I've been coming to Inspiration Studios for many years now, and it's one of my favorite places to train and unwind. They offer both Pole and Aerial classes, each with their own vibe and energy. Pole classes are held in Suite N and tend to have a bolder, more expressive atmosphere. Aerial classes are in Suite O and are usually calmer and more focused on flow and form. Make sure you head to the correct suite depending on your class. When you arrive, just check in with the instructor, or follow the lead of others in the room. Some instructors like to check everyone in personally, while others are more casual about it. It's a no-shoes kind of space. For Aerial, you're usually barefoot or in socks. For Pole, you're either barefoot or in heels depending on the class. I've taken a variety of classes over the years, but these days I'm more focused on Aerial. I especially want to shout out KC, who is my favorite instructor. She's clear, encouraging, and just a great teacher overall. Her classes are the perfect mix of supportive and challenging, and I always leave feeling stronger and more confident. I've been a student since the studio was called Poletential, back when it was under different ownership. It's been great to see the space evolve while still staying a welcoming and empowering place to train. read more

Inspiration Studios - Aerial hammock - Pole Dancing Classes Near Me - Redwood City, California

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My friend and I came here for a static trapeze class this past weekend on a Friday evening. The location is a little tucked away in the center of a business plaza but we both got here early and there's plenty of parking around so wasn't an issue. We were both complete beginners to trapeze so it was going to be an experience to start. I think overall it was very interesting and the other people who were in the class were definitely expert level including our instructor who was absolutely phenomenal in perfecting his craft. I think there were a few drawbacks that would prevent us from coming back here which include: 1) The instructor got quite frustrated/visibly upset at us when I fell after trying to balance myself. It was a bit odd because as beginners, we're there to learn, make mistakes and build confidence especially in an environment completely new for the both of us. We felt like it was unprofessional side and both def felt discouraged even though we laughed it off in person. We are both grew up in the dance community, so we know how toxic it can be to have teachers like this who react out of frustration vs support but we're not children anymore who are actively trying to hurt ourselves. I think it's entirely possible for this place to enforce safety without snapping at or shaming students. 2) This place COVID vaxx checks still. My friend and I have no issue with showing this as we're we've both got this done plus boosters since the start of the pandemic. It's a business' respective choice to ask for this 100% but it did feel a little outdated given it's the Summer of 2025 and we both haven't had to show proof of this in over 3 years. I'm still glad we tried this together and though we will likely never come back, I hope future classes foster a more positive and welcoming tone, especially for first-timers! read more

Very clean and large studio. They have poles of two varying sizes I believe and they are spaced out well. There are cubbies for personal items and a variety of different classes! The warm up routine is a bit different from other pole classes I've been to - there's freeform and movement exercises rather than stretching, which I found interesting and perhaps a little intimidating if you're there for a first time. Do bring your own knee pads if needed. From what I could tell, there are no foam mats available for padding/yoga mats, but perhaps that's available upon request. The parking lot always has open spaces, but it is a little tricky to get into, so take a close look at the route on the map - I've missed the entrance to the area a few times since it's almost hidden behind some bigger buildings on a confusing street. read more

I paid for a pass but the studio closed. I asked for a refund and they said they would only give me credit which didn't work because I was only visiting town. I tried to contact them several times and never received a response. Any response would have been better than none at all. read more

This is my go to aerial studio, and while I could gush on and on about the classes, I'm going to mention other less-biased based items: This studio has been the strictest for health and safety during covid that I've been to. They only reopened two months ago, and with required vaccinations AND masking. While this can be frustrating, the recent surge of delta feels like less of a problem thanks to these measures. Additionally, the instructors ask us to wipe down shared mats and equipment at the end of class, so things stay clean. Of the studios I've been to, I'd say inspiration studios does the most warm up and conditioning. Sometimes that means I'm a little frustrated at not getting to the apparatus faster, but it does mean that there's a much lower chance of injury (versus when I do my own warm-ups..). Over time I've really come to appreciate this aspect of this studio. I do think it's a little pricier, but the instructors are good and the classes are still pretty small. If you're new, I highly recommend trying it out! Note: Yes, you have to drive over a weird railroad track at an almost non-existent turn. Yes, you're driving into an area with a lot of weird warehouses. It's admittedly confusing to get to the first time. There's plenty of parking available so no worries there. The N studio is pole and the O studio is aerial. PS: if you're a regular aerialist and you like using rosin or chalk, you need to bring your own. read more

