2 minute read
POLE POSITION
FITNESS
Learning to work out on a pole takes strength, focus, determination, and creativity. What once was reserved for dancers in gentlemen’s clubs has done a complete 180. The art and athleticism of pole dancing has elevated and is now revered by Cirque-style performance groups and fitness enthusiasts alike. Staying in shape via pole fitness is fun and a fantastic way to sculpt your body. Pole instructor Kristen Riley embraces her role as a pole instructor, welcoming new students to class year-round at
Combine Fitness in Stockton. She has always had an interest in dance and thought pole dancing looked cool. The single mom had been at a Super Bowl party and was inspired by seeing J-Lo’s halftime performance. “She was incredible and so strong,” Kristen says.
Pre-pandemic, Kristen started taking classes, further inspired by her 23-year-old teacher and that students were all ages and abilities. Riley took classes twice weekly and soon bought a pole and installed it at her home to work on strength, flexibility, and technique outside of class. After hard work and practice during the pandemic, she was eventually invited to teach, and jumped at the chance.
“One of the things about pole [fitness] is the community,” says Kristen. “It’s the one place I felt I could be in a sports bra or twopiece, or just about anything and nobody was going to judge me.” Specifically, the community of students is supportive, nonjudgmental, and ready to help their fellow students learn new moves while cheering them on.
“Pole is great for flexibility, core strength, learning to be in tune with your body in terms of movement, and it’s good for your brain because you’re practicing things left and right!” explains Kristen. “It also includes learning how to fail and knowing that it takes time, and you need to be patient. There are definite techniques and tricks to know and applying every part of your body… It can be difficult.”
Kristen reveres her classes at Combine Fitness in Stockton as a safe space and knows that her students have a fun time learning skills while building strength and technique. The best way to find out, however, is for yourself.
TAKE A CLASS Combine Fitness 1419 W. Fremont St., Stockton (209) 436-2426
