Katie

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Katie (they/she)

IG: @_poledancingbugg_

Instructor – Intro to pole, Beginner Flexibility

Katie is doing a lunge facing away from the camera and next to the pole. They are looking over their shoulder and illuminated in black light neon pink.

Hi! My name is Katie!! I am so excited to be joining the Positive Spin staff! I have been a member at the studio for two years this Halloween! I had no clue what I was doing or that I would even become an instructor! As an autistic fat person, I have had trouble finding community and being comfortable in my body. I love feeling empowered in my development with flexibility and I love taking the choreography classes (especially a nice slinky low flow.)

I’m excited to help other neurodivergent folks of any body type realize that there is space and community here for you.

Trainings:

Should I stretch my sore lower back?

While stretching is often good- passively stretching a sore, tight, or injured area is not always the answer, and can sometimes be harmful, especially when it comes to the low back!

Low back soreness, which sometimes feels like tightness, can often be caused by too much mobility and not enough support in the low back, as well as a lack of mobility in surrounding areas, which makes extra stretching counter productive! So what can you do instead?

💜 Strengthen your core, especially your low core, with stabilizing drills. (Not a million crunches!)

💜 Strengthen your glutes and use them to stretch your hips into hip extension.

💜Work on isolating upper back mobility, especially if you’re training to increase flexibility or do pole.

If you want more explanation and some drills you can try at home, here’s a video with a few examples to help you get started!

Want more guidance on how to do these things? Join us for flexibility class, which happens 6 days a week! This class is not just passive stretching- we work on things like end range strengthening and stability so that you can increase your range of motion while preventing injury.

We recommend that everyone try out flex class, even non pole dancers, because it will help minimize pain in your day to day life.

Pole Dance Class Grip Guide

There are so many different pole grips out there, and while it may seem like they are all variations on the same thing, there are actually several categories of grip for totally different purposes! Read our 2024 pole dance grip guide to figure out which ones might help you have the best possible pole class!
 
We carry our favorite in several categories. Here’s what each is for, and who might need them, along with similar alternatives if you want to try something different!
 

Dry hands

For sweaty hands that are making you slide off the pole in class!
This grip starts as a clear liquid and dries slight chaulky. It’s primarily used on your hands, but can be used on other gripping points as needed. There are several other brands of liquid chaulk (Better Grip & Envirogrip for example). Everyone has their own preference, but we’ve found most wombats prefer dry hands!
We sell dry hands for $15/2oz bottle at the studio. Don’t be fooled by cheaper prices online, they are likely 1oz bottles!

Dew Point

For slightly dry skin that doesn't stick super well to the pole when you dance.

This is a body spray for when your skin is feeling a bit dry and you’d like to feel a bit more tacky. We carry it in 2 strengths- medium and ultra, so you can find the perfect balance for your skin. You can spray it on your body right before or during your training session as needed. We sell Dewpoint for $25 per 4.5oz bottle. Like with dry hands, cheaper prices online are likely a smaller bottle.

Corn Huskers Lotion

For dry or ashy skin that makes it very difficult for your legs and torso to stick in pole class.

This is for you if you have dry or ashy skin. It was originally made for corn farmers, but turns out it works great for pole dancers! Traditional lotion
can be too oily and make you slide off the pole, so this glycerin based lotion might do the trick. You can apply
it daily like regular lotion, or during your training session, but you’ll likely want to wipe it off your hands and cover your hands with dry hands after applying.

This one is used most often in the winter when skin is drier, but some people use it year round. Some people also use shaving cream for similar purposes. We sell corn huskers for $10 per bottle.

You can purchase any of these grips at our front desk! Just ask a front desk wombat or instructor for assistance next time you’re in class!

What pole grips do you use? Give a recommendation for a newer pole dancer!

Still struggling to stick?

