Blog

How do you become a badass pole dancer? Well, it’s actually pretty simple: start pole dancing! 😎😏 If you’re wanting to show off crazy advanced pole dancing tricks to all of your friends, however, we might need to do a little more..! Luckily at Altitude, our aim is to set you up for success so regardless of your exercise or dance background we can put you on the path to nailing those big moves!

It’s often the small, consistent practices that make the biggest difference, ones that might take some effort… but not as much effort as overhauling your entire schedule 😉 So, let’s talk about some ways to work self-care into your daily routine. 👇

It's an exciting new world when you decide to become an aerialist - there are SO many new things to learn, moves to conquer, and techniques to perfect... Let's step back and talk about what we think YOU should know when you first start! Here are our top 10 things every new aerialist should know...

If you have ever walked into the gym, hopped on the treadmill and just thought “I can’t wait for this to be over”, trust me, you are not alone. We all know regular physical activity is an important part of any healthy lifestyle. There are loads of benefits to being active! You’ll sleep better, have more energy, feel less stressed, improve things like heart health and mental health. Being fit is REALLY great… but it’s often at the expense of enjoyment, fun, excitement.

Can you believe it? We’re already two weeks into 2025! The build-up to the new year is always an exciting (and a little chaotic) time with new goals, but let’s be real... that post holiday reality can hit and those new plans for the year might leave you wondering where to even start. 🙈

As we enter into our annual Pole Roots Month / Ho Ho Heels December, it’s the perfect time to remind ourselves of (or learn about) the history of pole and this year we want to specifically focus on the work being done by our stripper fam here in Aotearoa.

It’s actually one of my absolute favourite things about pole, how you are in classes and how you express yourself during them is uniquely yours. Everyone’s journey is different and at Altitude we celebrate any way that might look. 💘

When you think of a workout, what comes to mind? Maybe it's the treadmill, lifting weights, or a yoga mat. But what if we told you there’s a workout that’s not only incredibly effective but also so much fun that you’ll actually look forward to every session? Welcome to the world of pole dancing...

Starting something new can be intimidating, especially if you're coming in as a total beginner, so we've put together our top tips on how to break free of boredom and embrace trying something new!

Remember when you were a kid and you thought superheroes were the only ones with superhuman strength? 🦸‍♀️ Well, what if I told you that there’s a way to unlock your own inner superhero - and you don’t need a cape to do it? Enter pole dancing. It's fun, it's fierce and it's an awesome and empowering way to build strength you might have thought impossible.

Confidence isn't just something you order online and have delivered overnight; it's more like a journey full of plot twists, awkward dance moves, and occasional pep talks in the mirror. And if there's one place where this journey gets a whole lot sassier, it's during a class at Altitude pole.

This blog was written by one of our members, Courtney, about her journey with pole at Altitude so far...

Aerial hoop and silks aren't just about fitness, they're not even just about learning all those awesome tricks and skills...

This blog was written by one of our members, Zara, about her journey with pole dancing at Altitude.

This year Altitude studios across the country participated in Sweat with Pride and together we raised $3,253!! 🥳🙌🌈

Curious to know more about pole? Here's every pole truth you'll ever need to know...

With Pride Month upon us, we've been lucky enough to connect with some of our awesome members to hear about their adventures in pole and aerial fitness as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Their stories are all about personal growth, from overcoming challenges to discovering confidence and self-acceptance...

Looking to fine tune your fitness routine? We believe that pole dancing is an excellent way to build strength, increase confidence, and have fun doing it!

Welcome to part three of our 3-part series celebrating some of the amazing Mums at our studios by sharing their amazing & inspirational journeys with you ♥ Today, we've spoken with Sarah, Brittany Rose and Aimee about their journeys as Mums at Altitude..

Welcome to part two of our 3-part series celebrating some of the amazing Mums at our studios by sharing their amazing & inspirational journeys with you ♥ Today, we've spoken with Krystal Sara, Kim and Jess about their journeys as Mums at Altitude...

Welcome to part one of our 3-part series celebrating some of the amazing Mums at our studios by sharing their amazing & inspirational journeys with you ♥ Today, we've spoken with Sally, Rachel and Tara about their journeys as Mums at Altitude...

