Restart

I haven’t posted in a long while, because I’ve been preoccupied with work issues for a good 5-6 months, which has affected my mood / happiness, and poling… which had the effect of aggravating my depression. Because, as most polers know, poling is addictive and bring us joy, so if we don’t pole, we get depressed, and pole less beause it seems like hard work, and we get even more bummed out… its a vicious circle.

I’ve noticed that every time I take a break from pole, I feel reluctant to restart because it does seem like hard work, and I’m not sure whether I’ll enjoy it as much. But once I start pole again, I’m completely swept up by the boost from learning new tricks, the camaderie of the girls, the endorphins from the exercise… and I fall in love (and in addiction) with pole again, and wonder why i ever stopped in the first place.

Anyway, I’ve left my job now, which was getting emotionally unhealthy for me anyway, and I’m currently a lady-of-leisure of sorts as I figure out what I want to do with my life (way to go mid-life crisis at 30!), work on a website with the Boy, and pursue all the personal interests that I never had time to pursue when I was working.

So, I’ve restarted pole. But slowly… generally only once a week so far. And I’m cross-training to become a healthier, more well-rounded poler. I try to work every day of the week where possible, which usually ends up just being 4-5 days a week once I factor in weekend plans / weekends away. And I try to mix it up to get a bit of everything each week: I’ve taken up tap dancing to get some rhythm and improve my balance, I try to do cardio once a week (TurboFire, since the dance elements make it more fun), ballet / flexibility, reformer pilates for my core. And I’m hoping to try out some Support Classes at Circus Space to work on my handstands. And on weekends, I often go climbing with my ex-colleagues.

As a result of the mixed scheduling since I restarted pole 3-4 weeks ago, I’m not progressing as fast as I wish I could on pole, because I’m not working on it ‘full-time’. But I haven’t really felt too ache-y, or twinged any muscles either. And sometimes I make progress which surprise me… probably because even though I haven’t trained for a specific trick, I have strengthened my core or arms through pilates or ballet for example.

I’m glad to be back, and ready to revive my love affair with pole.