If there’s one thing you can count on in January, it’s every gym being suddenly packed with folks who have resolved to make this the year they finally exercise regularly. This is a fantastic pursuit, if the exerciser is loving themselves through the process. All too often, exercise and the resolutions that drive them are paired with self loathing, regret, and shame.
Fitness culture is unfortunately cluttered with toxic messages that portray health as one size fits all images and numbers. These uniformed standards lead many to shame and self scrutiny if they don’t fit these images, or if they don’t manage to follow the strict fitness regimen they’ve been led to believe is their moral responsibility. Health is an incredibly broad concept, and this way of thinking minimizes it in a way that erases the big picture and, at its worst, leaves the subject less healthy.
What about self love, connection, and emotional well being? Aren’t these at least as important as the size of your biceps or your jeans? Many fitness icons have started to recognize the importance of positive messaging, but I’d argue that many of their efforts fall flat. Have you ever seen a photo of a thin, white woman’s six pack abs with an inspirational caption like “love yourself at every part of the journey”? While the message is objectively important, I’d argue that such posts aren’t doing leaps and bounds to boost the confidence of the average person.
So what is the alternative? Pole fitness is making huge strides in changing the narrative of health and fitness by emphasizing these 3 principles.
1. You Don't owe exercise to anyone
Why is there such a widespread sense of obligation to exercise, to look a certain way? Who exactly is this obligation to, and why do we feel guilty when we don’t follow through? Psychotherapists have decided that guilt is a “destroyer of emotional energy,” which “leaves you feeling immobilized in the present by something that has already occurred.” So if guilt is motivating our exercise pursuits, this can be counterproductive to our overall health.
So what is the alternative to guilt driven exercise?
2. Exercise as celebration, not punishment
Have you ever eaten a delicious meal, only to be flooded with guilt afterwards, making a commitment to run for at least an hour at the gym tomorrow morning, even though you hate running? If you’re like over 75% of the population, you might go through this thought process regularly.
But are we really meant to live our lives in a vicious cycle of “eat something that tastes good, become filled with guilt, do something you hate to feel a little better about it”? Is that what health looks like? It’s certainly not the health standard I want to live by, and not the standard I try to instill in my students at Positive Spin.
Instead, we come together as a community to celebrate the unique abilities of our bodies. Pole class is a time to enjoy and take pride in what your body can do today, while getting excited about what it will be able to do in the future. It’s your favorite part of the day, not the part you dread!
3. Every body looks, and excels differently
Science has long known that our bodies are diverse, and that healthy bodies can come in many shapes and sizes. Yet that hasn’t stopped most of us from feeling like we need to meet a very narrow standard of beauty.
Pole fitness isn’t about changing what your body looks like, it’s about discovering what your body can do right now. Your body will absolutely change and get stronger in the process, but the focus is on all the amazing things that you’re already capable of.
One particularly unique element of pole is that different body types will excel at different moves. Thinner polers might have an easier time gaining the strength to climb the pole, but thick thighs are helpful for holding onto the pole in sits and laybacks. Stomach fat can help you grip the pole in cradle spin and certain elbow grip moves. A very muscular dancer might be able to easily pull themselves upside down, but they might lack the flexibility that another dancer has to do more bendy moves. Pole allows you to discover what your unique body excels at.
As we move into 2019, I hope you’ll consider what a healthy, happy life looks like to you, and don’t feel obligated to meet someone else’s standards.
If you’re interested in trying pole fitness and joining a community that will support you in this journey, we invite you to try Positive Spin for 2 weeks for our January/February New Student Trial Membership Special.