I’m fairly obsessed with pole dancing.
My YouTube playlists are crammed with dance inspiration, calisthentics and stretching tutorials. I spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours a day moving my body in service to becoming a better dancer.
Until recently, I was Ubering 50 minutes to the nearest pole dance studio twice a week. The only reason I don’t have a pole at home is because our apartment is too small. I’ve seriously considered ditching the couch, kitchen table and desk to make room, but so far, my partner has resisted my vision.
So yeah, obsessed.
For months, I’ve been walking around town fantasizing about renting a small space nearby where I can install a pole. I even talked to my real estate friend about it. Every time I passed by an empty storefront, I’d say, “The perfect place for a studio is here somewhere! It’s just around the corner.”
Then one day a new member of our local LOFT community posted in the WhatsApp group that she was a pole dancer.
I messaged her immediately.
It turned out her friend has a private, non-commercial studio about 15 minutes away, where she rents a pole for a modest donation.
After some polite persistence and a bit of back-and-forth, she made the introduction.
And when I walked into that space…my dragons started squealing with excitement.
High vaulted ceilings. A full mirror wall. Spotlights. A sound system. A pull-up bar and rings. Mats, resistance bands. Costume racks for heels and outfits. Even a microwave.
It was a true love project of the two women who made it happen, and they invited me into their sanctuary.
Here’s the part that surprised me most.
They’re all locals. They speak English, but I’m the only foreigner in this budding pole community. This morning, seven Portuguese women flowed through the studio while I was there.
I understand maybe 15% of the words they speak, but I get it. Smiles.
Laughter. Gestures. Movement. Shared joy.
They greet me with hugs and air kisses on both cheeks, the Portuguese way.
They translate when needed and include me without hesitation.
I belong there, simply by being me.
It’s showing me that all my insecure thoughts about not fitting in, not speaking Portuguese enough, don’t mean anything.
These women don’t care. They just want to dance with people who love it as much as they do.
Today on the ride to the studio with my new friend, Lucia, we marveled again about how miraculous the space is, and dreamed about buying the property ourselves once it’s fully renovated.
“We had every challenge you can imagine,” Lucia said. “We move everything out of my warehouse to set up our poles with a high enough ceiling to practice until 2am, then move it all back in again. We were committed.”
And I heard myself say:
“If you want something badly enough, you’ll make it happen. As long as you don’t talk yourself out of it.”
It’s true. Pure desire is an unstoppable force.
If something can be done, you will do it.
The only thing that ever stops creation is a thought that says, I can’t… and believing it.
That’s it.
Because we’re human, those doubts can feel very real and convincing. But once you see thought for what it actually is, it loses its power over you.
This the gift of clear seeing you’ll tap in the DragonHeart Portal sessions.
We get clear on what you want.
We see what appears to be in the way.
And we discover that what you’re looking for is already moving toward you.
I have a few final DragonHeart Portal sessions available before the holidays.
It’s a powerful way to align with your creative force and step into 2026 without dragging old fears along for the ride.
Book your DragonHeart Portal session for only $25 here.
Yours in love and play,
Steph 🐲❤️🔥
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