Training and Sustainability as an Adult Athlete Part II

Last time we talked I shared with you my story, how a simple class or 2 became an obsession in under 2 years. How I went from being a pole dance student to getting certified to teach, teaching, competing and performing non-stop over the last 8 years.

I shared with you my 2 biggest learning lessons for an adult athlete are self care and finding your team.

Next I’ll be sharing my three pillars for success and longevity when training at a high level.

Resting Recovery

Allowing your body and muscles to recover is incredibly important.

In my first few years of pole I was training almost every single day with no breaks because I was so excited! This led to many injuries, breaks, and frustration. Sound Familiar?

Here’s my advice:

It is important Take at least 1 or 2 rest days a week to allow muscles to build and recover.

I have found that taking a week or two of full rest quarterly, every 6 months or at a minimum once a year is incredibly important as well.

Why?

When we train we are causing micro tears in the muscle fiber, which the body then repairs and adapts the muscles to better handle the stimulus that caused the damage. This is the process by which muscles grow and how we gain strength and flexibility. However, if you are not providing adequate rest for the repair of your muscles, you are continually causing micro tears that are not being healed. This will inhibit your progress.

I find that when I take time off, whether that’s a couple of days or weeks, I always come back stronger and more flexible. Every single time. It stands to reason that without proper recovery you are actually inhibiting your progress. I know its hard to take breaks when you are passionate and excited for your sport, but you will see better, faster progress if you do.

Diet & Lifestyle

Although most people are not training at the level of professional athletes, eating poorly and drinking too much or taking too many drugs regularly will inhibit your athletic performance, at any level of fitness.

Why?

You need to provide your body with the proper nutrients for it to be able to function to its highest potential.

I have a very simple formula for this. Ready?

Try to incorporate as many vegetables, fruits and salads as possible for each meal. That means that ¾ of your plate should be natural and fresh, vitamin and mineral loaded fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes at EVERY meal.

The more natural, unprocessed foods and nutrients you put in your body, the faster your recovery and the better your overall physical and mental performance. I became almost fully vegan in 2019 and I could never go back – the way I feel physically eating vegan is worth it to me.

I will say that the process for me to become fully vegan did take years, and there are still times, particularly when I am travelling when I have no choice but to eat animal products because there is literally nothing else to eat. That’s ok. The name of the game here is progress, not perfect. Proper nutrition is like your physical therapy training, you will not notice full benefits unless you are consistent.

Performance Enhancers

I have been seeing more and more people using performance enhancers, not just in the pole and aerial world but in every sport. I am seeing a particular uptick in this trend among women.

Why?

I personally do not believe in performance enhancing via drugs and hormones – these are all short term solutions, with major, negative long term consequences. I think training properly, being slow, steady and measured will create sustainability in your training and will allow you to maintain your skill growth in a healthy and effortless way.

I would never want that nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I couldn’t have done it without performance enhancers, or having to become dependent on pain pills because of lack of proper flexibility technique. I have witnessed an alarming number of aerialists who rely on prescription pain pills to perform contortion level tricks instead of addressing the core reasons for their pain in the first place. This is extremely unhealthy and unsustainable, especially as you start entering your 40’s and 50’s. I would rather have smaller range of motion that is achieved in a healthy and sustainable fashion, rather than destroying my body, ignoring my pain and dealing with major mobility issues later on in life.