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I signed up for a pole dancing class with several of my friends one weekend. We were told to get to the studio early to fill out forms, and we were looking forward to this class for two months. From the very start, it went wrong. The instructor arrived five minutes before the class was to begin, and in a horrific mood. No hello, no greeting any of us, just opened the door and told us to wait in the waiting area. Finally, she came back after setting up the studio and had us all line up to go through names on the roster. Four of my friends were on the list; however, the instructor told three of us that we "never signed up for the class." We stood there dumbfounded and completely confused, given we signed up two months prior and had emails to show (including a charge we received). The instructor then started giving us attitude, talking down to us and saying we didn't follow directions off the website. She stated we registered with the studio, but not the class. At this point in the interaction, I have never experienced such poor customer service in my entire life. She then went on to say she has to start the class and that we need to email the studio any complaints. The three of us stood there completely confused as to what just happened, and our other friends were wondering what was going on. The instructor then told us we need to leave since we're not in the class, and got extremely rude and aggressive. We stepped outside and ended up leaving. I have not been back since, and I used to take a few classes there. The three of us then tried to speak with a representative for the studio, and no one got back to us via email or phone since we left several messages over the span of a month. Nothing. I would highly recommend that you fix your website (I have heard from other colleagues and friends experiencing the same thing), and to train your instructors in customer service. I forgot to mention I was still charged for the class, and never refunded since no one got back to me. Never again. This business basically stole my money (& my friends' money). Stay clear since other people in the reviews have stated that they had the same experience. read more

I tried an aerial hammocks class here which was pretty similar to the regular silks class I had. The instructor was friendly but it was an all levels class and my friend & I were definitely beginners. Since there were multiple levels, the instructor would teach us different moves according to the level but I found that it was hard to learn since a lot of the time was idle and waiting for her to come around to show us the moves a second time. Definitely a fun class but probably not the best class to take unless you feel fairly confident to try the moves on your own without much direction. I would feel better about taking a beginners only class so that the format would be easier to learn! Overall, we got in a decent work out though ! read more

Some of my best times learning aerial and hammocks were at Inspiration studios. I was attending classes here with Cola as my instructor for several years before I moved out of the area. She was the best instructor for several reasons: 1) Technique: She knows what she's doing and she knows how to explain in a way that you can understand 2) She's really patient. Sometimes I feel like it takes a while to get things and I don't feel like she has ever judged me 3) She's super helpful. If I need a spot or help getting into something, she's willing to give pointers and adjustments 4) She's very compassionate. I've had days that were hard coming into class. And she gave me the space I needed to just be. So grateful to Cola. I've taken pole here too and I enjoy the other instructors. Great community and you can learn a lot that you didn't know that you had the potential for. :) read more

A long-overdue review of a studio I've been going to for just about a year now. I started my pole journey with one of the intro classes and have since watched that same instructor take home a medal from nationals, as well as competed in two PSO competitions myself. Needless to say there's a good number of competitive pole dancers here, but the atmosphere is supportive whether you come for fitness, community, or simply because you love to dance. Every instructor I've taken a class with at Inspiration has been amazing. From my experience teaching martial arts, I know how difficult it can be to manage so many different experience levels as smoothly as they do, especially in mixed-level classes. There's always a simpler progression for students on the less advanced end of the spectrum, and the teacher will immediately spot you through any part of the sequence you're having trouble with. The studio itself is super nice, too. There are separate rooms for pole and aerial apparatus, each with more than enough space for a full class. The ceilings are high enough for even the most tumble-y of tricks, and helpful mirrors occupy half the walls. Everything is cleaned regularly, not to mention that each student wipes down their own equipment before and after use. I also appreciate the generally cautious attitude towards masking; no need to borrow trouble during an ongoing pandemic. tl;dr - Stellar studio with inspirational instructors. Would give more stars if I could. read more

