When you think of pole dancing, you more than likely think of a petite woman with a slim waist and toned body. This same image is why some plus-size people may have the question, “Can you do pole dancing if you’re overweight?”
The answer is yes! In fact, many overweight women have found great success in this area. This article will go into detail about how they can get started and what challenges they may face along the way.
For further context, we dug into this Reddit thread, so you might want to check that out once you have had a read of this post. There is a lovely and supportive community of pole enthusiasts over there!
Calisthenic Ability
Pole dancing is an intricate sport that tests one’s endurance, flexibility, and creativity. You will have to carry your weight and lift yourself with the pole. Typically, one needs to have great strength and calisthenic ability to lift their own bodyweight. However, bigger gals and guys can and do pole dance!
Pole Is For Everybody!
It may not seem obvious but, pole dancing is a sport for everyone–whether you’re overweight or not. So yes, you can do pole dancing even if you’re on the heavier side.
If you join a beginner’s class in pole dancing, you will see that there are people of different shapes, sizes, genders, and ages. It is a body-affirming sport, you don’t need to have society’s idea of a perfect body to be able to pole dance (or do any style of dance for that matter). And this is why a lot of people are more confident once they learn how to work that pole.
The number on your scale is not the determining factor on whether or not you’ll be good at pole dancing. In your very first pole dancing class, you’ll see that an overweight person and a skinny person will most likely experience the same obstacle.
Most people won’t be able to lift their own body weight at the very first class and that’s perfectly normal!
Keeping Safe While Pole Dancing
It’s important to stretch beforehand to maximize your flexibility and avoid any possible injuries. Here’s a good warmup for beginners in pole dancing.
And, if you are up for it, here’s an entertaining video of a woman on the heavier side and she decides to try pole dancing!
You will be amazed to see how many amazing pole dancers there are who don’t have a petite body frame, just look at our Instagram page and see how diverse the vertical arts can be.
Don’t Start Pole Dancing Unless You Want To Lose Weight
In case you are wondering, pole dancing can also help you lose weight since you’ll be using every inch of your body to lift yourself up and create fluid movements on the pole. So if you were looking for a fun way to work out, you kill two birds with one stone by pole dancing.
I say this because not all big gals or guys start pole dancing specifically to lose weight, despite what people assume. But, it cannot be ignored that it is a physical exercise, and getting stronger and losing weight is part of the deal.
For most people, this is a positive thing!
A helpful tip for being able to do stronger moves in pole dancing is to build your strength at the gym. Practicing with weights and engaging in some workouts that include cardio is great for maintaining the progress you’ve attained in your pole dancing classes whilst not using the pole.
The Pole Community Has Your Back
The community behind pole dancing is also a very positive and supportive one. You will notice that everyone is very helpful and encouraging, especially when it comes to being comfortable with your own body. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
When pole dancing, you are supposed to wear clothes with minimal fabric since your skin is supposed to stick with the pole to help you carry out your moves, especially when you’re climbing it.
This may be scary at first especially if you’re not used to wearing revealing clothes, but no one is there to judge how your body looks, and everyone is facing their own insecurities as well.
You are supposed to feel your sexiest when pole dancing, and this wouldn’t be possible if you aren’t at ease with your own skin.
Start At Home
If you do not feel confident enough to take a pole dance class just yet, start by pole dancing at home. There are a lot of online tutorials that can help you get started, and it’s a great way to learn the basics before stepping into a class.
We did a comparison of the two best online pole dancing classes here.
Once you have built up enough confidence and feel comfortable with the moves, then you can start attending classes.
Just like anything else in life, practice makes perfect! So don’t be discouraged if you find the first few classes difficult or challenging.
Final Thoughts
Don’t be discouraged in the beginning if you can’t lift yourself immediately, just like any other sport or skill, it takes time and one lesson won’t make you an expert straight away. So, remember to take your time, enjoy the process, and everything will get better in the end.
What’s In Your Pole Class Bag? Check Out Some Of My Recommended Essentials:
These are my must-haves!
Do you have any pole gear you cannot dance without? Let me know in the comments! And be sure to follow us on Pinterest & Instagram!
For more quality content like this, be sure to check out the Pole Model Youtube Channel!
See you there 🙂
