Positive Spin Pole Dancing

Happy Double Birthday, Positive Spin!

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October is a special month at Positive Spin. We held our fist class ever in October 2016, and one year ago today, we unlocked the door at 124 N 103rd st for the first time. Basically, October is our double birthday!

My name is Alyssa and I am the owner and founder of Positive Spin. If you’ve contacted or visited us, you’ve probably talked to me! This post is a reflection on the trials and triumphs that lead to the Positive Spin you know and love today.

Positive Spin Pole Dancing

Positive Spin Fast Facts

  • October 21st 2016 was our first day of Positive Spin Classes
  • Positive Spin has taught over 800 individual students
  • I have personally taught over 2,000 Positive Spin classes in the last 3 years!
  • We are home to the only teen pole program in the Seattle area
  • The Positive Spin teaching staff has grown to 6 fabulous instructors.
  • Our staff is 83% queer!
  • We have 35 unlimited members, and many drop in students that we love dearly!
  • We hold over 25 classes per week, spanning a variety of styles and levels
  • Additionally, we offer private lessons and Parties

The Early Days

Now, Positive Spin has actually been around, in different forms, for three years. It started when I was laid off from my day job working in nonprofits. A friend asked what I planned to do next, and I replied that I wished I could teach pole dancing in my bedroom. He told me that I could, and so 2 weeks later I had a business license and an open date. Of course, this venture required me to get rid of my bed and sleep on the floor for the next 2 years, but that would turn out to be a small sacrifice.

So there I was, 22 years old, in an unkept house of evolving roommates with only an 8ft pole, a musical theatre degree, and LLC to my name.

I didn’t know the first thing about owning a business, and to be honest, I didn’t plan for it to go anywhere. I knew I loved teaching pole- I had taught my residents as a college RA to fulfill my floor program requirements, and invited my Seattle friends over for free pole lessons every Sunday during my first year in Seattle. But realistically, I thought it would be a fun way to make extra cash while I looked for something stable to do.

We spent our first three months in that dilapidated bedroom. Most people came and went, but a few found what I think gets us all hooked on pole- community and challenge. (Shoutout here to Megan and Lian, who came to opening weekend workshops and are still active students today!)

The Middle Years

The students we attracted were largely queer, non monogamous, progressive individuals. They showed up with passion and enthusiasm for cultivating a supportive community. Positive Spin became a space for people to learn and grow as dancers, and as people. I wish I could take full credit for it, but it was the students who helped shape the vision.

Watching the birth of this tiny community, I finally saw the potential of what we were creating. But I knew we couldn’t thrive in a modest size bedroom. So I moved into the basement of a community house. Early on, there were very few students. (Shoutout to Will who attended class faithfully every Monday for years, often the only one there!)

Throughout the 2 years I spent there, a few turned into 40, and I had to hire help. (Shoutout to my 221 roommates who supported this unexpected growth!) In order to support this growth, I worked as many as 7 part time jobs at a time- something I definitely don’t miss!

In October 2017, we launched our membership program and expanded our class offerings. (Shoutout to Kat for being our first unlimited member, purchasing a membership within minutes of the launch) We also began the search for a more permanent studio home.

The Search

Real estate is expensive in Seattle. Everybody knows that. But I didn’t know how much stigma we’d face during the search. Pole Dance carries a heavy stigma for its association with sex work, so many landlord scoffed at our proposal to use their property for such “scandalous activities”. On the rare occasion that a landlord would be willing to talk with us, it didn’t help that I was a 24 year old single woman. I didn’t come with the same funds or wealthy co signers they were used to working with.

We received constant rejections through that year. The lease was running out on my house, and I wasn’t sure if we’d survive. By this point, Positive Spin was so much more than just myself. Positive Spin had become a home to countless students and instructors. I’ll be honest- I was an emotional wreck during that year. (Shoutout to Tai, our real estate agent who put up with my frantic 2am emails all year!)

Each time we thought we had a place locked down, something went wrong. The landlord would ghosted on us, the building didn’t pass city inspection, etc.

Then finally, 2 months before our lease was up, we got our yes at 124 N 103rd st. I unlocked the door on October 1st or 2016.

1,2,4 Action!

More excited than I can explain, I created a temp setup for us to hold classes in the new space that night! It was mostly empty, but it was ours.

Three days later, Positive Spin won both Best Woman Owned Business and Best New Business in the PNW at Impact Pitch, a regional shark tank style competition. The awards granted us the $12k we needed to build out our new home.

