The simple vertical pole evokes different visions depending on where it’s found. On a playground it’s child’s play. In my son’s firefighter book it’s an iconic fixture in the fire station. In the strip club it comes with bare bodies and dollar bills. There’s another place where the pole is popping up more and more these days – the fitness center.
The pole dance fitness craze has gained momentum over the last several years. I became fascinated with it when I saw Sheila Kelley, creator of S Factor, on Oprah. As a massage therapist, I’ve always appreciated the beauty of the human form. However, the slow, graceful, sensual movement of pole dancing mesmerized me. At the time, there was no one teaching these types of classes anywhere near me. A few years later a new gym right near my home began offering pole fitness. Imagine my excitement. There was only one problem. I was pregnant with twins. I could barely walk, much less spin seductively around a dance pole. I knew we were moving 1600 miles out of state by the time the twins came. I googled to see if there were any pole dancing classes in my new town. I did find a studio. So, there I was, big as a house, anticipating the day I could finally give the pole a whirl.
Fast forward nearly two years, 1600 miles, and two more babies. My twins are now 16 months old. Tonight is my very first pole fitness class in a series of five. Tonight! I’m actually doing it. I’m nervous. I’m curious. I’m beyond excited. I look forward to doing something totally for myself. I look forward to an hour of leaving my worries behind and learning to feel good in my own skin. I look forward to getting back in touch with myself through movement. I’m an average 38 year old mom of 3 boys. I’ve lost nearly all of the 70 pounds I gained during my twin pregnancy. However, nothing is as firm as it was pre-babies. Spend any time at all looking at pictures of competitive (yes, there are pole dance fitness competitions!) or professional pole dancers and you’re sure to see what they all have in common: rockin’ bodies with long, lean, elegant lines and abs to die for. Do I expect to look like that anytime soon? Nope. But, I am so anxious to see where my pole dance fitness journey takes me: mind, body, and soul. I’ll be sharing my experiences here, so check back to keep up with my progress at the pole!
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