My Journey - Karry Summers

I am so passionate about pole dancing, not just because I love to do it, but because I have seen it transform the lives of hundreds of women over and over again. I could talk all day about the benefits and awesome journeys I have seen, but instead I want to share my own personal story. I want you to see just how exciting this journey can be for you, as it has been for countless others, not just here at Altitude, but all over the world.

I started pole dancing when I was 25. I was working as a Software Programmer in the U.K. My day was spent surrounded by males, I was in a foreign city with none of my friends and my husband worked evenings. Sounds just like you'd expect a crazy O.E. to be right? Yeah, no.

I'd grown up as a competitive gymnast so I'd always been able to eat whatever I'd wanted, then when I stopped gym I all of a sudden started to get "soft". I had tried going to the gym or to go for runs because I did enjoy being active, but I just got so bored. I am a very goal oriented person and unless I had goals to work towards while I was exercising, it just didn't hold my attention and I got bored and gave up. I went along to a local pole fitness class out of curiosity (Shout out to Robyn Rooke, my first teacher!). Straight away at pole I saw all these more experienced polers doing these amazing tricks! They became my goals. I had to nail that next move! I had to get stronger for that move, or more flexible for that move. I was no longer going to classes for fitness, that became a secondary benefit. Getting all those moves was my priority and it was so much fun!

Seven years on, I have now given up my high paying but boring software job. I have competed and placed all over the world at the biggest pole dance competitions in the industry. I get to travel the world teaching both students and other instructors. I am so much stronger and more flexible than I ever was as a teenage gymnast. I have an amazing community I am supported by every day. And I know myself better than I ever did before. I love who I am and love what I do. Pole dancing did that for me. 100% pole dancing changed my life for the better. And I've seen it do the same for 100's of females and males all over the world.