How Pole Dancing Changed My Life

It doesn’t take much to hype me up — and I don’t need an army of people to do anything. When I first saw a pole class on the schedule, I didn’t wait for a friend to join me. I signed up, showed up alone, and had no idea what to expect.

I was sitting at 212 pounds, wearing a size 16, and just trying to find something that made me feel like me again. Back then, I was in a relationship that looked fine from the outside but was slowly draining my spirit, my energy, and my goals. My naturally positive outlook made it easy to pretend everything was okay — but I was tired.

From the moment the music started, and I wrapped my hand around that pole, something shifted. I wasn’t thinking about my weight or my problems — I was thinking about the strength it took to lift, spin, and move with control. I left that first class feeling more alive than I had in years.

So, I went back. Again, and again. I became a regular. I loved it so much that I bought my first gym membership because I wanted to climb the pole like the other women in class — the strong, confident ones who made it look effortless. I couldn’t climb at first, but I was determined to change that.

I started lifting weights four days a week, pushing myself hard to build strength and lose the weight that held me back. That pole hustle changed everything. Over time, I lost 55 pounds — from 212 to 157 — and gained something even better: confidence, power, and pride in my own body.

While training for pole, I stumbled into my first group fitness class — Turbo Kick. I was instantly hooked. I’d always loved kickboxing (shoutout to Billy Blanks and the DVD days!).

Pole dancing led me to the gym. The gym led me to group fitness. And group fitness led me to my first certification, then to my first job in fitness sales, and eventually into fitness management — and, years later, into building my own brand.

At some point, I decided to take it even further — I bought my own home pole. That’s when it got real. It was game time. I was more addicted to that pole than I ever was to that man — and for once, that kind of obsession was healthy. Every spin, every climb, every new trick reminded me what it feels like to be powerful in my own skin.

Pole dancing didn’t just change my body. It rebuilt my confidence from the inside out. It reminded me that I was capable of doing hard things — of walking away from what no longer served me, of believing in my own strength, of creating a life that lights me up.

That confidence carried into every part of my life. I eventually found the courage to leave that toxic relationship and start over. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t shrinking myself to make someone else comfortable — I was growing into the woman I was meant to be.

Today, I look back and realize — pole dancing wasn’t just a class. It was the catalyst. It was the spark that started everything: my career, my purpose, my resilience, and my belief that movement can heal.

Every time I host Pole-O-Ween, it feels like a full-circle moment. What started as a personal challenge has become a celebration — not just of strength, but of confidence, community, and fun. This event isn’t just about tricks or choreography; it’s about letting go, showing up boldly, and remembering how powerful it feels to move your body for you.

💎 “It’s Your Time to Shine — Join Me for Pole-O-Ween

🎃 Pole-O-Ween is the perfect no-pressure, judgment-free event to explore pole, have fun, and rediscover your confidence in a space filled with supportive energy.

📍 October 17 & 24 · 7:30 PM

VIDA Fitness — 1612 U St NW, Washington DC

💵 RSVP Required | $34 per person

Whether you’re returning to the pole or trying it for the first time, come laugh, move, and remember what it feels like to truly own your energy.

RSVP