Frequently Asked Questions

 

First Timer & Beginner FAQs

  • Pole is for everyone, regardless of your background or current fitness level. It's a fun and dynamic workout that builds strength gradually, so you don't need to be strong or have a dance/gymnastics background to start. The only thing you need is a willingness to have fun!

    All participants must be at least 18 years old.

  • Please wear shorts and a sports bra (a tank top/t-shirt is optional). Classes are done barefoot or with socks; heels are optional unless specified in the class description. Heels are not recommended for beginners until you are familiar with movement around the pole.

    Bring a yoga mat, water bottle, and small towel. We do not have loaner yoga mats available for use. If you happen to forget, yoga mats and water bottles are available for purchase in the studio. Please also avoid using lotion before class to avoid unnecessary slipping.

  • If wearing heels, please bring pole-specific heels such as Pleasers, which are made to withstand a wide range of pole dance movements. Please leave your street heels and shoes at home.

    If you're new to dancing in heels, we highly recommend our "Heels and Dance Foundations" class to get comfortable walking and moving in them before your first choreography class.

  • Welcome! We recommend all beginners start with our "Pole Tricks Foundations" class, which teaches the fundamental skills crucial for your entire pole journey. After that, you can attend any class listed as "All Levels," "Foundations," or "Beginner." If you're interested in the dance and flow aspects, be sure to try "Floor & Basework" and "Heels and Dance Foundations."

    You can also refer to our “Suggested Class Progressions" flow chart on the Class Descriptions page, and in the studio.

  • Our classes are open to everyone 18 years and older, no matter what race, age, or gender you identify with.

Experienced Student FAQs

  • To ensure a consistent and effective learning experience, our classes are organized by levels 1 through 4. We strictly follow these requirements, and ask that you sign up for classes that match your skill level based on Rise and Climb Fitness’ level guidelines. This ensures that you get the most out of every class!

    To determine what level you are in at our studio, please head over to our Pole Levels page for in depth details on our level requirements.

  • Rise and Climb Fitness prioritizes the safety of all students and instructors. While pole fitness is fun, it's easy to forget that careless tricks, movements, or habits carry the potential for serious injuries.

    Just as you wouldn’t get a massage on one side of your body or train only one arm at the gym, we require students to train both sides to minimize muscle imbalances. This practice is crucial for preserving your long-term health and longevity in your pole fitness journey.

  • To ensure a consistent and safe learning experience for everyone, you must meet all prerequisites for a class level before attending. We know it's exciting to learn new skills, but your safety is our top priority! By requiring all students to meet the same standards, we can keep classes fair and efficient for everyone.

  • We know achieving those inverts are challenging, but its fundamental to everything! A controlled invert means lifting your body into an inverted position without kicking, swinging, or using momentum, and being able to hold it without immediately locking your legs onto the pole. This movement is crucial because it builds the core strength needed for safe entries, safe exits, and stabilization performing aerial tricks.

    Just like any fitness activity, you must build your individual capacity to handle greater demands on your body. You wouldn't attempt a 300lb squat if your bodyweight squats are shaky, or attempt to run a marathon after jogging your first mile! Our bodies need time to build up to these complex skills.

    While you may get upside down without it, the core strength built from attaining controlled inverts allows you to maintain control and prevent potential injuries. Skipping this integral step to rush a trick is never worth the risk of injury—Consistent, safe progression is key to longevity in pole.

General & Other FAQs

  • We encourage you to record your progress! However, to prioritize the privacy of all students, recording is strictly limited to the time announced by the instructor at the end of class. Only record yourself and ensure you ask permission from any classmates who may appear in your video. Recording the instructor while teaching is not permitted. And please be mindful of reflections in the mirrors, as classmates may be accidentally captured.

  • Drop-in sessions start at $30 a class. We offer memberships and class packs to accommodate your schedule. To see our pricing options, head over to our Pricing Overview page. To check out what classes we offer and the current class schedule, please check out our Class Descriptions page.

