Pole Dancing?

I know, it's a bit off of the normal sports. Does anyone here do it? I started taking classes in August and it really is a lot of fun. We ended up putting a pole in the house (when my parents came to visit, I'm not so sure what they thought about it!). It is so great for stretching and the spins/inverting really work your arms, shoulders, and abs.

Most people joke with me about it, especially 5'11" me in 6" stripper shoes but it really is great exercise! I figured I'd throw it out there just in case anyone else has done this. I keep having to explain to the guys at work that the reality of it all is most of us wear workout clothes to do it and don't look the least bit exotic or cute! :o

That is well and truly hot. :D

Teigyr, just promise you'll use your powers for good and not evil, ok? :D :cool:

I've looked into belly dancing but don't quite have the build for it. I'm tempted by poledancing but have had a hard time finding classes.

I've always wondered what pole dancing was like :) :o

I have the scene from True Lies going round my head...

C

Heh....not so sure about the hot! I see it more as an athletic endeavor and it takes me out of my comfort zone a bit. My instructor has a website and also some Youtube videos and it is just incredible the stuff she can do. (PM if you are interested about her site, I'm not about promoting a business, I just see it as something incredibly beautiful!)

I've also wanted to try belly dancing. I try to, every year, do something that is just Not Me.

Crazycanuck, it is more strenuous than it appears. We learn stripper moves and also lap dancing moves and I've learned what is natural and what translates well are two different things. It's all about diverting attention and making things look a certain way when, in fact, it's anything but.

It's strange but I look at it all so critically now! My instructor was a judge for a stripper competition at a local bar. We could go for free, I couldn't because I had to work. Oddly enough however, these things fascinate me now!!! And no, we don't strip in class. I mean we learn it but it is clothes over clothes. I think if I did these things seriously, I'd blush then start giggling or something. I'd feel goofy at least!

We did a few pole dancing classes as 'girls nights out' and bachelorettes. It was a really great time, plus it was way fun to parade around in stripper shoes and flip yourself around on a pole! If you guys go, it really does help to wear as little clothes as possible (read: shortshorts and sleeveless shirt) because it's amazing how your skin helps control your speed on that thing!

teigyr, thats awesome that you installed a pole! a few of my climbing friends and i had so much fun (and a good workout too!) that we were talking about it, but we never did. Fun Stuff!

do they give special classes in how to walk in those shoes?

:D :D

Just walk sexy! Seriously, I always thought that exaggerated hip sway thing was just to get people to look at you, but then I realized that when you have 5" heels strapped to your feet the only way to keep from falling is to striiiiiiiiide baybeeeeeee :D

My teacher showed up to class dressed in white shorty shorts, a sporty spice looking track jacket, and a pair of white patent leather boots that laced up to her thighs.

I was thinking to myself, 'goddDAMM but if thats what pole dancing gets your body to look like, sign ME UP!' heh

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Originally Posted by Kimmyt

My teacher showed up to class dressed in white shorty shorts, a sporty spice looking track jacket, and a pair of white patent leather boots that laced up to her thighs.

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Hey we could wear that biking! (hmmm maybe the chamois would stick out though....) :eek:

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

Hey we could wear that biking! (hmmm maybe the chamois would stick out though....) :eek:

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I don't think we can manage those shoes though. Nope, not going to break my ankles for fashion now or ever.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kimmyt

Just walk sexy! Seriously, I always thought that exaggerated hip sway thing was just to get people to look at you, but then I realized that when you have 5" heels strapped to your feet the only way to keep from falling is to striiiiiiiiide baybeeeeeee :D

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But it's so HARD to walk sexy with those pesky ankle casts on after spraining your ankles while dancing in 5" heels! :eek: :D
1970's platform shoes....been there, done that {{{shudder}}}......

Yeaaa count me out on this one too.

I can barely walk in flats, let alone putting me in heels!

Definitely a funny thread though, it keeps me coming back!

But the boots, while utterly cool looking, aren't good for spins. They are good for gripping the pole so if you're inverting and not spinning, then they are perfect. They're also good for climbing.

The shoes are surprisingly comfortable! They aren't your run of the mill street shoes and I actually have no problem walking in them. "Stripper walking" is difficult, however, and the shoes make it even more so. That type of walking is slow and you kind of do the hip sway thing while playfully dragging your toe when you take a step forward.

It is also 100% true that the more skin you have exposed, the better. Skin helps grip the pole and it helps control your moves.

My class starts back up next week so I've been practicing and boy am I sore! It really is one of the best upper body workouts ever!

I have never been to a pole party though my instructor does them. They are really reasonable too!!! I think it would be so much fun to be around friends and just have fun. If any PNW people decide they want to do something like that, let me know!!! Shoes wouldn't be used because I think the parties are for people who haven't done it before. Besides, we only wear the shoes AFTER we learn a move so the majority of the class is done barefoot.

My instructors website is poleforthesoul.com. She also has videos in Youtube under poleforthesoul. It is amazing the type of body you can get by doing this stuff, that is the only workout she does!

:)

I must admit I actually considered this TODAY to surprise hubby. Not so much take a class, per se, but, figure out how to strip without feeling like a total moron!

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Originally Posted by HoddyToddy

:)

I must admit I actually considered this TODAY to surprise hubby. Not so much take a class, per se, but, figure out how to strip without feeling like a total moron!

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You should do it! There are little tricks you can do and some are SO subtle but make a huge difference. Guys like these things....simple creatures that they are :D

I wanna learn to strip and belly dance.