My 1 year anniversary with my love - The pole!

In 2011 when I was 20 years old, I stumbled across a Groupon for a fitness studio in Frisco. I was lured to the coupon by the title, which read ‘$50 for 5 pole fitness class!’. My first thought was ‘Pole fitness? You mean, dancing while also defying gravity- YES.’ Considering I’ve danced pretty much ever since I’ve been able to use my legs, this sounded like a unique and affective opportunity. The only catch was that I was 20, living pay-check to pay-check, working high-end retail management mostly in the evenings. $50 to me meant food AND gas for a week would be budgeted, and I didn’t like that! However, putting my passions (and indulgence first I decided to buy the Groupon, which I’m forever thankful that I did.

During my first 5 classes I learned some of the basic pole fitness moves at the Frisco studio, where I met Claudia Rabago. Her positive energy and helpful attitude made a lasting impression on me, encouraging me to come to class although I was super ungraceful at the sport at the time. (Don’t hate-YOU go try it why don’t ya!) Although I wasn’t a fool proof level 1 pole dancer, I felt confident that I could hone the skill enough to nail some tricks while burning some fat. The 5 entry level classes came and went, but my enthusiasm remained high as ever. So there I was-Intrigued, inspired, and broke. Who wants to spend money on boring stuff like groceries when I could just pay for a pole membership instead?! Sigh... I had to wait for more money to roll in.

 

Practicing, why yes that's a puppy i'm dancing with!
 

 

1 year, a boyfriend and 2 jobs later I found myself wondering about pole fitness. Being a follower of the girls room and vertical fitness Dallas (two of the best and most well-known pole studios in the DFW) I was forced to see pictures of beautiful girls with 6 packs hanging from aerial silks and poles in my newsfeed on the regular and knew I COULD and SHOULD be there doing it, too! All it took was for my boyfriend at the time to say, in his low pitch, cave man, sloth talk to blurt “So uh, that pole fitness thing you used to do-It’s hot. You should like, do it some more”. To give myself some credit, my ex wasn’t a total idiot, you just had to stick around him long enough to realize it. So after bullying myself to quit being a cheapo, plus hearing my man tell me he admired a sexy hobby I enjoyed, I decided to splurge. I indulged myself for my new year. Indulging in fitness is a whole other kind of indulging. It’s like getting high on perspiring and building muscle. I loved it.

Ouch!

The day I gave The Girls Room my credit card information was the day I started attending classes. I wasn’t wasting any time! I bought myself a pair of pole shorts and hopped to it. That’s when I met Deseree, a patient and knowledgeable beautiful young grad student teaching level 1-3 pole fitness classes and workshops at The Girls Room, Irving. With it being my first time attending the Irving location, I was a little nervous about the environment and my classmates. But then again, after a whole year of hating myself for not becoming a member, I decided a few mean girls were the least of my fitness worries. To my surprise, not one girl was catty! I made a couple friends within my first few months and am continuing to build relationships.




One thing I learned about the beautiful women I’ve encountered through The Girls Room is that there’s no medium for normalcy here. I can expect to meet ANYONE at the girls room, varying from shape size and color. Women range from ages 18 to 50 in the pole fitness world, and like dating, in pole fitness age and pant size are just numbers. My skinny friends complain they’re not strong enough, and my curvy friends say they’re not light or graceful enough. Each excuse may be a valid insecurity for someone just trying pole dancing, but in the end it’s just an excuse. Like anyone beginning their fitness journey, ya gotta start somewhere. I see girls in the studio that I’m pretty sure are still drunk from the night before, as well as girls that sacrifice any and all alcohol to better perform for early morning poling. I’ve met teachers, nurses, business owners, stay at home moms, Mormons, atheists at the girls room. Despite the stereotype, I’ve never once met a stripper. And even if I did, it’s no one else’s business, but nearly everyone’s first concern. But let’s not get started on that, we will be here all day… Big girls, skinny girls and muscular girls all have a place in the pole world, which is seriously one of the coolest things about it.

Planking at The Girls Room, Frisco!

Another thing learned at my time spent at The Girls Room is that nothing comes easy. Just after your first class you’ll be eager to get home for a long soak in the tub to ease the soreness. After your first week, you’ll had accrued a handful of bruises where you’re mastering your first spins. People say “Oh you make it look so easy!” or “I could NEVER do that”, but little do they know us pole fanatics have sacrificed much time, sweat, and perfectly un-bruised thighs to be where we are today. Pole. Is. Not. Easy. It is hard. Trust me!


I excelled through levels 1 and 2, and eventually progressed to a level 3 polerina. Before I knew it, I was poling in-between jobs and seeing my boyfriend every chance I got. If I was driving, I was listening to songs I’d later pole to. If I wasn’t poling or contemplating poling, I was watching pole YouTube videos. I found myself in love with three things: Painting, Pole, and my (ex) Boyfriend. My boyfriend eventually got sick of my newfound talent, as I eventually got sick of him being a cheating little man child. After being brutally dumped by my love of two years, I decided to take advantage of my newfound hobby and consume myself in a world of fitness and positive energy. I couldn’t let the break up break ME, which leads me to where I am today. Still healing, I continue to persevere with my passion for dance and channel my love that was once used on a man, toward something that can never break my heart, the pole!

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, your time and consideration means the world.

In the future, you will hear more about my opportunities and future at the girls room.

I look forward to revealing some big secrets soon!

 

Some videos to feed your boredom.

Don't get too excited, some of these are sloppy tiresome footage of post practice combos.