Momentum Pole & Aerial is a pole and aerial studio – yes!
Momentum will build you a buff back and core, and its community will give you laughter, belonging and a bit more of a spring in your step! Read our students’ stories below – everyone’s journey into, and through, pole and aerial arts is one worth telling! By curating our students’ stories, we hope you can find as a bit of yourself in them, and also see first hand that a lot of the pole and aerial (and initial starting) experience, is shared!
Our studios and community is a space where friendships are found, body neutrality and confidence are built, broad shoulders and strong biceps are sculpted. Where people can be proud of their hard work and dedication, and where all bodies are welcome and celebrated. It is a space that teaches you grit and self-belief, and that finding strength and FUN in exercise is something that lies within all of us!
Fiona - Aerial Hoop and Sling Student
Hi, my name is Fi and I joined Momentum almost 18 months ago.
I’m a doctor and moved to the area for part of my training, but a little something called COVID (you may or may not have heard of it! 😉) interrupted my plans to meet people and build a social life for the first year I moved here.
My job is demanding physically, mentally and emotionally, and with my family and friends mainly London-based I felt a little bit isolated at times.
Once life slowly started returning to some sense of normality I decided it was time to challenge myself and get fitter and stronger. I used to dance many years ago and wanted to try something different that didn’t involve a gym membership I always forget to use!
On a Cheltenham-based social group someone mentioned Momentum and I dragged a work colleague along to an aerial silks class and, although I could barely get off the ground, after one class I was hooked!
I quickly made the switch to hoops after realising I wasn’t quite strong enough yet for silks, but at the start of the year I added sling to my repertoire.
I have gained strength, fitness and flexibility, but above all what I love most about Momentum is my fellow aerialists and instructors. Everyone is supportive, encouraging and kind, genuinely cheers when a tough move is achieved, shares in frustrations and builds confidence like nothing I’ve done before. I’ve made friends for life, gained skills and pictures that are always popular to chat about, and can’t thank Anna and the team enough for everything they do xx
Lee - Pole Student
Growing up disabled meant that exercise was always a necessity for me;
nothing fun, just functional (except hydro, I’m a water lover).
This weird relationship with exercise continued well into my adulthood, and once I was in remission exercise went to the bottom of my list. It was boring, like homework and I associated it with months in the hospital.
It wasn’t until I discovered pole that I really understood what these people were talking about when they said they enjoy exercise.
Not only was it fun, I made incredible friends and I was the strongest I had ever been in my life, not bad for the kid in the wheelchair at school! I was not only working on my invert, but my handstand too, something I never thought I’d be able to do, when covid got me. Most flu-like viruses are bound to trigger a flare in my disease and covid did the trick, putting me back years in my fitness.
I was angry, upset, frustrated and downright stubborn. I got back on the meds and as soon as I got the all-clear from my doctors I was back in class.
Exercise is treatment for my disease, I did intense physio and not school when I was in hospital. But this time I’m enjoying every moment of my treatment because pole is so much more than exercise, it’s a community, it’s a feeling of joy at all the improvements you make, actually feeling stronger and having incredible support from all those around you.
The cheer you get in class as you smash a move for the first time, looking back at an old video and seeing how far you’ve come, pole is just this fantastic space that makes you believe in yourself, even when you have to get the wheelchair back out.
Shannon - Aerial Hoop and Pole Student
I started aerial hoop in February 2022, with a push from my best friend Sophie who had been doing pole with Momentum for a good few years (and now a wonderful beginner pole assistant).
From my first session I was hooked, I had the best time and I could tell immediately how supportive the Momentum community was.
Helen was my hoop teacher (and still is) and her vibes blew me away! (She is the main reason I came back as she is so awesome!)
I then started pole in April 2022, training with Vicky, and again I felt amazing support from everyone in class, and I loved Vicky’s vibes.
Over a year has passed now since I started both hoop and pole, and my confidence has grown massively! Not just in classes, but in my general life. I love watching myself progress through pictures and videos.
