Poling Pet Peeve on Safety

Hi Pole Monkeys, I'm on a rampage today...so here goes.

For several years now there has been talk of "legitimizing" the Sport of Pole and getting it put into the Olympics. The petition has been signed BUT the one thing missing is an umbrella organization to govern this new sport. Move names have to be streamlined and safety standards need to be established BUT the big thing is we as pole teachers and studio owners must teach our sport as safely as we can and with as much new fitness/dance info as possible.

Now that is not to say that the Olympic sports are healthy for our bodies if we are training like athletes BUT there are guidelines in place to limit the potential for damage to our athletes. With that said we all know that these athletes put a ton of wear and tear on their bodies beyond the normal everyday Joe/JoAnne at the gym just trying to stay fit. So we have to remember 2 things as Pole Instructors; 1. most of your students will be average everyday people, so don't push them to the extreme and 2. for those pole students who are training to compete be safe and smart and remember that by nature the human body is designed to function for life and living NOT to be extreme every day.

Education is the key here but also we must know how to practically apply our knowledge to the sport that we are selling. I am not a doctor and have been on my education track for 21 years. To stay current and safe we must do some sort of continuing ed. to keep pushing forward in a safe manner. So the blanket disclaimer is always get a release from your doc before you begin any fitness/sport program and if something doesn't feel right TALK to your trainer/coach/teacher, communication of discomfort can prevent it from becoming and injury. Everybody is different so work with your strengths NOT in competition with the person in class next to you.

This week one of my students asked me to watch a DVD that was supposed to increase flexibility, while toning and tightening our lovely lady lumps and bumps. One technique that was brought up in the DVD was PNF stretching; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. This is a great technique if done in a safe manner and can increase flexibility comfortably and safely for most people.

The premise is a stretch that works in both the contraction and relaxation full range of motion of the area you are trying to increase flexibility for. Here is a video from YouTube that was presented to me in my Athletic Training and Acute Injury Management class at Pierce College, instructed by Lisa Murray, Program Coordinator of the Kinesiology, Personal Training, Athletic Coaching and Physical Therapist Assistant Programs, as an example of how to safely perform this stretch in a proper and effective way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJl5uPhWM6U

So, key points to take away from my little rant on safety:
 1. If we want people to take the Sport of Pole seriously then we have to have the education and practical application of that information to substantiate and back up the fact that we should be considered a real sport. Just because you took a few classes doesn't give you the right to teach it, use the science of fitness to back it up.
 2. Safety first and common sense on how the body is supposed to work and apply it to our sport, if we give wrong info correct it as soon as we realize it's wrong and DON'T break your students! After all a broken student cant take class and if you run out of students because you broke them, then you can't get paid. Sure a split may be sexy and a huge accomplishment but if you damage the ligaments, tendons and muscles in your hips now to do that split; then its a good possibility that you will be using a walker in your golden years because the stability of your hips was compromised just to look impressive quicker than if you progressed into a move safely.
 3. Pole is an extreme sport and when done at a competitive level injuries will happen as more people give it a try but most people will never compete so we, as instructors need to try our best to keep it safe, fun, and fit friendly for as many body/fitness types as we can help, so the rest of the world will eventually see our amazing sport for the sport it truly is.

Till next time Pole Monkeys - be safe and have fun!

Why Pole??

The Sport of Pole has been growing for about 10 years now and it has gone from a few studios and everyone thinking "stripper" to hundreds of studios world wide and professional fitness/artistic dance competitions in hopes of someday being put into the Olympics.

As a Personal Trainer / Fitness Professional I have heard all of the reasons NOT to try this exciting fitness craze BUT let me tell you All of the reasons you should at least give it a spin (total pun intended).

1. Not a boring walk on a treadmill or weight room
2. You get FUN, cardio, strength and stretching ALL in a 1 hour class
3. Pole helps make every day tasks easier as you progress in class
3. Your confidence will shoot through the roof
4. We work with REAL people, my oldest student is 63 and my heaviest is 240 lbs - so no excuses there
5. Even on a bad day Pole Class ALWAYS makes you feel better

Now these aren't all of the reasons but your not getting any younger and if you want to truly learn a new form of fitness then Pole is where you need to be CALL today to get started!!

253-861-5584
The Toy Box Pole Studio in Tacoma Wa

Pole jam still ON...c u at 9

At this time Pole Vixens & maybe some regular students will get to be zombies on Sept 29...the link is in the post below.

http://ping.fm/5l68U

Possible Barbie substitute names...Braelynn, Brea, Bria, Brylee, Brooklynn, Dessa, Draia, Bailee...Votes r welcome

So many of u loved following travel pole barbie on her vacation and have suggested she share all if her adventures but to do so she needs a new name "tra