Healthy training does not have to be boring. Enter, pole fitness – a new and popular fitness trend that’s becoming more well know worldwide, and bit by bit, in Malta too. Poli Gutshabes, a pole fitness aficionado and trainer explains how she got into the sport and opened her studio after moving to Malta.
Pole Dance, the fusion exercise
Pole dancing is a great fusion of dance, fitness, acrobatics, gymnastics. It can be sporty, sexy, artistic or simply funny and enjoyable. Pole fitness is suitable for all genders, shapes, ages and fitness levels and is a great calorie burner. You burn up to 700 calories an hour; more than you do swimming, running, cycling or with Zumba.
In addition, it’s a full body workout helping you to strengthen all parts of your body and tune up most of the muscles. Pole Dance could also be much more than just exercising – it could become a way of life like it was in my case.
Pole fitness, a way of life
After giving a birth to my second child and gaining almost 20kg extra weight, I’ve started to search for different ways of training. Having some years of ballet dancing and sports experience, I could not see “new me” in the mirror and had to find a way to get back my good shape. I went to various gyms, tried different fitness classes, but everything was pretty boring and not really inspiring.
Pole Fitness was also on my list, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready and strong enough; plus, I had a lack of self-confidence. My husband supported me and insisted I attend at least one class. He booked my first level course in one pole dance studio in Vienna where we were living at that time. The first three classes were incredibly hard for me and I was ready to quit, but I had great support at home. So, from that moment on, I got stronger and stronger with every class and fell in love with pole dance.
Pole Fitness in Malta
After moving to Malta, I was a bit frustrated at first that pole dancing and pole fitness was almost non-existent. However, I continued to train visiting the few available classes, I bought a pole and trained on my own as well as visiting different workshops of famous pole athletes in Malta and abroad.
I felt the need to share this unforgettable feeling of the excitement of pole dancing and also the fabulous results it has, so I decided to open a new pole fitness studio in Qawra, St Paul’s Bay, called ‘Pole Fairies’ Fitness Club. I was so confident that I decided to compete in International Dutch Pole Art Championship in October 2015 in the Netherlands and was the first professional pole dancer ever representing Malta in international pole dance competitions. Other participants and even judges were really surprised to see Malta participating in the contest. Even more surprising was my 6th place among almost 30 great pole athletes worldwide.
The best motivation for me is seeing my students progress, gaining self-confidence, strength and easily overcoming different life challenges. Pole Fitness can become very popular in Malta as the Islands are known for their open-mindness and love of expression. I’ve found students ready to try something new and spend quality time on their new sport. Pole classes could be a great idea to combine socializing, training, having fun and building self-confidence.
Further Info on Pole Fitness in Malta
Poli’s Pole Fairies Studio runs group and private pole fitness classes, stretching & flexibility classes and post-natal fitness for mums and babies.
Web: Pole Fairies Fitness Studio
Phone: 79612276
Email: polefairies@gmail.com
Facebook: PoleFairiesMalta
Instagram: @polefairiesmalta
Photo Credits: Vladimir Sumovsky