So I went to a pole class for the first time yesterday and let me tell you, it hurts. I went along with one of my best friends who had gone 6 times before, her telling me that she isn’t good and how hard it is. She’s the kind of girl you’d love to hate; smart, beautiful, poised, former ballerina, current Pilates instructor, 5000+ followers on Instagram, and on top of that she is actually cool.

We went to Middle and High School together (ages 12-18) but did not become friends until our last few years in school together when we bonded over a love of alternative rock and smoking weed. Returning to live at home for the first time in 4 years, she has been a godsend. I digress though.

I knew she’d be good, I did mention she is a Pilates instructor. All I got are some jiggly thighs. Did I mention I have 0.00% upper body strength? I am not generally one to say no to things though so I went along, and you best believe I am sore enough that typing out this blog post is straining my non-existent biceps.

The class started with stretches and some basic yoga poses, which I am familiar with so I thought that maybe this would be okay. I knew I was wrong when the instructor asked for 10 push-ups. Ha, jokes on me cause I’ve never done on of those.

The pole part of the class itself was, of course, intimidating but the weed we smoked in my bathroom right before going to class definitely aided in the general not giving a fuck if anyone was noticing how bad I was, which of course they were. There were 6 of us total, all different levels, all better than me, so the teacher went around individually to each of us, telling us what poses to do.

The basic first step is to just hang and spin, which is not easy. Then, you hang and pull your legs up in a sitting position, also not easy. But by the end of the class I was spinning and moving my legs from back to front at the same time, and you guessed it, this was not easy. I say I did it, though I did not in the least do it well. Got to remember to keep the chest up.

I am going back today though, party because the entire week for as many classes as you want is only 10,000 colones (about $18 US) and because I have a friend who will drive me there and go with me. Also, in case you didn’t guess, she is bomb at pole already. Guaranteed I will not be hanging upside down, spinning and keeping my toes pointed on my 7th class. But it is true, it is much easier to exercise if you have someone to do it with, even if that someone is kind of perfect. Lets just call it motivation.