Hello to you, amazing reader friend!

In today’s blog post, we’re doing a little thinking and chatting around whether or not pole class, hoop class etc is really hard because it’s extreme.

And my argument is no. So let’s dive in!

There is a very common misconception that pole or aerial is really hard because it’s extreme.

Extremely hard.
I mean that strength!!

Extremely painful.
Have you ever tried the splits and not winced???!

Requires extreme dedication!
If you didn’t dance as a kid, do ballet or gymnastics, what’s the point in even contemplating starting pole/aerial as an adult.

Is only for the extremely committed.
Train every day or flop. 

Let’s be honest, if you come to pole/aerial class and you tell people at work, you know that reaction of “Wow I could never!!!” and you think or even say “Well actually you totally could!”

Or you’ve never been to a class and what is holding you back
among the totally normal butterflies and anxiety around stepping into a new environment, 
are all the thoughts around the extremes I listed above.

I’m gonna be honest as a studio owner, instructor, and someone who has trained pole/aerial for the past 16 years,

YES, it can be really bloody hard at times.

There will be some moves, some drills, some combos and some classes that will require some grit.

AND.

For the most part, for the vast majority of adults starting pole/aerial training in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond,

90% of their progress occurs simply due to showing up. 

Not due to an extreme training schedule, putting themselves through extreme pain and commitment, or having an extreme movement background.

We do not need to jump into extremes.
We do not need to become contortionists, professional athletes, or try to catch up on world-class gymnast skills.

Instead,
MEASURABLE, REAL, LASTING AND CONFIDENCE-BOOSTING PROGRESS in pole/aerial occurs simply by: 

– starting, at any time, any age, in whatever body and shape you are in right now
– giving yourself 3-6 months
– coming to class just once a week, even when it’s hard or you don’t feel like it, life is life-ing or your mate can’t make it
– letting go of the need to be perfect and instead viewing trying as the actual win that it is
– doing the same moves a few weeks in a row to chip away at them
– not panicking when we miss a class or had a so so session
– practising some of the things we are not amazing at instead of avoiding them or labelling ourselves as a failure
– doing the progressions that are appropriate for us and our bodies, even when our egos say otherwise
– embracing consistency and imperfect action over instant gratification and giving up

So actually the subject line of this email was a bit misleading wasn’t it *|FNAME|*?

There is no magic fix or instant hack.

Ok well yes there is one actually:

Simply finding joy in movement and hanging out with cool people in a fun environment, doing cool shit together, enjoying your body moving, and letting go of self-imposed immediacy, as well as social media comparison.

You got this!