Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone - Part 1

As I write this, I can’t help but wonder (fitting, right? Given that this belongs to the Wander & Wonder section) after quite literally wandering – how much have I changed? Because the person I am today? Oh, she is a wild one. She did something past-me would have never done. She wouldn’t have hit that “Reserve Slot” button so confidently, without a second thought. She wouldn’t have actually stepped out of the house to experience things she had only ever dreamt about before. And so, I am celebrating her right now by writing this.

But here is the thing – dreaming is easy. It requires nothing but a comfy bed (or even just some midday zoning out – zero effort). Doing, though? Oh, that’s the scary part. Especially when it involves stepping right out of that warm, cozy bubble of comfort into a world where you might just… I don’t know, make a mess of things. (Spoiler: I did. And it was hilarious. You will see – just keep reading!😜)

So, welcome to Wander & Wonder – Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone, where I am diving into three experiences that pushed me way past my limits. But instead of cramming it all into one post, I am breaking it down into three - because each wander made me want to dig deeper into myself and helped me in so many ways. And so, each one deserves its own spotlight!✨

One Impulse, 50 Credits, and a Whole Lot of Possibilities!

So one fine morning, my finest impulsive self decided to sign up for some classes. And I have my dear friend to thank for this – a true Godsend! ❤️ She introduced me to this app that gives access to all kinds of classes – dance, sports, yoga, ballet, belly dance, cycling, strength training, you name it!  She had been using it for a while and absolutely loved it.

The best part? You get a set number of credits each month to book classes, and the first month is completely free. Just pick a class, check the schedule, and reserve your spot – simple! Naturally, I was thrilled because this was my golden ticket to trying out different dance forms and fitness activities. And when I saw boxing on the list? Oh, you best believe I started daydreaming about absolutely destroying that punching bag (because I am delulu like that😜).

So, I enrolled for the first month and got free credits – probably around 50 of them. And then, the search began.

For the Love of Dance (and a Little Curiosity)!

Now, let me tell you something – I have always wanted to explore different dance forms. Ever since I started my dance journey, the curiosity to learn more, try more, move more has been constant. Not just for the sake of learning, but to see if a new style sparks something in me. Because honestly? Dance has become therapy for me. I already love music so much, and I guess my love for dance also stems partly from my love for the music itself. Dancing is my way of flowing with it – getting lost in the rhythm, the movement, the energy. It’s the thrill of experiencing different styles, moving to new beats, and embracing completely different vibes.

From Daydreaming to Doing: My First Pole Dance Experience!

Alright, so Pole Dance – yes, you read that right – was the first class I signed up for. I had been dreaming about trying it for a while, and now that the moment had finally arrived, I was hyped. This was something completely unfamiliar, something I had never been exposed to before. It was totally not normal for me… something that felt so far from what I was used to.

Growing up, I was familiar with Bollywood freestyle dance during my school days. Later, in college, I came across Belly Dancing and found it fascinating, though I never actually practiced it. But Pole Dance? I didn’t even know it existed until much later. And when I came to know about it, I was instantly intrigued – the strength, the grace, the sheer confidence it radiated. I knew I had to try it. But let’s be real, I was terrified. Because this wasn’t just a new dance style; this was me stepping into completely uncharted territory. I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to hold onto the pole properly, let alone pull off any moves.

If my past self were here right now, she would have just daydreamed about this, like always. She would have kept fantasizing instead of actually stepping into the studio to learn it. But my present self? Oh no, she is not backing off – even if she knows she might not even be able to hold onto the pole properly.

A Grand Entrance… Straight to the Floor! 🤡

Honestly, I was quite anxious about this class, and to make things worse, I was running late. In my rush to get there, I hurried up the stairs without paying much attention. Just as I reached the top, I completely missed the fact that a winter doormat was slightly lifted at the corner – just waiting to trip someone up. And, of course, that someone was me.🤦🏻‍♀️ My foot got caught, and before I knew it, I went flying forward… in full winter gear… making the most graceful entrance ever!!! And let me tell you, that was just the first mess I made. 🤡. I picked myself up like nothing happened, but in my head? Oh, I was both crying and laughing at the same time. What a perfect start to my pole dance journey. 🤡

Now, the next task was to pick a random pole in the studio and just start learning – simple, right? So, I shoved my bag into one of the open storage compartments, changed into my pole attire, and made my way to the very last pole I could find. Why the last pole, you ask? Well… maybe I didn’t want the other girlies to remember me as the one who crash-landed at the entrance…And also, let’s be real – I had zero clue what I was doing. I didn’t even know the A for Apple of pole… which, turns out, doesn’t even have an "A" in it. Yep, we were off to a great start!!!

