Around The Fitness World In 80 Days: Day 6 ! Pole Dancing

Cheetah's are sexy animals. Leopards are sultry. Giraffes are graceful and strong. A good pole dancer has all these skills and then some. But a room of beginner poledancers learning tricks is more akin to a bunch of baby elephants trying to climb a tree. It is not a pretty sight. But that's because it is really quite hard. Becoming excellent at poledancing (I am not speaking from experience, as I am far from there) takes time, dedication and a blimmin' lot of hard work. You'll work muscles that you didn't know existed, you'll get bruises in the most awkward to explain places and you'll experience pain every time you're learning a new trick (now I am speaking from experience). And you’ll love it.

I actually had my first poledancing taster session a few years ago back in 2010 with a few girlfriends and the two things I remember were (1) laughing a lot and (2) thinking the teacher had a smokin' hot figure. So I signed up to a level 1 course (with Miss R from Fatcamp incidentally) and have been learning on/off since then. Today was just an open practise session with Maya (who actually taught me for level 1 also) but Maya Velvet Pole Dancing (and most schools around) will offer 4-6 weekly courses, in various locations, which is by far the best way to learn.

Maybe I’ll do another review on poledancing to go through what a course actually involves but in the meantime, to summarise my top 5 reasons for loving it:

Fun & Friendly Fitness: It is a fun way to exercise. Classes are (usually!) only girls, the environment is relaxed and students are always giving each other tips or hints on how to master that move you’re stuck on. You could be a lawyer or work in gentlemen’s clubs and it doesn’t matter a jot, everyone is there for the same reason - to improve their poledancing!

Fit Body: I have yet to see a poledancing teacher who is not incredibly fit. And I mean in a strong, lean, healthy toned way. For instructor inspiration, it’s a clear 10/10. And I think it’s important to have a teacher’s figure / skill / ability that you admire. There is nothing more de-motivating that being told to do one more "final" set of sit-ups from a beer-bellied instructor whose belly hasn't sat up in years.

Fit Confidence: I have yet to see a poledancing teacher who cannot turn on the sexy at a click of the finger. They exude confidence and look damn good doing damn difficult tricks. Now who doesn't want that?

No Muscle Left Behind: A general class will usually involve some conditioning (strength & toning), some transitions (bit of dancing), some tricks (core, more strength, flexibility, the lot) and stretching. You can leave a class feeling a little tired then wake up the next day with, what I like to call the-post-poledancing-hit-by-a-bus-feeling where you just know that you’ve worked hard all over and your muscles are thanking / hating you.

You Can Get Some, Some Satisfaction: If you lift weights, you can see improvement by increasing the weights your lifting. If you run, you can see improvement by shaving those seconds off your time. But there is some inexplicable satisfaction in being able to hold your own body weight comfortably on a pole with your arms, legs and/or torso (and any way up!) knowing you couldn’t even lift yourself up for a second initially. And that happens surprisingly fast – you’ll see improvement in even a 2-hr taster session and after 4-6weeks, you’ll have improved leaps and bounds.

Do I think poledancing is harder than say, running a marathon or completing a triathlon? Probably not. They both need training and a lot of hard work. But is poledancing more fun and interesting to get good at? You betcha sexy ass it is.

The Need To Know:

- Where: Maya Velvet Pole Dancing (teaches in a few locations).

- Nearest Station: Limehouse DLR (4mins).

- When: Classes/courses throughout the week.

- How Much: Varies from £15-20 for single class or £60-£105 for 4-6 week courses.

The Want to Know:

- Who’s it For: Those who fancy trying something a bit different with a bit of dance and eventually hanging upside down.

- Sweat Scale: 6-8/10 (Very sweaty during nerve-wracking moves).

- Strength / Cardio / Flexi / Tone: Strength. Flexi required.

- Complexity: 6/10 for beginners then 8/10 when starting on tricks / upside downies

- Fun Factor: 9/10 You dance, shimmy, flip and lift!

- Changing Facilities: There’s a toilet.

- Instructor Inspiration: 10/10.I Want That Figure.

The Stats:

- Total Time: 1hr 26mins

- Calories Burnt: 214 (probably lower than expected due to being open practise class which is usually more laid back. I admit there may have been some chatting)

- Average Heart Rate: 96bpm
- Max Heart Rate: 154bpm (probably when hanging upside down)