had 2 classes so far. At the end of class we have a songs worth of time to play/practice what we have learned. For the first time in my pole journey I, wasn’t even aware, that I had completely let myself go and became one with the pole and the song, until I noticed that the whole class had been watching me. I wish I had had a camera to see what they had witnessed (oh please, hopefully it wasn’t like one of those accidents where it’s so bad that you can’t look away, lol) . It was said earlier, we are our own worst critics, and I think it’s difficult for us to see our accomplishments because of that. Honestly, I’m still not confident that I don’t suck, but I’m having fun, and that’s ultimately the goal for me. 🙂