This sport can, in terms of difficulty, be compared to gymnastics, ballet and martial arts. It is demanding, thus it has high returns.

First, you have to be strong and fit to begin with. If you lack some strength, you have to be very persistent. With regular hard work you can gain the strength you need quickly enough.

Best if your BMI is max 21, anything above is not fitting for this sport, it makes the elements too difficult. The higher the body mass, the more weight you have to hold on, and bring up to, the pole. If you want to start and you’re slightly overweight, this makes the perfect reason to lose that excess body mass. For example, my BMI is 19,6 and it’s still too high. Because with less mass in the legs, there’s a lot less work to do for inverts. So it’s my job too, to lose some kg.

Starting out we only do singular pole elements. Once we reach intermediate level, we start to combine them. If possible, we connect them through music, only then can this sport actually be called dancing.

Progress comes fast, but you must be consistent and thorough in your training. There can be no “lazy” or “busy days” or “something’s more important”. If you want progress in a timely manner, your training hours have to be a priority. It’s just a few hours a week, that’s practically nothing compared to all the hours a week has. Yet, they are utmost important. Every time we train, we progress, every we you don’t, we regress, there’s nothing in between.

What you gain:

• strength
• fitness
• high self esteem
• good company (the girls in the classes are just the best people)
• muscular body with actual strength
• flexibility
• higher levels of serotonin during and after every training and in daily life also
• knowing yourself better, because with testing your physical capabilities you are simultaneously testing your mental limitations. What’s more, any limitations you have, will get moved further, broken through or eliminated. You become more liberated.

To add to the list, pole dancing gives you discipline, determination, mental and physical strength, perseverance and moves your pain threshold much higher, literally gives you thicker skin, physically, but also mentally.

If you’re asking yourself: “Should I do it?” The answer is: Yes, if you only have the option to.

A word of advice, take a professional class first, for at least a year before you start doing your own training. I’m saying this because it seems simple to buy your own pole and learn through You tube or other social media, there are also online classes.

But first you need:

• a very good and strong knowledge base;
• to know all the necessary warm up exercises;
• to know your body, where your limitations and weaknesses are so that you work those areas more;
• to know how to perform the pole elements properly. One small mistake can lead to serious injury;
• a strict warm up routine and the right approach to performing the elements.

Pole dancing is fun, but a serious sport and one must be serious about their warm ups and performance.

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