In May 2021 I was bored of not having a hobby, something that I could be passionate about outside of work and blogging. I had tried pole dancing once with my sister for my thirtieth birthday so I looked up local classes and found one close to home that had a space on their absolute beginner’s course. Despite having missed the first of the four sessions, I fought my anxiety and went for it and I have never looked back! Becca, who runs Pole Active, is the most patient, kind and motivating teacher you could ever meet and I am so, so pleased that I met her. After I had finished the three sessions, I booked on to another class and I soon ended up in a group with two girls named Steph and Emily, who have become firm friends since.
The pole classes mix together coordinated moves with core strength building poses and they are so much fun, I honestly laugh every Monday night, even when I don’t quite get a particular move, in fact more so when I don’t get a particular move! In the past few weeks, Becca has started a heels choreo class and I am loving pushing myself at something a little different. I have awful coordination, and I really struggle to get some of the dance moves, but I don’t care because I have so much fun during the class, and I even treated myself to the most gorgeous heels (they are 7 inches and make me feel incredible).
I now have double pole on a Monday night and it is tough physically, but leaves me feeling so motivated for the week ahead, and physically fit and strong too. The two classes are quite different, but I feel they lend to each other really well.
At the beginning of this year I bought my own pole so that I could practise at home and it’s going to be so nice once the bedroom is renovated so that I have more space for the more complex moves. I honestly couldn’t imagine not doing pole now and I am so pleased that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and went for it a year ago. The transformation between when I started and now is amazing to see, and I am really proud of how far I have come.
I would recommend giving pole fitness a go, if you are looking for a new hobby or challenge. It might seem easy but it is one of the toughest forms of exercise I have ever done, but so rewarding! If you are local to Bournemouth, I really recommend Becca’s classes. She does beginners, intermediate and advanced classes as well as the heels class, which is suitable for beginners, and a flexibility class which is only £5 (not on the pole), and is honestly such an amazing teacher. I have achieved so many things I never thought possible a year ago, and I am so looking forward to pushing myself even further going forward.