Owning a small business is never easy. Since we moved to 124 we:

  • A contractor ran away with the money we fronted him
  • A pipe burst in our building that left me drenched as I was about to start teaching
  • Someone acquired our bank info and stole a substantial sum of money
  • Survived a snow storm that unexpectedly ceased all business for nearly 2 weeks

But despite all of this we:

  • Successfully finished building out our studio (Thanks, Gene!)
  • Held our first 2 studio showcases
  • Hosted workshops with national championship pole stars
  • Partnered with many local organizations to do important work in our community. Our partners include: SWOP, NW Network, Gay City, and Project HEAL
  • Celebrated Pride with a month full of workshops, performances, and free food!
  • Expanded our teaching staff to include the 6 most dedicated pole instructors anyone could imagine.

Most importantly, we created a space together that goes beyond accepting people by celebrating what makes each person unique.

Pole Dancers Seattle Positive Spin

So now here I am, 26 years old, standing in a gorgeous studio, filled with the most enthusiastic and supportive group of people I could ever dream of working with. (And yes, this means I don’t have to sleep on the floor anymore!) I can’t imagine doing anything else with anyone else.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Positive Spin. It wouldn’t be the magical space it is without you. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

Body Appreciation Month

October 2019 is body appreciation month at Positive Spin! We’ll be hosting a variety of workshops, discussions, and social events to talk about the complicated and beautiful relationships we have with our body, and celebrate all the amazing things our bodies do.


Our partner organization for the month is the Seattle chapter of Project Heal. We’ll be raising money to help support the important work they do helping all people suffering from eating disorders access full recovery.

Many of the events for the month are free, but donations to Project Heal are encouraged for those who are able to contribute.

Event Schedule

Thursday October 3rd

Roz the Diva is an NYC based pole instructor, and leader of the body positive and diversity movement in the pole community. When she isn’t half naked and sweaty, Diva’s usually making pancakes with Beyonce.

Roz is teaching workshops at Positive Spin for one night only on October 3rd!
$65, Members $75, Non members

Register for Roz's Workshops

Sunday October 6th

Whether or not you have pole experience, come hang out with us October 6th from 11am-1pm!

We’ll feed you brunch and show you some moves if you’re new to pole!

This event is free but bring donations for project Heal if you’re able!

RSVP

Friday Oct 11th- Media viewing and discussion

We’ll watch some on theme media clips followed by a discussion about how our relationships with our body intersect with other elements of our lives. While much of the media available leans on the gender binary, our discussion will also aim to highlight queer experiences. More info

Friday Oct 25th- Pole for Body Love workshop

This beginner friendly workshop focuses on how we can use pole as a means to heal and improve our relationships with our body. In this engaging discussion based and movement workshop, you’ll discover:
3 keys & practical tools to increase your sense of body acceptance & love; How movement can be an avenue for body-love and expression; Several experiential exercises to increase your comfort with movement, freestyle, & flow.

Sliding Scale $18-$40

Register

Saturday Oct 26th

Join us for an hour of performances from our students and staff, many of which have been training diligently for PSO regional championships in November!

More Details

Meet Peri: Positive Spin Student of the Month

Peri

She/her
Student since July 2018

What inspired you to try pole dance?

I’ve always wanted to try Pole but meeting Alyssa at pride is what really made me have the courage to enroll in my first class. She was so friendly and it made me less intimidated to sign up.

What are your other hobbies and interests?

I’m a social dancer who primarily dances Lindy Hop!

What is your career?

Administrative Assistant

What has been the biggest challenge in your pole journey?

Getting over the mental block that says I can’t do something cause it’s too scary/hard/painful. I can do it but getting over that mental block has been my greatest foe.

What has been the most rewarding part of your pole journey?

Finding out just how bendy I am. I’ve always been fairly flexible but excelling in this area is now a source of pride. Getting into a splits for the first time in my life was worth all the painful months of stretching beforehand.

What is your favorite thing about positive Spin?

It’s really hard to pick a favorite thing cause the studio is wonderful. The community that it has built is something that I’m proud to be a part of and I love all the instructors that teach here. It’s truly my happy place.

What is something people are surprised to learn about you?

Not only do I social dance but I also compete and have won competitions in Colorado, of all places.
 

What advice would you give to new polers?

Just try it. If you like it then sign up for the monthly pass cause poling every day is great! If you don’t like it then you’ll have a new appreciation for the people who do this for a living or for fun.

Get 2 Weeks of Unlimited Classes

Meet Juliann: Positive Spin Student of the Month

Juliann

She/her Student since November 2018

What inspired you to try pole dance?

Seeing more experienced strippers do super sick pole tricks.

What are your other hobbies and interests?

My undisputed favorite hobby is napping. But I like to paint whenever I gather enough inspiration. These days I like to vibe out and listen to music or binge Netflix like a good millennial.

What is your career?

No career yet. Just a normie day job. I’m still growing up.

What has been the biggest challenge in your pole journey?