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I really enjoyed my pole dance class here. Originally planned to schedule an intro class but that was full. So I tried the barefoot choreo class. Renee was such a good dancer and a good teacher. We had a bit freestyle warm up beforehand and later she introduced the movements. It was not very hard even for a complete beginner like me and I know I didn't finish every movement well but I totally enjoyed the whole session. Huge shoutout to this dancing studio and I'm really interested in starting a continuous learning session here! read more

The studio provides a fun and comfortable learning environment, with skilled instructors. They have classes for all levels, whether you are a new-comer or a seasoned dancer. I took their "Intro to Pole" class a few months back and loved it so much I've been going every week since! read more

Located in an industrial part of Redwood City. Right by the train tracks. It's a little confusing to drive through, but you're there once you cross the tracks! I've done a couple pole and a Lyra class here. They instructors are great and they usually give free time near the end of class to play! These classes are really challenging, but the instructors are really great at prepping our bodies and breaking down the movements. One complaint I have is on the floor. Some of the classes involve getting down and dirty on the floor, figuratively. I've noticed that the floors are a bit dirty... literally! There are mats for some movements, but it made me a little uncomfortable to crawl across the floor. Nothing that a shower can't fix! The bathroom is located inside the studio so you'll go in barefoot. Also uncomfortable! Overall, fun studio to come to. Instructors are great and classes are small so you get that individual attention. read more

I've been practicing silks for 2 years out of San Francisco but my new job requires that I work from Palo Alto most days so Inspiration Studios was the perfect place for me to continue my training after work (15 minutes from Sand Hill Road). Every instructor I've taken class with there has been super personable and professional, from pole to silks, and I find the classes are very accessible to students of all levels. My favorite class is Silks with Taylor--she does a great job teaching to the skill of the students while providing interesting challenges and motivational support. It's a little hard to find, but the instructors there are awesome and I love going back. read more

I recently started taking aerial silks at Inspiration Studios. I started with the Essential Aerial Fabric class, which I enjoyed, but currently feel is a bit too advanced for me. The instructor, Michelle, is very sweet and encouraging. Since my vision is poor and I was having difficulty keeping up with instructions in a larger class, I have started private lessons with Miriam, which has been amazing. She explains things very clearly, breaks down every skill into smaller steps, and is incredibly patient with me. Although I'd been wanting to try aerial silks for awhile, admittedly, I'm always nervous about stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying something new. So, one of my intentions for the New Year was to set aside my fears and give it a try, and I'm so glad I did. The environment at the studio is very positive and the instructors meet you where you are, in terms of your skill level. I leave each class with a big smile on my face, and excited for more! read more

This is an update. Still no response at all. I've reached out many times. Before the pandemic (March 2020) I purchased classes. I went to a couple, but then the shut downs happened. Now they've reopened, but have different restrictions (Proof of Vaccination AND mask). I respect their choice, but it's not fair for them to steal my money with no response to me! It's been 2 years! read more

