Giving Yourself Grace on Your Pole and Aerial Journey: Shut Up, Comparison Monster!

Look, we all have those days. You walk into the studio ready to channel your inner gravity-defying goddess, only to feel like a limp spaghetti noodle with the grip strength of a toddler. And you know what? That’s okay. Actually, it’s normal. Because guess what? You’re human. Unless you’re secretly a flying squirrel in disguise, in which case, impressive, but you can sit this one out.

The thing about pole and aerial arts is that they demand patience, persistence, and a whole lot of self-compassion. Most of us aren’t training full-time; we have jobs, school, families, or a cat who demands 85% of our attention at all times. So when we step into the studio, we’re asking our bodies to do things that defy basic physics, and we need to give them time to catch up.

Off Days Are Just Part of the Deal

Not every session is going to be a breakthrough. Some days, you’re going to feel like a majestic aerial unicorn, and other days, you’re going to feel like a tangled-up sloth slowly sliding to the ground. That doesn’t mean you’re failing; it just means you’re human. Progress isn’t linear, and the sooner you embrace the ups and downs, the more you’ll enjoy the ride (or spin, or climb, or painful-looking split attempt).

Patience: Injuries Are the Worst Party Crashers

Let’s talk about the rushers. Those of us who see someone nail a move and immediately think, I can totally do that! without considering the strength and conditioning behind it. Listen, enthusiasm is great, but injuries are not. If you rush into something your body isn’t ready for, you’ll likely end up on the injured list, and nothing slows progress more than a forced break.

Think of training like building a house. It’s best to have a solid foundation, then put up the walls, then the finishing touches. Same goes for your aerial training. Build your foundation, strengthen your grip, and don’t skip the progressions. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a crumbling house or a collapsed shoulder.

Tell the Comparison Monster to Sit Down and Be Quiet

Ah, the Comparison Monster. We all know it. It whispers things like, Why aren’t you as strong as them? Why can’t you do that move yet? Maybe you just suck. First of all, rude. Second of all, not true.

Everyone’s journey is different. People progress at different rates based on their experience, training frequency, body mechanics, and about a thousand other factors. The person effortlessly inverting next to you? They might have years of gymnastics training under their belt. Or maybe they’re just having a great day while you’re running on three hours of sleep and a questionable amount of caffeine. Either way, their progress doesn’t take away from yours.

When the Comparison Monster starts yapping, remind yourself: I’m on my own path. My progress is mine, and it’s valid. Then kindly tell it to shut up and go sit in the corner.

Celebrating the Small Wins

Did you hold that grip for a few seconds longer? Did you climb just a little higher? Did you show up and try even when you didn’t feel like it? That’s progress. Celebrate it. Every small victory adds up, and when you look back, you’ll realize how far you’ve come.

So be kind to yourself. Give yourself grace. Train smart, take breaks when you need them, and most importantly, enjoy the journey. Because at the end of the day, pole and aerial arts are supposed to be fun, and you deserve to love the process.

Now go forth and fly (safely, please).