In Pole Position with Talha Albusaidi

Talha Albusaidi, who is in a pole position, literally and figuratively, highlights the paradigm shift in the way people perceive women’s roles in the society today

“In the past, men had all the accesses – from education to travel and great job positions too. Today, many women have these opportunities; unfortunately, it is not on the same level as men. But I strongly believe and hope that one day we will all be equally respected and appreciated,” maintains Talha Albusaidi, the 25-year old entrepreneur and mother, as she talks about her career in a novel fitness industry in Oman.

 

Talha, who is majoring in the final year of Human Resources management, started learning pole fitness at the age of 22, from a Russian instructor who lived in Oman. Not long after, she bought a pole, placed it at her home and taught herself the intricacies of the art. And before she knew it, she was addicted to the sport. Although she was never a gym type of person, pole fitness endeared to her completely.

As the founder of Pole Fit Muscat, she has had her share of challenges and upheavals and has come out winner. She enjoys being a pole instructor because she gets to be the person that makes women confident about themselves. “I get to be the person that makes women stronger than they would ever know; the one that takes the stress off their shoulders. I want to be able to provide a place where women can have a few moments of their own to connect with their inner peace, their little happiness place. Most of the ladies come to my class to take the stress out from work, school or college…” she notes. 

“To me poling was like therapy,” she states, adding that she soon started teaching her cousins and realised she enjoyed teaching more and wanted to be a pole instructor. She wanted to be able to teach women how to be strong, confident and have a good time, no matter the age.

“I literally woke up one morning, telling my husband that ‘I’m going to start teaching pole fitness by next week’,” she recalls. With the support from her husband, she ordered 2 poles and mirrors to fit in a room in her grandmother’s house and, five months later, moved the classes to Wijdan Centre, located at Jawharat Al Khoud. The Wijdan founders supported her business, but clients were not forthcoming as it was a totally new concept for many.

“It is understandable, as majority of the people look at pole fitness negatively. But I am here to prove to you that it does not have to be,” she explains, pointing out that pole fitness is a very challenging sport, one that requires a lot of core strength and flexibility. “Watching someone use the pole makes it seem very easy, but looks can be deceiving,” she adds.

She was inspired by Amina Al Mawali, who got her interested in the sport by introducing her to it to through videos and pictures of her classes in Holland during summer holidays. Vlada Zhizhchenko, co-founder of Pole Fit Dubai, who opened the first Dubai aerial arts academy by hosting her classes in a friend’s studio, also inspired her to take the next big step.

So what does she think about women’s empowerment? Is it all about gender equality?

“I don’t think empowerment of women is just about gender equality, because it is a known fact that men and women haven’t been equal since the past. However, I believe that women have magical powers, which means that when we show empowerment we are spreading our spell by demonstrating our capabilities, strengths and more,” she opines, listing commitment, dedication and passion as the attributes of a successful woman.

Fortunately, there has been a strong shift in the mindset of women as far as career opportunities are concerned. Women now have the opportunity to drive taxis and even trucks, in addition to taking up positions in the field of engineering. “What is more, with the rise of awareness in fitness and health, many women are into bodybuilding, personal training and nutrition, which again is a shift in the Omani women’s mindset,” she maintains.

According to her, believing is one thing and doing is another – once the two elements are combined, you create wonders. Her tips for women seeking some motivation is this: “If you believe in something and believe in yourself, you are half way there, and once you start writing it down, that is the first step into doing.

• I have always loved dancing.
• I have watched many videos and practiced in my room.
• I have  shared my passion with the people around me
• I have created a little career from a hobby (doing what I love).
• I have introduced the sport to people who did not know about it.
• Finally, I have opened my space and now I get to do what I love everyday and I feel I have achieved what I wanted at the very start.

When you are passionate about something, go for it!”

‘Empowerment Comes From Within’ says Hamdah Said Al Shamsi