What to expect at your first pole class

Thinking about trying pole fitness but feeling a little nervous?

You're not alone.

Almost everyone who comes to their first pole class has some version of the same thoughts:

“What if I'm rubbish?”

“What if everyone else is really good?”

“I'm not strong enough.”

“I'm not flexible.”

“What on earth am I supposed to wear?”

And possibly the biggest one of all...

“Am I actually brave enough to walk through the door?”

The good news? You absolutely don't need to have it all figured out before you arrive.

Here's exactly what you can expect from your first pole fitness class.

First things first - you don't need any experience

Beginner pole classes are designed for complete beginners.

That means you don't need to have done pole before, you don't need to be super fit, and you definitely don't need to be able to do the impressive tricks you see on Instagram.

You don't even need to be particularly flexible.

You will learn everything from the beginning, with movements broken down into manageable steps.

Your instructor will show you what to do, explain how to use the pole safely and help you work at a level that's appropriate for you.

So if you're walking through the door thinking “I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing”...

Perfect.

That's exactly where you're supposed to be.

What should I wear?

For your first class just wear regular gym gear. Ideally you will wear shorts from week 2 onward but don't worry if you aren't quite ready for shorts just yet, we can work around it.

You don't need to wear a bra top for beginner pole, a regular gym vest or t-shirt is fine. The higher the level you go the more skin you will need as this create grip on the pole for more difficult moves.

You'll start with a warm-up

Before you get anywhere near attempting your first fancy move, you'll warm up.

This will usually include movements to prepare your wrists, shoulders, back, hips and legs, as well as getting your body temperature up.

It's an important part of the class because pole is a physical activity and we want your body prepared for the movements you're going to do.

Then you'll meet your pole

Don't worry - we promise it won't bite.

Your instructor will introduce you to some of the basic techniques you'll need to get started.

You might learn things like:

Basic spins

Walking around the pole

Different grips

How to position your hands and body

Follow along pole combinations

Beginner climbs and conditioning exercises

Everything will be broken down step-by-step.

You won't be expected to look like you've been doing pole for ten years after ten minutes.

You might feel a bit clumsy

And that's completely normal.

Your brain is learning something new while your body is trying to figure out where your hands, feet, hips and legs are supposed to go.

There may be a moment where you think:

“Why can't I make my body do this?”

That's part of learning.

You'll probably wobble.

You might forget which foot goes where.

You may accidentally spin when you didn't mean to.

And you might laugh. A lot.

That's actually one of the best things about learning pole.

Nobody expects perfection.

Will I

be strong enough?

Yes - because you don't have to be strong enough yet.

Strength is something you'll develop through training.

One of the most rewarding parts of pole fitness is looking back after a few months and realising how much stronger you've become.

That first move that felt impossible?

Suddenly you're doing it without thinking.

That first spin you couldn't quite control?

Now it's part of a combination.

And eventually you'll probably surprise yourself with something you genuinely never thought you'd be able to do.

What if everyone else is better than me?

This is one we hear all the time.

And here's the thing:

Everybody is concentrating on their own pole.

You'll have your own starting point, your own strengths and your own things to work on.

Someone might have more upper-body strength than you.

Someone else might be more flexible.

Another person might pick up a particular move really quickly.

None of that changes your progress.

Pole isn't a competition against the woman beside you.

It's you versus the version of you who walked into the studio for the first time.

What if I'm nervous?

Honestly?

Most people are.

Walking into somewhere new can be intimidating, especially when you're trying something you've never done before.

But once the class starts, that nervousness usually gets replaced by concentration, laughter and the realisation that...

“Oh. I can actually do this.”

And there's something pretty lovely about being in a room where everyone understands what it's like to be the new person.

You'll be learning together, encouraging each other and celebrating those little wins.

And what will you feel like afterwards?

Probably proud.

Possibly sweaty.

Almost certainly like you've discovered muscles you didn't know you had.

But hopefully you'll also leave thinking:

“When's my next class?”

Because that's the magic of finding an exercise you actually enjoy.

You're not forcing yourself through another boring workout because you feel like you should exercise.

You're learning a skill.

You're getting stronger.

You're meeting people.

And you're doing something that's just for you.

Ready to try your first class?

You don't need to be fit.

You don't need to be flexible.

You don't need any previous pole experience.

And you definitely don't need to know what you're doing.

That's what the beginner class is for.

All you need is a little bit of courage to walk through the door.

We'll take it from there.

Ready to give pole fitness a try?

Click the link and add your details to our waiting list.