Every so often I have to take a break from pole – maybe I’m going away, not feeling well or just have too much work on. And then there are the times where I just need to have a break from pole.

There doesn’t even have to be a reason why I don’t want to pole – I just don’t.

Hopefully this doesn’t happen to you often, but it might happen. And I’m here to tell you that it’s not a bad thing, it’s normal and you shouldn’t punish yourself for it.

Don’t Force It

Sometimes I don’t feel like going to the gym, but I try and force myself. I might have a shorter session and usually do feel better when I’ve finished. However, when I try to force myself to pole, I usually feel worse.

For a few of us, pole is a job and for most, it’s just for fun. I always think that you should love your job as you spend most of your life doing it, and for the most part I do. Even though I love it, I do need a break sometimes.

I used to tell myself off when I wasn’t poling – I should be training and working on new moves for class. And so, I would get on the pole and start poling.

I’d go to the pole room, try a spin or two and then sit on the floor for a while. I’d pretty much pretend to myself that being in the pole room made me feel like I was poling. Although I was trying, I felt worse by poling in this way. I’d be so unproductive and unfocused that I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing and I wasn’t progressing.

I decided that it wasn’t worth it. I would give myself the break I deserved, and go back to it when I was feeling better. This was a much better solution. I managed to mentally and physically have a pole break and then would get excited to come back. I was also so much more successful when I wanted to pole.

A Break From Class

One of my students told me that she never feels like leaving the house and coming to pole, but she really enjoys pole and is always glad that she comes.

I remember when I used to go to classes and feel this way. I’d think that I wasn’t good enough, or that I wouldn’t be able to do any of the moves. Every so often I’d feel this way and decide not to go. This just made things worse for the week after, when I was now a week behind. The thought process just went round and round:

“I’ve missed a class and I’ll be even worse than I was. I won’t be able to do anything. I want to go but I won’t be able to catch up, so I should just leave it again for another week.”

And so it went on and on. I kept missing the end of term this way and had to start the level all over again. I didn’t have the luxury I do when I’m at home now – I can pole when I want and choose the moves I want to work on.

The way I managed to carry on, was to keep ploughing through. Every time I felt like I needed to have a break from pole, I would take some time off between courses and join again at a later date. Sometimes I would take off a whole term, and sometimes just a day – however long I needed.

Take A Break

Whatever you do, don’t give up! Have a break if you need to, but don’t give up.

There’s no shame in taking a break from a hobby you love. It’ll make you come back stronger and better than ever. Hopefully you haven’t got to the point where you need a break, but if you do, it’s okay! 😀