It's an exciting new world when you decide to become a pole dancer. There are SO many new things to learn, moves to conquer, techniques to perfect...Let's take a step back and talk about what we think YOU should know when you first start! Straight from your instructors, here's our top 10 things every new pole dancer should know ♥

Curious about what our members say about pole dancing? Read about Giorgia’s pole journey at Altitude...

In this blog, we’ll be talking about the value in keeping aside a little bit of your budget to invest in your physical and mental well-being - whether that’s going to yoga classes, visiting the gym or our personal favourite…hanging out at the pole studio ✨

Curious about what our members say about pole dancing? Read about Renee's pole journey at Altitude...

We're delving into what it means to "Live With Passion", Altitude style! "Live With Passion" isn't a phrase we toss around casually - the world of pole dancing is built on passion and we live and breathe it in everything that we do...

Get ready to unlock the secrets to making your dance skills flow like a pro...

Curious about what our members say about pole dancing at Altitude? Check out this blog written by one of our amazing members, Sadie, from our Palmerston North studio ❤

With the New Year comes a feeling of purpose and new beginnings - a chance to set new goals and embrace new challenges with gusto! Check out this blog for our 5 top tips on how to achieve your New Year Goals...

So, you're thinking about hitting up a strip club for a night of excitement and entertainment. Awesome! But just like any other hangout spot, there are some unwritten rules that can make your night, and the dancers' night, even better. In this blog, we'll explore some essential guidelines for navigating the world of strip clubs with grace and respect.

In this blog post, we'll embark on a journey through time, exploring the origins of pole dancing in strip clubs, its expansion into a fitness phenomenon, and what it represents today.

Curious about what our members say about pole dancing? Read about Baylee's journey at Altitude written in her own words ♥

Ever wanted to get more flexible? Well, we have great news for you - unlocking your flexibility doesn't have to be a chore! We've got the perfect recipe for making those muscles more bendy the fun way 🙌

Feeling a bit of the post-performance blues? Check out this blog post for our top tips and tricks for getting through glitter crash...

A huge shout-out to our incredible sponsors who made our 2023 goodie bags amazing! A special thanks to Pole Gear NZ, Pole Grip NZ/AU, Pole Bunny, Fanatic, Lusid Hair, Lunalae, and The Pole Boutique - you all rock!

At Altitude, we believe that courage isn't just about facing your fears head-on; it's about embracing challenges, pushing boundaries, and cheering each other on every step of the way.

Discover the power of pole dancing with Altitude Attitude – a beginner-friendly pole dancing event that doesn't just teach you new moves, but also fosters a vibrant community and fuels personal transformation. In this blog, we share the inspiring stories of Altitudians who embarked on this journey, whether through Altitude Attitude or starting on one of our regular memberships. From their initial steps into our studios to the confidence and friendships they gained along the way.

Wondering what makes Altitude such an awesome place to learn? Well, it all comes down to a single powerful ingredient that flavours everything we do - Care. Yeah, you got it! Care isn't just some fancy buzzword for us; it's the real deal that makes our studios tick and makes your pole journey unforgettable.

Altitude is where pole dreams come alive, and excellence takes centre stage. We're not your average fitness studio; we're a tight-knit community that believes in reaching for the stars and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in every aspect of life.

Are you looking for a fun and empowering way to boost your confidence? Look no further than pole dancing! Here's what some of our members have to say about their experience with pole dancing...

This Pride month we wanted to celebrate our Rainbow community, so we asked them to talk about their unique journey with pole dancing. From their first class to the challenges they've faced and the growth they've seen in themselves!

Here at Altitude, we believe that growth is a never-ending journey and that we should constantly challenge ourselves to improve and reach new heights. And what better way to do that than through the art of pole dance and fitness?

Pole dance and fitness is a unique and engaging form of exercise that can provide a heap of benefits for your flexibility, mobility, and overall health 🤩 You can dance your way to surpassing your goals in a welcoming, supportive environment - and have a blast doing it! Here are six ways that pole fitness can improve your physical well-being...

Find out more about how you can celebrate self-love through personal expression via pole dancing...

One of the biggest hurdles you may bump into during your pole dance journey is hitting a plateau....

