POLE DANCING

Pole dance fitness is an overall body workout. Resistance training and cardio rolled into one. In a pole class strength exercises, learning cool tricks and climbing along with floor based work and sometimes handstands. Other classes such as flexibility or yoga to unwind and stretch tight muscles and just chill. Learning how to do cool tricks and pole dance gives people the confidence and they feel powerful and strong with a sense of achievement. As a pretty technical sport, pole is a complete workout for the body as well as the mind and is so much more interesting than your average fitness class! Self-care and curiosity brought you here. Scroll down to find out what we value!

 POLE STIGMA

Here’s our view, there is so much to pole. When the average person (muggle) thinks of pole dancing, they usually think of something that they have seen in a music video. That is just the very tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to pole than just looking good on one! Pole dancers are powerful, strong and in tune with their sensuality.

HISTORY

The difference between gymnastics, circus, and pole dance is not physical fitness but the elements of the practice. Pole dancing, as we know it, originated in the clubs and continued to grow globally. It change and evolved from those beginnings. Pole dance like any form of dance has a mood. The explanation of this story can be found right here and is based on pole dancing, with and without heels. Even though we respect that pole dance studios have formed from the clubs and studios have evolved from this concept to a workout, the history of pole goes way back to China and the circus beginnings using a pole as an apparatus. Circus performing making its way, in exchange of performer ideas around the globe came to America. In the circus, ladies began to dance with the circus tent poles. Years later America introduced this into a gentlemen’s club and pole dancing was formed. Pole studios then took the concept to use pole dancing as an exercise, after a stripper took the concept to create the first pole dance studio. While the navy have used poles for strength training and in China acrobatics and gymnastic aesthetics, the performers showing their athletic physique attracted an audience both male and female. When the circus boom crashed a stigma was formed and the general public became more conservative and modest about seeing the human body on show. The pole world today now has both concepts of exotic dance and pole sport. This is only a brief insight into the world of pole today as we now know it and its ever evolving ideas, it keeps the industry interesting and moving forward with the times.

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VALUES

• Inclusive Community

Our community is highly valued and mixed with multi nationals. We are normal people just like you and believe we all have the potential to become the best version of ourselves on and off the pole. A community that is inclusive and has a positive outlook, our classes are always buzzing with encouragement and a sense of team spirit. It is really hard to articulate but you will feel the vibes that I’m talking about at the studio. We work as a team and a great one, some of our long term members have grown with the studio and have become forever friends that we will always remember even when life moves them along.

• Diversity

What makes us different at the garage is that we have taken inspiration from gymnastic and circus training. Artistic movements from Dance and Martial Arts. We train hard like gymnasts and aerialists using inspiration from these movements. We are known for our diversity of training, being strong and creative with an elegant flow. We believe that pole dance is an excellent workout choice because of the cross training of disciplines.

• Safety

Even though we enjoy all the fun things that pole dance and fitness bring, safety is always number one. Without safe practice, pole can be a dangerous sport. We encourage safe training throughout all classes from the floor upwards, providing safety mats and spotters during classes where aerial or inverted tricks are performed. We encourage a fun class at a safe pace and that people listen to their body and stay within their own limits, if people forget we will remind them gently from the most loving intentions because no egos go here.

• Social

Cheering for another person’s achievement is what makes pole class energetic and supportive. It makes everyone feel safe and supported. Pictured below is our Electric Picnic crew performing pole at the festival in 2019 with Racheal. We have also provided further skill development for our students in hosting public and social events to perform and show of what they have been learning at classes on stage, either live shows and performing at festivals or as close as a studio showcase.

• Body positive

We are respectful of everyone and promote a healthy mindset around body image understanding that not everyone is a size 6 or even wants to be! Our classes are not body image focused they are focused on what the body can do through fitness, dance and movement. Having this mindset is practical and healthy where our clients are then motivated towards their goals and gain the results in good time with practice and patience.

• Self love and Compassion

Another value close to our heart here at Pole Garage Ireland is self love and compassion. Some days we are on top of the world and some days we are not! We accept that and we try again tomorrow. Our community “pole family” is accepted on their worst days as well as achieving the once believed impossibilities. Self love is body, mind and general wellbeing and sometimes we might even recommend that our clients take a well deserved break to come back rested and ready.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US

HAPPY, HEALTHY, POSITIVE PEOPLE

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STRONG, FIT, FUN, EQUALITY

MISSION STATMENT

1. Our mission here within the community at the studio is to be whole. Inclusive, friendly and supporter of every soul who walks through our doors. Gender neutral, LGBTQIA+ and all Nationalities.
2. Everyone is welcome, PGI will always have a place for pole students to come back and visit even when life moves them on, they will always be part of our community.
3. All classes are safely ran, yet fun and challenging for all levels of ability, to help our clients reach goals and feel a sense of achievement.
4. We listen to our clients and take any criticism as positive feedback and into consideration.
5. We do not discriminate against sex workers, strippers. We are respectful and understand that their jobs provide a living for them too, we wear stripper shoes with pride and acknowledge where pole dancing comes from!
6. We are providing up to date knowledge in the pole industry to keep our classes fresh and moving forward with experienced instructors and qualifications.
7. We are qualified in all classes that we teach and hold valid qualifications at present.
8. We host and run workshops to include a more intensive training or different experience for our clients.
9. Clients are acknowledged within their goals and achievements.
10. We challenge our students from time to time, to perform and host showcases only if they wish to do so, nobody has to preform.