The hardest part is waiting for yourself to get stronger. There’s no way you can rush progress, otherwise you’d put yourself out of commission. Learning how to be patient and take it step by step is something I had to learn because I typically like to jump head first into trying new things. But that’s not recommended for pole.

What has been the most rewarding part of your pole journey?

All of it. Every class I never fail to experience fear, excitement, and joy. However there’s no better feeling than finally being able to land a move you’ve been working so hard towards. I think that’s why we all do it.

What is your favorite thing about positive Spin?

The name is punny. But Alyssa’s done a wonderful job of creating a small community of super uplifting people who have pole as a common interest. I love it when I come to class and see friends who have stuck around the studio for a while. We all get to see each other grow!

What is something people are surprised to learn about you?

My age! I’m 20. Everyone thinks I’m so much older. And it definitely doesn’t help that I feel like it. My soul is 75. *insert shoulder shrug here*
 

What advice would you give to new polers?

Everyone starts somewhere, you can’t rush it, and also the more you like pain, the better you’ll be.

Get 2 Weeks of Unlimited Classes

So you wanna be a stripper?

There’s more to stripping than being good on a pole, but very few resources for those who are starting out. We’ll teach you what it takes to be a professional ass shaker, from clothing, to hustle, and to knowing local Seattle laws.

This class is great whether you’re serious about stripping, or just want to learn more about the experience.

For clothing, bring two pairs of shorts layered, a shirt, and some sort of nipple covering for when the shirt comes off. We will learn a routine geared towards performance at a club. In addition, bring a notebook and a pencil to this class; part of this will be in lecture format.

$5 from every ticket sold will be donated to SWOP, (Sex workers outreach project)

$20 Positive Spin Members
$40 Non Members

Register Now!

3 ways pole fitness is changing the narrative of toxic fitness culture

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.

Sign up here for more info!

Meet Meredith: Positive Spin Student of the Month

Meredith

Student since September 2017

What inspired you to try pole dance?

I’ve been dancing my whole life but have always wanted to try pole! I really admired the combination of flexibility and strength that it requires, and wanted to build on those skills myself.

What are your other hobbies and interests?

I love reading fantasy novels, gaming, and going out with friends!

What is your career?

I teach gymnastics to kids.

How has Pole Dancing changed you and impacted your life?

Pole dancing has become one of my main hobbies and forms of exercise! I’ve never had much muscle before or ever done any strength training, and it’s been so cool to see myself getting stronger through pole. I have more confidence than before and have met some really great people!

What do you like about positive Spin?

Positive Spin is so much different than any other studio I’ve been to. I really benefit from the individualized instruction and love the smaller class sizes. It’s awesome that everyone can go at their own pace and the community is so positive (haha) and supportive!

What has been the proudest moment of your pole journey?

So far, my proudest moment was getting my invert for the first time. It took me a while to figure out so when I finally got it I was so excited! Now I invert all the time!

What is something people are surprised to learn about you?

Actually, that I pole dance! It is a great conversation starter. When people find out they usually end up wanting to try it themselves!
 

What advice would you give to new polers?

Practice, practice, practice! You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve. If something is tricky for you, just keep trying! Eventually it will happen. I’m still working on my superman but I know I’ll get it soon!

Get 2 Weeks of Unlimited Classes

6 reasons your teen needs to try pole fitness

Positive Spin is offering trial classes for summer session!

Fill out our interest form to get on the list for early access to new session information!

Is pole fitness suitable for teens? While pole fitness was once a controversial activity for minors, the industry has evolved into something that is not only appropriate, but highly beneficial for youth!

If you haven’t been tuned into the evolution of pole fitness, a little research will show a very wide variety in styles of pole. Sure, there are adults who practice exotic style pole, but pole fitness has expanded to include an athletic practice that isn’t any more sexual than the kids classes offered at your local gymnastics gym.

So why pole fitness, when there are so many activities for kids out there?

1.Pole is one of the only strength based sports that puts women and other non-men in the spotlight.

Even as our culture has evolved, and Title IX guarantees that folks of all genders can participate in sports, many sports programs still place men’s leagues in the spotlight. Men’s sporting events are usually more heavily attended and glorified, making men more likely to pursue and continue in sports. As a result, most femme folks do not grow up thinking of their bodies as strong and powerful.

Pole dance is culturally associated with women, has a large gender queer community, and takes a tremendous amount of physical strength. I cannot tell you how many adult women I come across that do not think they can be strong. One of my favorite parts of owning a studio is that I get to show them otherwise. It is an extremely empowering realization! I often wonder how their lives would be different had they been exposed to pole at a younger age.

2.Pole dancers have created one of the most supportive communities.

Pole dance culture has evolved to be non-competitive. Even though competitions are increasing in popularity, dancers are expected to cheer each other on and work together. 

