1,825 and Counting!
What is significance of that number you may ask!?! That is the total number of days that I have been part of the Aerial Dance Community!!!!!! That 1,825 days equates to five, FIVE years! I promise you that it does not feel like five years, seems like just yesterday that I took my first pole class.
In my five years, I have learned so much at Aerial Dance!! I look forward to all of the things I have yet to learn! Here is a good example of something I just learned the other day, I was not able to make it to my scheduled class and had to drop into an Advanced 1 class. It was amazing to see how much some of my fellow pole sisters have grown on their journey. I don’t always get to see everyone do to conflicting schedules and being in different classes. But, it is still amazing to see everyone’s progress!
During my Advanced 1 class I was having the best pole day ever! I had all the grip you could imagine without having too much grip! Even my hands had grip!!! It was a nicer warm day and I also had a brutal fabric fit class with Instructor Chrissy just before. I think that had something to do with my grip. The best part of the fit class is we basically choose the workout our selves using Chrissy’s “Workout Alphabet”. Note to future students about Fabric Fit Word Workouts are the best!
All my sweat and sticky that day lead me to be able to finally wiggle into Titanic for the very first time! It was a huge mile stone for me! There are plenty of spins and tricks that still evade me, but now I know that Titanic is not out of my reach! I was even able to take my hands off!!!! Checking things off one step at a time. Now on to being able to get into Titanic and not look like someone ran over my face! You should see some of my blooper faces! That is why I shared a picture of the side view!
My Why
Five years is a quite a big commitment. I often get asked why? Why do you continue to be part of Aerial Dance? What motivates you to continue to stick with it?
Here is my why……. Five years ago when I made the decision to sign up for pole classes, I needed something that was for me. Something that could push me to become a better version of myself. At that time I was only 23, I was lost in world that I felt was going to eat me alive. I despised the woman I saw in the mirror. This woman was 180+ pounds and did not love herself. Not loving the person you are makes it tough to even get out of bed in the morning.
My dislike for myself took me to a very dark place. It caused me to emotionally damage relationships with the people closest to me. That is when I knew I needed a change.
Since being in that dark place, I have rebuilt those relationships. Each person has a reason for starting their pole/aerial journey. My journey has saved me in more ways than I could ever put into words. Aerial Dance is my safe place. It is a place that allows me to grow and change as person without the fear of judgement from others.
There are still days when that dark monster creeps up on me. The one that points out every single flaw in my body or in my skills. The one that says, “You should be stronger, thinner, eat better, or is that cellulite I see?” We are our own worst critics. We are constantly making our accomplishments smaller, when they should be celebrated.
So why do I continue to be part of the Aerial Dance Family? I continue because I still have work to do on myself. I continue to be part of this amazing community of women, because I know that I will need help along the way. They are my family, I can turn to in times of need. They will help me to pick myself up even when I don’t think I have the strength to continue. Aerial Dance is place that truly empowers woman to be who they are meant to be.
Here is to another five years!
Janelle