Pole Dancing and Cancer?

Feeling free!!!

Pole dancing and cancer? Not something you would expect to compliment each other, but they do. Last year before my diagnosis I started classes at the Exotic Workouts dance studio in Lake Worth (they have multiple locations – go now!!!). I needed something new to add into my regular workouts of weight training, rollerblading, and yoga because my fitness activities have to be fun and constantly changing for me to keep motivated as well as to see results. I’d done similar classes before and let me tell you there’s not much more fun than a group of women having fun twerking together being silly, while crushing calories and laughing at the hilarity of the visuals in the room. I would attend various classes multiple times a week and was loving it. I started at 230 pounds and it seriously aided to my 70 pound weight loss and gaining of muscle I was able to accomplish last year! It took a lotttt of classes to do anything at all. The upper body strength needed is insane. When I finally went upside down I felt like a bad b!tch! It was so much fun and empowering!

After my diagnosis the depression hit again. I had severe pain from my “cancer boob.” Between all the tests and physical symptoms I couldn’t really work out at all. Then, when chemo started I had to stay home more to avoid the germs (also, covid) from being highly immunocompromised. The chemo symptoms and severe fatigue came for me hard, and my day to day became just resting, or some mild activities on the good days, like Marie Kondo-ing the house, going for a walk, or doing some yoga. Gone were the 16 mile rollerblading sessions and hours long pole dance classes I had fallen in love with. It became rare that I had the energy or peace of mind to play on the pole or workout in other ways. On bad days I feel unsafe practicing alone with my weak body. On the occasional good days, when I get back to the pole something clicks in my brain and I feel free!! It allows me to just flow and express my body in movement.

This video is of my first day feeling good enough to get on the pole after my diagnosis. I felt so alive and free. I promised myself to get back to it -if only for a few minutes, as often as possible. I’m (more!) sensitive and emotional as of late and even get emotional about it, I feel so grateful to have a release to make me feel a tiny bit better. To improve my quality of life. Through the breast cancer process and the last 11 treatments of chemo, my body (and life) has not felt like my own. It is alien. My life, body and emotions are not my own. The stress, anxiety, depression and the fatigue. The hot flashes, GI issues, and bloat from the steroids, it all takes a toll. Feeling ugly as my eyebrows and eyelashes disappear. I am doing everything I can to keep my hair with cold capping, where you cut your hair short and basically have your whole head/brain frozen off during chemo- but fingers crossed so far so good….  Just everything that goes along with cancer. Especially as someone with sensitive “mental health” needs, keeping sane and healthy has been of great importance. I try to stay strong but on some days I feel defeated.

But when I get up on that pole I am free, I feel like a woman, blessed, safe (except pole injuries which are inevitable- you ever try to hold your entire body weight onto the pole with your underarm or back of your knee? Ouch). Feeling lucky to have a pole, treadmill and some weights in my home that I can safely get some movement in while I sit around here day to day kicking cancers ass. Grateful that my wife works so hard that I’ve had the luxury to stay home instead of putting myself at more risk with full time work. So grateful for our friends and family donating money to our GoFundMe that has allowed me to really rest and have peace of mind with our stack of medical bills. Feeling grateful that I’m young and strong, and was luckily in the best shape of my life to battle this cancer with. It’s easy to feel sad and scared when going thru cancer. Any amount of joy is held onto tightly. Kinda like that pole so I don’t fall, again. But I promise even if I do- I will still get up again. 

Ladies: This is your reminder to CHECK YOUR CHERRIES!! Because mine tried to kill me!

I believe any and all women should try pole dancing at least once. Find a studio you feel safe at and I *promise* you will be shocked at how much fun it is, how good you will feel, and how you might just get addicted to it! 

*If you’re interested in learning more about women being empowered by pole dancing “Strip down, Rise up” on Netflix is a great place to start. It’s intense, but it’s a good crash course.