Nothing naughty in this pole dancing
"Regular exercise can help people with CF to clear the thick sticky mucus from their lungs.''
Christchurch Hospital respiratory services clinical director Dr Greg Frazer
Juliet Hubbard has discovered an unexpected exercise she believed improved her lung function, which has been compromised by severe cystic fibrosis: pole dancing.
Hubbard, 32, has become the ‘‘poster girl’’ for the lifethreatening disorder which damages the lungs and digestive system.
She inspired the fourth annual Pole-tober-fest fundraiser event held in Christchurch on Saturday, which raised nearly $4500 for Cystic Fibrosis Canterbury.
Four years ago the former Christchurch woman took her first pole dancing fitness class at the Liberate Pole Dance and Exercise club after reading an article about the fitness activity’s ability to improve lung function.
‘‘Exercise is quite good for strengthening lungs, even though you don’t feel like it at the time,’’ she said.
‘‘I felt like an idiot telling [my husband] Kris’ parents: Just been at my pole class; but they all know it’s for exercise.
‘‘It’s only a laugh if you want it to be, or it’s actually real talent – who can hang upside down on a pole without training for a year at least?’’
Hubbard’s health deteriorated over the past year, with her lung function dropping to 27 per cent, resulting in having to stop her pole fitness and move north to Marlborough with her husband where the air was lighter and the winters more mild.
‘‘A good day for me is getting out of bed, having a shower, cooking the meals and getting out for a walk. A bad day is staying in my PJs all day,’’ she said.
She is being assessed to see if she could be a candidate for a lung transplant, the only way to cure end stage CF.
It is the most common genetic condition in New Zealand, with 500 Kiwis living with cystic fibrosis, according to Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand.
The average life span for cystic fibrosis patients was 37 years, with half dying by the age of 34.
Christchurch Hospital respiratory services clinical director Dr Greg Frazer said an active lifestyle was very important for people living with CF.
‘‘Regular exercise can help people with CF to clear the thick sticky mucus from their lungs and improve their daily functioning,’’ he said.
He said activities which increased muscle strength and function and improved overall exercise capacity such as pole fitness were recommended to CF patients.
Liberate Pole Dance and Exercise club owner Liv Allchurch said she first learned about the disorder from Hubbard, her student since 2014.
‘‘She works twice as hard to build muscle strength because her body is absolutely fighting so many things,’’ she said.
‘‘And her attitude ... it’s 10 times better than any person who’s been gifted normal lungs,’’ Allchurch said.
Hubbard said the Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand Canterbury branch had helped her enormously over the years, providing portable oxygen concentrators, nebulisers and hardship support.
‘‘They just send me up an oxygen machine, it’s worth around $6000,’’ she said.
‘‘Without fundraisers like this, it wouldn’t be possible.’’
The event, which raised $3000 last year, has gone ‘‘from strength to strength’’, said Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand’s Canterbury branch chair Melissa Skene.
She said the proceeds would go towards supporting children and adults with CF in the region and helped raise awareness about the organisation.
‘‘It has allowed us to reach a completely different group of people – who are all keen to help people with CF – and we thank them sincerely for this support,’’ Skene said.