This blog was written by Sean, one of our members from our studio in Redwood, Christchurch 💪

Feeling like you're in a bit of a rut lately? If you're getting a bit bored with your day-to-day, and you've watched everything good on Netflix, then it might just be time to spice things up a little! We're slightly biased, but we think learning to pole dance is the perfect rut-buster 🤸‍♀️ Starting something new can be daunting, especially if you're coming in as a total beginner, so we've put together our top tips on how to be a beginner again...

This blog was written by Ajay, one of our members from our studio in Takapuna, Auckland

This blog was written by Ed, one of our members from our studio in Christchurch Central 💪

This blog was written by Mark, one of our members at our Whanganui Studio

If you're thinking about giving pole dancing a go, you probably have a tonne of questions - the most important being what to wear!? If you're looking into booking in for your first class, keep reading to find out what to wear to your first class and other tips for beginners...

This blog was written by Matemoana, one of our members from our studio in The Mount ❤️️

Are you new to this whole exercise thing? Maybe you've had a few false starts with best intentions at the gym but it just never stuck. Or maybe phys-ed class in high school still has you traumatized thanks to -shudder- the dreaded beep test 🤢 If you're new to exercise and looking for a fun way to get fit, then pole dance might be exactly what you've been searching for!

In this blog, we're discussing the many ways you can master exiting your moves safely

This blog was written by Emma, one of our members from our studio in Palmerston North ❤️️

Did you know that pole dancing is the perfect addition to your current exercise regime? Whether you're into a team sport, like to jog, are a gym bunny, or like to work out at home, pole dancing is a great way to supplement your current training schedule for maximum results! No matter your workout style, age, gender or size, pole is a fun addition to your current workout plan with some pretty sweet physical benefits! 💪 We've put together a list of our top 6 reasons why pole dancing is the perfect pairing for your current exercise regime...

This blog was written by Rosie, one of the amazing members of our pole community 💕

Training in winter brings on a whole new set of challenges; gripping onto the pole feels different, our bodies feel a little stiff and finding the motivation to tear away from our warm couches and blankets can be a real mission! To help you make the most out of your winter training, we've put together our top tips for training in the colder months!

This blog was written by one of our Hamilton studio members, Sarah ❤️️

Have you been looking for a way to bring some excitement into your days? Then it's time to give pole dancing a go! Keep reading to see why pole dance is the ultimate way to live a fierce, badass life!

Ready to take the stage? Check out our 6 top tips for choreographing routines to help you come up with a routine you can be proud of 💖

As pole dancers, we all progress at a different pace. What comes easily for one person might take a lot of practice for another! In this blog, we're talking about how to find joy in training at your own pace and enjoying the journey.

We’ve sat down with our very own recovery queen, Emma (boss-babe of Altitude Pole Whanganui and Palmerston North) to talk about her injury journey to pick her brain about how she managed it.

This blog was written by one of our Altitude Pole Nelson students, Milo, on how he has found peace with himself, body and soul during his pole dance journey.

It's about time we bust that myth that we have a "bad side" and start training smarter!

Confidence - for some, it comes as naturally as breathing, but for most of us, it's a constant changing journey. Some days you wake up and feel on top of the world, on other days it can be a struggle just to step out in public.

Let’s be honest - there are a lot more women who pole dance than there are men at the moment. While gender is no issue in studio (we love all our pole dancers equally), there are definitely some extra challenges to being a male in a female dominated sport #wheredoIevenbuyshortsthatshort

Out with the old, in with the new! A new year means new beginnings, and sometimes, a few cheeky purchases of some pole essentials (*cough* grip-aid) to get us through the sticky Summer heat! We've had a chat with the amazing and inspiring Megan from PoleGearNZ to find out more about what's behind our favourite place to buy pole gear!

We went to the givers-of-private lessons themselves, our instructors, for a few hot tips on how to get the best bang for your buck. Check them out!

Are you ready to book in for your first pole dancing lesson? That's awesome! You're about to enter a world where fun and fitness go hand in hand 🤸‍♀️ Before you get started, we're sure you have a bunch of questions about what to expect, so we've put together the hot goss you need to know ready for your first pole class ❤️️

We’ve spoken with one of our instructors who has conquered more nemesis moves than we can count - the incredible Pole Comedian herself, Amy from our Albany and Takapuna studios!

