The Power of Progressions

By Jenna Dahl

In a world that rewards fast results and instant gratification, it’s tempting to want to rush through pole dance moves, chase flashy tricks, and hit milestones as quickly as possible. But pole fitness is as much about the journey as it is about the destination (if there is a destination). And if you want longevity, strength, and confidence in your practice, nothing is more essential than mastering your progressions.

What Are Pole Progressions?

Progressions are the structured steps that lead you from foundational movements to more advanced tricks. They break big goals into manageable pieces, helping your body (and brain) develop the strength, coordination, and muscle memory needed to move safely and fluidly in and out of moves.

Think of them as the scaffolding for your success. Skipping them might get you “there” faster, but at the cost of safety, technique, and eventually, progress itself.

The Hidden Strength of Mastery

Each level of pole movement teaches your body how to move. How to engage, control, and support itself in space. For example:

• Before an invert, you should be able to do a strong pole sit and controlled leg lifts.
  
• Before an ayesha, you need a solid extended butterfly and a strong understanding of body positioning in the air.
  
• Before you attempt drops or flips, you should have stable aerial inverts and be able to hold and descend out of positions with control.
  

When you truly master a progression, you don’t just “get the move”, you understand how to enter, hold, and exit safely. You can execute it with ease, intention, and control, which reduces risk of injury and sets you up for much faster growth in the long run.

The Risks of Skipping Ahead

Rushing through progressions might feel thrilling at first, but it can lead to:

• Injury: Without proper technique, advanced tricks can strain joints, pull muscles, or cause falls.
  
• Plateaus: If your foundational skills are weak, your progress will stall when you hit the ceiling of what your body can safely handle.
  
• Fear: Attempting moves before you’re ready can erode confidence and build mental blocks that are harder to overcome later.
  

In contrast, when you’ve built solid layers of strength and movement understanding, you feel empowered and excited, not scared, when approaching the next challenge.

Progress Is Not Linear (And That’s Okay)

Pole isn’t a video game with clear level-ups. Some days you’ll fly, and others you’ll feel like you’re starting over. That’s part of the process. Mastery doesn’t mean perfection, it means consistency, control, and knowing that you can reliably execute a move, even on your worst day.

Celebrate the “Small” Wins

It’s easy to overlook the power of a clean climb, a graceful spin, or a perfectly timed transition. But these are not small wins, they are essential ingredients in the art of pole dance. Every time you master a progression, you’re building not just physical strength but a richer, more confident vocabulary of movement.

Trust the Process

Your instructors aren’t gatekeeping when they ask you to revisit fundamentals or stay in a level longer. They’re investing in your future self. The one who will eventually invert with ease, flow with confidence, and tackle those dream tricks with joy instead of fear.

Final Thoughts

Progressions aren’t the slow road, they’re the smart road. They’re what allow us to dance not just for a year, but for a lifetime. They’re the difference between a trick and a craft. Between a move you can do and one you own.

Own it. Master it. That’s the power of progressions.