Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Stanek

Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I have been dancing my whole life. My mom put me into tap, jazz, and ballet class at age 4. Now, 41 years later I am still at it.

I earned my BA and MA in Art History and taught Renaissance to Rococo as a college professor at Pratt Institute in NYC. I still work many arts-centered jobs I absolutely love, like producing art fairs at the Park Avenue Armory.

But it wasn’t until I found pole dancing that I finally became a professional dancer – my actual lifelong DREAM. In 2006, I took my first pole class at Crunch Gym on 14th Street on a whim and a prayer. Little did I know it would affect the course of my life in magical ways.

Today, I am a pole dance instructor, wellness coach, and entrepreneur as I am working on resources to help others elevate their pole careers.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

I wouldn’t say the road here has been smooth at all BUT I would say that I never gave myself mental obstacles. I pride myself on having a wide open mind, following opportunity, experimenting, failing, redirecting, and never making any bad decisions – just decisions. And if it wasn’t working, making another one.

Early in my pole career, even after I won the US Pole Dance Championship in 2012, I experienced text book Imposter Syndrome. I wasn’t a trickster like Natasha. I wasn’t iconic like Alethea. I wasn’t nearly as talented as Jenyne. Who would want to book me? Who would want to follow me? A colleague in LA sat me down and said, “But Michelle, people DO want to learn about you and from you. Embrace it.” So I did. I removed that block and allowed myself to BE awesome.

Then, between 2015 – 2019 I was in a very dark place. I struggled with infertility and I never felt worse. I even fantasized, often, about tying a kettlebell to my foot and jumping into the Hudson. After a deep healing with an energy worker / meditation and manifestation coach, I resurfaced. I still had tough decisions to make, but I was able to move forward and finally welcome my baby boy in October 2019.

Then, postpartum hit me like a ton of bricks as my hormones bottomed out. I had awful intrusive thoughts and anxiety I had never experienced before. Plus the Pandemic shutdown happened. I finally reached out for help and started medication that helped regulate my unhinged emotions.

My job I had pre-baby and pre-Pandemic shut down for good. I had no idea what the future held, if I would dance again, if I would make any money, if the world would ever be the same – I think this is a shared collective experience. My body felt weak, heavy, and broken. I am vain asf but I was also so tired of trying, and failing, to “bounce back.”

I found BODi in June 2020. BODi is a deeply rich wellness platform for holistic and optimal health. This saved me as well. Movement, meditations, nutrition, mindset courses, and the best part – the community and support – were a godsend that I didn’t even know I needed. I will never forget crying my eyes out during my last workout of a 42 day program. I was in the bedroom, doing the last cardio move, sweating, crying, snorting – the works! I saw myself in the mirror and thought, “There you are, you sexy bitch. I thought I would never see you again.” I WAS BACK!

With many hesitations and 1,000 questions, I joined as a BODi Partner in July 2020. I thought, if this could help me in such a profound way, I NEED to help others feel this too. It’s too wonderful to keep to myself. It’s too important not to share. This business has surprisingly been one of the best personal and professional decisions I have ever made. Now, I help others follow this path with me and I love every moment of it.

This business opportunity also led me to my entrepreneurial self – a self I don’t know very well. But I am learning every day.

I am taking my life experiences as a teacher, dancer, artist, writer, researcher, pole instructor, wellness coach, and entrepreneur to create resources to help pole dancers and instructors elevate their careers too. So … STAY TUNED!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

Savage Pole and Wellness exists to help pole dancers and instructors find real wellness of the mind, body, spirit, and finances.

Pole dancing changes and even saves lives. There is something so special about it, unlike any other movement class. So, as an instructor, it is your job to show up with the mindset and tools to not just give a great class, but to provide a memorable and transformative experience your students will come back to again and again.

I help pole instructors enhance their role as Teacher / Guide / Facilitator to go way beyond basic – your students deserve so much more than that. No one wants to be basic anyway!

Plus, as pole instructors and pole dancers, it is OK to learn how to monetize your knowledge and craft, earn money, manage that money, and be in control of your financial wellness too.

Savage Pole and Wellness is a catalyst to mastery in your pole career.

And you can join my BODi team of Partners anytime. Team Savage is my life raft and my grounding. It’s open to all (in the US, UK, Canada, and France – for now!)

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?

My husband Tommy has helped support me in every possible way. He has picked me up off the floor in my moments of deep despair, given business advice, provided limitless patience, and always has my happiness in mind.

My friend and fellow pole entrepreneur Dalijah Franklin always comes through with good entrepreneurial advice.

Dr. Ashly Locklin is currently helping to guide me in a course creation process. As are Kate Bullard and Allison Clark, who I met through BODi.

This list will keep growing! You can’t do it alone!

Pricing:

• Courses on elevated pole instruction
• Competition prep
• Community
• 1:1 mentoring

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.savagepoleandwellness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellestanek/

Image Credits

Annie Forrest
Jessica Corso
Millie Robson