Almost anywhere you go, pole communities share the same core values of body positivity, celebrating one another’s successes, and building quality relationships. There is a culture of respecting everybody’s unique journey, so students who aren’t traditionally athletic are treated as equals at the studio.

3. Pole can become a lifelong hobby and fitness practice.

As we age, both exercise and community become more likely to fall by the wayside, and pole is a great place to meet both of these needs at once. Many sports offer less opportunities as you age, but pole is the opposite. Most studios cater to busy adults, offering a variety of classes and flexible scheduling.

Additionally, pole isn’t as hard on the body as some other sports. Take it from Greta Pontarelli, 67 year old pole star. “Older people can still do amazing things (on the pole) because it doesn’t stress the joints…so it really has tremendous longevity. I think I opened a door. There was a glass ceiling there that broke and I realized this is something that we can do well into our senior years. I hope to do it as long as I live.”

4. Pole is incredibly body positive.

Pole dancers learn to love their body for what it can do, rather than obsessing over what it looks like. Our adult student, Tiffany, explains “I wish I would have discovered it as a teen, who wasn’t even comfortable wearing shorts, to learn to accept my imperfect body and be excited that my body allowed me to do awesome pole moves!”

The world lacks safe spaces for plus size folks to exercise. The pole community is making strides in changing this by offering classes for every body. Roz the Diva is an industry leader in promoting body diversity in pole. 

5.Pole is both athletic and artistic.

Before starting pole, I was not an athlete. In fact, I never played a sport growing up, since I favored music, theatre, and art. Pole is great because it is both artistic and athletic. It provides an incredible workout for artistic students, while allowing athletic students to explore their creative side.

6.Pole teaches men to respect women.

All of our classes are gender inclusive at Positive Spin, and students of all genders are given the same opportunities. Since pole is a female dominated sport, most of our instructors and our most experienced students are female bodied. It can be rare for boys to have female sports coaches, and it is our hope that this shows them that women can be stronger than them, and that this is totally okay.

Our teen pole program started in the 2017-18 school year. Our first teen student, Cayden, shares a little bit about her experience with pole.

“I got started with pole dance because my friend brought me along to her pole class, and then I was totally hooked. It’s made me feel proud of my body, confident, and like I can beat my brother at arm wrestling! More teens should do pole dancing, it’s great!”

 

Meet Mia: Positive Spin Student of the Month

Mia Cao

Student since December 2017

What inspired you to try pole dance?

My friend who pole dances in South Korea and posts photos of her awesome tricks all the time.

What are your other hobbies and interests?

Eating, movies, and going to warm places around the world.

Follow me on Instagram! @mia.yuan

What is your career?

Marketing Program Management and Promotional Modeling

How has Pole Dancing changed you and impacted your life?

It has given me more motivation to work out so that I can be stronger and accomplish more moves. It also has helped me make more friends, and gives me a topic to surprise people with when I meet them. It has given me more structure in my life at a time when pretty much anything can change in a moment, but pole is still reliably every week. Also, I now realize how inflexible my hips are… and have the opportunity to work on that and on pointing my toes!

What do you like about positive Spin?

It is a community studio. Alyssa really cares about her students, and it’s a place where everyone can feel included. Students support each other and cheer each other on, even though it isn’t actually a team sport.

What has been the proudest moment of your pole journey?

When I managed to get upside down for the first time! Now I just have to figure out how to climb things and twist my hips while being upside down.

What is something people are surprised to learn about you?

That I eat and travel. A lot. Like…really A LOT.

What advice would you give to new polers?

Things will hurt, but not forever. You’ll get to make new friends and learn new moves on the pole. And you’ll definitely get stronger!

Get 2 Weeks of Unlimited Classes

Meet Andrea: Positive Spin Student of the Month

Andrea Nicole

Student since September 2017

What inspired you to try pole dance?

I wanted a fun workout where I could learn something new.

What are your other hobbies and interests?

Yoga, reiki, baking, cooking, and crafting.

What is your career?

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

How has Pole Dancing changed you and impacted your life?

Pole has really helped me step out of my comfort zone… mostly get out of my own head. Especially when it comes to floor work. I have learned that if you are focusing/worrying about how something look, then it’s not going to look so good.. but if you just let go it typically looks beautiful.

What do you like about positive Spin?

I really enjoy the small group environment. It has been great getting to know everyone and having such a supportive environment.

What has been the proudest moment of your pole journey?

Finally being able to get my invert down without jumping.

What is something people are surprised to learn about you?

I feel like I can be reserved, so usually I tend to surprise people quite a bit when they get to know me.

What advice would you give to new polers?

Just let go, get out of your head, and keep coming back!

Get 2 Weeks of Unlimited Classes