#pole training

Hey, anon! This is a challenging question to answer, so I will also ask folks to respond/reblog with any other ideas or tips, but I wanted to be able to give this question my full attention and answer the best I could.

I definitely advocate for structured classes and going to studios to get technical assistance. There definitely are so many amazing and talented self-taught pole dancers (and athletes of similar dance/sports/arts), and YouTube has many fantastic tutorials. Yoga is a great example, actually; there are amazing self-taught yogis out there and tons of resources, but the risk is higher when you don’t have a trained teacher helping you to be safe and have good form. In pole, it’s important to maintain good form and muscle control to minimize the risk of an injury.

If money is an issue, and I’ve definitely been there, you may need to begin pole dance slowly. During weeks and months I wasn’t able to attend classes and prior to owning a pole, I would focus on strength training. Great muscles to focus on–especially in the beginning–are: core, trapezius, shoulders, and hip flexors. Use Google and YouTube to find what exercises can be accomplished at home using the tools and resources you already have available. There are options, too, if you have a park nearby.

If and when you get the chance to take classes at a studio, let them know about constraints you’re dealing with. They can discuss what packages or deals are available that best suit your situation. And maybe you go just every so often at first. 

If you would like to be self-taught, you will need a good pole. While it can be tempting to compromise quality for cost’s sake, it’s important to have a sturdy pole installed correctly. I really like X-Pole’s X-Pert pole. It’s tension mountable and can adjust for different ceiling heights if you move, and it can be in static or spin mode. That will run over $300, but if you’re able to set aside a little at a time to save it, it’s definitely worth it. (If folks can advocate for other products, feel free to add to this.)

If you are practicing at home, I highly recommend recording yourself. You simply can’t feel what your body is doing with complete accuracy, especially when you’re learning. Having the camera act as your objective 3rd party will help you critique and improve your form.