5 mistakes to avoid when starting pole dance.

1) Comparing yourself to other students.

I’ve been there. Many times. I know how you feel. Some people learn faster, some learn slower - that’s normal. Focus on you and your training. You have your own beautiful journey. Enjoy it. And make the best out of it. Like I just saw the quote - I want to be the best my best.

2) Training only on one side.

This can lead to so many injuries, pain in the back, shoulders, ribs, hips, neck etc. Shapes or combos don’t need to be perfect but it is essential that you train both sides. And start from the very first day, because it is so much harder if you have to relearn it after years of practicing only one side.

3) Rushing and performing advanced tricks too early.

A lot of beginners want to start doing advanced tricks fast. But they don’t have strength, mobility or flexibility for pole shapes and by trying those tricks without proper conditioning they usually get injuries. Again I’m also guilty of this. I’ve got intercostal neuralgia just because I went upside down without having any core. I learned my lesson. 

If you want to stay healthy and avoid injuries as much as possible you should do conditioning exercises and slowly build strength, mobility and flexibility. So don’t rush yourself and slowly work on your core, step by step.

4) Not having any rest days.

Guilty. I’m soooo guilty of this. But thanks to my experience I’ve learned to listen to my body. Please make sure you have rest days, enough time to recover, sleep well, eat well.

I know pole dancing can be incredible and you feel like you want to drop anything and just pole and stretch all the time. Spending all time in the studio. Every day. In a long run it will lead you to horrible burn out, injuries and pain. I’ve been there and I would not recommend it to anyone.

To prevent it from early on - take this journey serious but easy. Make schedule of your training, with at least 2/3 days off. Where you don’t do any pole. So you can recover, do massages, go to spa etc.  Amazing thing would be to also find one more hobby (If you don’t have one).

5) Doing exercises at home that you don’t have the technic or knowledge for.

Again I’m guilty. 15 years ago when I just started Pole dance I wanted to be flexible. And I started stretching at home by myself without any knowledge of this discipline. I had no idea how to become flexible at that time.

And Ofcourse I have got an injury immediately in my leg and had to stop stretching for months. To properly heal it.

Sooo my advice is to find a professional coach. Take group or private lessons to learn about the subject and to understand it. After some time when you get the proper technique you can practice it safely alone. This will save you from injuries and make experience so much more nicer and fun.