Wombat Pole Retreat 2025

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Positive Spin logo with a campsite, wombat, and text that says "Wombat Pole Retreat"

Details

Wombat Pole Retreat is for building community, moving together, and having some fun outdoors! 

Our group will have exclusive use of this incredible space (basically a summer camp) in Maple Falls, WA.

Dates: Thursday, June 19, 2025 – Sunday, June 22, 2025

Location: Camp Saturna 9514 Silver Lake Road Maple Falls, WA 98266

Please note: We have limited spots available so you’ll want to register quickly! (6 month payment plans are available as are a small number of lower cost spots!)

Registration Information

Registration is now open (as of Monday 12/9)!

**Volunteer wombat spots have all been claimed. Regular and sponsor wombat are still available!**

This experience is open to any Positive Spin student (past, present, or future) and there are no level requirements to participate!

Register for Pole Retreat!

Workshop Offerings

Please note: Changes in the sequence, the line-up, and the workshop schedule are possible at any time. Off-pole and on-pole workshops will be run simultaneously in most timeslots on Friday and Saturday. Schedule to be released in early 2025.

Workshop registrations are first come first serve and participants are not guaranteed to get into the workshops that they want. Registration will open in early 2025 after the schedule has been released.

Off-Pole Workshops:

  • Juneteenth floorwork workshop with Kat
  • Flexibility workshop with Katie
  • Handstands with Jennie
  • Legs 4 Dayz with Nyx (focusing on developing fluidity and continuity through different legwork patterns)
  • Lap Dance with Clara
  • Self-seduction with Katya (Touching sexy bits, or touching not-traditionally-sexy-bits in new ways. Claws vs soft touch vs. delicate. Whole hand vs 1 finger. Crotch vs elbow. You get the idea.)
  • Doubles Floorwork with Katya and Clara

On-Pole Workshops:

  • Embodied Pole with Clara
  • Dancing at Dusk with Whitney (dark and moody pole jam with guided freestyles and good vibes) 
  • Liberation Freestyle with Kat
  • Dancing Your Pole Combos with Nyx (how to turn trick-focused pole combos into a tool for expression)
  • Doubles Low Flow with Jennie and Emily
  • Photoshoot with Whitney (stage or gym pole set up outdoors)

Other Apparatus Workshops:

  • Intro to aerial pole, lyra, chains, and/or sling with Emily (via outdoor aerial rig)

Included Activities

These are activities we are already planning to include but camp participants are encouraged to think of their own and create spur-of-the-moment experiences as well! 

Organized:

  • Tarot readings with Clara
  • “Butt paintings” with Kat
  • Tie-Dyeing with Emily (bring your own items to tie-dye!)
  • Meditation/Mindfulness with Clara

We will also have full use of recreational facilities and amenities for Camp Saturna!

Use of the climbing wall, archery and shooting ranges are not to be used without qualified supervision. Groups can bring or hire their own qualified Supervisor. We will not be using the shooting range, but if we are able to find certified people for the climbing wall or archery we will, but it isn’t guaranteed. 

There are rustic campfire sites available for use IF there is not an active burn ban in effect.

Recreational Facilities & Amenities 

  • Open air, enclosed 32’ climbing wall 
  • Low challenge course 
  • Archery range 
  • Boathouse with stand-up paddle boards, canoes, and row boats 
  • Swimming docks and roped off, in-season swimming area
  • Low-profile dock for launching watercraft 
  • Stocked trout lake for in-season fishing 
  • Hiking trails and extensive forested areas 
  • Large lawns perfect for field games, pick up soccer or volleyball matches, or other group activities

Main Facilities & Amenities

  • Rustic lodge with stone fireplace and dining for up to 140
    • Meeting space and classrooms 
    • Projector and screen available 
    • Commercial kitchen with all appliances and kitchenware 
    • Outside deck with picnic tables 
  • Quaint outdoor “Chapel in the Woods,” in a stand of cedar 
  • Outdoor amphitheater and fire pit on Silver Lake 
  • Covered pavilion for meals and other activities 
  • Lakefront deck with picnic tables 
  • Fire pits with dry wood and kindling 
  • On-site camp superintendent

Lodging Options

Bunkhouse!

Modern bunkhouse with accommodation for up to 44 in four bunkrooms with three separate showers and bath facilities.

Camping!

Four lakeside group campsites, each with a combination of tent sites and Adirondacks (three-sided bunk structures).

Wombats will need to bring their own camping gear for this option.

Cost and inclusions

All registration tiers are the same in terms of what is included with the retreat. 

Volunteer Wombat ($350) tier will be given a discounted spot in exchange for 10 hours total of work helping out with the retreat (2 hours before the pole retreat weekend, and 2 hours each day of the retreat). We only have 5 spots available. Please only select this option if you would not be able to afford to go otherwise so we can keep the retreat as accessible as possible!

Regular Wombat ($550) tier is the standard tier for pole retreat.  

Sponsor Wombat ($650) tier is for wombats that can afford to (and want to) pay a little bit extra to keep the cost more affordable for others.

Included in the Cost

  • Lodging for 3 nights (either a camping spot or bunk spot as determined in the registration form) with access to shared restrooms. (If camping, gear is not provided and participants will need to bring their own.) 
  • 6 workshop credits
  • Access to all planned community activities & the freedom to run your own activities.
  • Free parking
  • Camp Tank Top
  • We will provide snacks as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner to participants. Gluten free and vegetarian options will be available. No guarantee of a kitchen free of cross contamination for highly gluten sensitive individuals.
  • Access to all outdoor amenities listed in the “Camp Saturna Information” section (with the potential exceptions listed in that section.)

Other important considerations

  • No alcohol or drugs will be permitted.
  • Masking is entirely optional. 
  • Covid-19 rapid testing will be required.
  • Limited wi-fi available only in Main Lodge. Due to the remote location of Camp Saturna, cellular service is not available on camp property.

Anthony

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Anthony (he/she/they)

IG: @mathismenagerie

Instructor – All levels Floorwork, all levels choreo

Anthony is outdoors and partially hidden by branches. You can see their short curly hair and one leg with a heel on the foot in frame.

From an early age, I navigated the complexities of a society steeped in traditional gender norms and expectations. Despite the challenges and prejudices I faced, these experiences have forged a resilient spirit and a deep understanding of my authentic self. Embracing my androgyny, I found strength in defying conventional boundaries and stereotypes, transforming adversity into a powerful source of creativity and self-expression. My journey has been one of self-discovery and empowerment, driven by a commitment to authenticity and inclusivity. 

Katie

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!