From the outside, pole and aerial arts (like hoop or silks) look like pure artistry, beautiful lines, effortless transitions, and shapes that seem to defy gravity. But behind the beauty is a huge amount of science. Your body is working incredibly hard, using strength, balance, flexibility, coordination and pain tolerance all at the same time.
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If you’ve got hypermobility or EDS, you’ve probably noticed that your body feels very different depending on the weather. One day you’re super bendy and your tricks feel effortless, the next you’re stiff, achey, and wondering if you’ve ever even done a split before.
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Training regularly? This one’s for you…
When people think of physiotherapy, they often imagine someone hobbling in after an injury, a twisted ankle, a pulled muscle, or post-surgery rehab. But physiotherapy isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s also about preventing them, improving performance, and helping you move better for longer.
“A recreational athlete is someone who trains or competes in their sport about 2 to 5 times per week for enjoyment, fitness, or personal goals, without competing professionally.”
If you’re a recreational athlete, whether you’re a runner, pole dancer, aerialist, cyclist, swimmer, or weekend warrior, seeing a physiotherapist before pain sets in can be one of the best investments you make in your body.
Here’s why:
1. Injury prevention beats injury recovery:
Most sports injuries don’t happen out of the blue; they build up over time due to imbalances, overuse, or poor movement patterns. A physiotherapist can identify early warning signs, such as restricted joint mobility, muscle imbalances, or movement compensations, before they become a problem.
Think of it as a ‘physical MOT‘, we assess how your body moves and loads, so you can keep doing what you love without interruption.
2. Optimise your performance without guesswork:
You don’t have to be an elite athlete to want to improve how you move. Whether you’re working on a pole trick, aiming for a longer run, or simply want to feel stronger in your gym sessions, physio can help you:
No more cookie-cutter training plans; we tailor them to your sport, your goals, and your body.
3. Recreational athletes often train without support:
You may not have a coach, a team physio, or a structured training programme, and that’s where things can unravel. You’re more likely to:
A physio acts like your movement mentor, helping you train smarter, not just harder.
4. Support for active recovery & long-term health:
Your training shouldn’t leave you stiff, sore, and exhausted all the time. A physiotherapist can support you with recovery tools like:
This is especially important if you’re juggling training with work, family, or other commitments. Your body deserves the same care you give to everything else in your life.
5. Build Confidence in Your Body:
Physiotherapy isn’t just about joints and muscles; it’s about helping you feel confident in your body’s capabilities.
If you’ve ever held back in training due to fear of injury, past pain, or not feeling “strong enough,” a physiotherapist can help bridge that gap. We empower you with knowledge, support, and practical tools to feel capable, resilient, and ready for more.
Bottom line? You don’t need to be broken to see a Physio.
Just like regular dental check-ups or car servicing, a proactive physio session is a smart step for any active person, even (especially!) if you feel pretty good right now.
If you’re a recreational athlete and want to future-proof your body, feel confident in your training, and stay injury-free, let’s chat.
Book your Movement MOT or drop me a message if you’re unsure what you need. I’ll always point you in the right direction.
Jane Cole
Chartered Physiotherapist | Pole & Aerial Specialist
Free Your Body Therapy & Pole Kinetics PT
People often ask me… if my special interest lies in circus and pole physiotherapy, how can I possibly understand or treat injuries to the general population or athletes from other sports, such as running? The answer is simple: the human body doesn’t change based on the sport; the principles of injury, healing, and performance are universal.
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We help people recover from shoulder injuries, improve mobility, and build strength. Our holistic approach combines physiotherapy, strength training, and functional movement to address the root causes of pain and optimise performance. Whether you’re a pole dancer, swimmer, or involved in overhead tasks, we’re here to unlock your full potential and keep you moving pain-free.
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As a chartered physiotherapist and personal trainer, with over 15 years of experience teaching pole and aerial at my studio, Pole Perfect Fitness, I understand that preparing for a photoshoot can be both exciting and daunting.
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Optimise performance and reduce the risk of injuries with specialised Physiotherapy guidance
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Unveiling the Enchanting Power of Consistency in Pole Dancing and Aerial Arts!
