For those of you who love to pole dance, but are finding it hard to get off the couch and go work out RIGHT NOW, this is for you …

1. I’ve had such a long day.

The problem with this excuse is it can apply to almost every day of your life. On any given day, you’ve probably had to go to work or school (or both). You had to get ready for that, run some errands, take care of your family and pets, touch base with your friends, and maybe even make a stab at cleaning the house.

So, if that’s what every day is like, you can’t use that as a reason not to pole.

Instead, remind yourself how energized you’ll be after you pole, and even get online and see if your forum and Facebook buddies can help you find your motivation.

2. It’s so cold – I’ll slide off my pole!

Unless you live in the tropics, this excuse will effectively ruin your pole dancing for six to nine months out of the year. Yes, it’s cold. Yes, the pole will be unpleasant as hell on your ice-cold skin. Yes, you will slide off it like crazy. But you can’t let that stop you!

Instead, dress in layers while you warm up, so your skin will start to heat up, even before you start doing much on the pole. Then, grab your favorite grip aid and let it help you out. You might even try using your hair dryer to heat up the pole – or your hands!

3. It’s so hot – I’ll stick to my pole!

Living in Vermont, I only experience this about one or two days a year. But for those of you in Hawaii and other dreamy locales, it’s still no excuse! Just as we cold weather pole dancers can’t give up in the winter, so should you tropical pole dancers not give up just because it’s hot and humid.

Instead, time your workout for the coolest part of the day (assuming there is one). Clean your pole well, dry your hands frequently so they don’t get too sweaty, and even run them under cold water. Maybe even move your pole into a room with A/C. And, on the days when nothing seems to help, work on your floorwork and your transitions. Not all of pole dancing requires grip on the pole, so really hot weather can be a hint to work on the rest of things. And don’t forget to gather up your pole buddies for an icy lemonade and see if they have any other ideas you could try!

4. I don’t have a pole at home.

For many pole dancers, the only place they get to pole is in class. If they miss class or have to skip a session, they can’t work on all the moves they’ve been practicing. Still, just because you don’t have your own pole doesn’t mean you have to give up on poling at home.

Instead, alter your view of what a pole workout really is. Some of the best things you can do for your pole dancing are ab exercises and push-ups, all of which you can do at home, and none of which requires a pole. If you aren’t sure what you can do to maintain and build your strength and flexibility without a pole, ask your instructor for ideas. You can also use your home workouts to practice your dancing and your floorwork. Of course, eventually you’re going to want a pole of your own – be sure to get a good one!

5. I never have any time to myself.

For those of us with families or roommates, this can be tricky. After all, it’s not always fun working out with an audience. Still, that’s no reason to give up on your pole dancing!

Instead, ask your family or roomies to give you some private pole time. Maybe for an hour every couple of days, they could hang out with friends, play outside, or just read in their rooms. Alternatively, you can say to heck with privacy and just alert everyone that you will not be available during your pole times. They can be in the room, but you won’t be helping with homework or fixing snacks or chatting. Who knows? You may find you love having a built-in audience to motivate you to perform!

BONUS!!! 6. I just don’t want to.

Yowza, if this is your excuse, then your motivation is really in the pits! Moping and sulking and giving into a sudden bout of laziness are not good reasons to skip pole dancing.

Instead, turn on the music! When your motivation has flown out the window, there’s nothing like your favorite songs to get you back in the groove. You’ll start smiling, then you’ll start singing, and soon you’ll be dancing your way back to the pole! For added inspiration, turn on Youtube and watch your favorite pole performers knock your socks off – you might even find you want to make a new pole video of your own!

Tune in next week for the Top Five WORST Excuses for Not Learning to Pole Dance … a must-read for all your friends who still don’t get it!