During my pregnancy, I used the excuse of “eating for two” to constantly be filling my face. I also didn’t stay active during this time as I hadn’t developed any exercise habits before my pregnancy.  After my daughter was born, I was still holding on to so much extra weight that was never there before, and started to feel ashamed of my body. I put so much pressure on myself to lose the baby weight and get back to who I was.  But all that pressure left me feeling that exercise was now my punishment for gaining weight.

I joined gyms, hoping the membership commitment would motivate me, but I never lasted long  and I would end up feeling more guilt about not being able to stick to something. I also tried workout videos at home, but that feeling of “I have to do this if I ever want to lose the weight” kept me stuck in a guilty mentality that just killed my motivation.  Exercise became this endless cycle of self-punishment. I saw it only as a means to fix what I thought was “wrong” with my body. I knew I needed to find something different. I’ve always loved dancing and started thinking about how I could find a way to not dread working out. That’s when I was recommended pole dance classes at Aerial Dance. 

Walking into the studio for my first pole class at Aerial Dance was nerve-wracking, but it turned out to be a great decision. From the very first class, I knew this was going to be different. Pole didn’t feel like a workout; it felt like play and a way to connect better with my body – to start loving myself again. The moves were challenging, but they made me proud of what my body could do. For the first time, I was focusing on strength and skill instead of numbers on a scale. The community at the studio is supportive and encouraging. I don’t dread going; I look forward to it. I can now see that fitness can be about more than weight loss—it can be about strength, confidence, and mental well-being. Now, exercise isn’t something I do to “fix” my body. It’s something I do because I love how it makes me feel! It has given me a new appreciation for what my body can achieve and a new outlook on what it means to be healthy. Pole dancing has transformed exercise from a dreaded obligation into an activity that makes me feel good about myself. It’s no longer about punishing my body—it’s about celebrating it.