Tell us about yourself:
I am 39 years old. I have no kiddies, but I have 6 Spaniels which are the loves of my life. I am a jack of many trades, I am an Interior Designer and I also make baby linen and bedding.
When did you join the Vertical Vixen Studios?
In 2011
What were your reasons for joining?
The year before I joined had been a very difficult year for me, hubby and I spent the year in doctor’s rooms trying all methods and medication to conceive a child. This took a huge tole on me, both emotionally and physically. My self confidence was at its absolute lowest, not being able to have a baby made me feel like I wasn’t a woman. And the medication had made me put on a lot of weight and I felt tired and depressed.
I decided I needed to find a way to lose weight, and to love myself again and feel like a woman. Many times I drove past Vertical Vixen and I thought ‘wow how amazing it must be to dance and feel sexy and beautiful, and be a strong woman’. When I first walked into the studio, in my XXL baggy tracksuit pants and t-shirt, I looked at all the beautiful woman in their skimpy pole outfits and thought ‘hell no, I don’t belong here. I can never be like them’. My first instinct was to sneak quietly out the door and hope that no one saw me. Then Julie came and spoke to me, and she was so sweet and made me feel so incredibly welcome, as did all the woman in the class, that I couldn’t resist staying for the class that I had signed up for. So there was me, in my super baggy clothes doing my first ever pole class.
And over the years I became that person that I thought I could never be – I lost weight (well over 30kgs), I became the woman in the skimpy pole outfit, my fitness strength as well as my self confidence grew to levels that I never imagined possible. I even became that woman who went up onto stage which I never ever imagined I could be.
Are they still the same?
Pole fitness was more than I ever imagined it would be, and I can’t imagine my life without everything it gave to me, and still gives to me.
Because of the classes / new exercise regime – did you start to make changes to other areas of your life? if so what?
Losing weight, and becoming fitter and stronger grew my self confidence. I learnt to love my body and who I am, which definitely has an impact on every aspect in one’s life. And for the first time ever I was part of a fitness regime that I loved, and which I wanted to share with everyone.
What other benefits / experiences / friendships have you gained from your classes at Vertical Vixen?
I have met some of the most incredibly people at pole classes throughout the years, some of which have become my closest friends. Every time I take a friend for a trial class that are in awe at how supportive all the woman (and men) in the class are. There is no judgement nor cattiness as you would expect in a room full of ladies, everyone is supportive, full of compliments, helpful and everyone builds each other up.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of trying pole?
Pole fitness is a body and mind experience like no other that I have experienced. To watch your body change, how it gets fitter and stronger is so rewarding. The classes are fun and the people are amazing.
Anything else you would like to share?
Never say never until you have tried it, you will be amazed at what your body is capable of if you just try. You can become everything you imagined, and more.
