"I've found that my physical and mental strength have increased" by Emma
Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am many things but I am certainly not an athlete. I have come last in more sports than I can name, am hugely uncoordinated and have never been able to stick to a gym routine, much less any kind of regular physical activity. This all changed for me when I started doing burlesque dance classes at a friend’s dance school. Finally I was learning how to embrace my curves and love the way they moved. The burlesque classes made me feel strong and sexy, and I saw the effect that regularly exercise had on my mood. I was planning to visit a friend in Sydney who did pole, so I thought I would take the plunge and sign up to a couple of classes in order to be better prepared for my visit.
My first class was Beginner spin, two weeks in to the term. I felt like a fish out ofwater - jumping around the pole awkwardly because I had no upper body strength whatsoever. Usually my complete lack of strength and coordination makes me hugely embarrassed and vowing never to try that particular sport again. With pole, something was different - I ended that class by going to the front desk and signing up for unlimited practise time. After that, I was at the studio nearly every day, not because I was nailing the tricks, but because I wasn’t, and for once I was determined that one day I would.
Pole, like most sports, is not something that comes naturally to me, but the fact that every achievement is so hard-won makes it all the more precious to me. I’m not like some girls at the studio that come in with a background in dance or gymnastics and are in Advanced within six months of starting. It might have taken me over a year to be able to straddle, but by god, it felt good when I did! I don’t do pole for anyone but me, and the enjoyment I feel through the journey, through the fails, through the end of class boogies, through the awkward slides down the pole out of failed inverts, is second to none.
Pole dancing has helped me feel confident in my own skin, it’s helped me love my body, it’s given me the motivation to stop self harm, and it’s helped me discover my absolute love of dancing. Pole dancing is an incredible mind-clearer, a full-body meditation; you can only think about pole dancing when you’re on the pole. It is an amazing release, the only kind of exercise I’ll ever be committed to, and it has introduced me to the most incredible, supportive, warm community of women. My only regret is that I waited so long to try it, but now I’m hooked, I’ll be doing this for the rest of my life.
