Page 108 - Healthy (March - April 2020)

FITNESS

JANE BULL DEMONSTRATES
THE EMPOWERING ART OF POLE

I walked into my irst pole class in the midst
of a toxic relationship with itness. Despite
working out 5-6 days a week, I had no real body
conidence. I was exhausted with overtraining at
gyms, and tired of counting calories. I thought I’d
be too weak to do anything and would walk away
from a pole class feeling defeated. And while I did
slide right of the irst time I touched the pole,
I also amazed myself with how much I could do.

STRENGTH AND SKILL
Those irst basic spins made me feel like I was
lying! My body’s momentum gave me a sense of
weightlessness that I’d never experienced before.
And best of all, the instructor did not once mention
calories or fat-burning. Her entire focus was on
skill-building, so we could learn how to ly higher.
I was instantly enamoured. After a few weeks, I
noticed a huge increase in my upper-body strength
without ever focusing on ‘strength-training’. We
trained skills irst – physical strength was a side
efect. As my skills developed, so did my overall
conidence and self-esteem.
I found that pole dance also helps us unlearn
patterns of self-consciousness and body shaming,
and crushes the tendency to
judge others. Because we use
Pole helps us unlearn patterns of self- our skin for ‘grip’ on the pole,
consciousness or body shame, and we see each other’s real bodies
crushes the tendency to judge others in all their glory – stretch marks,
cellulite, pregnancy and so on
– portraying the vast array of
ascribed to women who self-express is done by human female experiences. Women celebrate
the viewer/consumer, no matter the context. each other’s diverse bodies, and this extends to
When dancers started opening pole itness diversity in self-expression. Although not all pole
studios, they sent a message: women can pole on dance is sensual or sexual, its historic roots ofer
their terms. It turns out there are ininite ways an opportunity for women to explore sensuality
a person can pole on their terms, not only for the in a safe, non-judgmental environment. The tone
enjoyment of others, but to make themselves feel has been set: pole studios can be a safe haven to
good. Today, pole is everywhere around the world explore whatever you need to do, away from the
from FKA Twigs videos to small-town studios, daily realities of patriarchal life.
and not just because sex sells. Pole genuinely is In a world where women internalise
helping thousands of women live better lives. But disempowering messages about our self-worth,
why? Let me highlight a few of the many reasons. re-framing what it means to be ‘it’ according
to our own standards is a key piece of why pole
WINNING AT FITNESS helps women feel good in their bodies. Building
It’s obvious that most women struggle with body conidence, self-esteem, and self-determination is
image, and this shapes how we relate to itness. what makes pole one of the best ways to be it and Photographs Lynda Allen Photography
We are bombarded daily with messages that we a feminist. Today, I’m grateful for the women who
aren’t ‘enough’: fat-shaming, ageism, ableism, the developed pole in the clubs, and I respect those
list goes on. Pole challenges those messages, and who choose this as their livelihood – without
it’s changed my relationship with itness forever. them, I wouldn’t be a feminist pole dancer.

108 healthy-magazine.co.uk