Because why the f*#% not?

Story time...

It has been a long time since I found myself around people who react, well let’s just say less than politely, when they hear about the studio and what we do there. Generally I am surrounded by amazing open minded people who are interested and intrigued about what happens here, but I swear sometimes it’s like the universe drops people into our midst almost to test us.

A few weeks ago I was at an event and a friend of mine introduced me as “this is Andrea, she teaches how to give lap dances” and holy shit you’d have thought she told the table “this is Andrea, she enjoys torturing animals in her free time”. The looks I got!!! From grown adults!

I thought about how I used to meet comments like this with the urge to explain what really happens here, how it’s about reclaiming our bodies and sensuality and finding love and acceptance in places we used to feel shame and it’s powerful and life changing.

I thought about how before I was comfortable sharing as much as I do now I used to downplay what happens here to make it more palatable for others. How I’d say “Oh, pole is just a great workout-like gymnastics, it doesn’t have to be sexy, it’s a fun way to get strong”

I took a breath, realizing I don’t need to explain shit to people who had already made up their minds. I didn’t need to plead my case in hopes to gain their acceptance. I smiled and said “yep, that is part of what I do and it’s amazing” and went about my night.

It reminded me of the stories I used to tell myself when I first started pole and was terrified people would find out, of the time in my life where I was terrified to admit to myself that I not only wanted to feel sexy and powerful in my own body, but actually really loved how it made me feel.

It made me wonder how many of us never take the first step because they worry about the same.

It made me realize how precious this space and the curious humans that fill it are.

It made me so grateful that no matter how we had to sell it to ourselves first, we ended up here and are shamelessly and joyfully exploring things we were told were taboo.

Sometimes instead of trying to convince ourselves (or others) why we should try something new, we just have to tell ourselves “well, why the fuck not” and see where experiences take us.

XOXO

Andrea