I don’t have any background in dance or gymnastics.
A few years after graduating from college, in 2007, I found myself looking for a way to lose the post-college sluggishness that came from transitioning to a desk job. On a whim, I signed up for pole dancing classes at a local studio. During the demo that the teachers performed at the end of class, I found myself completely enthralled by their strength, power, and sensuality. As I watched, I thought: I would love to be able to bring this to people and introduce women to this potential in themselves. Literally from that moment on, my goal was to eventually teach.
I started taking regular classes and found pole dancing to be a means of staying in shape and re-connecting to my sensual side. I found amazing, open-minded, gracious, and introspective new friends that helped me grow as a person and challenge myself. And eventually, I found abs– long lost old friends that emerged from under a few layers of late-night-carb-loaded-dinners– and biceps, and deltoids, and traps. I found I was in the best shape of my life, and empassioned about this new type of movement that had brought so much positive change into my life.
Early in 2010, I found myself with an opportunity to teach, and finally felt that I was ready. I jumped at it, and have since been introducing men and women in their 20′s, 40′s, and 60′s to the joy that is dance– specifically, pole dance!
I truly believe that all women are beautiful, that all hips are inherently sexy no matter what size, shape, or color, and that there is nothing more attractive than self-confidence that radiates from a healthy place within. Currently I live and work in Manhattan, managing construction by day and flying weightless at night teaching pole classes at Shockra Studios.
I am certified in CPR/AED with the Red Cross, group fitness through AFAA, and pole instruction through the X-Pert Pole Fitness program. I’m a PDC Approved Level 1 instructor. I’ve performed in Polesque, the Great Midwest Showcase, and Pole Superstar. I am also a staff writer for Bad Kitty’s online blog, Vertical Art & Fitness magazine, and United Pole Artists.
I completed my BS from NYU’s Stern School of Business, with a concentration in Marketing, Psychology, and Entertainment Marketing & Technology. I have done MA work in Clinical Psychology and am currently obtaining a MA in Motor Learning from Columbia University.
If you’re looking for information on classes:
I teach at Shockra Studio in Manhattan, on 114 east 28th street- suite 2A is the receptionist.
Regular classes are one hour long and taught as a 6-week series. You are guaranteed your own pole (no sharing!), with a small class size to guarantee individual attention (max of 8 ). You need to commit to the same time and day every week. Each class has a blend of sexy, sweat, and stretch in the warmup, conditioning, pole tricks and movement, and a soothing cool-down before you leave. To sign up, click here and click on the workshop series tab. and click on the “workshop series” tab, or call the studio directly at 212-696-9642. You can also call to set up one-on-ones and parties! There are classes for everyone:
- Absolute Beginner: Learn basic transitions, spins, climbing, and floorwork. Get comfortable with your new dance partner and start putting together a vocabulary of movement.
- Level 2: Build strength to work on more complex spins, and start putting moves together in sequence. Students are encouraged to work at their own pace towards basic inversions.
- Level 3: Learn to express your individuality through the moves that you’ve learned so far and continue to challenge yourself with complex inverted sequences and flying spins. Advanced students are welcome and will be challenged! =)
Currently I teach the following classes, contact the studio to see which one you can join first:
- Wednesday 6:30 Level 2
- Wednesday 7:30 Level 3
I’ve gotten some questions pretty consistently from readers, so I’ve put them together in a Frequently Asked Questions section. If you have more questions to add, feel free to let me know!
When and how did you start pole dancing?
I started back in 2007: A friend mentioned the amazing pole dance classes that she was taking, and how personally rewarding the classes had been for her. I went to an intro class, and was immediately hooked. Since then, pole dance has been an important part of my life– I’ve gone consistently ever since.
Do you have any athletic/artistic background?
Absolutely not, and I’m proud of it! I may not have any training in any formal disciplines, but I am proud of what I have accomplished and I am so inspired by all the people I see around me, of all ages, shapes, and sizes, who are exploring pole dance. Prior to taking my first pole class, I had never gone to the gym or been any good at any athletic activity (although I did run hurdles, slowly, in high school).
What is your training regimen like?
When I first started taking classes, I went to a studio that focused on movement and fluidity– I went to a 2-hour class once a week for about 3 years before I started getting more interested in advanced aerial combinations and tricks and stepped up the intensity. Now, I teach about 4 hours a week (beginner through advanced), take class as a student or rent studio time for 3-5 hours, an hour or two of intense Pilates, and an hour or two with a personal trainer. If I have time between blogging, teaching, school, work, and everything else, I’ll take Circus classes (lyra, silks, contortion), or take a group fitness class. I went from sitting on my butt all day long to moving and shaking at least an hour every day! I’ve never been happier, healthier (I smoked for 10 years!), or in better shape, and it’s all thanks to pole and being inspired to explore what I’m truly capable of.
Do you have any pole idols?
I don’t– although I look up to many polers, including students, friends, and instructors. I think that we all have different bodies, different experiences, and different emotions, and those all play a role in the way that we dance and naturally express ourselves. I’m really working to be the best dancer that I can be, and come to an understanding of the unique way that my body truly loves to move!
Do companies pay you to recommend their products?
Absolutely not! I write for the Bad Kitty Blog as a staff writer, but I am not interested (and neither are they!) in having paid product placement published in my blog, or getting anything other than the truth when I review an item. I started this blog to honestly share whatever experiences and learnings I thought might be of interest to others, and my integrity is too important to me to ever compromise that.
How do you have time to blog every day?
