Pole Dancing for Fitness and Fun
Since supermodel Kate Moss writhed around on a pole in the music video "White Stripes", pole dancing has become the latest fitness craze for women of all ages. Regardless of background or fitness level, women are having fun and getting fit pole dancing.
Pole dancing is not just about sex appeal anymore. The dancing aspect offers cardiovascular benefits while the pole movements offer a challenging muscle-building workout. From California to the Bible Belt, women are appreciating the increased fitness and self-esteem that comes with learning pole dancing. Women are even pole dancing at home on removable poles installed in their recreation rooms.
According to pole dancing instructor Angela Edwards, "We get preachers' wives, teachers, nurses, accountants, lawyers, anyone between the ages of 18 and 70. The dancing part is where you get the cardiovascular benefits. You see good results. We have women who come in here 40 to 50 pounds overweight and drop it in about six to eight months and they get great, nice, hourglass curves."
The movements on the pole are actually a form of weight training, since the dancer has to balance and maneuver herself around the pole. Pole tricking is a learned skill and students must do plenty of stretching before getting started to avoid injury. Much like any other fitness program, students must warm up, cool down and exercise reasonable caution when learning new moves.
Some of the "pole tricks" students learn in class include:
Fireman Spin - the dancer balances her weight against the pole while spinning.
Bridge - the dancer holds the pole with one hand, straddles the pole between her legs and arches her back while bending her knees to see the person behind her.
Walk Around - the dancer pulls back her shoulders, pushes out her chest and buttocks, holds the pole in the crook of her arm and confidently struts around the pole.
Leg Grip - the dancer holds onto the pole with both hands, jumps on the pole and grips it between her thighs with one leg bent and the other extended while she spins around the pole.
Mats are placed under the poles to keep students safe as they practice new moves. Usually stretches similar to Pilates are done for about a half hour before attempting pole maneuvers so students are limber and do not get injured.
The tricky pole movements are challenging so women get fit while they have fun. An additional benefit is the level of confidence women feel after learning pole dancing. With their newfound skills and improved physiques, women also feel more attractive to their partners.
The pole dancing health craze is an effective work out that empowers women to feel more sexy and fit.
