5 Things Every Pole Beginner Worries About (And Why You Shouldn’t)
When I started pole fitness, I went in completely blind. I had no idea what to expect, what to wear, or how my body would react. Looking back, there are so many things I wish someone had told me!
So if you’re thinking about starting pole, here are the 7 things I wish I’d known – and that I now tell every new student at Pure Pole Fitness.
1. You Don't Need to "Get in Shape" First
This was my biggest misconception. I kept thinking “I’ll start pole when I’m fitter” or “I should lose a few pounds first” or “Maybe I’ll do some strength training to prepare.”
Here’s the truth: pole IS how you get in shape.
Waiting until you’re “ready” is just fear talking. You’ll never feel completely ready, and that’s okay. Pole will build the exact strength, fitness, and skills you need. That’s literally the point of training.
I’ve taught complete beginners who hadn’t exercised in years. Within weeks, they’re doing things they never thought possible. Not because they “got in shape first,” but because they just started.
The best time to start pole? Right now. Exactly as you are.
2. Bruises Are Totally Normal (And Kind of a Badge of Honour)
Nobody warned me about the bruises!
In pole, we call them “pole kisses”. Those purple and brown marks you get on your legs, arms, and hips from holding moves and learning new tricks. If you are like me and bruise like a soft peach, it doesn’t take long to look like you’ve been in a serious scrap! They look dramatic, but they’re just surface bruising and completely harmless.
The funny thing? After a few weeks, you stop bruising as much. Your skin toughens up and adapts. But when you’re learning a new move that puts pressure on a new spot? Hello, new pole kiss!
What helps:
- Arnica cream(miracle worker for fair skinner or fellow peaches like me!)
- Not panicking when you see them – they are a normal part of the process
- Wearing them proudly, they are a sign you pushed your body into something new.
Most students actually end up loving their pole kisses. They’re proof you’re pushing yourself and trying new things.
3. Progress Isn't Linear (And That's Completely Normal)
I thought pole progress would be straightforward: learn move A, then move B, then move C, getting steadily better each session.
NOPE.
Some days you’ll nail a move you’ve been struggling with for weeks. Other days, moves you could do easily suddenly feel impossible. You’ll have breakthrough sessions followed by frustrating ones. You might plateau for weeks, then suddenly leap forward. You hormonal cycle also has a HUGE impact on how you show up to session, more on that in a dedicated post as I could talk about it for days.
This is not a sign you’re failing. This is literally how learning works.
Your body needs time to build muscle memory, strength, and neural pathways. Some days you’re tired, stressed, or just having an off day. Some days everything clicks.
The students who succeed at pole aren’t the ones who progress smoothly – they’re the ones who keep showing up even on the frustrating days.
4. Grip Strength Takes Time (And Everyone Struggles With It)
I remember my first few weeks on pole, literally sliding down like I’d been oiled up. My hands would get sweaty, I couldn’t hold on, and I felt so defeated.
“Maybe my hands just aren’t made for pole,” I thought.
Wrong. Everyone’s hands struggle at first.
Grip strength is one of those things that just takes time to develop. Your hands need to build the specific muscles, your skin needs to toughen up a bit, and you need to learn the proper grip techniques.
What actually helps:
- Consistent practice (there’s no shortcut)
- Proper grip technique (which I’ll teach you!)
- Clean, dry hands
- Grip aids when needed
- Grip training off the pole
- Patience!
Within a few months, your grip will transform. Moves that felt impossible to hold will feel secure. Trust the process.
For those looking to increase grip strength, I recommend “powerball” trainers over grip trainers as this works the full forearm
5. Flexibility Comes AFTER Strength (Usually)
I thought I needed to be flexible to do pole. So I’d try to force myself into stretches, feeling frustrated that I couldn’t get into those beautiful poses I saw online.
I will let you in on a secret, most people believe they aren’t flexible because their muscles aren’t stretched out enough. When in reality, a lot of peoples muscles aren’t STRONG enough to go into deep active stretching. Ever tried a 30 day stretch routine which promised you the splits? Only to be disappointed, and sore, at the end? Many of these routines focus on passive stretching, not active muscle engagement, which requires, you guessed it, strength!
Yes, flexibility helps with some moves. But you know what helps more? Core strength. Shoulder strength. Grip strength. The ability to hold your body weight.
Plus, pole training naturally increases your flexibility over time. All that stretching in our cool-downs, all those moves that gently push your range of motion – it adds up. Many of my students who “weren’t flexible” are now doing splits, not because they forced it, but because consistent training gradually increased their range.
Focus on getting strong first. Flexibility will follow.
6. It's Not About Looking Sexy (Unless You Want It To Be)
Can pole be sexy? Absolutely, if that’s your vibe.
But it doesn’t have to be. Pole is whatever you want it to be:
- Athletic and powerful
- Graceful and flowy
- Playful and fun
- Challenging and technical
- Yes, sexy if you want
One of the things I love about teaching is seeing each student discover their own style. Some love strong, gymnastic moves. Others love fluid dance. Some mix it all together. This is the beauty of pole, it is made for you to put your own individual style on it.
There’s no “right way” to do pole. It’s your body, your expression, your journey.
Don’t let anyone (including yourself) put pole in a box. Do what feels good to YOU.
7. The Mental Transformation Is Bigger Than The Physical
I started pole wanting to get stronger and fitter. And yes, my body changed dramatically.
But the biggest change? How I felt about myself.
Pole taught me to trust my body instead of criticizing it. To celebrate what it could DO rather than obsessing over how it looked. To push through fear and surprise myself with my own capability.
That confidence seeped into everything:
- Standing taller
- Speaking up more
- Trying new things without overthinking
- Believing in myself
The physical benefits of pole are incredible. But the mental and emotional benefits? Life-changing.
Every single student I teach goes through this transformation. They come in wanting to learn pole moves. They leave with a completely different relationship with themselves.
The Real Truth About Starting Pole
Looking back, all my worries before starting pole seem silly now. I wasted so much time being scared, when I could have been discovering what I was capable of.
If you’re reading this and thinking about starting pole, here’s what I really wish I’d known:
Just start. Right now. Exactly as you are.
You don’t need to prepare. You don’t need to be ready. You just need to be curious and willing.
Everything else – the strength, the skills, the confidence – that all comes from showing up and doing the work.
Ready to start your pole journey? Book your first session at Pure Pole Fitness. Let’s discover what you’re capable of together.
Ready to start your pole journey without the pressure or judgment?
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Book your first session today and discover the strength you already have.