Pole Dancing Fitness Instructor

[Think Outside the Box!]

Just imagine the strength and flexibility it takes to actually work out on on a pole!

Pole dancing may have a colorful history, but dancing around a vertical pole has morphed into using a pole as a vertical gym!

Meet Susan Peach, Pole Dancing Fitness Instructor:

With over 25 years of experience as a dance and fitness instructor, Susan embraced this innovative fitness practice and is helping to make it one of the most popular, new workouts!

As a triathlete and Latin dancer, Susan had devoted her life to fitness!

In addition to working and raising two teenage sons, Susan has taught pole dancing fitness classes for several years, and according to her website, enjoys "helping women feel empowered from the inside out."

Interview with Susan Peach:

Currently there is no qualification standard for teaching pole dancing for fitness, so students would be wise to look into the training and experience of any instructor they are considering hiring.

In my work, I draw on over 25 years of experience as a dance and fitness instructor, as well as a lifelong love of dance in general. I first started working with the dance pole in 2005 when I taught myself a few moves on a tether ball pole at the local elementary school! I was hooked, and have since developed a wide variety of pole classes, from choreographed routines to cardio classes, as well as strength, toning and stretching classes.

Why did you choose to focus on pole dancing to keep fit?

To be honest, pole dancing is just a small part of the fitness training I do. A big hobby of mine is triathlon, and my first love is Latin dance, plus I also do strength training off the pole as well. I always joke with my training partners that I only do pole dancing because it’s great cross training! That said, pole dancing can be a fantastic all round fitness activity. I always tell my students that the pole is like a vertical home gym if you know how to use it. And in my opinion, it’s a lot more fun than any of those fitness gadgets you see on late night infomercials.

The fun factor is definitely huge for me, as it is for many women who try pole dancing. After all, most of us girls get bored of the same old routine pretty quickly. Pole dancing is fun, it’s freeing, and it builds strength and confidence fast! What’s not to love?

But the real key is, if you enjoy your workouts, you’re much more likely to continue doing them. If you’re the kind of person who dreads the thought of slogging through yet another treadmill session or step class, trying something different like pole dancing might be just what you need to finally stick with a fitness program.

What are the fitness benefits of pole dancing?

All three of the major components of fitness (cardio, strength and flexibility) can be addressed with pole dancing.

Even at a very basic level, your body is constantly in motion and even the simplest of spins or slides helps raise your heart rate and work your lungs (that’s the cardio part). Watch any pole dancer after a 3 minute routine and she’ll be sweating and breathing hard. It’s definitely hard work to make it look easy!

In terms of building strength, many women worry that they’ll never be strong enough to lift themselves up the pole to do some of the more advanced spins and tricks. Fortunately, there are other ways to build strength that will help you progress to those more advanced moves safely.

In fact, there are many very effective strength exercises that can be done using a dance pole, whether you want to use them specifically to build strength for more advanced pole tricks, or just to get stronger and more toned in general.

I’m actually creating a section on my website that demonstrates some of these pole exercises. As you’ll see, the pole allows you to use your body weight (supported or unsupported, depending on your current fitness level) to increase your strength and tone your muscles quickly.

Flexibility is often overlooked by those looking to get fit or lose weight. But it is important in terms of injury prevention, and in keeping our muscles soft and supple so that we’re able to keep working them. Here again, your dance pole can assist you in aligning your stretches, providing support and balance, and also in terms of bracing and deepening some common stretches so you get more out of them.

A final aspect of fitness that isn’t officially recognized, but that I believe is important, is body awareness. The reason I say this is that people who are aware of what their bodies can or can’t do on a given day, who are in touch with how their muscles and joints feel, and who feel comfortable moving their bodies, have an advantage in terms of being able to make any fitness program safer and more effective.

When we’re in touch with our bodies we are more confident in how we move and in knowing what we’re capable of.

Pole dancing definitely increases body awareness as women learn to move in ways that pull them into their body and help them “own” their personal space.

Is there a minimum fitness level someone should have to start?

As with any program of physical activity, women should check with their health care provider if they have any concerns, but if they’re given the go-ahead there’s no reason that pole dancing can’t be part of their fitness program, no matter how unfit they think they are.

Pole dancing, like most other fitness activities, can be adapted to various levels of fitness.

