Pole Dance as a Way of Female Empowerment

How to build a new and powerful sense of Self through pole dance

A couple of years ago, wanting to go back to a fitness activity, I joined a pole dance class. I’ve always loved how working out makes me feel, physically. I love to feel my muscles stretching and contracting; to test my physical limits and try to overcome my boundaries. I like to push my muscles to the limit, to work on my flexibility and resistance.

I’ve always love to dance; to feel my body tuned with the music, to feel my hips and shoulders commanding the rest of my body. Looking for a new sport to engage in, I came across the website of a pole dancing academy, near my house. My reaction was: why the fuck did I never tried this?

I booked a testing class, and some days later, there I was: in my first class of pole dancing.

The thing that amazed me the most when I got the classroom was the diversity of students. Despite considering myself a non-judgemental and non-biased person, that moment I realised I might be (shame on me.) I was expecting a class with young, fit women. Of course, I was expecting a bit of diversity, but not what I encountered: the class was as heterogeneous as it can be; women of different ages, and sizes; fit women that embraced the pole as part of their body, and women that couldn’t complete a spin in it. That moment, I was so proud of the female power I sensed in the classroom: women embracing their bodies as they are; not fearing the social pressure we so often have, that sends down our throat the definition on how a woman should look (meaning: slim and fit.)

I felt home in that classroom. I felt safe; I felt a sense of community. Besides, I immediately fell in love with pole dancing. One of the teachers was spinning; I was hypnotised. It is so beautiful!

Unfortunately, because of a back problem, I’ve replaced pole dance for yoga, but I hope soon I’ll be able to go back; I miss it terribly. I miss feeling my sexiness boosted, to feel the strength of my body; to own my body again!

Through pole dancing, not only my body changed. My self-confidence improved; my physical abilities and mental strength took an incredible boost. As a woman, I was empowered as never before.

Pole dancing is more than a physical exercise: it’s personal empowerment.

How Pole Dance Will Empower You

Promotes strength and agility

If you ask a woman who doesn’t know much about pole dance, she will probably say (as I did) that she might not be able to do it because she’s not strong enough in her upper body. Well, now I’ll tell her she doesn't have to.

Pole dancing is about full-body strength. I felt muscles in my body that I never did before. In pole dance, you use all your muscles; the activity is distributed throughout all your body — you just have to learn how to do it. On my first classes, I was tense and focusing my physical effort on my arms, but soon I learned how to balance it.

You will need to practise to be able to climb the pole (pole dancers make it look so easy…) and practise even more to do aero figures. Besides physical fitness, you need to master the techniques. For me, it took me hours of training to be able to hold my body in the pole using my thighs muscles instead of my arms.

With commitment and practice, you will master de pole dance practise.

The first time you climb the post and hang there for a few seconds, it’s such a powerful sensation! It’s truly a conquer.

After overcoming this first milestone, you will feel stronger, both physically and mentally. You will push yourself to go a bit further. And then a bit further again. And you will never stop motivating yourself. If you do, your classmates are there for you. I genuinely felt a team spirit in my classroom.

If you keep training, your body will become stronger, and your agility will improve radically. Also, your body and posture improve.

Boosts self-confidence

One thing you must embrace is being realistic. Pole dance is not easy; it takes commitment and training. You might take weekly classes, three times a week or daily, so adjust your expectations to your reality so you won't be disappointed and, as a consequence, demotivate.

So, having realist expectations and not dreaming to be climbing the pole after two or three classes, trust me: pole dancing is a fantastic boost for your self-confidence.

After some classes, you will start to feel your body stronger, and your skills garnered; your posture will improve, as will your flexibility. All of this will have a positive impact on your self-esteem and confidence.

Every time you succeed in performing a harder move, you will have a sense of accomplishment. The feeling “I can do this and much more!” will energise you and push you forward.

It burns calories

In a pole dance class, you are constantly moving, either in the pole or on the floor; It’s a great cardiovascular exercise, it burns as many calories as in an aerobic session. In time, this will reflect in weight loss.

