Introduction:
Hello and welcome back to: Becoming a Skinny Legend with Claire! So, as I mentioned before, this was a double feature. I also tried pole dancing this week. Now, this may sound inappropriate to blog about this for an academic class, however, contrary to popular belief, pole dancing is actually a workout as opposed to a tool simply used in strip clubs. Additionally, it is not inherently sexual or inappropriate. Pole dancing has a fascinating history. According to polepedia.com, it is rumored to have began around the 12th century in Africa, with the women using a large wooden pole in a fertility tribal dance. In the 1980s, pole dancing was primarily found in Burlesque clubs. However, in the late 1980s, the first pole dancing studio opened in Vancouver, CA, in order to teach the skill. Now, you can find studios across America and abroad, with people going for a multitude of reasons. For my friend and I, we just went for fun!
Experience:
I went to Exotic Workouts in Lakeworth, FL. Their website was not intimidating, and they actually had a section that demonstrated success stories, with pictures of women that had transformed their bodies by doing pole dancing. I thought this was interesting, because you don’t usually think of “getting in shape” as pole dancing. Furthermore, when picking a class, you can choose from multiple “levels,” so you are learning with people who are starting at a similar ability and experience level. I chose the beginner option.As you can imagine, I was very intimidating walking into the studio. However, my friend and I were warmly welcomed as soon as we walked through the doors. We took a group class, and the studio looked like a ballet studio with 20 poles spread throughout it. The other people in my class were incredibly diverse in age and body types, making it clear that pole dancing is something everyone can do! I talked to one woman who said that after her kids, she wanted to get back in shape in a fun way, rather than simply pounding the treadmill. The instructor dove right in, first demonstrating the basics on how to approach the pole. Next, we learned some basic moves, such as how to correctly spin around it, which was entertaining. Lastly, we learned a brief routine to a song at the end. The class lasted an hour long.
Criteria:
Calories burned: I burned 125 calories, which is less than usual, but considering because we were learning each move rather than constantly moving, it was more strength-based instead of cardio.
Quality of the workout: The next morning, I could barely move due to being so sore. It reminded me of pilates, because you work small muscle groups that often aren’t utilized. After seeing the calories burned, I was unsure of whether it was a quality workout, but feeling my muscles the next day I would definitely say it was decent. Additionally, as you get better and have the basics down, I believe that you move more and fulfill the cardio aspect, therefore burning more calories.
Fun: I actually had a blast trying this out! It was so unique and the instructors and other attendees were incredibly kind and welcoming. It was almost like Zumba with an acrobatic aspect.
Would I go again?: I would definitely go again. Unfortunately, the closest studio is 45 minutes away, so I can’t consistently go, but I definitely will do it every once in awhile. All in all, I would definitely recommend this workout for someone looking to leave their comfort zone and have a great time.
Looking Forward:
Our journey has come to an end. I have had such a great time exploring new facets of the fitness world with all of you. I’ll be honest, my body looks the same because I’ve been destroying orders of french fries like nodody’s business, but I had so much fun and tried so many new things. I hope this helped open people’s eyes to the fact that working out doesn’t always need to be a chore, and switching things up is a great way to avoid that gym boredom. Wishing everyone a healthy and happy rest of the semester!
Becoming a Skinny Legend with Claire 