Pole Fitness Explained: Benefits of Pole Dancing for Your Body

“I think we as a society need to get better about destigmatizing the sex work that comes along with pole dancing,” says Zack, a student at Pole Pressure who asked that his last name be omitted for professional reasons. “Strippers are a part of our community and we need to accept them and love them — and also accept the athletic side of it as well. We are all one big happy pole family.” Pole dancing as a competitive sport is currently practiced in many countries like the United States, the UK and Australia, all of which host national level “Miss Pole Dance” competitions. There are also major international competitions conducted under the banner of “Miss Pole Dance World” and “World Pole Sport & Fitness”.

No matter the style you prefer, sporty or exotic, we must acknowledge and respect the origins of pole dancing and the communities who have developed and embraced it as a form of expression and work. This course is aimed at beginners, which means we start from scratch and learn the first turns around the pole (spins), climbing up the pole and simple holding figures.We will train on the static pole as well as on the spinning pole. Because pole dancing puts less stress on your joints compared to running or high impact fitness classes, it’s better for a gradual strengthening of your joints, muscle, bones and connecting tissue. Since the dawn of spectator sports, we’ve wanted to watch muscular people fight and do flips. Today, TikTok-friendly high-drama sports like women’s gymnastics regularly dominate Olympic viewership on TV networks and streaming platforms. But watching artistic gymnastics isn’t the only way to see ultra-strong people do flips and splits.

Competitions

But in Europe and Latin American countries, pole studios often cater to children, where it’s viewed no differently than youth gymnastics or martial arts. Russia has a well-established youth pole federation, creating a pipeline for future Olympic hopefuls to train and compete. Youth pole dancing competitions look a lot like competitions in rhythmic gymnastics or acrobatics — incredibly impressive, albeit standardized and sanitized.

Yes, many people believe that pole dancing is an art because it shows creativity, self-expression, and quality choreography. Pole dancing is one of the most popular forms of dance, but many people believe that it cannot be classified as art. This blog post discusses whether pole dancing is an art or not and provides arguments for both sides. Just like the wolf turn has become ubiquitous in gymnastics balance beam and floor routines because it’s a big point-earner, pole tricks like Russian splits pop up over and over again in high-level routines. But while revealing costumes are partially a vestige of pole’s roots, skin friction against metal is also what keeps athletes from sliding off the pole.

If you’re too eager to flip upside down, it can be especially dangerous and can lead to injury. It is a space that we, as a community, must actively continue to shape as a welcoming space to people of all genders, ages, body types, and abilities. Since 2000, pole started moving away from its origins and began to change into something new that more people would engage in.

The Verdict: Yes, It’s a Sport!

Destynnie first discovered and began pole dancing in November of 2017 after moving to Providence, RI. When she wasn’t training, she could be found listening to music or participating in an arrangement of other hobbies such as botany, gardening, and visual arts. Men on the pole may still face challenges and prejudices from some individuals who view pole dancing as an un-masculine activity. For others, pole dancing is a hobby that provides a fun and creative outlet for self-expression and physical activity.

These poles are made with clear plastics and contain water, glitter, and unique reflective materials, which stand out when used in conjunction with strobe lighting, as well as lighting hidden in their base joists. However, these poles are not favorable to a dancer wanting to achieve better pole tricks as they bend slightly and tend to create a friction burn when slid down with any speed. At Pretty Brave Fitness, we’re all about the benefits of training with a group of likeminded women.

Then GAISF agreed to change the process they use to officially recognise sports, introducing Observer Status which temporarily gives a sport official status for two years. “But most countries won’t recognise the federations unless it is officially a sport. It is a bit of a chicken and the egg situation. There has not been a new sport in 30 years.” Other non-traditional sports recognised by the body are cheerleading, powerboating and tug of war. “Competitions started but they were very amateur, with friends of friends doing the judging. My goal initially was to make it more professional.

Zack, who asked that his last name be omitted, says pole helps him feel “more comfortable with every part of my body.” Today, pole dancing is becoming a more celebrated facet of the world, as emotional health is more welcomed and pole dancing has become much more centered more on the performer’s desire to express themselves. There’s everything here about choosing the right type of pole for you, what different choices mean, how to install it, and what kind of space you need. If training from home, take the time properly installing your home pole according to manufacturer instructions and vetting a reputable online learning platform.

• Even for a well-organized team of advocates, the work of getting a sport to the Olympics is Sisyphean at best.
• Jazz was attracted to pole because of the combination of strength and dance.
• Two years ago, mother-of-three Amanda Montoya described pole dancing as “the last thing I would ever do”.
• There’s a whole guide, and we’ve tested everything here to categorize different grip aids so you can find the best one for your skin type and needs.

Challenges to Recognition

What’s surprising is that pole dancing can help you train your balance and coordination. However, IPSF is taking necessary steps IPSF and higher organizations are giving positive responses in this regard. This non-profit organization has been promoting the pole as an athletic sport since then. Several students at Pole Pressure compete and perform in pole events throughout the year. Well not every sport, as there is a list of unusual sports, extinct sports and newly created sports. We also have sports winners lists, and about major sports events and a summary of every year.