I am Lela Robinson, and some of you may know me under the pen name Holly Woods, the creator of Pole Control Studios. My dream, my passion, was to build a safe and empowering space where students could thrive in pole and aerial arts. Unfortunately, that dream was taken from us by a partner who chose selfishness over community, and bad business practices over the love we all put into that studio. The destruction of Pole Control Studios, especially the closure of both locations during the pandemic, was a devastating blow, but it wasn’t the end.

I want you to know—my heart never gave up on pole or aerial arts, and I never gave up on you. The business was never broken. It was the toxicity of a cancerous partner who couldn’t see the bigger picture that tore us apart. I could’ve walked away, but my commitment to you, my students, was stronger. Now, I’m back and better than ever, offering private VIP classes and online daily workouts for those who want to join me on my wellness journey.

As I train and work toward my NASM Wellness Coach certification, I’m not just teaching—I'm growing right alongside you. It’s about more than fitness; it’s about healing, strength, and rediscovery. Together, we’ll push through the darkness of the past and build something brighter for our future. I’m here to guide you, support you, and train with you—privately, intimately, and with love.

The story of Pole Control Studios began on a road trip to Watch Hill, Rhode Island, where three fitness fanatic friends—dreamers, visionaries—talked about big things: Cirque du Soleil, Miami, New York City’s burlesque dinner cabaret theaters. The road was full of possibilities, and we were ready to take on the world. But fate had its own plans, and slowly, our paths split. One of us was swept into a romantic love story, becoming a wife and mother. Another tragically passed away in a car accident.

And then there was me. At 29 years old, I was left holding the pieces of a dream I wasn’t ready to give up on. I shared my vision with someone who seemed to understand, but little did I know, I was talking to a gaslighting con artist who would manipulate my idea into claiming it as his own. What started as a great business quickly became a prison—shrouded in toxic energy from the relentless mental abuse, manipulation, and power struggles that this man imposed on all of us women.

Join me as we turn the page to this next chapter. You’re not just learning, you’re thriving. Let’s do this.

Fifteen years of bitter, salty “success” later, I watched the business crumble, just as tragically as it had begun, during the pandemic. His greed, control, and utter disrespect for those who helped him along the way left me with nothing but a heart full of scars. I walked away with only one thing: an X-pole lollipop and a silicone pole I won at RuPaul’s Drag Convention.

But here’s the truth—I’m still here. I didn’t give up. The dream didn’t die with the business; it transformed. I’m back, stronger than ever, offering private VIP classes and online daily workouts. As I work toward my NASM Wellness Coach certification, I’m not just teaching—you’re witnessing my healing journey. Together, we’ll build something powerful, something real. You’re not just learning fitness. You’re learning resilience. And we’re doing it together.