These classes have taught me that I am strong, and capable of doing things I put my mind to, especially with the help and support of people around me.
I’ve struggled with body image most of my adult life, Momentum has really helped me find myself, and be confident in my own skin, and I’m so grateful for that! I’m the happiest I’ve been in my life since being with Momentum.
I’ve met some amazing people which I hope I have around for life, thank you Anna and the Momentum team for creating such a wonderful place and community!
Belle - Pole and Aerial Hoop Student
When I was 6 I started dance, I first started with ballet and then in year 7 I changed to street dance. Half way through year 8, I stopped dance altogether, I changed, I suffered with anxiety, depression and went through an eating disorder.
December 2022 comes along and I see an advert for the Momentum Method, I’ve been looking at doing pole for a while and when I saw this I thought, this is my chance to try something a bit out of my comfort zone! I booked onto start pole in the January.
My first lesson came and I was legit walking in circles trying to find my way in, luckily a lovely lady who was starting the Momentum Method too walked with me into the studio. I was so awkward in my first lesson but I loved it and was totally amazed at what my teacher could do, even though when I look back now it was moves as simple as a step around.
8 months down the line I’m now in improvers and the amount of amazing opportunities I’ve had since starting this journey.
My confidences has skyrocketed, I wear pole wear every lesson and I even model for Athena Athletics too! I’ve also been doing aerial hoop for 5 months now and I’m performing in the showcase too!
I’m so thankful for m
Momentum, Daisy and Lily and the amazing people I’ve met along the way! All these people who I now call my friends! I couldn’t picture my life without all this!
Lily - Aerial Hoop Student and now Instructor
I came across Momentum back in 2019, my friend and I signed up for an acrobatic workshop and loved it! I thought this would be a great weekly class, to which Anna told me that it was a one-off workshop but not to fear as Momentum offered other regular pole and aerial classes!
So I purchased my four class taster-pack and booked on for aerial hoop the following week.
My first aerial hoop class happened to fall on the hottest day of July 2019, so to combat the weather I walked into the studio in my short sports shorts and Laura very kindly informed me that I may regret my decision haha – and she was right, I can confirm hoop and bare legs are not the most delightful combo on a hot (and sweaty) evening but the bruises that followed made for a great conversation starter 😛
Regardless, from that first lesson I was hooked! I loved learning a new skill, not always performing so gracefully on the first try but feeling elated when I nailed a move on my wish list. During this time there were a few less graceful flops, or as I liked to tell myself “exiting the hoop with dramatic flair” 😉
About 18-months into my aerial journey, Anna approached me and asked if I’d like to take on the role as class assistant, and I was thrilled and so grateful to be trusted with such an opportunity.
Soon I was assisting Thursdays regularly with Helen, and often popping up on Mondays with Laura. Fulfilling the role as Momentum cheerleader / hype woman quickly became the favourite part of my week (and still is).
But now I get to share even more of my experiences with my fellow Momentum-ers, as after completing my aerial hoop instructor training, Anna invited me to join the instructor team with Momentum (YAY :D).
I now teach on a Wednesday and Saturday, and it is one of the best and most rewarding things I have ever done.
I can safely say, walking into the studio for that one-off workshop has changed my life most definitely for the better.
Thanks for reading, Lily 🙂
Lucy - Pole Student
I started pole in November last year, I contemplated doing it for so long and decided to just go and try it out. I was super nervous for my first session, but everyone was so lovely and supportive and I couldn’t wait to start my pole journey!
Since then I have moved into improver pole and notice myself getting stronger and making more and more progress each week, I couldn’t have done it without all the support of the amazing instructors and the community at Momentum!
I’m so glad I decided to try out pole with Momentum and I can’t wait to see my progression in the future 😊❤
Catherine - Aerial Hoop Student
My name is Catherine and I started my aerial hoop journey on 16 September 2021 at the grand age of 53 years and 10 months!
I joined Momentum as my gymnastics-based training classes in Gloucester closed permanently which I was so upset about.