Sometimes a liquid grip doesn’t quite do the trick, and that’s okay! We recommend trying grippy gloves and leggings if your grip woes are killing the vibe in pole class! Grippy clothes can help you continue building other strength and learning new skills while you work on your grip, so we highly recommend them if they might help you!

Check out Superfly Honey for grippy clothes up through size 3XL!

2024 Valentine’s Day Guide

Singles, Polycules, and Couples of all genders- we've got you covered!

Polyam Lap Dance

Who?
Triads, polycules, and polyam couples that want to dance and celebrate love with other like minded folks. Choreo provided for various group sizes!

When?
Sunday 2/11 or 2/18 at 4pm

Queer Lap Dance

Who?
Anyone who self identifies as any flavor of queer! Come on your own or with a friend/partner!

When?
Friday 2/16 at 7:30pm

Lap dancing for all

Who?
All! Obviously! But especially couples and solo students who want to pair with someone in class or learn the choreo on their own.

When?
Saturday 2/17 at 3pm

Sign up is $40 per person. Email us at info@positivespinpoledance.com if you would like to register for multiple people. Sign ups are non-refundable.

Anna

Anna (Anna/They)

Instructor – Intro to pole, Level 1 pole tricks, Freestyle and Flow, sexy basics, beginner floorwork

Anna smiles toward the camera while holding the pole with both hands above. They are faintly basked in rainbow lighting.

Anna (anna/they) is a college educator who started taking pole classes at Positive Spin in 2020.  Anna started taking pole lessons because it both excited and scared them, and also because they wanted to build a better relationship with their body. In building that relationship, pole has taught anna to let go of perfectionism, to show themselves kindness and compassion, and to love the journey more than getting a specific result.  Anna is also committed to creating antiracist, body affirming spaces in class and in the pole fitness industry.  In all of their classes, anna tries to help students find joy in what their bodies can do, and embracing the very nonlinear journey to becoming a pole dancer.

Trainings:

Pole Dance Photoshoots for Beginners!

Pole Dancing Photoshoot Poses

Can beginners do Pole Dance Photoshoots?

We hear it over and over again- “I really want to do a pole dance photoshoot, but I don’t know enough difficult tricks! I’m not flexible enough! I don’t know what to do!”

We’ve got good news for you! Pole dancers of all levels, including beginners, can get equally fantastic photos with a few strategies to slay their first pole dance shoot. Plus, doing regular photoshoots is an amazing way to commemorate every step of your pole dance journey!

Keep your pole dance shapes simple

Some of the best and most striking photos are made from the simplest poses. In fact, complicated and difficult positions can detract from the overall vibe and energy of the photo. Choosing a position that you know you are comfortable executing will allow you to focus on the details and make intentional choices about pointing or flexing your feet, smiling or smizing, etc.

Pole dancer doing a pole sit shape

Think about the details and objectives

Building off the last point, rather than trying to do your hardest trick, spend your energy thinking about what details you want to show off in the photos. Do you want to lean into your backbend while you stand next to the pole? Do you want a super straight leg and pointed toe? Or maybe you want to look dramatically at the camera?

Collaborate with the photographer

Maybe you read tip number 2 and thought “EEEK! I HAVE NO IDEA!”.

Don’t worry! Your photographer will help you choose details that clean up your photos. We can’t see ourselves while we’re posing, but the photographer has experience looking at a pose and giving suggestions. If you’re looking to show something specific in your photos, let the photographer know so they can help. Maybe you want to show how bendy your back is, how strong your arms have gotten, or how happy pole dancing makes you! Your photographer can help achieve any of these things.

Not all your poses need to be up the pole.

Photos on the floor or standing can be equally striking, and we all know the floor can be an equally important apparatus for pole dancing. Try poses at a variety of levels, and if you don’t know any low pole moves, try adding some floorwork or low flow to your pole dance class schedule.

