What pole has taught me!

My Pole Journey

Before I start my blog, I want to share that I'm very transparent in my journeys. I won't sugar coat this. I actually write for myself to journal my progress.  I've never written much about my pole life but decided to tell this story because it's part of my story.

I began competing in bikini (body building) late 2012.   I made a decision that when I turned 50 I wanted to start training in a sport that was more skill based.  I knew I wouldn't give up my body building but I just wanted to learn something brand new.

We were in Las Vegas for my 50th birthday and ended up at  Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson One.  The above video was the exact moment I knew what I wanted to do.  I saw this pole dancer slay Dirty Diana and I had a pole ordered the next day.

I had no idea where to start but it was so fun researching. I bought grip aids, shoes, gloves, knee pads and some leg warmers. I thought I had it all together!!

I had no idea about pole lessons or really anything about pole so I joined 2 websites to start my online pole training.

This is literally the first time I touched a pole of my own. Oh my God.

Boy did I get that wrong!

I'll skip a head a full year and tell you that, it was a huge mistake to not find classes and pole coaches. I lost over a year of solid improvements partially due to not understanding body mechanics and techniques.  I had no concept of spacing, bracketing, progressions or flow.  I also got injured so many times it was ridiculous. 

I began working with our local coaches and never looked back. I take classes at two studios and have a few different coaches who work with me.  The interesting thing for me is, I need one on one due to my learning style.   I have gone to countless workshops and classes and really just end up not know what to do with what I learn.  With my privates we can work on ways to enter in and out of moves so they are right for my build and skill level. That was a huge discovery for me and I started to improve right away!

I also love working with different coaches because everyone has a unique style.  My style is pretty thrashy and classic stripper.  So I chose a coach who also leans to that style. She's also built a bit more like me so it makes sense to have her work with me.  She understands placement as it works with my body style.​

I have other coaches who are very technical.  It's so  nice to work with so many great instructors with so many talents!

If you are starting pole, find  a studio home. The online sites are so nice but they should not be your main education!  If you are in St. Louis, go to my Recommended page and come train with my coaches.

Things to know.. 
I probably had the equivalent of 3 months of dance class in my entire life. In fact, I grew up in a ultra religious home where dancing was considered a sin. I have had a lot of anxiety from being raised in this dysfunction. 

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 However, I actually really love to go dancing and clearly my upbringing didn't stop me. It's kind of bull shit, in fact.  But that's where I am. I'm stiff and uptight by nature, I guess.

When you see a lot of pole dancers online, you may imagine they come from dance backgrounds and even gymnastics!  I had none of  that so everything I'm learning is coming from inside me. I'm driven, structured, ridgid and that doesn't look great on the pole. 

Challenge accepted. My poor upbringing is NOT going to hinder my ability to create fluidity. 

Pole started for me as a very ridgid process of progressions and I stand by that. But I'm coming to understand how much more it is to me as a woman and human.  Being able to express myself and have a voice took time.   Being able to tap into really dark shit that was happened in my life and use that for my art is not simple. It's awkward but it was very helpful to channel that energy into something positive. 

In fact, what I have been shocked to understand about the pole community is the acceptance of people like me. People who want to improve, learn but who also are healing.   

I started my project believing one thing, but in my 4th year, I've come to understand the universe had this planned for me all along. <3 

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