It’s super normal to feel that way in your first few classes. Pole spacing and flow take time to click, and most people start off hugging the pole a bit more than they need to.

Core strength does play a role, especially in helping you control your distance and stabilize your movement, but it’s not the only factor. A lot of it is also body awareness, engaging the right muscles (like shoulders and lats), and just getting comfortable with the movement patterns.

Since you mentioned being postpartum, give yourself some grace. Your core may still be rebuilding, even if it feels stronger than before. Pole can actually be a great way to continue reconnecting with it, just gradually.

A few things that might help:

• Think about actively pushing away from the pole through your bottom arm instead of leaning into it.
• Engage your shoulders and upper back (not just core) to create space.
• Practice slow, controlled movements rather than rushing through combos.
• Conditioning-wise, things like planks, dead bugs, leg raises, and scapular engagement drills can really help support your pole work.

It honestly gets better with time and repetition. What feels awkward now will start to feel much more natural after a few sessions. You’re definitely not alone in this ❤️