While one person may need an easier variation on a move than someone who is more fit, there are so many options and modifications that even newcomers to fitness can enjoy a fantastic pole dancing workout.

The key is to remember to start where you are, not where you want to be! And if you’re taking a group class, make sure the class is appropriate for your fitness level and that the instructor is sensitive to the needs of anyone in the class who needs an easier pace.

Should age or size prohibit someone from trying pole dancing for fitness?

I believe that any woman, regardless of her age, size, shape or fitness level, can enjoy the benefits of pole dancing.

The key is to choose exercises and moves that are appropriate for your level, as well as a teaching environment that is comfortable and supportive of your goals. I have taught classes in Plus Size Pole Dancing, as well as a class for seniors called On Golden Pole.

Obviously we aren’t going to be hanging from the pole by our ankles in these classes, but there are plenty of things we can do that provide a fantastic workout for the women in the given demographic.

Ensuring your instructor is teaching to the level of the students, and not to her own fitness level, is key to a positive experience in this situation. You may even want to make an appointment to talk with the instructor or studio owner ahead of time, to make sure you are signed up for the class that is most appropriate for you, and that you are comfortable with the instructor’s approach and philosophy.

What should someone look for when getting ready to purchase and install a pole?

There are several good dance poles on the market today and it can be hard to know exactly what to look for. Before making a buying decision, it’s important to think about where and how you intend to use your dance pole. If you won’t need to move it and you are concerned about having the safest possible installation, you may want to look at a permanently mounted pole.

On the other hand, if you’re concerned about screw holes in your floor and ceiling, or you just want the flexibility of being able to put your pole up and down, then a removable or friction fit pole may better meet your needs. Rotating poles sound like a lot of fun, but they are potentially dangerous so you’ll want to consider how vigilant you’re willing to be if you have friends over, or if your kids get on your pole…don’t laugh, it’s been known to happen!

It really is important to do a bit of research before buying, as some poles are not meant to take any weight. While most dance poles are of the “heavy duty” construction that will support flying spins and inversions, there are a couple of poles on the market that are really just meant to be accessories that you dance around.

These poles are much less expensive because they aren’t made to be weight-bearing. If you see a dance pole that seems to be priced very cheaply be careful as it may be one of these “lightweight” poles and you could end up disappointed if you wanted to be able to graduate to spins and lifts.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider is the reputation of the manufacturer and their own confidence in their product. This is usually reflected in a warranty of some kind. The best quality poles will typically come with a one year warranty against defects so you can be assured that the manufacturer stands behind the quality of their product.

Buying a dance pole for home use is a big decision, and a big investment! That’s why I cover all the pros and cons, best uses, and safety issues in the dance pole section of my website. My goal with this information is to help people make informed decisions on which type of pole is best for them. I hope your readers find it useful!

If there are no pole dancing instructors in the area, would online pole dancing for fitness be a good alternative?

This depends on exactly what people have in mind. If you’ve just purchased a dance pole to use at home and have no experience in pole dancing, then I wouldn’t recommend you just jump onto YouTube and start trying to duplicate what you see there!

We are starting to see some instructional video clips online, but a lot of these types of videos are still instructor demos or professionals who are competing or performing. In these cases the moves are usually pretty advanced and the routines quite complicated. These pole dancers are not new to the sport, that’s for sure. So I’d say the biggest challenge with learning from an online source is the level of instruction available (or lack thereof).

On the other hand, there are lots of great resources available online, from books and DVDs to actual courses and programs that are delivered online. Some people would argue that these methods are not as effective as learning in an actual class setting, but if there are no instructors in your area, or you’re very shy and prefer to learn in the privacy of you home, they can be good alternatives.

Because I get so many inquiries about this subject, I’ve also created an entire section on my website just for those women who want to know the best way for them to learn to pole dance. I cover everything from DVD reviews to the pros and cons of group versus private lessons. I certainly encourage any woman who is curious about this new fitness trend to give it a try, either by participating in a trial class at a local studio, attending a pole dancing party, or by jumping right in and purchasing her own dance pole if she’s so inclined. Pole dancing is certainly the most fun I’ve ever had with fitness, and I know a lot of women who would agree with me!

Thank you, Susan! You certainly make it sound like fun! It's clear that you are passionate about helping women become fit, confident, and empowered!

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