Artfit: What brought you to these classes?

 Arielle: I have always been interested in the art of pole dancing. I love the sensuality of it and how it allows me to be in touch with my feminine and masculine energy. I love how strong it makes me feel, and the satisfaction I get from learning a new move. I started pole a few years prior to coming to ArtFit in Houston, when a friend invited me to come to a private lesson that she was teaching for me and some of my friends. I fell in love with it, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the time or the funds to continue. Once I moved to Lubbock for graduate school, I knew I needed to invest in some sort of artful escape that would keep me sane to balance the stress of pursuing a graduate degree in engineering. Therefore, I used this as an opportunity to get serious about pole dancing, and thus I found ArtFit through a Google search. Since then, I push myself to attend at least 1 class a week, and I have loved it ever since!

ArtFit: What benefits have you gained from taking these classes?

Arielle: This class challenges my strength on so many levels! I have gained a new sense of mind/body connection, that has translated to both my pole work, and my workout regime. Having come from a weightlifting and sports background, you would think this mind/body connection should be innate. However, practicing it with pole dancing has pushed my body to another strength level that I would have never been able to harness with just weightlifting. Another benefit I have gained, along with physical strength is an overall higher sense of self. I have a better appreciation and love for my body and its capabilities through pole dance. Pole dancing has also led me to want to explore other forms of art and body movement, like yoga.

ArtFit: What do you hope to gain or achieve in the future through the classes that you take? 

Arielle: Pole dancing has definitely helped me appreciate the skin I’m in and everything that comes with being me. So, I hope to continue to grow in my self-love journey through getting stronger and more confident with my pole skills. I also hope to soon advance to the intermediate/advanced pole classes, and perhaps one day try a Lyra class!

ArtFit: Please tell us about any positive experiences that you have had with ArtFit or anything else that you would like to share.

Arielle: Overall, my 2 years at ArtFit have been very positive. Classes with Olivia are amazing. I love the energy she brings to the course, and her amicable nature. Because of this, even on days that I don’t feel as though I have done my best in class or I’m just having a sucky day, she and the rest of the class always help to bring me out of my funk. She also always gives the best explanations for moves, that allow for easy translation onto the pole. Last year, around the time we were supposed to have the showcase, both Olivia and Erika were so supportive of me and helped me a lot with creating choreography for my routine. I look forward to this year’s showcase!

ArtFit: What is your biggest achievement at ArtFit?

Arielle: My biggest achievement is finally (sometimes) knowing how to invert! With more practice and strength training, I know I will be able to do inverts more seamlessly and continue to learn more inverted pole moves.

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Longevity

Students and teachers alike need to be dedicated to prolonging the athlete’s ability to participate in the activity for decades by preventing injury and promoting the proper training methods.   Longevity based training  is not just focused on how many moves you can learn quickly, but training focused on being able to do a sport or activity for a life time. To do a sport or an extremely physical activity long term, one must focus on strength, muscle balance, flexibility, injury prevention, and in the case of activities such as pole or aerial silks, it should include the ability to put combinations together in an artistic way to create a true art form as well as learning “cool tricks”.

The difference in these two teaching concepts is night and day. The “quick trick” curriculum caters to the student who does not understand the danger of injury or the need for the technique, strength, and flexibility necessary to perform each move. This curriculum style is the facility’s way of keeping the students happy and paying. In the end, however, the student is at greater risk of injury.

Health and Wellbeing

A longevity based program understands that students are excited to learn new skills, but channels that excitement towards a focus on their health and wellbeing. There are many components to long term athletic performance, especially in more extreme activities such as aerial arts and pole sport. There are many levels of technique, strength, and flexibility needed to complete certain skills. Conditioning and stretching (safely) as part of the regular curriculum is essential in creating competent athletes.  Allowing students to work on skills before they have the strength or flexibility to do so, however, is setting the student up for an injury. It may not happen every time but it will happen eventually. It could be a minor muscle pull, but in these activities, it could mean a major life changing injury to the head, neck or spinal cord. Injuries happen even in the best of training environments, but the idea is to keep them to a minimum so that the student can continue to grow as an artist for years to come.

Aesthetic

The second reason for longevity based training is aesthetic. Weak artists create weak lines and skills. It is always more pleasing to perform something less difficult but to do it properly with beautiful lines. It is also valuable to be able to create and execute combinations and choreography with grace. If students are just learning trick after trick, they will not understand how to put these skills together in a way that is pleasing to the audience, learn the inherent art of musicality, or stage presence. All of this, waters down the art. Makes it less appealing and entertaining.  With that, its popularity begins to wane.

I understand the new student’s excitement and desire to learn everything there is to learn, RIGHT NOW!  I, also, recognize that they are inundated with gratuitous amounts of tricks and skills every day on social media sites.  This creates a desire for learning. That is not a bad thing.  It is the instructor’s job, however, to insure the health and safety of the student first and foremost. We must say, “I understand your excitement, but I am resolute in protecting your wellness.” As students, you must realise that many skills may require physical elements that you have not achieved yet. You must be resolute in protecting your own safety as well.

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