Eighteen Years of Pole Fitness: Training Through Perimenopause

After eighteen years of pole fitness, at 49, I thought I knew my body more intimately than almost anything in my life. I knew how long to warm up before attempting a handspring, how to structure a training cycle, and when to push versus when to pull back. Pole has been my steady training partner through countless life chapters—career changes, stress cycles, injuries, plateaus, and personal bests.

But nothing redefined my understanding of my body quite like perimenopause.

It didn’t arrive with a dramatic entrance. Instead, it crept in quietly: stiffness here, disrupted sleep there, shifts in energy that made no sense. Some days I felt strong and agile; other days I felt like my whole body was rebooting. For someone used to tracking progress and seeing predictable patterns, this new inconsistency was… an adjustment.

Still, pole fitness has remained my anchor—sometimes challenging, sometimes comforting, always grounding.

The Positives

1. My years of technique became a powerful foundation.When my body feels unfamiliar, my long-established muscle memory steps in. Nearly two decades of practice allow me to move safely, even when coordination or energy fluctuate.

2. Pole fitness keeps me strong—inside and out. Climbing, inverting, and conditioning have built real functional strength. Even as my body changes, that strength helps me feel capable, steady, and connected to myself.

3. Perspective brings sanity. Eighteen years in this sport have taught me that training naturally goes through seasons. I don’t panic when progress slows or when flexibility fluctuates. I trust the process more than I used to.

4. The community is everything. Pole fitness friends understand not just the sport, but the life transitions that come with being an aging athlete. It’s reassuring to train alongside people who support each other through all stages of life—including the hormonal roller coaster.

The Negatives

1. Recovery time has changed—sometimes drastically. Where I once bounced back quickly, now I need more time between intense sessions. Perimenopause brings a kind of delayed fatigue I can’t ignore.

2. Energy levels fluctuate without warning. Some days I feel unstoppable; other days I feel like I’m moving through wet cement. Even with years of experience, there are days when my body simply says “not today.”

3. Progress looks different now. I don’t struggle much with comparing myself to others—but I do sometimes compare myself to my younger self. The version of me who trained harder, longer, and recovered faster. Letting go of that comparison is a continual practice.

4. Flexibility can be wildly inconsistent. One week I’m hitting my splits with ease; the next week everything feels tight and uncooperative. The unpredictability can be frustrating, especially after so many years of consistency.

Why I’m Still Training

Despite the challenges, pole fitness remains one of the most important constants in my life. It reminds me that my body is adaptable, resilient, and worth taking care of. It shows me that strength doesn’t disappear with age—it evolves. And it gives me a training space where I still feel powerful, capable, and fully myself.

Eighteen years in, I’m still climbing. Still learning. Still showing up.

Perimenopause may influence how I train, but it hasn’t changed why I train.

If anything, this chapter has made my relationship with pole fitness deeper, more intentional, and more meaningful.

Because if I can keep pushing, growing, and moving through this transition, I can handle anything that comes next.