Pole Dancing for Fun and Fitness

You don’t have to be an exotic dancer to appreciate the benefits of pole dancing—regular people can do it, too. People often have a misconception of what this sport is really all about (yes, I said sport), but it’s time to realize that women of all ages, moms, grandmas (and men, too) are all able to participate in this new sexy fitness trend.

Gone are the days when the only women who knew how to shimmy up and down a pole were exotic dancers looking to make an extra buck at the local bar or strip joint. Today, women of all socioeconomic levels participate in this cutting-edge fitness routine. Why? Because it’s a fun, fat-burning workout!

Women can go to a local dance studio and participate in a group pole-dancing class, take a private class or buy their very own fitness pole and set it up in their living room! Many home-use poles are not permanent and can be taken down in minutes—yes, your neighbors can still come over for an afternoon cup of tea without playing witness to your new sexy fitness routine.

Pole dancing can result in a new body, a new lust for life and a new you. It can give you a graceful, slim, toned physique and the confidence you have always dreamed about. It tones abdominal muscles, defines arms and shoulders, tones legs, increases flexibility and endurance, and burns up to 700 calories per hour!

Fitness pole dancing routines vary depending on what you are trying to achieve through your workout, and you won’t get bored doing the same thing day in and day out. Just as weight lifters follow a specific workout at the gym, pole-dancers also have varying workouts which may include warm-ups, cool-downs and strength building routines—just to name a few.

A typical class will start off with a 15-minute warm-up routine on a mat where you will learn how to stretch your body and get comfortable in your own skin. You will then be taught how to crawl across the floor like a kitten, while accentuating the arch in your back. Finally, you will get intimate with your fitness pole as you learn to circle the pole, twirl down the pole and do a 360 while suspended in the air—all while keeping the sleek lines of a sensual dancer! Sounds like fun, right?

Everyone seems to have an opinion about pole dancing, but as far as I'm concerned, this sport offers a great way to build incredible strength and have a blast at the same time. At the very least, pole dancing seems to be great way to spend your next “girls' night out.”

Keep in mind: I’ve heard a glass of wine is almost mandatory before a pole dance class.

Here’s a list of a few dance studios in the Silicon Valley area that offer pole dancing classes.

Sedusa Studios, Campbell/Los Gatos

Morgan’s Pole Dancing, San Jose

Jennifer’s Pole Dancing, San Jose

Ultimate Cardio, Gilroy