I initially looked at doing Pole so bought a starter pack to try different classes and from the moment I did a hoop class with Helen as my instructor, I was hooked (or should that be hooped!!)
I was nervous at first about attending classes as all the other attendees were so much younger than me ( I am old enough to be their mother!), but everyone was super friendly and I didn’t feel like my age made any difference at all (only to me initially).
I’ve become a regular attending aerial hoop plus I do the odd splits class as well as handstands too!
I’ve just invested in my own aerial hoop and rig and Anna was amazing sorting this out for me and ordering it.
I’ll still come to classes as I love training with other people and picking up new skills and have made some lovely friends there.
All of the instructors are amazingly friendly and knowledgeable.
I did my first aerial performance a few months ago at the Bourneside studio for the Momentum Metinée showcase and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, I can’t do the September showcase as my niece is getting married that day but I am considering taking my rig and doing a surprise performance for the newlyweds! 😆
Thank you Anna and everyone at Momentum who have encouraged and nurtured my aerial hoop progress!!
Catherine age 55 years and 8 months 🤡😆 proof that age is no barrier when it comes to starting something new!
Saf - Pole Student
I genuinely think Pole and the Momentum community is changing my life for the better.
I live with a chronic illness and chronic pain, I’m neurodivergent, clumsy, plus-size and I’ve recently moved to the area and knew no one- the perfect recipe for low self confidence!
I found Momentum completely by accident, I just spotted the sign while picking up a take away! That swing sign spotted on a rainy January night sparked a curiosity in me!
For years I’d looked at pole dancing online and thought it was beautiful, sexy, strong… and something I would probably never be able to do! But m
Momentum’s website and socials were filled with happy people that looked like me!! Not only that, they talked about adaptations and body neutrality! This WAS something I could do!
And I’m so glad I took that chance and booked my first class. I’ve found a community that has welcomed me with open arms and that lifts me up when I need it. I’m learning to embrace and love my body for everything it can do instead of hating it for what it can’t.
I’m falling in love with my softness, my jiggles and my strength. I’ve found the joy in movement and exercise for the first time instead of only seeing it as a punishment or something to shrink my body.
There’s something magic about pole and aerial and this community, if you’re on the fence I urge you to just give it a go and book a drop in class. It might just change your life too.
Rachel - Aerial Hoop, Silks and Sling Student
So, I’m into the band BTS, and was watching some of their videos last year and in one of them they all go to Aerial Yoga and I thought that it looked like so much fun, I really wanted to give it a go!
Obviously I headed straight to Google and found Momentum 😊 You did some Aerial yoga at the end of last year but I couldn’t make most of the dates so grumpily resigned myself to have to wait for the next lot you did (which, hilariously I STILL have never managed to make – one day!).
But then when the Momentum m
Method program was announced for January 2023 it piqued my interest.
I’ve never enjoyed anything sporty much, ever. P.E was hell at school, I’m super uncoordinated, not very fit and had absolutely no upper body strength (it’s a dream to be able to do a press up one day). I’m 6ft tall, clumsy, and have always generally felt like one of those wavy armed inflatables that you get outside of car dealerships. Like I don’t have much control over my body and I just get in the way!
I had friends who’d done pole in the past but didn’t want to try it myself as I heard from them how much it bruised and as I bruise like a peach I didn’t fancy it.
But Aerial h
Hoop looked a lot more doable, cool, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt or give me bruises.
On a very brave whim I signed up and eagerly awaited January and my first class.
Walking into Momentum for the first time I was really happy to see that everyone looked “normal” and although I was expecting to be the worst in the class, I didn’t think it would be embarrassingly so.
Well, I was wrong about the pain and the bruises wasn’t I! But it was all entirely doable, and I could do so much considering I could barely support my own bodyweight with my arms and hands.
I had black backs of my knees from bruising for the next 8 weeks, as well as all the others, but I have never enjoyed a form of exercise as much as I LOVE this. I could see the gains in skill and strength week by week, and the supportive atmosphere of the class with celebrating hitting moves has never gotten old, not even 7 months later now that I go three times per week, have added in a bit of sling and silks, dabbled with pole, and can hold my own damn bodyweight at long last.
