When I took my first pole class, I was expecting to have fun and do something sexy, what I didn’t expect was to find a community I had been searching for for years. To say I got stronger because pole is such an amazing full body workout, would be an understatement. I got stronger, made friends, learned how to appreciate others successes, learned how to appreciate my body, and learned how to move my body with intuition. I feel so strongly about my experience in the classroom, that I try to apply those same learnings in the rest of my life. After being an avid yogi for many years, I always felt like there was something missing in my workouts, and for me, that was intuitive movement. Understanding what I was strong enough to do, had the energy to do, what my body needed, actively training my body to carry me through the day but also in the pole. Knowing when it’s a stretching and active flexibility day and when it’s a “get upside down” day.

After years of searching for the perfect studio in Shanghai, a chance meeting with the founder Johanna ended that long search! Johanna told me that she was opening a studio soon and I knew right away that it would be life-changing! After my first class, I knew that this studio was the place to be! The instructors were incredible, and so supportive and the classes were taught in a very methodical and professional way!

Before Zero Gravity, I was a bit all over the place, and couldn’t get into my stride, training-wise. However, at Zero Gravity, the levels were clearly defined and the sense of achievement after every class was exhilarating! The Zero Gravity community are the greatest group of people you will ever meet. Everyone cheers each other on, and celebrates everyone’s victories, big and small!

The people at Zero Gravity are a source of daily inspiration, being absolute heroes in everything they do! Zero Gravity was a huge part of my life and from being a member of Zero Gravity, I went from not knowing how to properly progress or train to knowing my exact level and how to progress, and even becoming a pole dance instructor where I could share my love of the sport with others in an amazing community of people!

At first, I was astonished by the professionalism of the owner of ZERO GRAVITY, aka Pole Mama. She is a tall and strong woman with a huge bootie and six packs! Before I met her I thought women had to look certain ways but then I realized a woman with six packs just look smashing! It was noticeable even to a newbie like me that each part of the pole training was carefully planned and executed. When I thought pole dance was more to do with expressing oneself, being sexy and having fun, it was actually HARD WORK!!! But once I got the hang of the basics, the real fun started.

Not only is Zero Gravity an uplifting, positive and welcoming dance studio, I was also introduced to the wonderful community of pole dancers in Shanghai. From the very beginning of my pole journey, everyone at Zero Gravity was welcoming, friendly and supportive; I didn’t just progress in pole dancing at Zero Gravity, I became friends with my fellow pole dancers too! Plus, I am now fitter, stronger and more flexible thanks to Zero Gravity. Fantastic pole studio and a fantastic community!

I started going to Zero Gravity in 2019 on a whim. I had never done any kind of aerial sports before but wanted to see what it was all about. I was terrible at pole when I started!  However, the instructors at Zero Gravity are patient and capable, and willing to work with students to make sure everyone is comfortable, safe, and working within their potential. I came right back the next week and kept coming back for the next 4 years.

Pole dance was not a sport I had ever expected to fall in love with, but when I decided to try Zero Gravity while training for a Spartan race, I instantly realized that nothing could compare. Not only was pole a challenge for strength and kinesthetic intelligence, but Zero Gravity provided a community of women learning to love their bodies and leave behind the societal expectations of covering up or remaining demure.

I had never heard the word “vagina” so many times! I hadn’t seen real bodies in so much action, and living proof that you have no idea how strong someone is until you see them spinning through the air upside down. Johanna’s abs are better than Brad Pitt’s in “Fight Club!” I instantly felt this was a woman I would follow into the apocalypse (conveniently she loves to write choreography to apocalyptic music). My body has changed dramatically since joining Zero Gravity. I can now do front splits and hang upside down. I’ve performed a pole dance routine that Johanna helped me practice, and I’d never been in a dance show before.

The studio gave me a new community, of scantily clad women into every style of music where conversation was about how strong and beautiful we are, how to improve range of motion or find the best physio therapists in the city. We only support and encourage each other.

Within the first six months I knew I wanted to be part of the crew teaching at the studio. It’s hard to believe that the first time I tried exotic heels as a ZG student I nearly cried, and now I can teach people how to dance in them!

My weekly schedule is all about picking classes to take alongside those I teach. There is no small way of saying that Zero Gravity changed my life and my body, and every time I step into the studio I leave the rest of the world outside the door - with my non-dancing shoes.

I was the kid who hated gym class; I spent my twenties thinking movement meant torturing yourself through early-morning runs, that not liking competitive sports or treadmills meant I was the failure. I came to Zero Gravity three years ago without any strength and…what’s the opposite of flexibility? And the studio’s not some magic pill, it’s not a fast-track to doing pull-ups with your pinkies. It’s just a fucking amazing group of people who approach athletics with humor, joy and incredible support. It’s sports that don’t emphasize winning or getting ripped. It’s where I learned to love movement, to appreciate and love my body in new ways, to approach aging and my health with a sense of control. If you’ve got any curiosity about pole or other aerial sports, come give it a shot. You might just fall in love with yourself.

It’s going to sound cliche but I need to say encountering Zero Gravity was a life-changing experience. It’s more than just picking up a new sport, strength training or working out. The community I have met here and built up brought me courage and support. No matter which part of the journey your body is going through you will find a helping hand here; The moment anyone walk through that glass door they are embraced by love and encouragement. To think back in my very first class I showed up with fabrics covering up most of my body and me feeling very aware of how I look, I never would imagined one day I can happily sit down with my belly fat folding on top of each other, knowing that there’s some muscle underneath giving me the strength to lift myself up in the air. Give yourself the opportunity to try a class out, perhaps also the opportunity to love yourself a little bit more - because we all need that.

Zero Gravity was my home away from home during my years in Shanghai. Not only did I learn a lot and make many lifelong friends, but I also have become the strongest I’ve ever been in my life. I know this new-found love of exercise and fitness will benefit my health throughout my life.

During the Chinese New Year 2023, I paid my first visit to Zero Gravity. The sight of girls, ladies, and men flying around on poles fascinated me. But it wasn't until I joined the pole virgin class that I came to realize how difficult pole dancing can be.  Pole dancing is so different from gym and weightlifting. Despite of years training in the gym, I still remember on the first day of training pole, I was even not able to "sit" stably on the pole, nor a "stand", by squeezing the knees and thighs.

Many people probably would talk about body positivity, self-confidence, self-love.  However, I have maybe too much admiration for myself, including and not limited to my height and my body fat. Zero Gravity provides me a warm shelter, to escape from the unrealistic beauty standards noise. 

The moment I touch the pole, I sometimes even imagine myself as a real Queen inspecting my territory. 

I am not only overcoming physical challenge and the fear of upside-down, showing a display of breathtaking movements. But also, as queen, I go up and down alongside rivers and mountains in my kingdom, I stand on the strong waves on the ocean, and I dominate the rotating stars.  Since there is zero gravity, the stars have to obey my orders, right? 

Looking back over my experience of the past year, pole dancing has been an important part of my life. In the Zero Gravity family, we share our experiences, we appreciate and respect each other, we celebrate everyone's progress.  And, yes, the most important, we shake our ASSes here!