WORDS BYLINE: Vanessa Papas Starr Stauffer Wise, 75, a widow from Colorado Springs, explained how living alone with two cats during the COVID-19 pandemic was a lonely experience. However, in February 2021, as restrictions began to ease, Starr stumbled upon an article in her local newspaper that would change her life. "The article was about a local pole dancer, Diane Martin, who also happened to be a Pastor. Diane started her pole dancing journey when she was nearly 50, and now, at 64, she's my private instructor. She's the brains behind Pole Revolution," shared Starr. "When I read that piece, I was beyond excited. It jogged my memory about an old dream of mine – pole dancing, which had been on my bucket list for years but somehow got pushed to the back burner. I initially thought, 'Could I even do this?'." Starr, whose husband died 18 years ago, grappled with medical issues, including rheumatoid arthritis in her wrists and hands, a deformed right hand due to arthritis, and a history of osteoporosis, along with the remnants of two plates and nine screws in her left tibia from a fall 16 years prior. "I decided to text the Pole Revolution studio to check if there was an age limit. To my delight, they said there wasn't one. Without wasting any time, I signed up for an intro class that week. I had no clue if I could pull it off at my age and with my medical history, but I not only managed but got totally hooked. I couldn't get enough, so I signed up for a whole package of classes." As a recovering alcoholic with nearly 36 years of sobriety, Starr's journey into pole dancing three times a week not only transformed her physically but also provided immense mental and emotional benefits. "Pole dancing in my lounge – where I have a pole set up - and classes help me so much with anxiety. It's a lot of fun. I get great support from the pole dancing community and enjoy learning new tricks. When you are doing pole tricks, your mind has to be completely on what you are doing, so those bad things going on in your brain must be gone. You have to concentrate, or you may lose your grip, let go of the wrong leg or hand and crash to the floor. I just did that the other day and landed on my head quite hard. Luckily, I didn't have a concussion." Starr's favourite tricks are laybacks, inverts and drops. "Some students may find mastering these tricks a long journey, but these tricks came naturally to me. Floor work and flow work, however, remain challenging. My joints and flexibility aren't what they used to be. Nevertheless, I take pride in my ability to rise gracefully from the floor, even while wearing stilettos. Some of my high school classmates on Facebook have humorously commented, 'She's hanging upside down on a pole, and I can barely get out of a chair.' Flow work will likely never be my forte. Yet, I embrace the challenge and continue to push my limits because why not?" In terms of physical health, Starr has developed muscles she had never had before, even in her younger years. Her osteoporosis has improved, and her bone density has increased. In addition to pole dancing, she also takes Zumba, EGym and Silver Sneakers classes weekly. While misconceptions about pole dancing often cloud people's perceptions, particularly regarding seniors participating in the sport, Starr and her fellow pole dancers challenge stereotypes. "I've had some family totally turn away from contact with me. I never had any children, but I have two step-granddaughters who really support me. The one who lives in California came to both of my performances in LA. She has two daughters, my step-great-granddaughters, and they think it's great what their Nana does. I had some friends also distance themselves for the same reason. My friends are 95% supportive. The public has been 99% positive." Starr continued to say one common misconception is that pole dancing is solely associated with stripping. However, the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF) has established standardised rules and regulations for pole dancing competitions, elevating it to a legitimate sport. In fact, pole dancing has even set its sights on the Olympics. "Sometimes, people will pass comment on my social media accounts about the outfits I wear while pole dancing," stated Starr, who has 29,000 followers on her Instagram (@starr.wise). "I always respond with the same answer: 'Your grip is your skin'. Sure, some outfits are a lot more sexy, but you have grip points on your neck, armpit, midriff, abdomen and sides. Also, it's perfectly okay to show your feet, ankles, toes, thighs, knees and even a bit of butt cheeks. I delete nasty comments and block them. I'm not going to worry about ignorant trolls or let them bother me." Starr's story proves that the best chapters of our lives can unfold at any moment. "My advice for anyone hesitant to try something new, especially later in life, is to do it. It may not be pole dancing, but don't put it off if you've always wanted to try something. I never thought I would perform in an East Hollywood or Beverly Hills club and I certainly never thought I’d go to Los Angeles and perform at The Comedy Pole Show and get a standing ovation. I've met celebrities. I've met the most wonderful pole people. I'm famous on Instagram. I have had the most wonderful experiences in the last two-and-a-half years. I have met wonderful people and made new friends. I am known internationally. What a dream! What a life!" Featuring: Starr Stauffer Wise Where: Colorado Springs, United States When: 22 Aug 2024 Credit: @starr.wise/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. 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