You start to miss one pole class, or you avoid training at home, finding excuses: it’s too cold, I’m too tired, I’ll go tomorrow (and you know you won’t)…
That’s how it begins: the dreaded pole depression. But fear not! There are ways out if it!
Check out these 5 ways to get out of pole depression, and soon you’ll be back on the chrome, kicking ass!
1. Stop comparing yourself with pole stars, aka “the pole cleanse”
I’ve put this one on top of the list, because most of the time, this is the number one reason why you will get into a pole depression. You see all those videos of pole stars doing amazing performances on Youtube, you watch events and championships on Livestream, and little by little, your mind gets filled with so many top level acts that all the rest looks like shit to you. And the insidious self depreciation begins: I’ll never reach that level, I don’t have what it takes…
Stop, in the name of pole, before you break your heart! Because yes, this is truly heartbreaking, you love pole, but you are discouraged, you want to be better but all you see is you not being good enough in your own eyes.
I could tell you that you are (good enough), that all those pole stars started where you started as well, that they worked hard to get there and that if you work hard, you’ll get there too, but it won’t help and we all know that. The brain is a tricky thing that loves to entertain dark thoughts when you’re already feeling low.
So just stop watching those videos for a while. It does no good when they stop being an inspiration. If you usually record yourself, watch your very first videos and see how you’ve progressed already, watch tutorials, just focus on the useful things. Think of it as eating healthy: you put only good and necessary things into your system, and remove what’s harming you.
Clear your mind and clean your thoughts, that’s the best pole detox you will find!
2. Take some time off the pole
If the above is not enough to get you in a lighter state of mind, then maybe it’s time to leave the pole behind, even if for a short while.
There might be times when, as you realise that your body is not doing exactly what you’re asking it to, when tricks look more like trying not to die on the pole than actual moves, when you’re more frustrated after a pole training than if you didn’t pole at all, it’s just better to take time off.
Whether you decide to simply indulge in some “you” time, reading a book you’ve been meaning to for ages, buying yourself a nice magazine, and snuggling on the couch with your cats and a cup of tea, or you want to stay active and jump into a sport that is not pole dance, it doesn’t matter as long as you take your mind off the pole, not just your body.
3. Go back to basics
Whether you have done all of the above, and feel like giving pole a try again, or you just can’t imagine yourself staying away from your beloved chrome, don’t jump into your nemesis tricks just yet!
Allow yourself to find again all those sensations you loved: indulge in a long warmup, feel every limb wake up, hit the pole with the most basic tricks (why not review the tricks of the level under yours, or your very first spins?), focus on what you can do, and leave the ‘not-there-yet’ moves for another day.
And when you have that satisfaction pooling back inside of you, remember to dance! Why not freestyle to your favourite song?
And to top off a good pole training end on a stretching session, deep, slow, letting your body cool down and your mind remember what it feels like to be happy with yourself.
4. Renew your pole playlist
Sometimes, all you need is something to perk you up. When I’ve been using the same pole playlist for weeks, believe me, I get tired of it, no matter how much I love the songs in it. New songs bring new inspiration and motivation, that’s a fact, but it’s not easy to find replacements to good tunes.
If you ask on forums and groups, the suggestions will reflect the commenter’s tastes, which might not be yours. What I usually do is find the songs of my old playlist on Youtube, and look at the recommendations on the right: sometimes you’ll find gems in there!
Another tip: search for an album or an artist you love on Amazon, and see what other people bought at the same time, it’s a pool of good finds too!
5. Take a workshop/buy a new pole DVD/change your schedule
Your pole depression might also be related to the way you train. Are you hitting the same class at the same studio every week or training at home with an established routine? You obviously need a change!
From a simple change in the day you pole each week, and why not, a change of teacher, to the more radical commitment to a workshop, your pole haze will be a thing of the past as you meet new faces, force your brain to get out of automatic mode, and discover new ways of training. Rejuvenate your practice!
And if you’re a home poler, or can’t afford a workshop yet, why not buy a new pole DVD? Doing the same tutorial again and again can be pretty numbing at some point. Not only does your body get used to doing the same exercises and need a change to progress sometimes, but it’s also exciting to start something new that you don’t know by heart. You have to focus harder since you don’t know that new training, and with a busier brain, your depression has little chance to survive!
Are you feeling better? Yes? Yay!
Don’t feel bad if you get depressed with your pole practice sometimes though, that’s a totally normal feeling. Just like life in general, there are ups and downs, and sometimes, they happen in your brain and not just on the pole!
I’ll give you a little secret: to make sure, after those five tips, that the depression is buried for good, I treat myself to a new pole outfit, or new stilettos. You don’t need a prescription for that, but that’s one of the best medications ever!
Do you have pole depression sometimes? What works for you to get out of it?
Kei is a freelance writer, a self taught pole dancer, sprinkled with a huge dose of geekiness and the political incorrectness of a naughty rock chick. Learn more about Kei and her writing HERE
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