Pole dancer in heels lying on the floor in front of a pole

Wear something that makes you feel confident

One of the most beautiful things about pole dancing classes is the confidence it builds. Wearing something that makes you feel your best can really help your new found confidence come through in your photos. If you can’t decide what to wear, bring a few options. There’s usually time for at least one costume change during a pole dance photoshoot! If you are planning to go up the pole, make sure at least one of your outfits works with the tricks you want to do.

Grab a pole buddy

Another benefit of pole dancing class is the friends and community it comes with. Photos don’t have to be solo. You can buddy up and celebrate your friends by taking some doubles and group pole photos. Multiple bodies opens up a whole new world of pole shapes!

Your photographer can also help with good group pole photos!

Look for a pole photoshoot with a theme you enjoy

A pole dancer in heels takes a photo in a blacklight forest themed shoot

Many pole photoshoots have themes or styles that differentiate them. At Positive Spin Pole Dance we have several photoshoots each year, which usually include blacklight shoots, halloween shoots, and pride photoshoots!

We’re lucky to have lots of talented pole dance photographers in Seattle, and working with different pole dance photographers will yield different results. With pole dancing, the possibilities are always limitless!

Learn from each experience

There’s no right or wrong way to do a pole photoshoot, but just like pole dancing itself, getting the result you want is a skill that can be built, and the best way to do it is to practice! When you receive your photos, celebrate the things you love about them and think about what you’ll repeat next time, and what else you want to try!

You can start today by signing up for our 2023 Blacklight Halloween Shoot on October 21st!

Do you have other tips for pole dancing photoshoots? Leave them in the comments!

Pole Dancing Injury Prevention and Treatment

Like all sports and activities, pole dancing comes with a risk of injury. At Positive Spin Pole Dance Fitness, we want our students to enjoy pole dancing for a long time, with minimal pain along the way. (At least injury related pain- those pole sits are going to hurt when you start working on them!)

This post includes information about preventing pole dance injuries and for treating them when they do arise. It includes some specific resources and recommendations for seattle pole dancers specifically!

How can I prevent pole dance injuries?

The best way to deal with injuries is to prevent them! But what exactly does that mean for a pole dancer?

Gradually increase your training load

We know- pole dancing is so fun and exciting that when you get started you want nothing more than to pole dance all day every day, but if your body isn’t used to that level of physical activity, it can lead to injuries, which could mean taking even more time off from pole dancing. So while you can work up to taking pole classes 5 days a week, it’s going to take some time. The good news is that beginners can handle a few classes per week if they vary what kind of classes they are taking, which brings us to our next point!

 

Spend a substanial amount of your pole dance time cross training!

Cross training is doing other activities that supplement your pole dancing by strengthening the muscles that you need to execute pole dance skills. It is also targeting muscles that are less utilized in pole dance to prevent muscle imbalances, which is another leading cause of injury.  We offer 4 main types of cross training classes- flexibility, conditioning, handstands, and floorwork. We’ll share more about the unique benefits of each of these in a future post!

 

Take care of your body outside of class time

Things like eating enough food and getting enough sleep are key to your body’s recovery process after physical activity, so make time for food, water, and rest!
It also doesn’t hurt to do some extra self care, like getting regular massages. If you’re a Seattle pole dancer, one of our pole instructors, Emily Gunter/Forbes is also a massage therapist and you can book with her here. It’s always nice to work with someone who understands your activity of choice, so that if you tell her what you’re working on in pole dance, she’ll know exactly what muscles might need some extra love!

 

What can I do if I get injured?

Even if you follow all the best advice on injury prevention, if you pole dance for long enough you’re bound to pull or tweak something eventually. We’ve all been there, so we’ve compiled our best tips and advice for recovering and getting back on the pole safely and as quickly as possible!

Best Practices for soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries are injuries to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If you have a relatively minor one, there are some guidelines for taking care of them on your own. Whoever makes these guidelines really likes acronyms and you may be familiar with some of the outdated ones like ICE, RICE, PRICE, and POLICE. The current acronym protocol is PEACE & LOVE.