Inspiration Studios is rebranded from Poletential, but it's still located in the same place in Redwood City. I've taken a couple of pole classes here and it's hit or miss for me. The instruction is great and so is the environment, but the all levels / mixed levels classes are definitely challenging for a beginner to pole like me. I definitely wish I could come to the Start Up Pole because I feel that it would be a better fit for my skill level with the apparatus. I LOVE the Intro to Lyra class offered here. I've taken the class with Michelle as well as with Cola, and both instructors are very clear and do a great job working with beginners. Typically the class ends up splitting into a group that has come more often (regulars), and a group of beginners or first-timers. Since I haven't taken many classes I always feel like I'm learning something new, and even when we do the same poses I am always challenged to find a way to make the movements and transitions more smoothly. I definitely enjoy the amount of conditioning and stretching that we do before each class. I'm always looking for ways to get stronger and more flexible and I've learned a lot that I have been able to practice on my own at the gym and at home. I always feel very warmed up by the time we're done, which is really important when working with movements that involve both strength and flexibility. The studio is very clean and both the regulars and the teachers are very welcoming and friendly. I am definitely hoping to incorporate more classes from Inspiration Studios into my regular weekly routine. read more

Took my first aerial class here. It was fun but the instructor didn't really help me and my friend had to. Location was also hard to find in the dark. Would try aerial again but maybe not here read more

This is an update to my previous five star review. I registered for the class online, but as I arrived I found out that students at Inspiration are expected to share poles. This is an inconvenience and furthermore, this is highly unsanitary. Pole apparatus is not a Lyra, there's much more skin contact involved and having to share a pole prevents certain students to practice as Instructor shows the move. read more

Weird that the person wrote a review on 12/27/2017 when the studio opened on 1/1/2018? In any case, I started coming to Poletential in November for flexibility training classes with Anna Y (please don't ask me to try to spell her last name.) They switched owners to one of the pole teachers and the transition has been relatively painless. Pros: - I love Anna's flexibility training classes. Time goes by so fast that I can't believe an hour went by. I usually bring my husband to this since his joints are stiff like hardened cement and he's not a big fan of yoga. This class is mostly partner stretching, which is very helpful for me because I feel like I am just stuck in most stretches (like I know I can go further, but I just don't know how to get there) and very helpful for the hubs (because it teaches him that he CAN go just a bit further.) Anna is great because she is not at all condescending, extremely patient and comes up with a lot of alternatives for my husband who struggles with some basic stretches. He actually enjoys coming. That says a lot. - The students have all been pretty nice. As a closet (open?) introvert, sometimes coming to snobby studios with standoffish students makes it a bit intimidating. Even though some of the teachers and students are absolute ballers in what they do, everyone is very welcoming. - I've taken Michelle's essential aerial class twice now and a lot of regulars come. It can be pretty intimidating since all the regulars obviously know what they're doing, but she spent a lot of time making sure us noobs had stuff to do. She's very sweet, learns everyone's names and is accommodating for all levels. - Came to Intro to Lyra once and I totally sucked at it, but Cola very helpful in making sure I didn't eat it or injure myself. By the end of class, we were able to piece together 3 moves and spin on the Lyra. The other reviewer listed that a lot of conditioning exercises were done. I actually like conditioning and stretching since it's something you do as a dancer. I know it's not as "exciting" as flipping and spinning and twirling, but you want to be properly warm before trying any of the moves. Cold muscles aren't pliable enough and are easy to tear, so for the sake of your physical longevity, the conditioning and stretching is important. Also, I've been to other aerial studios and you definitely spend just as much time warming up. So, I won't list the Cons out here yet, but my only concern from Poletential was the cleanliness of the studio and the equipment. Since Inspiration is new, everything is pretty spotless. I really hope they keep things in this condition (especially the stretching mats) and regularly clean everything. read more

This is absolutely ridiculous! I paid for a pass and it did not let me book a class. I drove an hour to get here and they did not let me in even though I had a valid pass and showed them the receipt. They never respond to phone calls either to refund my class amount. DO NOT COME HERE THEY ARE FRAUDS!!! read more

Great instructors and studio. I've been taking classes here for years. Started off with the intro aerial classes and now I'm taking advanced classes. Everybody is very friendly, supportive, and passionate. I'm thankful that I could be part of this wonderful community. read more