Ever have one of those days where you just can’t seem to stick to the pole? Being a “Slippery Susan” is a big part of your pole dance journey so we’ve asked Zoe, the epic boss lady of Altitude Pole Nelson herself for her top tips on how to get a grip!

We've compiled our top tips on how to get started on your sky-high heels journey, from what kind of heels to buy to how to wear them without looking like a baby giraffe 🦒

If you're looking to add some extra fun into your Summer, check out these 6 reasons why pole dance is the gift that keeps on giving!

Wondering what it feels like to perform in a showcase? Read this blog as we spill the tea on what showcase night feels like for our performers!

This blog was written by one of our Altitude Pole Palmerston North students, Natalie. Read below on how she has become empowered, sensual and strong through the love of pole dance.

We’ve all been there at some point – one moment you’re living and breathing studio life and the next you’re struggling to find your inspiration.

Thinking about trying Pole Dance for the first time? Well you are full of great ideas and this is definitely one of your best!!

We’ve put together our ultimate guide for buying a pole for home to help point you in the right direction of what to look for :)

We were lucky enough Elle, from Elle Catraz Photography, was keen to write us her top 5 tips to nailing your pole or aerials photoshoot! She's snapped her way through Altitude studios over the last few years and has produced some AH-MAZING photos of our stunning students and instructors. You'll probably spot her work all over the place if you look close enough (we definitely use her photos a lot! ❤️❤️)!

It's June and we have a new shape for the Altitude Shape Challenge! The shape doesn't require you to have any special equipment, all you'll need is a warmed-up body, a wall and enough space to make the shape!

Last month Altitude Christchurch Central's student of the month was Ronny and we'd love for you to get to know him a bit better! Here's a mini-interview we had:

It's May, so that means a brand new SHAPE for the Altitude Shape Challenge! The shape doesn't require you to have any special equipment, all you'll need is a warmed-up body, a wall and enough space to make the shape!

If you're looking to improve your flexibility, check out our seven top tips and tricks to unlock your flexi-goals...

We spoke to a couple of our guy members at Altitude Pole Drury about their journey with Altitude. Wondering what to expect? Check out what they have to say below!

It's April, so that means a brand new SHAPE for the Altitude Shape Challenge! The shape doesn't require you to have any special equipment, all you'll need is a warmed-up body, a wall and enough space to make the shape!

Giant List of Pole Dancer & Aerialists to Follow! Part 2

If you're looking to perform, check out this blog for some essential tips and tricks from one of our very own performing icons and Altitude Redwood instructor, Georgia

Facts on Pole Dancing & Altitude - Infographic Style!

It's our March Shape Challenge! The shape won't require you to have any special equipment, all you'll need is a warmed-up body, a wall and enough space to make the shape!

As polers and aerialists we are always on the look out for a bit of inspo (are we still shortening inspiration like this?). New tricks, new flows, new styles - there's always something new to try, and you've gotta keep on top of it!

This article is written by Rosie about how pole dancing changed her life ♥

It's our February Shape Challenge! The shape won't require you to have any special equipment, all you'll need is a warmed-up body and enough space to make the shape!

As pole dancers, we regularly encounter certain stories about who we are and what pole dancing is like - some true, some false. Well we'd like to set the record straight and tell you what's FACT and what's FICTION. 🤔

Now that we're past the silly season, the monthly Altitude Shape Challenge is BACK! 🤩🥳 Each month we will publish a cool shape one of our instructors has done. The shape won't require you to have any special equipment, all you'll need is a warmed-up body and enough space to make the shape!

If you're struggling with injuries, tight muscles, or long/painful recovery times, then these tips are for you!

2020 is almost done. Say it again with us. 2020 is almost done!

It's a few weeks into NEMESIS November, and we've all been working away at nailing those nemesisses (Nemesi?)*. To those of you who have got yours: congrats!!! And for the rest of us who need a little more inspiration, here's some tips from Rhi, Katie and Emma. Plus they shared their own nemesis moves - they ARE human after all!

My name is Becky, and I started my pole journey in February 2020...

