POV of a pole dance instructor with 10 years of teaching experience: Every beginner makes the same mistakes.
Don’t feel guilty! There’s no shame in that. We’ve all been there – myself included.
I’d go to pole class and learn a new routine. On my way home, I’d watch my practice videos back and…
Ouch.
What felt so graceful in the moment just looked awkward and clumsy on the screen.
I couldn’t exactly tell what I was doing wrong, and how to fix it.
And it took me some time to figure things out.
But when I started teaching, I saw that these mistakes are actually very common. Almost every student makes them!
Chances are you’re also making the same mistakes.
The good news? They’re all fixable. 
Let’s go through the 7 most common beginner mistakes and how you can correct them super quickly. ↓
1. Walking
2. Looking at the floor
3. Holding too tightly
4. Clinging to the pole
5. Rounding your back in a Sit
6. Jumping onto the pole
7. Flexing feet while climbing
Beginner Mistake #1: Walking – Stepping away from the pole
There’s more to a pole walk than meets the untrained eye. A beautiful walk involves some details you might be missing.
(Start the video below to see the explanation)
Beginner Mistake #2: Looking at the floor
I know. You just wanna see what your feet are doing. But with your head down, you’re breaking the elegant lines and closing your body, making you look less confident.
Beginner Mistake #3: Holding too tightly
Holding the pole tightly = Good Hand Grip? Nope. Not on the static pole! Allowing rotation in your hands is key.
Beginner Mistake #4: Clinging to the pole
When you don’t trust your arms yet, you likely cling to the pole for dear life. But this actually makes spins more difficult.
Beginner Mistake #5: Rounding your back in a Sit
This one has to do with your back but more importantly, with your HIPS! The positioning and tilt of your hips will make or break your Sit.
Beginner Mistake #6: Jumping onto the pole
How else would you get into a spin? Jumping into it seems like the most natural thing to do. But it disrupts the flow completely. So what’s the fix?
Beginner Mistake #7: Flexing feet while climbing
Climbing with flexed feet seems easier at first, but it’s actually counterproductive because you’re relying on a smaller surface. Plus, it doesn’t look elegant. How do you keep from sliding down with pointed feet?
Watch the full video here:
If you want more in-depth lessons with technical breakdowns and conditioning, check out my Beginner Technique & Flow classes.
What are some things that you struggle with on the pole, but aren’t sure why?
Let me know in the comments!
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