I was thinking a lot recently about why I started pole dancing and it made me wonder why others have started their pole journey too. There are so many benefits to doing Pole classes and so many reasons to join classes. From getting strong and fit to gaining confidence and in sync with your body. Meeting new people and becoming part of a community there are so many things I could write a whole article just about that!
I wanted to put the question to others’ thoughts and I got curious and began to ask people…Why did you start Pole Dancing?
The responses are so varied and interesting and so I wanted to share them with you here too.
My friend who had poled for years invited me to hers. We’ve been friends for years and it never occurred to me to try pole! Anyway I did it as my horse was on holiday after we’d been riding at an international. Once I started pole I did it to keep fit for eventing my horse.
I’ve always loved to dance, provocatively and not… won a biggest loser challenge after having my baby and a pole lesson was my treat to myself to build confidence. Never looked back.
My New Year’s resolution one year was to do more risky things… and that led me to pole. Which I did for 7 years! It was amazing to overcome some of my fears of height (climbing to the top of the pole) , fear of handstands (thinking my wrists would give out) and becoming more gymnastic!
I started pole to give me some body confidence. This was back in 2019 and I’ve never looked back.
My favorite two things were gymnastics and dancing. Pole dancing combines them.
I wanted to feel empowered and something to give me the drive to succeed in something is what prompted me to start, building my strength and making a pole family is what keeps me there.
Upper body strength & I’m sexy and I know it… bump bump bump bump uh dump. Just kidding- 41yrs old and love a bit showy-off, feeling sexy at every age and love a good workout!
I was scheduled for an advanced pole class by my teen daughter as a mother’s day gift!
I’m very athletic, I do boxing, weight training, 5k challenges, yoga and traditional African dance so I thought pole would be just another fitness workout to add to my many activities. Well it was not what I expected, it was very challenging and requires muscles and strength not used in other fitness programs. It’s not as glamorous as it looks, it’s actually painful but it brought back childhood memories of when pole was just something I did playing in the playground, twist and turns and poses on pole without being taught or any care. I love that feeling and because of that I’m sticking with pole. In addition to the pole community who are awesome and the level of enhancement in my femininity.
I had always admired the strength and impossible moves I had seen in videos. Took me 10 years from a fun lesson on my hen do to walking into my first class. I was in a very bad head space at the time although I had no strength or background in anything I was hooked from the first lesson. It helped me physically but more mentally and the ladies I have met along the way are absolutely awesome. Such a fantastic community of supportive and amazing people. And now I can do some of those moves I once thought impossible. Such a rush when you get the move too. Oh and has helped my confidence and depression so much too.
To build confidence, I needed something that made me feel challenged and strong, but also feminine. I’ve struggled with that balance for a long time. The dancing part helps when I’m working through emotions, and the workout helps me channel anxiety while helping increase endorphins to help with depression.
I wanted a new fitness challenge, always wanted to do it and absolutely love it. I’m 6 weeks into my pole journey.
I was an exotic dancer in the late 90s. I always knew there was an inherent beauty in the movement and that it should be recognized as the art form it is now seen as. Years later returning to sensual movement, exotic dance, and now learning pole, for me is a feminine reclamation and at times…a reckoning.
Yvonne
I needed to come back to myself. I didn’t know what that meant at the time but it completed me in a way that I surrendered to some feminine experience of myself.
I grew up dancing, and was a dance teacher for kids. My first child was about to turn 2 I believe and I felt like I lost who I was. I saw a friend post a picture of herself upside down on a pole and thought I might, possibly, be able to do that. So I signed up for my first class. That was all it took. I fell in love instantly!!!
A coworker of mine was invited for a free trial class and she asked me to go with her, so I started pole dancing by chance. I absolutely love the way girls help and encourage each other and the friendly ambience so it has become my favorite hobby and my principal workout. That was like 7 years ago… And I am still doing it!. I recently moved to a place where there are no pole studios and I struggle by doing it myself alone at home because I really miss my pole friends. I’m doing zoom sessions once a week and it kinda works for feeling the companionship.
It was the first time I went to a really upscale strip club back in college and saw these beautiful women doing absolutely unbelievable pole tricks and I said ”I’m gonna do that one day.” I thought the moves were mesmerizing and started and now I’m 5 years in and can do all of those amazing moves! Inspiration is what prompted me to start but I fell in love with the goal setting aspect, strength building, challenges and overall accepting community.
Missy
I had lost my identity to my relationship and motherhood. I needed to do something for myself and a pole studio showed up on Groupon… So I figured why not? I loved it and it’s the only exercise I’ve ever stuck with lol.
Aly
For fun, for fitness I could enjoy it. To be strong. And I dance for expression.
I enjoy being in a space where I don’t have to be anything. I can just be.
Caroline
I’ve always added new, fun and challenging things to my training and this is a great one!
Margo
It helped me overcome my PTSD, social anxiety and seasonal affective disorder. It’s incredible what it can do to your spirit!
Kirsty
I wanted to do it when I was younger, then fell pregnant and moved away from the area. I saw someone advertising classes in the area and thought why not. My new year’s resolution was to do/try something new every month, so I definitely had to give it a go!
Elizabeth
I was looking at myself in the changing room at a clothing shop and noticed that even though I was always slender I had developed chicken wings and where my bra wrapped under my arm there was loose fat and skin and I was mortified. Someone said to me pole dancing was good exercise and super sexy so I enrolled and have been doing it since 2014. It was absolutely life changing for me. It gave me super strength and I became toned and people noticed the difference. I mean you are lifting your body weight which there is no way you will do in a gym!
Soft-soul
I wanted to feel like a woman again, to have back some confidence.. Didn’t find some fun doing fitness and needed some challenging.. So I started pole fitness and it was the best decision ever… Whenever I’m stressed or frustrated it’s everything I need and helps so much.
Sal
Lots of reasons, firstly medical, I had a mini stroke. Second, I needed a lifestyle change for my health. Third, bad relationships left me feeling ugly and uncomfortable, and I needed confidence. Hated men staring in the gym….I’m 53 and don’t think I’d ever give it up.
We had so many responses I wanted to share them all with you, perhaps we will do a “Why I started pole dancing volume 2!” LOL
I would love to know why you have started pole dancing, or why you may be thinking of starting. Make sure you are registered for our classes and updates HERE and join me over on Instagram HERE to share your story too!
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