First time poledancing...

[DeepFatFriar]

I've got a friend who got really into it and took me along to have a go. It was quite fun (although I'm not strong enough to do a lot of the stuff she showed me), but at the same time I wasn't sure about it on a feminist level.

I totally get that there doesnt have to be a sexual element to it at all and that its much more about athletics and strength and flexibility, but having said that most of the women i saw at the club were.pretty groomed so im guessing there must be some crossover between pole dancing as a sport and the visual aspect.

Sorry im explaining this really badly! What i mean is when i go rock climbing for example, the women there are just getting physical and are pretty scruffy in old shorts and vest tops whereas the vibe at the pole dancing was....basically the women were hotter

So i dont know what to think. On the one hand it was a good workout, on the other something about it made me feel weird. Interested in your thoughts!

I think you're overthinking it.

If you enjoy it then do it.

Pole FITNESS is a great sport, and is not the same at all as pole dancing. I taught it for a number of years and believe me, there was nothing remotely sexual in my classes, it was purely for strength, fitness and fun. Sadly, it gets a bad deal, MN seems to hate it but it's something you need to decide for yourself. The pole community is fab, I made many good friends along the way and for me it was nothing
but a positive. It really is no different to gymnastics, but many people
don't see it like that.

What feminist level?

Your not naked on the pole for money. Pole dancing is great exercise and fun too I’ve been going to classes for years and good for a toned body.

Your over thinking, it’s just a good exercise

@BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack
I did enjoy it but im not going back until I Can do at least one pull up!

Just carry on and do it for the fitness element. If women want to dress up looking like pole dancers then that's their choice. Your choice is to do whatever makes you happy and wear whatever makes you comfortable.

Just because the women were 'hotter' it doesn't mean it is automatically sexual. It could just be in the class you went to, the women were attractive.

With pole dancing you do have to wear minimal clothing when you get to the more advanced levels as you need bare skin to do the moves (you will slip off the pole otherwise) and form fitting clothes help. So you will often see men and women in short shorts and crop tops. Again this isn't for a sexual aspect, It's to do the more advanced moves.

But some women (and men) do add a sexual aspect when choreogtaphing. Not to my personal taste but the world would be very dull of we all had the same tastes

Deep but if you go back you'll be doing a pull up an awful lot quicker. Pole is brilliant for upper body and core strength, and no one expects you to be doing pull ups as a beginner.

And yes as the PP says, you need smaller clothing for skin grips, but you don't need to wear shorts etc until you're going upside down and climbing, so not for the first few weeks.

To be fair I wear smarter stuff for pole classes as they often take photos for social media etc. And I've often come straight from work so have makeup on
Rock climbing I would look scruffy!
Try aerial hoop too, it's so much fun

@BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack
The thing is i felt quite rushed, it was a 3 hour class and after 20 minutes of just spinning the teacher was then trying to get me to do this thing where you kind of throw yourself sideways and hold, and then another thing where you jump up, turn upside down and then slip down upside down. I was a bit because i didnt actually feel strong enough to do either of those so ut was a bit embrrassing!

Deep that sounds madness to me. I know every studio is different
but when I taught I focused the first 5-6 weeks just on spins and things like head stands to get my students used to the idea of being upside down.....seems to freak some people out.....and then week 6 I would gradually introduce inverts and climbing but breaking it down rather than expecting you to just go upside down. Most people take a while to go upside down, and I know with me it took absolutely ages.

Three hours for a beginner is a long class and I wouldn't want to diss anyone elses method of teaching but that does seem a bit much to me.

You're not exactly overthinking.

Firstly, if you like it, go back. You won't learn to do a pull-up without practice! If you wait until you can do a pull-up, you'll never go back.

Secondly, physically pole fitness is a lot like gymnastics, and developing skill in either would give the same rush of pride and bone-deep satisfaction that you get from any sport you love.

But , why does pole fitness draw in so many more enthusiastic novices that adult beginners gymnastics classes then? Why does the pole fitness studio in my town advertise that they do hen night bookings? The gymnastics club doesn't have such a thriving side-line. Nor does the local dance school, which offers adult ballet and adult tap every week.

It's all very odd... Is it perhaps, just perhaps, because it is inextricably bound up with being sexy? Yes, yes it is! I don't necessarily have a problem with that, but I do have a problem with people being disingenuous about it. You get newbies through the door because they're intrigued by its sexy reputation. I won't say that's why they stick with it; they stay around because they find it physically fulfilling to develop greater balance, strength and flexibility and perform feats they could never have imagined.

But polefitness does have a particular USP and it is quite in keeping that pole-fitness members would be better groomed at the start of class than rock climbers.

There's nothing unfeminist about pole dancing, even if it is the variety where you're doing it for money. Almost every working person in the world uses their body in some form of labour in return for cash. That includes dancers (and within the realm of dancers is pole dancers!).

I don’t necessarily think it’s un-feminist, but I agree with pp who said it has a sexy / risqué reputation, because a lot of (men) people will only know about it because of them being used in strip clubs.

It’s fine to enjoy that. I know someone who loves burlesque and goes to classes for that, (although she isn’t an actual performer). I think it can be quite empowering.

I’m sure a lot of people do it purely or fun / enjoyment / fitness and the sexy factor doesn’t come into it at all, but I do think it’s more popular because it’s sexy. But there’s nothing wrong with that I guess 🤷‍♀️.

When anyone tells you that you’re over thinking something, the chances are that you are just thinking. And they are underthinking.

@BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack
Well yeah! I would be up for just doing 3 or 4 classes where I'm just spinning, i mean wtf is the point in getting me to go upside down when i cant even spin properly?
Do you know the thing i mean when you approach the pole by jumping on side ways? I couldnt bring myself to jump that way, it felt wrong!

@JamieVardysHavingAParty
Thanks, thats basically what i was thinking!

Deep I can't think of a move where you would jump on the pole sideways to be honest, especially a beginners move. Sounds a bit dangerous though, hope there was crash mats there lol

@JamieVardysHavingAParty
I think whats bothering me is if it were just gymnastics i wouldnt be in the slightest bit interested

Pole dance grew from strip clubs, so of course theres the sexy link. I know people like to go on about Chinese and Indian pole art but that's a load of rubbish. The moves are often named after or by famous dancers, the link is very much from clubs.

That being said I love pole, I do it myself. I think many people get into it wanting to connect with their sexuality etc etc. Which is fine of course, whatever floats your boat.

Pole has a lot of different styles, some will be more fitness/trick focused and some on sexiness. One isn't necessarily any better than the other.

And to be honest OP I wouldn't be keen on that class from the sounds of it! I don't know how they'd have time to teach you technique properly. That sounds very intimidating for beginners.

My DD does pole-dancing for exercise. She's become incredibly fit doing it, and has progressed so well. Yes, I can understand there being a sexual element in it, in strip clubs where the girls gyrate around in their scanties. In a proper pole exercise class it'd be hard to find a sexual element (mind you some people can find that in almost anything!) My DD has sent pics of her and she looks hot and sweaty! Mind you her core strength is amazing, it's toned her up and I'm amazed at seeing some of the moves she can do.