PoleKix Pole Fitness & Dance Studio

A few weekends ago, I found myself in the house of a ‘friend of a friend’ for a much needed session after the long, long working week. I sat down, as you do, and began chatting, only for my partner in crime to ask ‘when I was going to show them all how it was done?’ A little confused, much alcohol had been consumed; I eventually noticed the long, shiny, slim, cylindrical object, smack bang in the centre of the room. Having become so accustomed to seeing poles everywhere I seem to no longer notice them, nor think it unusual to see them in random places.

I declined from demonstrating due to the copious amounts of Jaeger bombs involved, but many were very eager. Naturally there were some minor injuries on the night, luckily no major ones, and many complaints of muscle pain the following morning. Me? I just had a very sore head. But it all got me to thinking (while nursing said sore head). Is it really sensible to have a pole at home?

More and more girls are starting classes, falling in love with pole, as you undoubtedly will and buying their own poles to practice on at home. This is great, but is it safe or practical..?

I used to have a pole at home. I eventually took it down and brought into the studio. This was because although I had sworn I would practice EVERY day – I didn’t, I didn’t have enough ceiling height to do most inverts and also I have a marble floor… Not a good surface for landing on! It also gets quite boring poling all by yourself. Could never get the dogs to have a go.

On your own, you’re never sure if the move is quite right as you only have yourself to judge and mostly you can’t see yourself unless your house is full of mirrors and unless you have a crash mat at home, practising new tricks by yourself is somewhat dangerous plus as I said already – you just don’t know if you’re practising it correctly to begin with.

If you really want to have a pole at home, and most of us do at some point, you need to remember a few things. Location, Location, Location! Where will you erect your pole? I had mine in the living room. This was the only room big enough and the bedroom would have been too noisy, due to creaky floors I hasten to add. I then however had to put up with my boyfriend craning around me to watch the football. His friends thought he was the luckiest man alive to have a pole dancer, twirling in front of him every day, but good god no, not when the gods of football (not) Spurs were playing.

Make sure you arrange for a few of your pole friends to come around and pole with you. This way you have fun, have someone to spot you and point out any mistakes.

Don’t replace your weekly classes for learning at home by yourself. The tips and cheats you can learn with a group to help you get that elusive move can be instrumental in making that move yours.

Don’t involve booze with pole fun. This rarely ends well and while some alcohol induced gyrating can be a giggle, inverts and tricks while under the influence often ends in disaster.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love to pole at home from time to time but I mostly use my home pole for coming up with routines. Then take that routine into the studio to practise the trick aspects and to get the girls to watch to see if it’s any good. Return home with the issued notes and work out the routine again. Come party nights, I know my limits and although I may show friends some spins while inebriated I know from experience that my grip and sense of balance is just not the same as usual so would not do anything too difficult. I have learned this from experience. And while one trick may be easy for one person, it may be very difficult for another.

I hope after all this I haven’t put you off, just made you more aware of the hazards of poling at home. Ceiling height, animals, floor surfaces, alcohol and annoying bf’s can all hamper your experience, but the girls, good music and giggles will ensure you have a fun, safe home pole practise. Have fun and happy poling! xx

Rebecca