Mid Month More About Me - Stretch and Pole Fitness Class

This month for mid month more about me I want to tell you all about how I have been getting fit over the last month. 

For my new year goals that I set, I said I wanted to start to attend pole classes and thats something that I have stuck to and now do on Monday evenings at Cloud Aerial Arts Burnley. I also attend a stretch class just before the pole class. 

I don't really want to loose any weight and so for me, I wasn't looking to be going to the gym and using running machines and such. I am quite happy with the 8 stone that I am and so my main aim is to tone up and work on my strength and flexibility.

This isn't the first time I have done pole and before Lily I invested in a pole for my home and used to practice on it all the time. I got really good and could easily climb, go upside down and also just hold on with only me legs.

But obviously when I got pregnant, it was something that I had to stop doing, and also since having Lily, I haven't really had the chance to do it again. Having a pole around the house with a small child running around is just asking for accidents. So up until 5 weeks ago, I hadden't had many tries on a pole for around 3 years. 3 years means that I have lost most of my strength in my arms and core. 

That said, I hadden't lost all my strength and week one I still managed to do a few tricks. Pole fitness really uses a lot of muscles. You can get a good work out on your legs, stomach and arms. You would be surprised how much core strength you need to use in pole fitness. 

It was week two that I already saw some improvement, It took me that first week to gain the confidence so that the next week I could manage to do some tricks. I was quite impressed with some of them and I also managed to let go with one hand. 

Pole fitness isn't for the faint hearted though. It really does take a lot of strength and endurance as you get bruised and also with a lot of friction burn from gripping onto the pole with your arms and legs. You can come out of a session with your body looking battered and bruised and like you have been fighting rather than doing tricks on a pole. But as I always say, no pain, no gain! 

Week one and two I really struggled to go upside down, and climbing the pole just wasn't happening. But by week three I finally managed to get myself upside down and I attempted to just hold on with my legs. I managed it for a few seconds and got a quick pic but I want to wait until I get really good at it before I show that move off to you.

But by this point I was stronger and could grip onto the pole to do more holds.

Week four I didn't do to well, I was ill that week and so it took all my strength from me. But last monday was week number five and I was back on it with more strength than before. I managed to finally climb up the pole. Not all the way to the top but I was super happy with the progress that I had made. I also managed to go upside down and get into a new trick that I had not managed before. I am hoping that next week I can manage this trick and let go with both hands. 

As for stretch class, this is something new to me. As I have gotten older I have noticed I am not as flexible and so I thought that it would do me some good to attend this class. I am loving it so far, stretching feels great! My favourite stretch has to be this one with the arms. I could stretch them out better than I thought I would to be honest. Last week we started to learn the splits. So far I am no where near but it will be interesting to show you my progress and hopefully I can get lower to the ground when we have finished training for them.

I shall report back soon to show you my progress and hopefully have some impressive photographs to show you. 

Have you ever tried pole fitness?

Is it something you would love to try?