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Student Spotlight

‘I’m not going to let that stop me!’

At Inversion, we are super proud of how diverse and inclusive our student body is. There are so many of wonderful humans who walk through our doors who all have stories to tell… so that got us thinking. Why not start a student spotlight?! A place for all those voices to be heard! With it being Epilepsy awareness day today, we thought now would be the perfect time to begin. Starting with a veteran poler who has epilepsy herself!

Take it away Laurie!

What can we call you?

Laurie Pritchard

What is your discipline?

Pole fitness and aerial silks

How long have you been practicing your discipline?

About 5 years for pole, a few months for aerial silks

Tell us a little bit about you, your unique experiences with the discipline and how you’ve overcome or been affected by any challenges you might have faced along the way.

The goth poler who used to say “no” to trying a new move who now says “I’ll give that a go” to it, whether it’s pole or silks. I’ve found aerial silks more challenging with having epilepsy, as I am rather shaky anyway, medication changes too but I’m not going to let that stop me. Where it comes to pole and epilepsy, I still, after almost 5years get asked “are you allowed to do that?” Or “what if you have a seizure?” .

Well, if I thought that way, I’d be living in bubble wrap and not even started on my pole journey.

For me, it has meant more than fitness. It has actually helped where it comes to the epilepsy too (in more ways than I can explain). Yes, I can’t do as much at times as some but I concentrate on what I can do despite the ups and downs of medication, dizziness, seizures and when I can’t make it to a lesson because of this. I will say this, having epilepsy, whether controlled or uncontrolled is a hurdle but not as big a one as I’d feared when I started on this journey. A longer journey than some maybe, but something I am proud of. If I can do it, you can, disability or not, Friendship and support is what I found, along with the urge to prove to myself that I can!

What would you say to someone who was debating starting?

Make that first step, take a friend with you if you want. It’s worth it, disability or not, just try.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences Laurie, you are one heck of an inspiration.

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