PEACE covers the immediate care after the occurence of an injury, and LOVE covers the subsequent management.

Protection- avoid activities and movements that cause pain during the first few days. Elevation- elevate the injury higher than the heart when possible Avoid Anti-inflammatories and ice - these can reduce the healing process Compression- elastic bandages and tape can reduce swelling Education- your body knows best, so let nature play its role. Load- let pain be your guide as you return to activities gradually. Optimism- your mindset can speed up the healing process! Vascularisation- pain free cardiovascular activities can increase blood flow to the injured area. Exercis- restore mobility, strength and proprioception by taking an active approach to recovery

When should i seek medical care for a pole dance injury?

The short and annoying answer is “it depends”, but we do have a few guidelines to help you decide when it’s time to see a professional.

  • If it’s a chronic injury lasting longer than 4 weeks and it’s getting worse or keeps coming back.
  • If it’s an acute injury lasting longer than 2 weeks or is not trending better after the first week.

Who can i talk to about pole dancing injuries?

“Dr. it hurts when I do this”
Dr.: “Well don’t do that.”

Pole dancing takes this cliche to a whole new level. It can be hard for a regular doctor or physical therapist to understand why it’s so important that you can work on getting a flatter jade split or a twisted grip ayesha. Lucky for us the Seattle pole dance community is blessed with a wealth of resources and people who get it.

Our absolute first choice for Physical therapy is Emily Scherb, AKA The Circus Doc. She is an internationally known PT, author, and educator and we are blessed to have her locally here in Seattle. She doesn’t take insurance, but if at all possible, don’t let the price tag scare you away. Emily is known to fix pole dancers so much faster than conventionally physical therapists, so it often ends up saving you some $ over time.

For those who cannot afford to access ongoing PT from The Circus Doc, Seattle has a free clinic Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine. You can sign up for an appointment to get a free assessment and some professional advice to get you healed and back to pole dance.

Hopefully these resources give you some guidance toward having a healthy pole dance adventure! Feel free to talk to your Positive Spin instructors for more guidance, but remember that we are not doctors!

Elle

Elle (Any Pronouns)

IG: @elle.lectrum

Admin staff/Outreach Coordinator

Instructor – Levels 1-2 pole tricks, flex

Party instructor

A white fem-presenting person does a true-grip ayesha in dark rainbow lighting on the pole. They have long hair and you can see part of the Positive Spin logo behind them.

I’m absolutely stoked to be on the staff at Positive Spin! I’ve dabbled in various sorts of dance since I was a kid, and I decided to add pole to my roster in 2018 when I took my first class from Alyssa at the original Positive Spin location. I love how pole incorporates fitness with dance, musicality and sensual expression.
The Positive Spin studio is exactly the kind of inclusive, supportive community I’m always in search of, and I’m honored to be a part of it. 

My personal mission is to increase sex worker inclusivity (and decrease stigma around sex work) in the world of pole fitness, which sadly isn’t always a given despite the art form itself having been created by and for sex workers.
When I’m not on a pole, I can be found adventuring with my dog, dancing or DJing at blues and fusion dance events, or curled up with my cat watching horror movies.

Trainings:

Lauren

Lauren (They/Them)

IG: @laurenhummingbird

Community Engagement & Accessibility Specialist

pole leadership program mentor

White non-binary person with short brown hair doing a pole sit facing the camera and smiling. They are having a blast on the pole!
I’m Lauren, and I’m the community engagement and accessibility specialist at Positive Spin. I started pole several years ago with no dance background or athletic experience whatsoever! As a blind kid, I wasn’t encouraged to try physical things. As a blind adult, I’ve found community, positivity, and exhilarating joy in many types of movement including rowing, cycling, ballet, and, most especially, pole dance. 
 
 

I love building community with other adult beginners, and I’m always excited to talk learning strategy and tips for developing dance skills. I’m a life-long student! Pushing for diversity and accessibility in dance communities is close to my heart.

Trainings: