SOPHIE LI

Warning: There are some pictures of, um, people on, um, poles. So if you are sensitive towards this type of content, please look elsewhere and come read my next post on Wednesday :’)

Hello everyone!

This is a post that I’ve been planning to write for a long, long time, but I didn’t because… well, even though I love pole dancing, it’s not something that I tell everyone about.

So, deep breaths :’)

Around this time last year, I started (and fell in love with) pole dancing. This means that it is the one year anniversary of pole dancing for me. I thought that this would be a great time to write about this special hobby of mine.

First of all, maybe I will address some of the stigma that is out there about pole. When we think about pole dancing, we think about… well, stripping.

In fact, there could be as much or as little stripping as you want. Some facts about pole dancing and clothes:

1. It’s true that most pole dancers don’t wear much clothes. You actually need some skin on your belly and your thighs to grip the pole. Otherwise, you might just slide right off and hit your head or something.
2. Pole dance competitions have strict rules about how much skin you can show and what moves are and are not allowed. These competitions promote pole dancing as an art form and as a sport.

Did you know that pole dance is now officially a sport? And that it might just become part of the Olympics in the near future?

Today, I want to tell you guys about why I pole dance, and why maybe you should try it out too.

1. Stay fit (and have fun!)

Before pole, my exercise routine was a combination of abs and cardio. Even though I didn’t like these exercises and they bored me, I made myself do them because I wanted to stay fit.

When I discovered pole, my life changed. Now I am excited for each and every lesson because there is always a new move to learn and a new challenge to overcome. Exercise suddenly doesn’t like exercise, and it is actually fun.

2. Become stronger.

Two years ago, I couldn’t even do a single push-up (seriously). Now I can do cool stuff like this:

I remember that time when I bought a 30-pound bag of dog food:

Cashier: [Looks at little Asian me with raised eyebrows] You need help carrying that?

Me: NOPE.

To prove myself, I picked up the bag without batting an eyelash.

3. Meet new friends.

I met some amazing people at my pole dance class. There are some misconceptions about who pole dances and how they should look like. In my pole dancing class, there are people of all ethnicities, ages, and sizes. It is an inclusive group where women can feel comfortable and sexy in their own skin, no matter our age and body shape.

(Although most of the pole dancers at our studio are women, there are men who pole dance as well!)

4. Love your body.

Growing up, I was never satisfied with the way my body looked. In high school, I dieted (a lot) in a way that was unhealthy for me. Even in university, when I had gained enough weight to be healthy, I always wondered if I should be thinner.

At my pole studio, I am amazed to see women of all shapes and sizes being proud and happy with their body. As I gained strength, challenged myself, and learned new moves, I grew to love my body for what I can do.

5. Be the pole dancer that you want to be.

There are different kinds of pole dancers. Some pole dancers rock sexy moves and high heels, some swear by slow and flowy moves, while others love to show off their superhuman strength. Pole dancing can be whatever you want it to be.

How do you feel about pole dancing? What is your favourite type of exercise? Do you have a secret hobby?