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The Pole Isn’t the Problem: Common Challenges in Supporting Bigger Bodies in Pole Fitness

Historically, fat bodies, especially those of women, have been celebrated, desired, and even upheld as the beauty ideal across many cultures and eras. The move away from that is a more modern phenomenon, often whitewashed and rooted in fatphobia. It is about control, not health or aesthetics.

I chose the phrase “Bigger Bodies” for the title to welcome readers who, for their own reasons, might not connect with terms like “plus size” or “fat.” That said, let’s be clear. The word fat is not bad. When used intentionally and respectfully, it is simply a descriptor, not an insult. I am fat, and I have lived in a larger body my entire life. I am not hiding it, and I do not believe anyone else should have to either.

Now, I am not here to police anyone’s language. Self-expression is personal. I will use the word fat, and I invite you to do the same if it feels right for you. Use it thoughtfully, use it proudly, and if it is not your word, that is fine too. But one thing is not up for debate: Fat folks belong in pole. They are strong, they are sensual, and they are more than ready to take up space both on the pole and in the room. When the environment does not support fat students, the problem is not the pole. It is the space around it. So what is going wrong?

  1. Lack of Representation

If every flyer, Instagram post, or class tutorial video only shows thin, bendy bodies flying through the air, it sends a loud and clear message. This is not for you.

Representation is not just about a pretty marketing campaign. It is about creating visibility, offering validation, and opening the door to possibility. Fat students need to see themselves leading, teaching, performing, and thriving in pole spaces. And let’s be real, individuals in smaller bodies benefit too. Seeing diverse bodies in action helps everyone challenge narrow fitness ideals, shake off old body image pressures, and move toward a more inclusive, flexible approach to movement. It also strengthens the community. When we embrace real diversity and authenticity, everybody wins.

Solution: Celebrate all kinds of bodies. Spotlight fat instructors. Show off beginner victories (regardless of body size) just as proudly as advanced tricks. Make representation something you do, not something you say.

Resources: @RozTheDiva, @poleonthe_plussize, or pretty much any attendee of a @curvesandchrome or @CurvyPoleNetwork retreat, or any other fat or larger body artist in the community. These are people and communities that have a wealth of knowledge.

  1. Gear That Doesn’t Fit (Literally)

Let’s talk logistics. Most pole studio gear like knee pads, grip aids, and branded clothing is not size inclusive. Even items labeled “plus size” often tell a 2X poler they need a 6X. And of course, it is out of stock, and anyone larger than a 2X is completely out of luck.

Imagine finally working up the nerve to show up to class, only to find nothing fits. The few stores that do carry our sizes are often either low quality or wildly expensive. At PoleCon last year, only a few booths offered gear for bigger bodies, and in many cases, they sold out fast. I know, because I was trying to buy them. I will acknowledge that even having a few booths offering options is a massive improvement from five or ten years ago, but it is still not enough.

Solution:Sellers: stock options in extended sizes and PLEASE (for the love of..) order bigger knee pads. I was poling for over a year before I found knee pads that actually fit. Yes, larger sizes may cost more, and yes, some companies refuse to make them, but if you can find a brand or push for these options, it matters.
Everyone: research brands that are expanding their ranges and invest in them. Tell brands directly that you want to see more size-inclusive options, even if it is not the size you personally need. Research and recommend grip aids that consider sweat, skin texture, and other common needs of fat or even differently abled students.

  1. Misaligned Coaching Cues

Most movement cues in fitness and pole come from research based on smaller bodies. There is almost no biomechanical data on fat bodies, especially when it comes to athletic movement. So when instructors say things like “tuck your pelvis” or “stack your hips,” those cues do not always translate. They can completely miss how larger bodies naturally move. Without inclusive training, it is easy for even well-meaning instructors to stick with habits that do not fit all bodies. That leaves students frustrated when really, they are moving beautifully, just differently. What feels natural for one person might feel like solving a full-blown physics puzzle for another.

Also, if you run a trick-based or list-driven studio, it is worth thinking about how your curriculum might unintentionally reinforce harmful body norms. When a trick list is built around a narrow idea of what a body “should” do, it leaves out the many ways real bodies actually move. Students in fat or differently-abled bodies can tell immediately when a system was not built with them in mind. This is not a call for total pole anarchy (although, honestly, a little chaos can be beautiful). It is a call to design with intention. Prerequisites for safety are important, of course, but so is making space for variation. When building your trick lists or curriculum, consider the mechanics of multiple body types and offer true alternatives that meet students where they are, not just modifications that feel like afterthoughts. The goal is not to lower the bar. It is to build a better, wider runway for everyone to take off.

