Whether you’re new to exercise, an elite Varsity athlete, or
a busy professional in-between, it can be hard to find an activity that’s
suitable for all fitness levels. Maybe
group fitness classes at your local gym, such as spinning, or total body
conditioning leaves you sore for days.
Maybe you really detest running, even though everyone’s into it, because
you need to find an activity easier on your knees. Maybe yoga has given you a reason to
appreciate meditation, but does nothing for you when you want to get your sweat
on.
If you’re bored and looking for a more invigorating, and
fun, workout, I challenge you to find a local pole-fitness class. You heard me—pole dancing. What’s no longer
an activity restricted for gentleman’s club has become a total body workout
that’s harnessed a strong, worldwide following and even in consideration to
become an Olympic Sport.
There are nearly 600 pole dance studios in the United
States, so accessibility is no longer an issue.
Neither is acceptance. As the pole has grown in popularity, there are
numerous organizations and federations in support of the sport: putting on various amateur competitions,
showcases, and events all celebrating the world’s estimated 180,000
professional pole dancers worldwide.
If you’re still curious or unconvinced about pole dancing,
here’s five good reasons why you should take your first swing:
1.
It is a total body workout…with a focus on
strengthening the upper body.
An average 90-minute pole dancing class
burns 550 calories. While this does vary
depending on your level, you can expect even beginners will perform basic
strengthening exercises, based on the pull-up.
Many focus on building upper body strength, which is key for women who
may have a hard time trimming our jiggly triceps, or nipping our back fat. Strong lateral, trapezius, and biceps are
required to do any move in pole—from basic spins, climbs, to advanced
inversions and graceful holds. Eventually
these holds will involve squeezing your glutes and thighs tightly to hold onto
the metal for dear life. You may find
this scary, but you’ll thank yourself for the challenge once you find your
stems burgeoning with muscle definition.
2.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just about
toning the body. It’s an awesome cardio
workout as well.
Have you ever tried doing a vertical
crunch, a foundation move in pole dance?
That’s pulling your body half way up the pole and bringing your knees to
your chest. Try three sets of 10 on that
one; your heart will be racing. Try the
same move by bringing your legs into your chest and then straightening
them. Finally, follow up with doing it
all at once—pulling straight legs outward, and then maybe over your head for a
basic inversion, called the “Chopper.”
Your pulse could probably match your doppelganger that just spent the
last 30 minutes running on the treadmill.
Regardless, for anyone who’s actively looking
to loose weight, you should know that the recipe for success begins with a
whole ton of healthy eating, a lot of strength conditioning, and even less of
pure cardio exercise alone.
3.
It’s good to be upside down.
Similarly to the benefits of yoga/pilates inversions,
hanging upside down on a pole can help with circulation as blood rushes
downwards to oxygenate the brain. Many yogis
and pilates students often find comfort in pole-dancing as the three fitness
forms are very complementary. Yogis can
enhance their flexibility with advanced pole moves that require a serious flexy
back, and the ability to do splits. Fans
of pilates will appreciate that the second most used body group after your
upper body in pole is, your core. Almost
everything in pole requires strong abs, especially bottom abs if you want to be
able to invert—and you do, because that’s where all the fun is.
4.
It’s a fun, dance-y, workout that builds
self-confidence and camaraderie.
There’s a reason why the dance form has
picked up in popularity. It’s sexy! There’s nothing to be ashamed about when
looking in your mirror and feeling good about burning calories in high, heel
stripper shoes. That’s an extra five
pounds to help tone those calves! Moreover, there’s no reason why exotic dance
should be kept to professional dancers alone, now you can learn how to bust a
move to impress your man at home (yes you can by a pole to install at home).
Lastly, you may even make a new friend. I
sure did when I first started taking pole classes at Crunch Gym, when I first
moved to New York City five years ago. Pole dancing is very social; requiring fellow
classmates to spot you, and share poles with you, especially at bigger gyms and
studios. It’s also a fun adventure to
take up with a friend especially if you’re unsure about what to expect.
5.
Studios are popping up everywhere! Among the country’s near 600 studios,
California holds the highest count with over a hundred. New York’s not far behind, and here’s my top 3
choices for interested gals who span the fitness spectrum.
New York Pole Dancing- www.nypoledancing.com. A studio that’s dedicated to the dance in
pole dancing. NYPD offers fun,
routine-based fitness classes that are routed in chorography. I suggest absolute beginners take the Intro
class ($25) which cover the basics, in a clear, easy-to-follow way: how to walk
around the pole, how to do a basic spin, and how to do a climb…all with the
grace, aplomb and sensuality your inner fox is seeking.
Crunch Gyms- www.crunch.com.
Good for folks who are at a moderate fitness level. Since Crunch is a gym, busy professionals can
pay a monthly rate and get their pole fix more frequently and economically than
studio classes. Varying levels of pole
are offered at least 3-4 times a week depending on which location you
visit. Instructors are sure to spot
you, and the larger classes invite exercise modifications, and more advanced
students often help out newbies. Not to
mention, most instructors offer a dance “freestyle” in the end where you can
practice new moves or simply strut your stuff!
Body & Pole- www.bodyandpole.com. In my experience, a great studio fit for
advanced students because not only do they offer levels 1 through 4 of pole
dance, they offer a great deal of pole conditioning (“Pole Power”), contortion
(for those interested in getting acrobatic with their pole a la circus), and
other aerial apparatuses to learn…namely, aerial fabric, and hoop. Classes are $40 (except for their intro
class, which is $25).
Happy Pole-ing!