Had a 1:1 pole session with Renee, couldn't have asked for a better first time experience! I was a little unsure but she made me feel comfortable while pushing me. I look forward to trying out her class or one that's geared towards beginners. If you're like me who's curious to try out pole, this is the spot! Tip: the building is behind the railroad track, it's tricky to find especially if you're here for the first time after dark. read more

Since my initial review, I've been to more classes and I've found that most classes I don't have to share a pole, they do offer a number of choreographed pole classes, they do accept ClassPass, and not all the classes spend 30 minutes on conditioning. So, I am bumping this rating up to 5 stars :) See my earlier review for an in depth analysis and comparison for a few different pole studios. I've gone to a couple more studios since that review, and my new ranking is: 1) Tie between Twirly Girls, San Francisco Pole & Dance 2) Inspiration 3) Sedusa 4) VRV3 5) Ly's If I factor in ClassPass acceptance (which is a plus for me), my rankings would be: 1) San Francisco Pole & Dance 2) Tie between Inspiration, VRV3 (I like Inspiration better but VRV3 uses less credits so I can go more often) 3) Twirly Girls 4) Sedusa 5) Ly's read more

This is my favorite aerial studio in the Bay Area. Cola and Anna are amazing hoop instructors and have taken my skills to the next level while keeping me safe but challenged. The community here is supportive and I've made life long friends. Whether you're an aerialist or aspiring, this place is for you! read more

I went there a couple times for classes and it was good. However after 3 months I saw a new transaction on my credit card but I wasn't even there. I didn't sign up for class either. Please be aware of credit card fraud. read more

Poletential turned to Inspiration Studios. Like the others mentioned it's the same teachers, classes, and space but under different owner. Some small tweeks to the class titles to better reflect what to expect, big beautiful painted walls, and a stellar new owner are the main difference from poletential. I most look forward to the studio's growth under Renee as she is someone not only everyone looks up to and deeply trusts but is also indeed someone who inspires. Only just a couple weeks in to the new studio, and you can already tell how much passion and care she put into the studio. All the instructors are great, friendly, and extremely encouraging and knowledgeable, and the community built around in this space is something I'm grateful to be a part of and am happy to call my home studio. read more

Beautiful space, attentive and talented instructors, and well-structured classes. I look forward to watching this studio grow!

Inspiration Studios is a den of hugely talented, warm, and gracious individuals. You couldn't ask for a better team of instructors. For pole competitors: the studio is hugely involved with Pole Sport Organization competitions, and are not only hugely supportive, but are incredibly prepared and willing to help throughout all steps of the competition prep process. For lyra and aerial competitors: the studio was involved when PSO had a lyra section, and is now working on sending people to the Fog City Lyra Competition. The aerial side of the studio is really active in helping students develop and showcase their acts. The students themselves are amazing: strong and versatile, but also kind and humble. It's impossible to not be in awe of the people you will see training beside you. They work incredibly hard, and play harder. The classes can challenge the most veteran pole dancer, as well as make the greenest newbie feel accomplished. Combos are modified to meet a student where they are at, and push them forward. I couldn't recommend Inspiration enough. It's a wonderful place to be. Do come play! read more

Incredibly friendly place run by amazingly talented, open minded and highly skilled people. I love this place and everything it stands for!

Overall good experience - I have taken one class here, and would take another. For the price of a drop-in ($35), I was not thrilled with sharing a pole. I have only taken pole dancing at one other studio in LA, and I did not have to share a pole. The lighting was kind of dim. Overall instruction was ok. I took start-up pole. I found such a range of people in the class, from people like me who have only taken a few classes and barely know what they are doing, to people preparing for competitions. That was kind of strange and set up a weird dynamic in terms of how the teacher was instructing. Overall, I didn't feel the class size was small enough to get personal attention. Add that to having to share a pole and I am trying a different studio closer to me. I do like that they don't require "packages" - i.e. you can take any class ad hoc, and that they don't require shoes. It makes it more affordable. For more fitness style pole technique, I am not sure why other studios require shoes, other than to maybe hope you buy them at their shop. read more