  • We use an online booking system provided by Wellness Living. You may access this through our Class Schedule page to register, sign up, and purchase class sessions. We offer a wide array of classes! To see what classes are available, head over to our Class Descriptions page.

    We highly recommend that all students sign up for a free Wellness Living account and book classes in advance. This simple step ensures that instructors have time to plan content and that classes start promptly, allowing all students to receive the full instructional time they paid for.

  • To secure your spot, please book classes in advance, as they can fill up quickly! If you're added to a waitlist, you'll receive a notification via email if a spot opens up. To be enrolled, you must confirm within 24 hours. If you don't, your spot will be offered to the next person on the waitlist and your purchase option will be returned to your account.

    If you've changed your mind, please decline the spot to allow the next person to be notified sooner.

  • We get it, life can be unpredictable! To ensure fairness for our instructors and other students, classes must be canceled at least 24 hours prior to the class start time. The easiest way to cancel is through the free Wellness Living student app ('My Schedule' tab) or on the Wellness Living website.

    Cancellations that are 23.59 hours or less will be charged the full class fee—because your pole spot was happily waiting just for you! Excessive late cancellations (3 or more per year) will incur an additional $25 missed class fee for each future late cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full class fee plus a $25 no-show fee.

  • To allow our instructors sufficient time to prepare class content and travel to the studio, please book your classes ahead of time. Rise and Climb Fitness reserves the right to cancel any class if no students are booked at least one hour prior to the start time. While cancellation is not guaranteed, to reserve your spot, please book your class in advance if you plan on attending!

  • For any account or membership adjustments, please email us. We are excited to help you upgrade your membership and continue your pole journey with us! If you need to take a short break, you can freeze your membership for up to 30 consecutive days. It will automatically unfreeze and resume after that time. To avoid any potential billing issues, please inform us through direct email about any adjustments or freezes at least 14 days before your next billing cycle.

    If you need to cancel your membership, we understand that life happens. Please note that our memberships have a 3-month minimum commitment. Early cancellations are subject to a $50 charge. All memberships require a credit card on file for a monthly recurring charge.

  • If you’re looking to rent out our studio for a private pole party, private lesson, or just want some alone time to train, we can definitely accommodate you! Please check out our Class Description and our Pricing Overview pages for more information.

  • Yes, we have instructors who speak multiple languages! Mani is fluent in Spanish, Japanese, and ASL. Charlie is also fluent in ASL. Rachel and April are both fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

    You can also learn more about our instructors through Our Team page, and find them on the class schedule.

  • We deeply value our supportive community; however, due to liability concerns, Only Rise and Climb Fitness staff are permitted to instruct, spot, or coach. Any form of guidance intended to explain how to do a movement, including repeating instructor cues, is considered "teaching." Even with the best intentions, crucial safety details can be missed even when repeating cues. Our instructors are glad to help, so don’t hesitate to call them over!

    This policy is strictly enforced at all times on studio premises, including during Open Pole and Studio Rental sessions. Any instruction for monetary compensation will result in an immediate and permanent ban. We would truly hate for it to come to that, so please respect this serious boundary!"

  • Absolutely! Pole competitions exist here and around the world, and they are truly for everyone! We offer a variety of competition packages to help guide and train you for your first competition. Please email us for more information if you’d like to make your big debut some day!

  • Our focus is entirely on our students during class time, so we are unable to answer the phone during those times. Please leave a detailed voicemail with your name, contact information, and other details—we will gladly return your call as soon as possible. You can also refer to our FAQs on this page. For any unanswered questions, give us a call or email us.

  • We provide clean pole towels and isopropyl alcohol spray for you to clean your own pole. Please remember to bring your own yoga mat for class, and be considerate of others by not leaving your pole dirty after use.

    We have air purifiers located throughout the studio for your safety. Masks are optional, but for the consideration and safety of our community, please stay home if you are feeling sick.