I now feel so much more in control of my body, feel powerful, actually have some upper body strength and my core is finally building back up, 4 years after giving birth and destroying it.
I love being able to tell people I do Aerial, I love the community around the studio, I still adore coming home at the end of a class and showing the pics and videos of what I’ve achieved, and I’m getting SO CLOSE to being able to straddle and it’s so exciting.
All thanks to watching BTS do Aerial yoga back in 2022.
Bonkers!
Thanks for all you do at Momentum!
Shannon - Pole Student
So, I started dancing at age 4, and immediately fell in love with it. Fast-forward 14 years, and I’m studying it at university.
Not sure what to do when I graduate, I start a PGCE in Secondary Dance in 2021 to train to be a dance teacher. This was the worst decision I ever made, I spent 1 year being, essentially, bullied by my supervisor, constantly being told nothing I do will ever be good enough, and spent every day teeming with anxiety, absolutely dreading going to work.
I lost every single ounce of confidence I had left in myself (which was scarce to begin with), and developed overactive bladder syndrome due to the sheer stress of the year, and was already struggling with fibromyalgia.
Somehow, I got through the dreadful year and qualified but once it was over I
decided that dance wasn’t for me anymore, and it was time to leave it in the past.
I missed moving creatively and couldn’t fully commit to the gym, as I found it boring.
I researched starting pole as it’s something I had always admired and thought looked so beautiful. That’s when I found Momentum.
I joined the Momentum Method for pole in September 2022and it’s genuinely changed my life; pole has helped me become so much more confident and self-assured.
I feel at home when I’m at the studio, movement has become a joy again rather than a chore – even if I do find it really hard still (lol).
The whole community is so uplifting and kind, and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without pole, it has become such a fundamental part of my life and I believe it’s the only reason I’ve been able to regain confidence after being an anxious mess with no self-esteem for so long.
I’ve tried so many classes, everyone has been so lovely and welcoming. I do not know where I’d be without pole/Momentum, it found me when I needed it most.
Thank you for such an incredible, safe & uplifting community, it means the world 💗
Sarah and Rosie - Private Tuition Pole and Aerial Hoop
In December 2022, my daughter started her Duke of Edinburgh with the school and needed to learn a new skill, when looking at the D of E app together one of the suggested activities was ‘pole dancing’.
She chuckled when she read this but then I remembered a close friend who used to pole dance and always told me how amazing it was for fitness etc., so I said I would investigate.
I asked my friend who she trained with and she gave me the Momentum page. We exchanged messages and as my daughter is under 18, it meant we would have to have private lessons which suited us perfectly as me, a 43 year old Mum who has never done any sort of dancing in my life, didn’t feel confident enough to join a group class anyway.
I explained that we were both unfit, not body-confident, not dancers and not flexible- it didn’t feel like this was a match made in heaven but we were keen to have a go!
We had our first class booked in January, we were both so nervous but I read the website and welcome emails that gave me some reassurance about our first class.
We arrived at Gloucester both feeling sick but then met our lovely instructor Rachael who immediately put us at ease. We absolutely loved the first lesson, it was hard work but we took it slowly at our own pace and then ached for a good few days afterwards, buzzing from the lesson!
We have been coming to lessons every week since, and have both gained so much, we feel fitter, more flexible, stronger and more confident in ourselves. We sometimes have a bad week where we feel that we can’t do something but then we come back stronger the next week and learn a new move or skill.
Rachael is such a talented instructor, she is kind, knows when to push us and when to let us go back to basics, she makes every lesson different and explains everything so clearly. She has an incredible radar for how we are feeling both physically and more importantly mentally, she wipes away tears on the tough days and whoops when we master a trick and are dancing round the studio for joy.
Our journey has been an incredible one so far, who could have thought that a dance/fitness class once a week could do so much for our all- round wellbeing but it really has.
Thank you
Sarah and Rosie x