Wondering whether Altitude Attitude is for you? Check out what some of our previous participants have said!

So what on earth is Altitude Attitude? A fitness challenge? An introduction to pole? A way to kick start your life and have some fun? Well, actually, yes to all of those things, but it’s also so much more!

We've decided it was time to shake things up, so we're introducing a new MONTHLY shape challenge for you all!

If you're struggling to get that first invert, or if one pole climb is enough to finish you off, or if you just want aerialist lats so strong that you can crush objects between them, this is for you!

This time around we have not one but TWO exciting Altitude journeys to share with you – Kristine Orquillo’s of Altitude North Shore, and Michaela Yee of Altitude Wigram. Check them out!

Emma shares some insights on goals, why she's passionate about them and how they helped her open not one pole studio but TWO! 🙌 you are in for a treat, so grab a cup of tea and snuggle up - get ready to be INSPIRED!

This blog was written by one of our members, Lauren. Check it out to hear all about her journey at Altitude Pole!

The Ultimate Guide to Leveling Up! Written by Rosie at Altitude HQ with the help of Altitude instructors.

This blog was written by one of our members, Amelia, about her pole dancing journey so far at Altitude

This blog was written by one of our Altitude Drury students, Mel. Read below on how she not only found pole but found herself.

We've designed our very own Altitude Habit Tracker to help you kick off COVID-19 Alert Level Two with a BANG! 💥

Check out these tips on self-care to help you get through the cabin fever of lockdown

This blog was written by Britney about her journey towards flexibility through pole dancing

This blog was written by one of our Altitude Wigram members, Jen. Read about her story with Altitude, pole dancing and aerials.

This month at Altitude we're focusing on flow and freestyle. So we're coming at you with a flowy workout that links together to become a little routine.

Here are some top tips from our Altitude instructors on getting awesome at flow and freestyle

Need a little more movement added into your busy day? Or maybe you've been wondering how you could get better on the pole while you’re off the pole? This blog is for YOU!

Do you pretend your B side doesn’t exist? When your instructor says the words “Now try it on your other side”, do you cringe? Or better yet, take a ‘bathroom break’ until the B side part is over? Well, this blog is for you!

As pole dancers, we are all used to hearing people say ‘I’d love to try pole dancing, but I’m not strong enough’, or ‘Would I have to wear heels?’, or ‘I don’t know if I could take all my clothes off’. Well, we are here to tell you that you are strong enough, you don’t have to wear heels, and we do in fact wear clothes (we are NOT a nudist colony!). But let’s knock these myths and questions out one by one!

Trying to think of things you can do at home to up-the-ante? Regardless of your fitness level... this workout is a goodie, even featuring progressions if you need it a little bit harder. 😲

We're super excited to be bringing the annual Altitude Fitmas Challenge back for another year! Weeeee!

Here are some ideas that might get you excited about what you can do to set yourself up for a high vibe 2020!

This post we're here to remind everyone that pole dancing is NOT just for women and we'd like to introduce you to another one of our male pole dancers. Introducing Callum from our Christchurch Central studio.

Just starting your pole dancing journey? Check out these tips on how to progress from a beginner to a pro!

The Altitude Attitude Challenge is always a highlight of the year for us here at Altitude. We get to work with a big group of new and existing students over 28 days, sharing with them the awesome thing that is pole dancing.

Looking for Hens Party ideas? Pole Party ideas? Then take a look at our curated list for making your event extra #extra, in the best way possible!

We're excited to introduce you to another one of our male Altitudians! Paul is a student from our North Shore studio in Auckland. We'd love for you to get to know him... so grab a cuppa, get comfy and read Paul's story with Altitude 😍

The very first Altitude Attitude event was held way back in 2015 at the very first Altitude studio. Every year it's grown bigger and more exciting and this year is no different. We've got workshops, challenges, a meet & greet, special group choreo classes and SO much more...

Altitude Attitude is Altitude Pole’s 28 day challenge – 4 weeks of dance classes, workshops, and fitness and life challenges, all concluding with a professional photoshoot for our participants to show off their new skills! Are you curious if Altitude Attitude is for you? Check out what some of last year's divas have to say!