From "I Got This" to "Oh No" in Three Moves! 😅

The class was for beginners, and the instructor was really nice. She started with the basics – how to hold the pole and walk around it in a circular motion while keeping a certain distance. Ah, this is easy. I can do it, I thought. I practiced, and surprisingly, I started liking it.

Alright, next move. She then showed us how to move our body with the pole while walking and adding a leg slide. Ok, this was easy too. I was actually enjoying it. I started thinking, huh… this isn’t as hard as I thought. I can totally do this.

And then things started to get real. The next move? Hooking the inside of one knee onto the pole for support, keeping the other leg straight in the air, and revolving around the pole. Yeah… this is where the struggle began. It took me a while to even get the hang of it, and I quickly realized that this move wasn’t just about technique;  it needed a lot of core strength. And my core was not prepared for this level of commitment. Thankfully, the instructor was super helpful. She was going around, checking on everyone as we practiced. When she stopped by my pole, she gave me some pointers and guided me through the move.

Gradually, the moves started getting more difficult. I guess after the third one, I just hit a wall. I couldn’t perform any new moves no matter how much I tried. And that’s when I made the classic mistake of looking around. Everyone else seemed to be doing the moves effortlessly, gracefully spinning and hanging like they had been doing this forever. Meanwhile, I was standing there thinking, Why am I the only one who can’t do this?

One of the moves involved using our hips as support against the pole while keeping both legs straight and moving them from one side to the opposite side – all while staying in the air around the pole. And my legs were not cooperating. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get them to move the way they were supposed to. I felt like I was just clinging onto the pole for dear life, hoping for a miracle. Since I couldn’t get the hang of any of the new moves, I went back to practicing the basic ones I had learned earlier. The instructor was making her rounds, and when she stopped by, she reassured me that it takes time to learn and that I shouldn’t stress about it. That was a bit of a relief because, at this point, I was pretty convinced I was failing at this.

Two Messes, One Lesson: Keep Showing Up! 😆

At the end of the session, I went to grab my bag and change, and I saw that my water bottle had leaked, leaving a whole puddle of water on the locker room floor. So yeah… this was my second mess of the day. I just stood there for a second, laughed to myself, and then went to the reception to let them know and apologize. The lady was super chill about it and told me not to worry. Honestly, at this point, I was just accepting that clumsiness was part of my pole dance journey, or maybe just my whole life journey, hehe!

Survived the mess… now just pretending I have it all together. 😆

The lady knew I was new to the studio, probably because my grand entrance made it pretty hard to miss; so she asked how my experience was. I told her that I found the moves difficult and that everyone else seemed to be doing them so effortlessly, which made me wonder if I was missing something important. That’s when she told me that everyone I saw had been coming to the same beginner classes for months. That’s why they could do the moves so well and it all comes down to practice. Hearing that was actually reassuring, and she encouraged me to keep at it.

So yeah, that was my first pole dance experience. And honestly, every day I ask the Universe to surprise me with something unexpected. I guess this was its funny way of delivering! If you would like to read more about that part, here's the link to my blog post!

Captured this beautiful view on my way back!❤️

Pole Dance: A Mix of Strength, Grace, and a Little Struggle!

Pole dance might start with basics, but it quickly becomes an entirely new experience. From learning how to hold onto the pole without slipping off to spinning gracefully (eventually), it's an art form of its own. It’s the perfect mix of strength, elegance, and a little sensual flair. When you finally get it right, it feels like you are flowing through the air – sensual, confident, and genuinely powerful.

Lessons Learned (Other Than Not Falling Off the Pole!)

First of all, if I had been anything like my past self, I probably wouldn't have laughed off my dramatic fall at the entrance. Honestly, past me would have taken a U-turn right there and gone straight back home. But present me? She stuck around, laughed it off, and attended the session like nothing even happened. That itself was a big win for me.

Second, I happily embarrassed myself – looking completely clueless but laughing it off and continuing anyway.

This experience taught me something important: I am probably a bit braver than I used to be. I am willing to step into unfamiliar places – and I am even excited to do it, even if that excitement comes hidden behind a face full of nervousness and anxiety. It's all part of facing my fears, and this was definitely one of them. So here goes my first wander – Pole Dance!

So to end this, this is what stepping out of your comfort zone is all about! You try, you struggle, you probably make a fool of yourself (in my case, definitely!!!), but you keep going anyway. 

And this was just the first wander; there are still two more to go, each bringing its own experiences and discoveries. Stay tuned, the journey is far from over!

So tell me, have you ever jumped into something completely out of your comfort zone? Did you crush it, or did you stumble your way through like me? Spill the stories, I know I am not alone in this! 😆👇