Beginner Tips

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

5 Things Every Pole Beginner Worries About (And Why You Shouldn’t) There are certain worries that I hear come up again and again with people who are new to pole. I get it, I had these same concerns when I started pole too! So let’s tackle the big five concerns every beginner has, and I’ll tell you the honest truth about each one. 1. “I’m Not Strong Enough” The worry: “I can’t even do a push-up! How am I supposed to hold my body weight on a pole?” The truth: You don’t need to be strong to START pole – pole is what MAKES you strong. Think about it – did you wait until you were good at running before you started running? Of course not. You built up your running fitness by running. Just like every new skill we develop, it all starts with the, well, starting. Pole is exactly the same. Every session includes strength and conditioning work that builds the exact muscles you need. We start with beginner-friendly moves that work with your current strength level, and gradually progress as you get stronger. I’ve taught students who had never done any exercise before, who have came in proclaiming they have absolutely no upper body strength, scratch that, any strength at all and then they have been blown away with what they CAN do. Within weeks, they’re holding themselves on the pole performing moves they never thought possible. A lot of the strength is already there, it’s how we consciously activate it. Your strength will come. I promise. 2. “I’m Not Flexible” The worry: “Everyone doing pole looks so bendy! I can barely touch my toes.” The truth: Most pole moves don’t require extreme flexibility. And the flexibility you DO need? We’ll develop it together. Yes, some advanced moves benefit from flexibility. But so many beautiful pole moves are about strength, control, and flow – not just how far you can stretch. I was one of those can’t touch my toes people, flexibility is not a natural gift to me and the flexibility I have now has came with the natural practice of pole. We include stretching and flexibility work in every single session. You’ll be amazed at how your flexibility improves naturally over time. That’s not why you START pole – it’s a benefit you GAIN from pole. I’ve had students who were “not flexible at all” who are now doing splits. Not because they were born bendy, but because consistent training creates consistent progress. 3. “I’ll Be Too Self-Conscious” The worry: “What if I look silly? What if I can’t do it and I feel embarrassed?” The truth: This is exactly why Pure Pole Fitness offers 1-2-1 sessions. It’s just you and me in the studio. No one else watching. No one to compare yourself to. No pressure to keep up with anyone else. I pride myself on creating a safe environment, where people feel comfortable exploring and pushing. Here’s something I’ve learned teaching pole – everyone feels a bit awkward at first. It’s a completely new way of moving! Sometimes, we have NEVER related to our body in that way, or the “idea” of pole, moving fluidly with grace and dare I say it, a bit of sexiness, seems SO far away from our current view of ourselves. But shes is in there, I promise you that! The great thing about a private session is you get to be awkward, you can laugh at yourself, try things without judgment, and surprise yourself without an audience. Plus, I’m your biggest cheerleader. My job is to make you feel supported, encouraged, and capable. Never embarrassed. You can guarantee that when you nail one of your pole goals, I will be there jumping up and down! 4. “I’m Too Old/Young/Unfit” The worry: “Isn’t pole for young, fit people?” The truth: My students range from 10 to 68 years old. All body types. All fitness levels. Pole is for anyone who wants to try it. Full stop. I adapt every move, every exercise, every session to suit YOUR body and YOUR fitness level. That’s the beauty of 1-2-1 training – it’s completely personalised. Don’t believe me? Check out the inspirational Idanna Abginente, at 82 years old and killing it. Whether you’re super active or haven’t exercised in years, whether you’re 15 or 65, we’ll work at the pace that’s right for you. No one else’s journey matters – only yours. 5. “What If I’m Just… Not Good At It?” The worry: “What if I try and I’m terrible and it’s just not for me?” The truth: Everyone is “terrible” at pole when they first start. Including me. Including every professional pole dancer you’ve ever seen. Pole is a skill. Like learning an instrument, or a language, or how to cook. No one picks up a guitar and plays Hendrix on day one. Everyone starts somewhere and what the Instagram highlights often leave out is all of the practice to get to where they are today. The question isn’t “Will I be good at it immediately?” The question is “Will I enjoy the process of learning?” And in my experience? Most people do. Because pole is FUN. Even when you’re a beginner. Even when you’re learning basic spins. Even when you can’t quite nail that move yet. The joy isn’t in being perfect – it’s in surprising yourself with what you can do. The Real Truth About Starting Pole Here’s what I wish someone had told me before my first class: You don’t need to be anything other than curious and willing. You don’t need to prepare. You don’t need to “get in shape first.” You don’t need to prove anything. You just need to show up and be willing to try something new. Everything else – the strength, the flexibility, the confidence, the skills – that all comes with time and practice. Ready to stop worrying and start doing? Book your first session at Pure Pole Fitness in