Are you curious if Altitude Attitude is for you? Check out what some of last year's divas have to say!

We're excited to introduce you to our next Altitude guy, Andrew! He's not only an Altitudian, he also joined the Altitude instructing team teaching pole, silks and ZUU 😲 multi-talented! He also just happened to win ULTIMATE MALE LEGEND last year at Pole Legends NZ!

Continuing on the celebration train of our AWESOME male polers... we’re onto our second blog post to our ‘Guys & Pole’ series! We’re super excited to introduce you to one of our North Island students...

Read a little bit about one of our Onehunga students, Amie, and her journey with Altitude!

This blog was written by one of our members, Krystal, about her journey with pole dance

Curious about the pole world in NZ? This blog spills the tea on pole events happening in NZ...

In my opinion, goals are the epicenter of achievement in life. Without them, nothing has direction, nothing has importance, nothing has meaning. Goals are everywhere, in many different forms. Small to giant, from making a morning coffee to making a million dollars. So we all know that goals are awesome right? But in all honesty, they are actually pretty damn useless.

This blog was written by one of our members, Noelle, about her journey with pole...

This blog was written by Bex, one of our amazing members ♥

This blog was written by Kate, one of our awesome members

February is known worldwide as #handstandfebruary and lots of people get on board the handstand train posting an array of snazzy shapes, interesting locations, progression shots and more. 

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can’t deny those 7 inch (and higher) heels make people look damn good! From shiny and glittery, studded and clear to flashing lights and glowing UV, the range and style of heels out there these days will see you falling head over heels pretty quick (hopefully not literally!).

This might not be an association you automatically have but it's true! We use our butts in many ways - squats in warm up; a cheeky hip thrust or twerk; a squeeze here and there for elevating the leg in spins, splits, fan kicks or actually just whenever you're holding onto the pole and there's of course, a collection of derriere delicious pole moves too!

This blog was written by one of our members, Sheridan, about her journey with pole dancing at Altitude

This month our studio focus has been ‘Free your Style’ October. We’ve focused on free time and freestyling – two things about pole that I love...

My name's Ben and this is my pole story...

Some lessons learned from our Tend to your muscles September monthly focus.  You don’t have to be a pole dancer or aerialist to utilise some of these great tips for tending to your muscles. A long day in the office might leave you with some niggles in your back, or some stress on your mind which needs tending to to

In day to day life, you can be sure that pole dancers are highly respected in whichever line of work they choose. If their attendance at studios is anything to go by, they are responsible, dedicated, they show up on time and they give themselves over entirely to their goals. However, it would appear that many pole dancers have an inherent desire to misbehave...

Get to know two of our awesome Christchurch students a bit better!

We wanted to share a few fun facts about some of our Auckland students, have a read of our Q&A with Rhiannon and Izelle.  

Andrew is our August student of the month and an awesome member of the studio. He works hard, is determined to get things and always gives things a try. We asked him to tell us his Altitude story, here is what he said. 

What better way to finish up our ABsolutely August focus of the month, than with a few of our instructors favourite ab exercises, including that of our poster boy Joe's!

Having talked to many women and men throughout my journey as a pole dancer, both student and teacher, the answer to this question is YES! 100 percent, you can indeed get too sexy just from doing pole dancing.

There are some really great pole events in Christchurch you really should know about...

There are so many really great pole events in Auckland you really should know about...

Altitude is almost 7 years old. In that time we’ve grown and changed from where we began in a small pay by the hour rental on Cambridge Tce in Christchurch to where we're about to move to, a huge converted warehouse space with three whole rooms and another entire studio up in Auckland! With so much happening, we felt like it was time to re-brand a little bit.

With Mothers Day on the horizon, it got us thinking about the world of pole dancing and motherhood...

Wanna keep your fitness up over the holiday break? Check out these five top tips to keep you active over Xmas...

Have to go away over the holidays and can’t make it into your pole studio? Or even, new to pole and want some at home exercises to do help get you stronger faster! Here are our top strengthening exercises that will directly help you with your pole dancing moves.

Looking to improve your straddle invert at home? We've put together some top exercises to help get you there!

My name is Karry Summers, I am the founder of Altitude Pole & Fitness.