Last night I attended my 5th pole dancing/fitness class.
Pole dancing. It counts as a workout. And it’s a tough one.
Climbs, spins, inverts, and contorting your body into positions you had no idea you could. This is what my Thursday night’s are like. This is where I “get my fix”. I am loving every moment of our classes and I walk away each week having had numerous belly laughs, most of them as I “gracefully” slide down the pole to the floor while attempting some new move!
People tend to raise their eyebrows when I mention I do pole dancing classes. It really is a fitness class, pole fitness is what they call it too, and it is so much fun and there is nothing sleazy about this class.
After a warm up that really warms us up we are ready to slip off our tracksuit pants into our sexy, hot short shorts! We get into it. We do body rolls, butt rolls, and flashing big grins into the wall-to-wall mirrors. It’s all part of the fun.
We climb the pole, we sit on the pole, we ‘lie’ on the pole, we hang upside down. Last night, we learnt some news moves while ‘lying’ on the pole. Gripping the pole between your thighs to keep you up, your legs outstretched and arms outstretched the other way I tried to contort my body into a graceful backward arch! Frustratingly, I kept slipping all the way down to the floor! This is where I laughed… a lot.
Some of the moves are not easy, and some of the more advanced moves are simply mind-boggling. But it feels like such an achievement when you finally nail a move that you’ve been working on.
Some of my tries are a little less graceful.
And sometimes I completely surprise myself.
Next I found myself on the floor, doing headstands and throwing my body backwards onto the pole. For those daring enough, you could grip the pole between your thighs and pull yourself up ~ backwards ~ into a sitting position. My bestie, who does the class with me, and I both agreed we might have landed up in traction had we tried that last night! I might try to complete this move next week. At one point my friend kept asking me whether I thought her medical aid would cover this should something happen. Next she asked me whether they would consider this as an extreme sport! I wonder if now would be a good time to invest in a helmet… Just while we learn the ropes of course!
Apart from aching muscles and limbs, which is becoming less as my muscles get stronger, another Pole dancing hazard is pole bruises or ‘kisses’ as they are sometimes called. I never leave class without them and it’s always amusing trying to figure out what pole move caused which bruise! But we wear them proudly because it means we have tried something new! The bruises are like our battle scars!
At the end of each class we always ask our instructor to show us some moves. Seeing her spinning, hanging, inverting and sliding with such ease and beauty makes me realise that sexy will come. From being confident you can execute moves, you develop the grace, poise and control of a dancer. And from this confidence comes the sexy.
The Ten Commandments of Pole
- Thou Shalt Not Wear Moisturisers, Oils, Body Lotions
- Thou Shalt Not Pole Under the Influence of the Grape
- Thou Shalt Not Purchase a Peekaboo pole
- Thou Shalt Not Moan About Loss of Skin, Friction Burns and Bruises
- Thou Shalt Covet Thy Neighbour’s Footwear and Super grip chalk
- Thou Shalt Wear Shorts that Provide Adequate Coverage
- Thou shalt Make Regular Habit of Keeping Oneself Thoroughly Groomed at all Times
- Thou Shalt Trust the Pole
- Thou Shalt Not Kick Thy Pole Instructor in the Head Whilst Doing a Move Unsanctioned by the Teacher
- Thou Shalt Not Allow Unskilled Men to Set up One’s Pole
I am falling in love with the strength pole fitness is giving me, both inside and out.
You walk through the studio doors and you leave the noise of the world outside. It’s a place to be you; it connects you to your soul and leaves you free to express yourself through the movement that is dance.
One thing I am learning about the pole is that you need to move like nobody is watching! You have to be passionately committed to what you doing and insanely confident about your ability to pull it off.
It is such a great opportunity to take each workout and be fierce.
We climb.
We spin.
We hang upside down.
We try to look graceful while we are doing it.
We don’t worry if we don’t get it perfect.
Graceful will come later.
The moves are getting more daring.
But they are all a good challenge.
I’m bruised.
I’m full of colour.
I wear my pole ‘kisses’ with pride!
# 58 on my bucket list…
…so done!
~ For those waiting, Day 4 of my Kilimanjaro posts will be coming up next week. ~
Walking4Air 