Pole dancing for fitness?

curvyvegan

Go for it!! I actually teach pole dance fitness...its amazing for upper body strength, core strength, and flexibility. The way we teach at our studio is not aerobic, but other than that it is an excellent workout. You should see my arms!

firetriniti

Glad to help!

I go once a week, but once you get hooked, I know people who stay for back-to-back lessons or go more times. I count the pole class as strength training, but honestly, it's def a good way of simply burning a decent amount of calories in a really fun way. My studio also offers strength training as well as flexibility classes using the pole, and that totally helps out with general fitness.

One rather obvious thing I forgot to mention in my previous post is that there are different styles and teaching methods: pole dance (more dance oriented, where you learn a set routine over several classes), pole fitness (more like strength/flexibility training using a pole), and pole sport (more like gymnastics but with a pole, but doesn't preclude the dance aspects), and strip pole (self-explanatory!)

Most good schools offer taster sessions for free or at a discount, so you can see whether the style works for you. And also v important - be sure to check out how much the school values safety. You can get seriously injured doing some of the more advanced moves...

amandajam2012

I just bought a groupon for 6 pole dancing classes in okc. I am really excited to try it out and plan on going after I get back from vacation in a couple weeks. If I like it (and im pretty sure I will) i plan on buying a month to month unlimited classes!!!

What's the best thing to wear to these classes?

predent

I have wanted to do pole dancing for YEARS, but I am soooo shy. There are tons of places in my area that do it and I am so tempted to sign up for some classes. I have zero upper body strength right now though. Should I get stronger before I join or just suck it up for awhile?

firetriniti

@Amandajam:
Form-fitting clothing is best. If you're starting out, most people wear tank tops and shorts (biking or running). For the more advanced moves, a crop top and dancing shorts/hotpants - this is because you want to be able to grip the pole properly. I tend to wear a vest/tank top with a sports bra underneath, so I can roll up the top for the harder moves. Used to wear shorts, but now the dancing shorts - decided being able to do pole properly was more important than how my thighs look

@predent:
I started from zero as well, and it has done wonders for my upper body. More strength is needed as you move up the levels, but it tends to naturally come as you progress. Doing pole has actually inspired me to start strength training at the gym, so I can do the harder moves. I say just go for it

Determinednoob

In for video of first performance

amy1612

LOVE pole dancing (as you can see from my pictures). Its a great way to keep fit and build strength. I wasnt very strong when I started, but can now handspring (yey) which I never thought I'd be able to to.

If youre going to buy one I'd get an X-pole, its a good brand, and safe. Sex shops often sell cheap poles that will fall down as soon as you invert, which is really dangerous. Make sure to buy from a reputable brand, or a safe ebay seller, etc.

Overall go for it!

spoonful

I'd burn calories just watching.

nmf062174

It is an awesome workout! I think you should try it-I had very little upper body strength now that I have more I want to try it again. I say grab a girlfriend and go. My friend and I went (we laughed so hard at each other (Neither of us had much strength) the laughing was an added bonus.

KyleB65

I have never tries this but there was a class in the room just before my Capoeira class last winter. I would say that it is a great form of exercise that has a very high degree of difficulty. Lots of upper body strength work as well as lots of core strength work.
But, you will never know for sure until you give it a try!

Punkedpoetess

I would love to try Pole dancing one day, looks like a lot of fun but hard work to me. I say go for it and try out a class. I think I am going to look into trying one also.

FH36251

Massive, massive pole fitness fan here. I train 2/3 times a week if I can, with both classes and jam sessions. It's awesome for all-over body toning. Don't worry if you have little/ no muscle or fitness when you start - it will come, and very quickly.

Yes, you bruise, lots - but that's what Arnica (and bragging) is for! I've trained for about 4 years now, and honestly cannot imagine my life without pole. I think most of the enjoyment is from the awesome group of ladies and gents I train with. We're like a big, happy bruised family!!

Go for it - Good Luck!

Determinednoob

I'd burn calories just watching.

Light bicep and tricep isolation along with grip work doesn't burn a lot brah

CountryMom03

It is one of the BEST workouts in my opinion!! You workout, use and strengthen muscles that you never thought you even had with it, on top of it just being plain fun to do!:) Wish I could afford to do some pole classes but right now its not in the plan....would LOVE to buy a pole sometime to put in my home so I could do it anytime I wanted...some of my family may get the wrong idea or tweak their eyebrows at me for it but who cares??!! LOL Its an awesome workout for your body, strengthens you and you have a blast at the same time:)

iamluce

i started pole dancing on friday and i've never been this sore in my life. it's so good! i could definitely feel all my muscles working at the same time
and it was so much fun!
granted, it's really hard and i still can barely swing around the pole
but it's really good
i definitely recommend it

NormalSaneFLGuy

For the record, I completely endorse and encourage this style of workout for all women.

jessababy22

this was the post i needed to read! I'm going to my first class on Wednesday night!

jackspack

Yes, Please.

lori_en

I've been obsessed with pole dancing since I started nearly two years ago!

I go to classes once a week and also practise at weekends on my own at home. It is a fantastic workout and my arms and legs have never been in such good shape (still got a lot of work to do on my stomach lol)
I also find it is a confidence builder too and if you go to classes you can make some close friends as well

Yes you do get plenty of injuries, like bruising and pole burn, but you learn to smile through it and the ahcievement you feel at the end of a session far outweighs the pain you'll be in in the morning!

