Reporters discover pole work makes fitness funDate: 7/12/2018 SPRINGFIELD – Pole Control Studios, the new pole and aerial fitness studio located at 78 Hillman St. in Springfield, is bringing self-confidence and self-empowerment to its students.
Holly Woods, a self-taught pole instructor, opened the studio in January after relocating from Hartford, CT. Woods has been practicing pole for around 20 years, and offers a variety of pole and aerial fitness opportunities at Pole Control – including pole, hoops and silks. She teaches all levels of expertise, ranging from beginner to expert.
The owner is trying to utilize her classes to change the stigma surrounding pole fitness, and wants to encourage women and men to embrace new and exciting ways to stay in shape.
So, my coworker, Payton North, and I packed our gym bags on July 9 and drove to Pole Control to give this a shot.
The studio was incredibly inviting upon first impression. I opened the front door to find a narrow cement staircase. The stairs were painted a friendly periwinkle color, and the phrase, “Welcome to Pole Control Studios, we hug because we love,” was etched in white chalk along the stairs.
High ceilings radiated an urban loft vibe.
Payton described the studio as airy and fresh.
“When I walked into the studio, I had no idea what to expect. I was certainly hesitant about going to what I thought was simply a pole dancing studio – this was extremely out of my comfort zone,” she said. “The studio was spacious with freshly painted white walls and plenty of natural lighting offering a warm glow across the room.”
A number of poles were neatly arranged in front of a mirror, all of which were accompanied by removable rubber mats at the bases, to the left of the room. Colorful silks dangled from the ceiling to the right, while several hoops hung nearby.
Woods, with maroon curly hair and bright green eyes, greeted us – exuding positive energy and a bubbly personality. She made us feel at ease by creating a nonjudgmental space and presented an all-about-fun attitude.
To preface, Payton was a high school lacrosse athlete and I was a collegiate soccer player. While we both have a history of athleticism, it’s safe to say we were terrified (if my life depended on my arm strength, I would be in big trouble).
We briefly chatted with Woods about her background as an instructor before she led us to our poles.
Woods walked us through some light stretching – lunges, squats and variations of arm stretches – to ensure our muscles were prepared. After about 15 minutes, it was time to begin our class.
The nervous sweats began to drip. To prevent any sliding, Woods gave us each a small grey towel to dry our clammy hands. For the next 45 minutes, she patiently assisted us in learning five moves from the “Beginner 1” and “Beginner 2” categories.
The first move we learned was called, “The Walk,” and was exactly what the name implied. Woods demonstrated how to gracefully walk around the pole, with one hand gripping it above her head – it’s important to note that every pole has the ability to spin, making it easier to glide around.
Once we mastered “The Walk,” we upgraded to “The Chair.” This was our first attempt to lift our feet off the ground while holding onto the pole. “The Chair” required us to grip onto the pole with both hands while lifting our knees to our chests. This movement gave us momentum to spin around the pole.
We then progressed to three other moves that involved different spins and back hooks.
As someone who does weekly strength training with a personal trainer, I will admit that I never experienced a workout like I did with Woods.
Although she explained pole routines largely rely on core strength, our arms were definitely tired. I was begging my arms not to give out during our lesson, and immediately gained a newfound respect for anyone involved in the pole fitness industry.
“While none of it was graceful, it certainly was a great workout. My arms and core were working overtime,” she commented.
Aside from being a surprisingly great workout, it was an incredibly fun and empowering experience. Payton and I were smiling and laughing the entire time.
It wasn’t until the end, when the fatigue kicked in, that we realized we had been “working out.”
“All in all, though hesitant, I tried to go into the studio with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised. Aerial fitness was never something I considered, but I can genuinely say I enjoyed my time at Pole Control,” said Payton. “With the upbeat music and Woods’ infectious smile and attitude, I left with not only sore arms and abs but sore cheeks from smiling.”
If you want to spice up your fitness regimen, Pole Control Studios will be hosting an open house on July 15 from 12 to 4 p.m. You can RSVP for the event at https://polecontrolstudios.com/.
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