I don’t know! I do work 9-5 (I’m a project manager at a firm that does apartment renovations for very rich people in Manhattan), and I have a boyfriend, a dog, friends to keep up with, my grad school classes, not to mention a mom that I don’t call often enough and a ton of classes to take and teach every week. But this blog has come to be really important to me, and even if I have to come home late night after working, teaching, taking a class, and then having dinner and drinks, and edit a video for a Tip, it’s really a labor of love. I try to set up a week’s post in advance by using the timed publish feature in the blog software I use, but there’s no secret and I’m honestly surprised in myself that I still have stuff to talk about every day!
Hey Amy,
I saw your blog post about listening to my song Gravity…thank you so much for the support <3 If I'm ever in New York (I'm in Los Angeles) I would LOVE to take your class, it looks amazing.
xoxo
Mimi Page
Thank you for coming and visiting Mimi! Absolutely love your song and love supporting great talent, I hope a bunch of other people saw the post! Would (of course) love to have ya in class =)
I couldn’t have really asked for a better blog. You happen to be ever present to offer excellent guidance, going straight to the point for straightforward understanding of your website visitors. You’re undoubtedly a terrific expert in this subject. Thanks for currently being there for people like me.
Davida, thank you! What an amazing compliment
Please let me know if there’s any questions/help/comments/suggestions you have!
Hi Aerial Amy,
just recently I have become addicted to reading your blog. I have been pole dancing/doing pole fitness for the past year and a half and i believe it has help me to become more confident with who i am and has become such a huge impact on my life. Your blog has not only inspired me to continue pushing through each term but it has also assisted me with constructing routines and has given the inspiration/motivation to actually perform my first solo tomorrow at the studio!!
So, THANK-YOU, keep up the awesome blog
xox
From one pole junkie to another :p
Thank you for stopping by Gabby, I really appreciate that you took the time to comment
I love that you are seeing positive changes in yourself, keep on moving forward and I hope your solo went fabulously!! I’m glad you’ve found a way to express yourself and that I could have been a part of that! xoxo
You are gorgeous, talented, and very entertaining. Most importantly though, you are intelligent and empowered. Keep spreading your message so that many others can take charge of their fitness goals and accomplish the things they’ve only dreamed about until now.
Thank you, so much. Your kindness is so very appreciated.
I Think your awesome….Your booty popping tutorial really helped me. Can u do another please..perhaps a little more advance, since I am getting on really well with the techniques u explained in the first video.. Would be great to learn more about this.
Thanks Claire. Maybe, once the hubbub has died down a bit more
Amy, you are an amazing performer and teacher….you’re one of my pole inspirations. I’ve been poling for 2 years and was introduced to you at the Michigan Aerial Arts & Vaudeville last March. I took a workshop from you and watched your AMAZING performance to the 50cent/NineInchNails song…it blew me away. I’ve been to several pole conventions and taken many workshops…yours was by far the best. You’re an incredible instructor…. I find it interesting sometimes that the most amazing performers aren’t always the greatest instructors. But you definitely have both gifts! I am planning on performing at the Michigan Aerial Arts & Vaudeville convention this year, so hopefully I will see you there again (& I am definitely taking a workshop from you if it’s offered)!! I actually had a question NOT relating to pole. What do you plan on doing with your MA in Motor Learning? I am going back to grad school soon and am leaning toward Clinical Psychology, but I’m trying to explore other options as well. (If I could pole for a living, I would! Maybe one day…) Motor Learning sounds interesting, but what types of jobs does that cater to?
Hey Jessica! Thanks for your incredibly kind comments… I really do work hard to be a good instructor so that means the most to me of anything you could say
I will for sure be seeing you in Michicagn can’t wait for the weekend and I will look out for your performance!
My MA is really just for me and for the love of learning. My 9-5 career is not related to this field at all, so it’s just to improve my teaching and for me to nerd out and learn stuff I think is fascinating. A super expensive and stressful hobby
But the people in my program are generally teachers (occupational/physical therapists, MDs, working with disabled children, pilates instrucotrs, PE program directors, etc) and are taking these classes to supplement their own learning and knowledge. it’s not really a stand-alone degree but it applies to any movement/teaching modality.
Hi Amy, I found your blog only this year and I feel like I’ve missed out on so much! I took up pole dancing in 2005-2006 .. then resumed this year. Your blog has been an absolute godsend to me — I hope to take classes with you if ever I make it to NY again. Your writing has moved me in so many ways — you are incredibly inspiring!
Awww I’ve been writing for a while so there’s a lot that you can catch up on
I’m glad that you’re enjoying it, thank you for your kind comment and absolutely send me a note if you come my way! Where are you? 
xoxo
Hey amy!!! Your website is one of a kind. I really dig ur style and strength. Im new to poling, i wanted to feel sexy and tone up after baby. And i happened to buy a super slippery stainless steel pole…and once i sweat i am forced to stop bc i cannot stay on the pole. Its to the point where i need a new finish. Im too sweaty of a person especially bc im ising it to get an intense workout. What finish do u recomend? Or certain brand of pole as well? Thanks ! Ur my inspiration! I was looking for a woman with no gymnastics/dance background who rocked at pole and i founf YOU
Thanks Sarah! If you are sweaty, then any metal pole will be slippery…. it’s the nature of metal and liquid together. You probably want to try getting a super strong fan, or turning off the heat when you’re getting going… hope that helps!
I am so glad I found this site! While I do have some athletic background, it’s nothing that would have prepped for pole. I fell in love with my first class as well. I’m becoming stronger and more flexible and more bruised (ha) everyday. It’s the best.
It’s become a passion. Gotta say, I love the name 
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