Strong. Confident. Unexpectedly hooked. Here’s how it starts

From Fireman Spin to Fierce Confidence: Muy’s Story

Meet Muy—a longtime Pole Athletica student whose journey over the past 10 years is nothing short of inspiring. From hesitant beginnings to performing solo routines and embracing heels choreography, Muy's story is a powerful reminder that progress comes with patience, persistence, and community. In this special feature, she shares the lessons, milestones, and moments that have shaped her transformation—on and off the pole.

Looking back at when you first started, what initial misconception about pole dancing or your own capabilities has shifted the most?
I never thought that I would ever be able to achieve a flat split, but with persistence, I can see that it is possible, even as I get older. I’ve just got to keep working on my active splits. I also never would have thought that I’d ever be confident enough to choreograph and perform a solo routine. 

Over the years and multiple studio relocations, what’s one thing about Pole Athletica’s atmosphere or culture that always felt like “home” to you?
What makes Pole Athletica feel like “home” to me is its welcoming environment for all types of bodies and personalities. Every time I go to the studio, it feels like a safe place to see familiar faces among the staff and the students. The Pole Athletica community of instructors and students is extremely supportive; we are always cheering each other on during classes, practice sessions, workshops, showcases, competitions. I also love seeing the progress of fellow students through the end of term pics on the student group page on Facebook. 

Over the course of your 10 years at PA, what has most surprised you about your own transformation or style?
I am surprised that over the years my old body can still be pushed beyond what I thought were my limits of flexibility and strength. I have also surprised myself by finding enjoyment in dancing in heels. 

How has Pole Athletica’s community played a role in keeping you motivated, supported, or inspired over the years?
Pole Athletica has been a constant part of my life over the last 10 years, because it set me up with good habits for pole training and I get good results from it. The familiar faces in the instructors and regular students, as well as the beautifully welcoming studio environment, makes it a safe space to train, to practise, to challenge oneself, to find expression in dance. The well-selected instructors are themselves accomplished and inspiring pole athletes/dancers, and recognise that each student is different and has their own style to achieve their pole goals. They are incredibly motivating in helping us find our path and picking us up along the way when necessary. 

We all hit snags along the way—what was one significant challenge you faced, and how did you push through it?
In my last showcase performance, I struggled with a single hand grip transition, but got through it by putting ego aside and accepting I’d have to use a second hand on the pole. Part of that process was looking through a lot of videos on Instagram to see how it would still look pretty. My conditioning includes working up my single hand grip strength but I may never get there due to the fact that my hands are small. The universe may be pushing me towards another solo routine, whereby I can choreograph to my own strengths. But we should never cease to challenge ourselves as we might just be surprised by what our bodies can do. 

Is there a personal milestone or “lightbulb moment” in your journey that still brings a huge smile to your face?
In my earlier pole years, I thought the end point was winning competitions – while I never saw myself as one for the stage I liked to think I could one day be as good as the competitors. 
Now, in my later years, and with more experience doing choreo classes, I get exhilarated when I hit the musical accents, and occasionally, I catch my body moving a little more like a “real dancer” than I would ever have thought possible for someone who grew up as an awkward, nerdy, non-sporty, non-creative type. 

How have these past 10 (or 15) years of pole practice influenced any areas of your life outside the studio, like your day-to-day routine, mindset, or relationships?
Pole has set me up well for healthy ageing. I am keeping physically active without it feeling like a chore. I am also exercising my brain trying to remember techniques, combos, and choreography. For a healthy mindset, I find pole really helpful to draw parallels to other parts of my life to better understand them. For example, when I’m trying to work out the technique for a new pole move, and it takes some practise and fails and reattempts, I liken this to the way I can overcome some challenges I face at work. Or when I see how different students will take different pathways to achieve a pole goal, I liken this to how different personalities approach things at work. Also, the confidence I have developed from performing has helped me to cope with and even to volunteer for some presentations at work. When it comes to my personal relationship, my poor partner has had to bear with my obsession over the past 10 years, and I am incredibly grateful that he has been so supportive. 

If you ever took a break from pole, what drew you back to Pole Athletica, and how did returning feel both physically and mentally? 
The Pole Athletica studio always feels like a safe space for me, so coming back from a break feels like coming home to family. Of course, there is always the loss of grip, overall strength and flexibility to expect. However, sometimes I am surprised when I am stronger and/or more flexible after a break – a clear indication that I had been overtraining and needed some time off. 

If you could offer one golden piece of advice or inspiration to someone just starting out, what would it be—and why do you think it’s so important?
Your future self is already thanking you for making the decision to start on your pole journey. Every step onwards will bring something positive, whether it’s holding a move a second longer than before, or remembering to breathe, or remembering to point your toes that time, or helping one of your classmates. For an old-timer like myself, having received so much from pole, I think it’s important that people keep at it. Longevity means being kind to the body, not to rush it or push it to the point of damage, and not being disheartened when you feel you’re not getting it. Just persist, and you’ll get there. Also, take the time to develop good techniques, and don’t forget to train the basics during practice.