Student Chronicles: Record Yourself! Seriously.

Story time: When I first started with pole dancing, I was afraid I wasn’t progressing fast enough. There were moments it felt like it would take me forever to climb the pole, to spin without getting dizzy, to move up a level, to nail that new trick that everyone else was already getting…don’t get me started on inverting. 

I’d get so caught up in “leveling up” and chasing the next rank that I forgot about the intention behind it all. I would leave a class feeling defeated if I didn’t meet my own expectations, instead of enjoying the journey of learning and moving my body. 

Flash forward to today, nearly 3 years later, and I can confidently say I’ve progressed leaps and bounds!

But I don’t define that progress with my level placement. 

The #1 tool I’ve used to help me truly grasp my progress—and appreciate the “struggle” in between—is recording myself. 

I remember when my first instructor suggested we pull out our phones and record/take pictures. I hated watching back the videos because it wasn’t pretty enough, clean enough, or strong enough. 

But I never deleted them. And a few months later, I’d record the same moves again and watch them back side by side. 

The difference was amazing! 

I was able to actively see the change in my form, something I might not have been able to feel otherwise. 

I was also able to understand that a big part of my growth was learning to trust myself and my instructors. 

I started recording every “problem” move I’ve had since then, and it’s helped me truly understand that pole dancing is a marathon, not a sprint. 

Comparing myself to others got me nowhere. But comparing my own progress is inspiring! Not to mention the grounding and perspective it provides—because when something finally clicks, how fun is it to see where you started from? 

For example, here’s a picture of the first time I attempted a butterfly. I couldn’t hold it for very long, I was very close to the floor, my leg was not positioned properly, and I couldn’t even dream of straightening my hooked leg to open up into an extended butterfly.

Fast forward about a year, and I was comfortably going from butterfly, to extended, to an inverted D! 

Fast forward about another 6 months, and I was able to get my Ayesha! This was a goal move of mine that felt virtually impossible for the longest time—one that I wanted to jump right into it. But I trusted my instructors and the path they guided me down to get to this point.  

This sequence took me YEARS to achieve. It was something that felt so far away when I was just learning my butterfly. 

But learning to lean into the process, and capturing my progress as I go, is a great reminder that I’ve grown so much as a pole dancer, even on the days that I don’t get a major “win.” Because every time I show up to class, I’m working toward something bigger. 

Pro-tip for recording: if you have fellow classmates in the background of your videos, be sure to get their permission before recording or posting! If possible, try to get videos of only yourself to avoid invading anyone’s right to privacy. When in doubt, refer to your studio’s rules on recording. 

If you’re ready to start your pole dancing journey, join us for an introductory workshop in Frederick, MD!