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Starting pole & aerial

This section is for you if you have just booked your first pole or aerial class, or if you are still thinking about it and want to know what you are getting into. There is a lot to take in at the start, and as a teacher I would much rather you came to class knowing a few things than learned them the hard way.

I would begin with the guide to your wrists in the first month of pole, because the first few weeks are when your hands and wrists get the biggest surprise. Then read what to wear to your first class and how to choose a studio, which will help you feel at home quickly. If you are coming to pole a little later in life, the article on starting after 40 was written for you, and if the hoop is calling you there is a first-month guide for aerial hoop too.

The last few articles are for when you have caught the bug. There are gift ideas for the pole dancer in your life, a guide for studio owners and instructors who are thinking about wrist wraps for their classes, and a walkthrough for organising a group order with your classmates. Most of all, go easy on yourself in those first classes and have fun with it.

Illustration of three women laughing together as they each hold a dance pole in their first pole class

Start here · Starting pole & aerial · 7 min read

Pole Dance for Beginners: Your Wrists in the First Month

Sore forearms, bruises and a grip that won't behave are all part of month one, so this guide explains what's normal, what isn't, and how to help your wrists keep up with your enthusiasm.

Read the article

Illustration of a smiling beginner sitting in a low aerial hoop above a soft mat while her coach stands beside her and points encouragingly

Starting pole & aerial · 8 min read

Aerial Hoop for Beginners: Your Hands and Wrists in the First Month

Sore palms, tired forearms and a grip that gives out early are all part of your first month on the hoop. Here's what's normal, what isn't, and how to help your hands keep up.

Illustration of a woman with a gym bag stepping through the door of a bright pole studio with crash mats under the poles while an instructor waves hello

Starting pole & aerial · 7 min read

How to Choose a Pole Studio: What to Look For Before You Book

The right pole studio makes your first year safer and a lot more fun. Here's what to look for, the questions to ask before you book, and the red flags to walk away from.

Illustration of two laughing women in their fifties, one with silver hair and one with grey-streaked curls, each holding a dance pole in a bright studio

Starting pole & aerial · 7 min read

Starting Pole Dancing After 40: A Kind, Practical Guide for Your Joints

It's never too late to start pole. This guide shows you how to look after your wrists, shoulders and joints, warm up well and recover kindly so you can keep coming back.

Illustration of a smiling pole instructor with a blonde ponytail holding a basket of folded patterned wrist wraps out to two students, one with long black hair and one older woman with grey hair, in a bright studio with dance poles

Starting pole & aerial · 6 min read

Wrist Wraps for Pole Studios: A Guide for Studio Owners and Instructors

A practical guide for pole studio owners and instructors on recommending wrist wraps, measuring a whole class, ordering together and keeping shared kit hygienic.

Illustration of two smiling women in a pole and aerial studio, one handing the other a wrapped present, with more gift boxes and a cream hoodie on a bench beside them

Starting pole & aerial · 8 min read

Gift Ideas for Pole Dancers and Aerialists They'll Actually Use

Useful presents for the pole dancer or aerialist in your life, for birthdays, Christmas and Valentine's, from one-off wrist wraps to a class pack at their own studio.

Illustration of five women sitting together on soft mats in a pole studio, smiling and leaning in to look at their phones

Starting pole & aerial · 5 min read

How to Organise a Group Order of Wrist Wraps for Your Pole Class

One link, everyone picks their own wraps, one parcel arrives and the discount grows with the group, so here's how to run a group order for your class without the chaos.

Illustration of two women in hoodies and shorts with gym bags standing at the open door of a pole studio, one excited and one a little shy

Starting pole & aerial · 6 min read

What to Wear to Your First Pole Class (and What to Bring)

Shorts, bare skin, no moisturiser and a bottle of water will get you through your first pole class, and here's everything else worth knowing before you walk in.