Georgie’s Story

'It's an everyday, ordinary struggle.' 

As a teenager, PE was my worst nightmare. I didn't like sports, or exercise in any shape or form. I hadn't given much thought about why that was until recently and I came up with a few conclusions:

I wasn't good at any kind of sports, I didn't have any natural skills or tendencies towards a single one (or so I thought). I didn't have very good stamina, I would pant after the shortest distance and got very sweaty. This made me dread having to run, so I stopped trying.

Another reason that made me dislike PE was they way I looked. As a teenager your looks and body image are everything, PE brought up a whole new set of problems. Becoming paranoid about BO, feeling uncomfortable in very unflattering shorts and having to shave your legs every other day. It was exhausting, and made me feel extremely self conscious. I associated sport with all these negative feelings, thinking sport must be the issue!

Luckily as I have gotten older, I have become less self conscious, but it is hard to ever be rid of such feelings. While at university I decided to try a different sport, I wanted to have another go to find 'the sport' as so many people do. I went for rowing, something I had never tried and really enjoyed it. Sadly it wasn't to be. Again I didn't feel good enough, maybe not committed enough, to be a part of the club and take part in races. I felt our team, though we tried, just weren't worth training in the eyes of our student elders. 

In second year, I tried pole dancing. Not seen as a sport by many but I wanted to try it. I adored it. You needed strength to hold yourself up but also elegance and flow. It was a costly hobby that sadly met it's end, but I had felt more confident and comfortable in my body than ever before.

In my third year I tried badminton, even becoming a C team captain! I have never thought to be good enough at a sport to be able to train and lead others!

I also was introduced to climbing, one of the most brilliant forms of exercise (in my opinion ). Climbing further increased my strength, stamina and balance. It is also incredibly social even though it is an individual sport.

Now, I climb on a regular basis and have rekindled my love affair with pole dancing! It may have taken a while but I have learnt to enjoy exercise, to have fun! It may be difficult but you must try not to compare myself to others. It's an everyday, ordinary struggle.

Despite loving where I am at the moment, I still get little niggling thoughts like those and have had my fare share of stigma. Pole dancing isn't for strippers and climbing isn't just for men, nor will by arms get so big I will look like one