Empowers sensuality

Pole Dancing is about movement and body control; it’s about merging your body with the pole and express yourself freely.

Pole dance is sensuality, it’s releasing your female instincts.

Pole dance exercises aren’t all done in the pole: you’ll have moments of exercising on the floor; either walking (sexy) around the pole, finding and liberating your rhythm, your sensuality; either learning and training a specific movement.

Pole dance is not about striptease, but it can be. So, in some classes, you will learn — if you want to — movements and techniques of striptease. Even if you never do it for anyone, the sensation of you doing for yourself it’s powerful enough.

Pole dance will make you feel more confident and proud of your body.

In time, you will climb the pole and, start to do tricks; you will trust your body for that. That self-confidence won’t stay in the classroom: you will carry it with you. Your sensuality and your body posture will always be a part of you.

Pole dance will make you embrace your inner sexiness.

Stimulates your Creativity

You can be as creative and free in the pole as you wish. This can only be achieved after you gained control over the pole, but when you do, it’s an incredible achievement. Allowing your body merging with the pole and let it create beautiful forms it’s a unique sensation.

Ask someone to film you while pole dancing: you will have a full image of yourself while doing it and you will find things to improve. And, trust me, you will be amazed and proud of yourself. Also, watch videos on youtube, to have ideas for new tricks and as motivation.

I absolutely adore pole dance, and I can’t wait for my back to be fixed so I can go back. However, I need to present you with a full scenario of the activity: there are some risks and cons involved.

Cons of Pole Dancing

Pole Kisses (aka, bruises)

The day after my first pole dance class, I was so proud looking at my foot! I had a big circular bruise on my right foot. My reaction might not be yours — you might not be happy at all. But it’s something that will happen.

Pole kisses are very common in pole dancers, more if you are new to it. Even so, experienced pole dancers will usually bruise when learning new forms.

After a few classes, when I started to get more confident, I began to have bruises in different places of my body. For me, they were evidence of my success: I was improving, I was using more parts of my body while in the pole; which is precisely what you want (but only if it’s the correct parts.)

If you can also get a burn, although bruises are more common. Either with a bruise or a burn, the pole will kiss you.

Injuries

There is the risk of injury by fall, particularly serious if you fall in your head.

There’s also the risk of injury of your back, feet or wrists. But with precautions and respecting your body limitations, the risk of injury is minimised.

Stepping out your comfort zone regarding your body image

In pole dance, the fewer clothes the best, for adherence to the pole. If you don’t feel comfortable exposing your body, you should start facing it as something that is worthwhile.

As I said previously — pole dance classes are a small community, all the students are there for the same, and each one of us has our own issues with self-image. The research I did on the topic confirmed my personal experience: in pole dance classes, students don’t judge or make you feel uncomfortable with your body image. You are part of something beautiful and strong.

So, trust that feeling, embrace your body as it is (you are beautiful and powerful as you are!) and get a pair of shorts and a tank top.

I have a positive self-image and acceptance of my body, but there were a few bits I had prefered not to expose publicly. However, in time, with a growing sense of belonging to a group of powerful women, that use their body with confidence and sensually — independently of their body shape or weight — I overcame my personal issues. The mirror became an ally instead of a repressor.

In conclusion

Pole dance is much more than a fitness activity or a dancing one. It’s about owning your confidence, to push yourself a bit further every time you practise.

With pole dance, you will empower not only your body but your posture and agility; you will trigger your sensuality and use it wisely. You will be sexier, and your female power will emanate from your pores.

Pole dance gave me a deep connection with my body. I became more focused in its potentialities than in its limitations. Gradually, pole dance provided me with physical strength and liberated my dancing (and striptease) abilities. I conquered new confidence in myself, not only physical: I gained a deep sense of self. One I am very proud of.

Final note: pole dancing isn’t, obviously, exclusively for women. By stating that pole dancing is about female empowerment, I’m not excluding men from the benefits of pole dancing — I’m merely focusing on a female perspective.

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