Common misconceptions about pole: let’s go! How many of these were you guilty of believing when you first started?
You can’t do pole without upper body strength
I think because people see so much arm and grip stuff happening with pole, it’s easy to think that the arms are doing all the work. But unless you’re flexing the arms–ie. bending the elbows to pull up or lower down–the work is actually in your core to, like, support your body as you hang from your arm. Your arm isn’t actually doing all that much. And related to this…
Pole will make my arms bulky
First, it’s hilarious how many women seem to believe you can trip, fall, and accidentally put on a ton of muscle. That ish takes a lot of work! I promise you won’t do it by accident. But can pole bulk you up? Sure–your shoulders and back can broaden a bit when you start tackling level 2 and up type moves (inversions, holds, power moves). But you’re not going to suddenly have gigantic biceps out of nowhere from spins and pirouettes.
Pole is super sexy
It can be. It can also be emotional, lyrical, dramatic, spooky, athletic, or tell a story. Depending on the class you take, the studio you go to, and your own movement choices, pole can look like many different things. Is taking a pole class a bit saucy in general? Sure, but the movements themselves generally feel on par with something out of a jazz class. Whether your want to pop your booty or flip your hair, that’s up to you!
Pole is more than enough workout for the average person
While an incredible workout, I agree, you may find that to feel balanced, you need to supplement it with yoga or pilates to get more “push” style movement (as pole is very “pull” or forward-flexion focused). I can’t believe how much better my whole body started feeling when I combined pole with yoga, particularly my injury-prone shoulders. It’s also a little light on cardio, so you may want to add some heart-pumping walking, running, or fast-paced studio classes to keep your heart and lungs strong.
I’m too XYZ to do pole
Listen, I’m not saying it’s not hard work, and can be tough on your body. But if you want to do pole, that’s enough prerequisite to try it. You don’t need to lose weight first. You don’t need to get more flexible first. You don’t need to build your upper body or core strength, or grow your hair out. Just try it, and if you have any body-related concerns like stiff shoulders or sweaty hands, talk to your teacher about it. Chances are, they’ve been there, or at very least seen plenty of students who have been there, and they have ideas to make things easier.
I suck at pole because XYZ
TikTok and Instagram can really do number on your expectations, and therefore, your self esteem. Out of context, the crazy stuff you see people doing on the pole for social media makes it look like russian marechenkos and split grip handsprings are the norm. They’re not! You can happily do exclusively level 1 moves for your entire pole career and never lack for beautiful, creative movement. There’s no finish line, there’s no competition, and you don’t need to rush your way up the skill ladder. Focus, get in your body, and make tiny improvements. Take pictures and video, and reflect on your incredible progress.
Don’t miss this moment because you’re busy thinking about where you think you should be.
Relish in what your body can do in class right now. It feels good to move. Enjoy it!
love and spins,
Cathy
The Spin Diaries: Your Guide to Everything Pole and Aerial 