Warning though, if you decide to go, be prepared to become as obsessed with it as everyone else that has tried it!

Let us know how you get on!

Jugie12

It is a killer workout! Definitely go for it!

n25philly

It should certainly get the blood flowing. Yours too!

terri0527

Always wanted to try it! It would be worth it, if just for the entertainment value of seeing me bust my *kitten* til could get the hang of it!:bigsmile:

fueledbychange

I really want to try it!

lacewitch

definately do it
yuo will need shorts and you will get bruises in strange places but you are generally having so much fun that those bruises are badges of honour / signs of aceheivement as a new move gives bruises in a new place.

if you are worried about not having enough arm strength just go you will build it up very quickly and almost every beginner will be in the same boat. i would definitely recommend going to classes especially initially to learn safely but i do also learn things off YouTube - taking each new trick very slowly

i went to a taster had fun signed up to level one - and then i was hooked and now go twice a week and have my own pole!
i definately recommend giving it a go - it won't be for everyone but you will find you get stronger ( esp arms and core) and you have more confidence as you teach you body to do amazing things. I am not sure how sexy i am in terms of dancing but i feel great when i am hanging upside down off the pole!
( i think more Carrie from King of Queens ( you tube it if you haven't seen it) than "bendy kate" - also youtube! ) but for me that doesn't matter; I feel amazing doing it and it really helps me. and if i wanted i'm sure i could put together some sexy routines rather than focssing on hanging myself off the pole in wierder and harder ways1 also i have abs!! i never new i had abs and the still have a layer of jiggle on top but i HAVE ABS!!!

you can get out what you want from pole dancing! strength, sexiness, weight-loss, confidence and more ...
(e.g. read this article about one one woman;s experience:
http://www.thepoledancingshop.com/pole-dancing-a-form-of-healing/#.UB_P-fZlTnh
)

in-terms of pole i would recommend X-pole they are costly but good quality. never ever fun a fun pole / hen night pole or lap dancing pole as it will not hold your weight!!!

Keylarakat

Its a fantastic way to work on getting in shape. And as someone else posted, it doesn't matter who you are, what you do, your experience, how shy or outgoing. I've been doing it for a little over a year now and the studio that I go to, is fantastic. The instructors make the studio a "safe" place. So if you are self concious, it doesn't matter because chances are there are others there like you.
No upper body strength, horribly flexibility? No problem. Warm ups, practices and cool downs plus the practice and routines themselves all work on this! I was fairly flexible but if I had to do a chin up to save my life, I'd be saying goodbye! Currently we are working at climbing the pole, but we've been working towards this so it isn't as difficult as I would have thought! Our instructors work our abs, arms and legs because you need them to be solid in order to dance.
But starting from a level one, as my studio does, means everyone there has never done this before. So they show you grips, how to leverage your weight, show you how to do a simple spin. Once you master the mechanics, then you work on making it "pretty" and controlled. Like anything, the more practice you have, the more fluid and graceful you become.
In the end, I love it. I feel so much more confident. I've lost weight, I've toned up. People see my arms in a tank top and compliment me all the time.
One poster mentioned sore muscles. True with any sport or fitness. Bruises, definitely a badge of honor! In our studio, you can show off a bruise on your shin, but hey...you pulled off your first invert! So awesome
I highly recommend giving it a go... !!

amy1612

Lol, arnica is a polers best friend, and hot baths! Bruises galore, I once slipped out of a gemini handstand and caught myself on the pole with my bikini line. Mothereffer that was paintful!

FH36251

Lol, arnica is a polers best friend, and hot baths! Bruises galore, I once slipped out of a gemini handstand and caught myself on the pole with my bikini line. Mothereffer that was paintful!

Ouch!!!!! We have "not before date night" moves... Screams of "Ow my f-ing foof!!" are commonplace at the studio!! (Hoop seems to be far more dangerous than pole for this kind of thing though!!)

One piece of invaluable advice - the better you get at pole, the fewer clothes you will find yourself wearing. I train in a mixed group, and can well recommend the wearing of multiple pairs of pants to both mitigate injury "down there" and to lower the risk of accidental flashing...

Emagali74

I started pole dancing classes four weeks ago. I absolutely love it...... it is amazing...

Really good workout for your core and arms......and really fun and makes you feel a lot better about yourself....

My only problem is that i have no pole at home to practice on........ :0(

I would highly recommend it and there are women of all shapes and sizes in my class...

Makes me feel empowered and cant wait for the lesson to come round every week - go for it I say... !!!

xx

amy1612

. I train in a mixed group, and can well recommend the wearing of multiple pairs of pants to both mitigate injury "down there" and to lower the risk of accidental flashing...

Lol, at our studio we call these 'safety pants.

lindsy721

LOL!! Safety pants. I love it!! I can definitely attest to the fact that as you become more advanced, you'll find yourself wearing less and less. I think I've gripped the pole with nearly every inch of skin on my body that wasn't covered (not always intentionally, LOL!!) But yeah soooo true.

I'd like to know what kinds of moves everyone is working on. I'm focusing on stuff to get into from shoulder-mount, at this point.