Solution: Teach with modifications in mind. This is not about a one-time workshop and calling it good. It means real, ongoing learning. Talk to fat polers. Ask thoughtful questions. Listen when students share what actually works for their bodies. Some of the best moments I have seen in studios happened because someone spoke up. Maybe it was suggesting a tiny cue tweak or just asking for a few more inches of pole space when doing floor work routines. Fat bodies may need different leverage, grip points, or strategies for getting into a move and especially for sliding across the floor. That is not a flaw. That is biomechanics doing exactly what it is supposed to do.

  1. Weight Bias in Disguise

Sometimes bias is not loud and obvious, sometimes it whispers. It shows up when you hesitate to spot a fat student. It sneaks out when you doubt their ability or drown them in praise just for existing in the room. It creeps in when you assume they are only there to lose weight. And if you used to live in a bigger body and lost weight, heads up, you might accidentally be even tougher on fat folks and you have got to check that at the door.

Also, can we drag BMI for a second? The Body Mass Index was never built to measure individual health. It was whipped up by a nineteenth-century statistician who was not even in the medical field. Since then, it has been proven misguiding, harmful, and packed with racist, sexist, and ableist nonsense. Even the CDC has acknowledged it’s limitations. (See: Vox, 2020; NPR, 2023.)

Solution: Challenge your internalized fatphobia like it is a boss fight. Give every student the same energy. Push them. Respect them. Meet them where they are without lowering the bar. Understand that different bodies sometimes need different cues. That is not a flaw. That is good teaching.

And listen, some coaches really get it. Cloe Congora, a Tucson-Based Coach (@clo_withdaflow), who is an absolute legend when it comes to coaching all kinds of bodies. She does so by very simply taking extra time to see what is mechanically happening instead of assuming everybody moves the same. For example, I had been told countless times I was slipping in a fan kick. She was the first to notice that when I fan kick, I drop about an inch. Not because I am weak or sloppy or actually losing significant height but because my booty shifts mid-kick and the inch of cushion that was on the pole, disappears when off the pole. That tiny detail made all the difference. I was not doing the trick wrong, it presents differently on my body. Oh, and by the way, she is not even a fat poler herself. She is just a phenomenal coach who understands bodies are diverse and deserve to be treated that way.

(See: A Systematic Review of Interventions That Aim to Reduce Implicit and Explicit Weight Biases among Fitness Professionals, Schneider et al. 2024.)

  1. Emotional Labor and Safety

Larger-bodied students are not just showing up with gym bags. They are carrying years of exclusion, body shame, and medical trauma. Many walk into the studio already bracing for judgment, flinching before anything even happens. And to make it worse, sometimes the harshest critics are folks who used to be fat themselves. You would think they would know better, but internalized bias runs deep. Pole can be a powerful form of healing, but only if the space feels safe, welcoming, and built to actually see people. Please use the various solutions in this blog to ensure the spaces you move in, are safe.

Solution: Build a trauma-informed classroom. Always ask for consent before touching. Set up community agreements that prioritize respect. Use affirming, non-patronizing language. Remember, for some students, just stepping through the door is an act of bravery that deserves to be met with care.
(See: “Influence and effects of weight stigmatisation in media: A systematic review” Kite et al, 2022).

  1. The “Progress” Trap

Do not automatically congratulate someone for losing weight. You have no idea what caused it. Could be a diet. Could be stress. Could be illness, grief, burnout, or leaving a bad relationship. Weight loss is not always a success story, and it is definitely not always the goal. Celebrating student progress only through weight loss is outdated and harmful. Progress is holding a plank. Progress is nailing a spin. Progress is showing up and trying again after a hard class. Progress is building confidence, falling in love with movement, and finding joy in your body. What it is not? Shrinking your body just to meet someone else’s expectations.

Solution: Focus your praise on what actually matters. Normalize all kinds of wins. Celebrate strength, creativity, and grit. Validate the moments that have nothing to do with a number on a scale. Bodies evolve in all sorts of ways and not all transformations are visible. Let your students be more than before-and-after photos. Let them be art in motion. (See: Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon, and research supporting body neutrality.)

Final Thoughts: The Space Already Belongs to Them

Fat students are not asking for special favors. They are asking for what everyone deserves: equity, respect, and the freedom to explore pole dance on their terms. They do not need permission to be there. The pole already belongs to them, just like it belongs to anyone that shows up. Creating a truly inclusive studio is not just about good vibes or nice advertising. It takes real work: honest reflection, unlearning bias, staying humble, and being willing to change what does not serve. It can be uncomfortable, sure. Growth usually is. But the reward is worth it. When you build a space where every student feels seen, challenged, and celebrated, you do not just get stronger polers. You get stronger community. You get magic. At the end of the day, pole should never be about shrinking people down. It should be about lifting people up. And that starts with making sure every person who walks through the door knows: this space is already theirs too.

Luna Riots
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