Pole Progression

It felt good to get back on the pole, tonight. We didn’t have class last week and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. Tonight, our class was full and there was an interesting mix. Ladies who were new to Intermediate, some who were seasoned and one who definitely should be in Advanced. I love classes like this. I feel we all learn from and get inspired by each other as much as the instructor.

Tonight we were working through some rather frustrating progressions -- Caterpillar and Shoulder Mounts. We were discussing ab strength when one of the girls laughed and said, “Yeah, something I don’t have.” I pointed out that she couldn’t have gotten this far if she didn’t have a great deal of abdominal strength. Maybe not enough for what we were doing, but she obviously had a lot if she was pulling up into inversions.

This was easy for me to point out to her because it’s something I think a lot about. There are times when I get discouraged because I can’t do this pose in yoga or that trick in pole. But if I look back on my progression over even the past six months, I can see so much growth. I’ve been fairly consistent and I keep trying. Some things come easily, some things not so much. But I’m working on it. This is what is true. And this is what I remind myself when I feel like nothing is working.

We are on a journey and as far as we go, as good as we get, there will always be the next thing. This is what keeps life interesting.

Stronger

I had Pole this evening. Our last class of this session

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A woman had come in for Zumba but the teacher never showed, so she joined our class. She had never taken a pole class before, so our instructor was alternating between our review and giving her a few lessons in Pole 101. Watching her tentative steps around the pole, I reflected on how far I’ve really come in this often interrupted journey. How much stronger I am, how much more confidence I have. How proud I am of every bruise and sore muscle I walk away with.  And -- anyone who knows me will know how amazing it is to hear me say this -- how graceful I can be. 

Of course, I’m not the only one. A girl in my class managed to do something tonight that she has been working all session on. We clapped for her. We’ve all been there. It might not look effortless quite yet, but the confidence that comes from actually being able to hold a position even for a second is wonderfully gratifying. Her face glowed for the rest of class. 

I’m not usually comfortable admitting what new trick I can do. It’s as though I have a fear that people will expect things from me if I admit to it. Or that it can be taken away from me once it leaves my lips. But the truth is that at this moment, I can do a few interesting tricks and I don’t collapse halfway through class. Strength and muscle memory are gained in small increments, but gained nonetheless. It may have taken me longer than some to get to this point, but the point is, I’ve gotten this far.