Pole Fitness

Welcome to UEA Pole Fitness!

We are a group of enthusiastic, friendly people who welcome beginners through to experienced polers to join us. We encourage members of any gender, age, ability, etc. to join us – we welcome everyone! We are proud to announce we were Runners Up for Club and Committee of the Year 2020.

When do we learn pole?

• Each pole fitness lesson lasts 50 minutes and is every Sunday between 1-6 pm in Congregation Hall 01.20.
• We have Thursday practice sessions from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm for all levels of members! 
• We also hold Strength & Flexibility classes on Mondays 8:30 - 10:00 pm.

What are classes like?

Please ensure you turn up at least 10 minutes before your lesson starts so we can start on time. Classes start with a warm-up to prepare your body and prevent injury. Our amazing Beginner Class Instructor, Rhianna-Lily Smith, and our Intermediate & Advanced Instructor, Holly Munson, will demonstrate a variety of moves and break them down into manageable parts for you to try. The lesson ends with a cool-down to reduce soreness and improve flexibility. Classes have a maximum of 18 people but can vary in size depending on demand. Each class is 50 minutes long. We have 3 Beginner classes (1-3 pm), 1 Intermediate class (4 pm), and an Advanced class (5 pm). Our Semester 1 beginner classes will happen at the same time for semester 2. An additional Beginner class will be added in semester 2, which will start at 12 pm. 

But I'm not that strong or fit, will I be able to take part?

Of course! Most of us have never tried Pole Fitness before coming to UEA, and classes are specifically designed to increase your strength and flexibility over the weeks. We all have to start somewhere... and our club is a great place to start!

What do I wear and what can’t I wear?

We recommend you wear shorts as the skin on your legs is needed to grip the pole and a vest or T-shirt. A lot of people worry about wearing shorts, but we come in all shapes and sizes and are a judgement-free zone, so most people end up wondering why they worried in the first place!

To avoid injury to yourself and damage to the poles, please don’t apply lotions, tanning products, or any type of moisturiser before class. These make the poles slippery and can be dangerous. Jewellery must not be worn as it can damage the poles.

Do I need to bring anything else to classes?

Bring a bottle of water to keep you hydrated and some pole grip if you have any! We provide cloths for drying your hands. We are proud to say we are a club aiming to be more sustainable, so we encourage you to use reusable bottles during classes.

When are your taster sessions?

UPDATE: We are not doing any more taster sessions until September! Alternatively, you can check our Instagram for any special events we host, such as Pole-a-thon or This Girl Can

Our taster sessions dates will be on the 2^nd of October & 9^th of October 2022 for semester 1 as well as the 29^th of January 2023 for semester 2. Please keep an eye out on our social media for more information! They will last 50 minutes, but please make sure to turn up 10 minutes before your taster so we can sign you in! They will be held in Cong Hall 01.20. More details will be available closer to the time on our Instagram (@ueapf). If you book a slot, please make sure to turn up - this is because our tasters are in such high demand. We do not tolerate any no-shows or late-comers, as the warm-up is mandatory for your safety! So please let us know if you can't make it on the day.

What happens at practice? 

Our Thursday practice gives you a chance to have a go at what you have been taught in your previous lessons and socialise with members across the club! It's perfect for improving your strength and making new friends.

What's involved with the strength & flexibility sessions?

We hold Strength & Flexibility sessions on Mondays 8:30 - 10:00 pm (45 min slots) held by our Coach Sophia Smith. S&F membership for the year is £10. Our classes aim to improve your strength and flexibility for holds, inverts, and choreography flow, through a variety of exercises. You may even be able to do the splits at the end of the year! Equipment such as mats, blocks, and resistance bands will be provided - all you need to bring is yourself and some water!

What about workshops and choreography?

We aim to provide several subsidised workshops from external coaches throughout the year. In the past, we have had instructors come in to teach choreography, chair-ography, and heel workshops. 

What socials and other events do you do?

We offer a variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic socials. We will have lots of fancy dress themes for nights out, laid back pizza evenings, laser tag, and more!

Throughout the year we also have many events, from our 24 Hour Pole-a-thon to our Showcase for all our members to get involved in, as well as our Winter and Summer Balls! 

Do you have any competitions?

Yes! We compete in IUPDC South East Regionals as well as Derby Day, which is a yearly sporting event against Essex University. We also host our own friendly competition, called the 'Scorpio Competition', which started in 2020. It has a similar format to Derby Day but invites university pole clubs from all across the East of England to compete. We encourage everyone from all levels to have a go at auditioning for these exciting competitions, with auditions usually being held at the end of semester 1.

Sophie Image (C) Zoé Kerboul, Toy Story Group Image (C) Nightbulb

Membership

• A yearlong membership from September is £15, and lessons cost £25 per semester. We ask you to pay upfront in a single payment per semester for lessons.
• Membership starting from January is £10 if you haven't bought the yearlong membership.
• Anyone who joins a UEA Sports Club also has to buy a Sports Membership which contributes to the funding of the clubs. This year it is £55, and only needs to be bought once a year. If you are buying half a year Sports Membership, it is £30.
• Our Thursday practices are free and open to all members who have purchased lessons.
• If you wish to take part in our flexibility and Strength & Conditioning classes, they are £10 for the year. You must have also bought the £15 year long/£10 half-year club membership to buy these.
• Workshops will be on a less frequent basis and may require additional purchase.
• If you are unsure about what level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) you are suitable for, please email us or DM our Instagram as it is the most checked mailbox.
• We cannot offer a refund for club membership, if you are unable to purchase lessons in semester one, we offer an additional beginners class in semester 2.
• Beginners: Please note if you miss more than 2 lessons in a row, you will lose your place due to the pace at which we try to progress our members. We understand that for students with placements attending every lesson is not always possible, please let us know if this is the case and we may be able to be more lenient in terms of attendance.

When does membership go on sale?

Please purchase memberships with lessons, as without lessons you will only be able to attend socials.

Remember, everyone was a beginner once!

Sometimes people are nervous about starting pole fitness with issues of fitness or flexibility, especially regarding upper body strength. But don't worry! Your upper body strength and overall fitness will improve throughout the lessons, developing as you learn. 

We hope to see you soon! x

Committee 2022/23:

If you have an unanswered question about the UEA Pole Fitness Club, please don’t hesitate to email us or DM our Instagram as it is the most checked mailbox.

Social Media:

• Instagram: @ueapf
• Facebook: UEA Pole Fitness