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Top 5 Tips to Navigating DOMS in Pole and Aerial Sessions.
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Pole Fitness is one of the UK’s biggest new fitness trends with amateur classes rising in popularity. Similarities and crossovers between skill and the physical demands have been identified with similar artistic sports; however, there is limited evidence to support the risk of injury within Pole Fitness. Therefore, the study aimed to identify the prevalence and magnitude of injuries within Pole Fitness.
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A combination of traditional yoga poses, pilates and dance with the use of a hammock, aerial yoga defies gravity and allows you to perform various yoga poses that may be difficult to do on the ground, but easier in mid-air. It’s fun and acrobatic, so for those of you who dreamed of being a trapeze artist as a kid, this can give you a taste of what it is like.
Here are the Top 10 Health Benefits of Aerial Yoga:
For anyone new to the idea of working out in a bungee harness, here are some answers to your most asked questions…
What is Bungee Fitness?
Bungee Fitness is a different way to exercise compared to traditional workouts. It is a revolutionary full body training system for fitness and rehabilitation, combining resistance training with a cardiovascular workout and using your body to push against the bungee cord.
How is a Bungee Fitness workout better than other workouts?
Weightless training in a bungee harness means you can complete a high intensity workout with no stress on your joints. A low impact workout in a bungee offers people of all ages and body shapes, a new, innovative and fun way to train and rev up metabolism, improve mobility, balance & coordination and quickly burn hundreds of calories.
What happens when I arrive at a Bungee Fitness class?
Before taking part in a typical Bungee Fitness class, your height and weight are measured to assess the level of bungee support that’s right for you. Your bungee harness is then fitted about your waist and legs before being hooked up to either one or two bungee cords.
What should I wear?
The Astro Durance luxury harness is the most comfortable bungee harness on the market, but extensive workouts can be a little harsh on your skin, so it’s recommended to wear clothing that isn’t too loose and an extra layer around your hips and waist (shorts over leggings or well fitting tracksuit bottoms are popular choices).
Should I avoid food before a class?
Whereas food needs to be digested before you step into the bungee, you want to avoid being light-headed when taking part in a high intensity workout where you can sometimes be upside-down, so snack/ protein bars are a good way to get an energy boost before a class. Pole Perfect Fitness recommends no sooner than 1/1.5 hours before class, and ideally a lighter meal.
How is the ASTRO-DURANCE® Bungee Fitness System better?
Workout harder and longer with Astro Durance premium bungee fitness. The patent pending tube lining in our ASTRO-DURANCE® bungees provide more buoyancy and stretch helping users to be lighter on their feet during training. Our design creates a much safer experience allowing users of all skill levels, including those with disabilities or needing rehabilitation, to maximize individual performance. Our patent pending bungee sleeves are extremely durable and washable, handmade using a heavier fabric that won’t bunch up or fall down no matter how extreme your workout is.
Get in touch with Pole Perfect Fitness and see when you can join in!
Written by Astro Durance Bungee UK
Why hang from one piece of apparatus when you can hang from two at the same time!
A unique 90 minute workshop utilising the aerial hoop and silks together at the same time to form new and interesting shapes & sequences. A basic knowledge of each apparatus is desired and some pre-requisites in order to maximise your experience.
Pre-requisites: Hocks Hang, Deliah Climb
Workshop is 7:30pm to 9pm on the 19th July 2019 with very limited spaces on the 1st of it’s kind – you must pre book to be sure of a place!
Learn to use the Aerial Hoop in a whole new way!
This 4 Week Course of Lyra”O”Graphy will teach you adaptations on standard aerial hoop moves from our syllabus to new moves created by using contact with the ground, then putting them into combinations, seamless sequences and ultimately beautiful Choreography. You will improve strength, fitness, upper body strength and have an absolute blast.
An opportunity as a great alternative experience of hoop as Grounded Hoop works with an aerial hoop less than a metre off the floor to create floor to hoop spins, sequences and transitions. Use it to build confidence, inspire, create, explore and develop.
This 4 week course is £44 for non members, Inc for Bronze / Silver / Gold + Platinum members.
