“The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow"
Stephen Richards
Photo by Jonathan Rados
Pole Fitness and Pole Dance
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Origin
It goes back over 800 years in India. Originating in Maharashtra, this form is referred to as ‘pole mallakhamb.’ It was intended as a way for wrestlers to
train, using a smooth wooden pole. Used to develop speed, reflexes, concentration, and coordination. However, this version of pole is dominated by men.
When it comes to modern-day pole dancing, it starts in America’s traveling fairs of the 1920s, were women in the ’20s would entertain tent crowds by using the poles that hold the tents in place. It wasn't until the 1960s that pole as we know it today began.
Now a days...
There continues to be a stereotype around pole fitness and pole dance. In many cultures, it is seen as something sexual and inappropriate. Despite its recent history, it is simply a combination of dance with gymnastics in a variety of ways. It is only in early 2000 that people began to officially name it a sport and reducing the sex stigma around it. It is a serious sport that might become part of the Olympics in the future!
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ABOUT
I am a young Mexican girl who is passionate about helping people and pole fitness. I've created this website as a safe and trustworthy space to inform, research, share experiences, tips and tricks on how exercise (pole specifically) can help improve mental health based on research, interviews and my personal experience.
This site is here to inform people around the world about sexism, sexual violence in Mexico and what survivours go through, such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety or depression and how can pole fitness could be a different alternative to include in the recovery journey.