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Original poster

Pole dancing exercise classes

138 replies

BadgerBumBag · 20/11/2013 08:25

A friend is organising a group pole dancing class as a fun night out. I have reservations. I won't lie, most of my reluctance is due to being rather larger and less fit than the others, but I can't help feeling uncomfortable with the whole idea.

Am I being daft or does gyrating round a pole as exercise seem ok to you?

OP posts:
Original poster
BadgerBumBag · 20/11/2013 08:26

*does it seem wrong to you

OP posts:
huhmuhguh · 20/11/2013 09:32

I've done pole fitness classes before and they were so much fun (and hard work!)

The class I did concentrated on learning how to spin and developing your core. It was most definitely not sexy in any way!

I wouldn't let being unfit or being a bigger girl put you off - I'm unfit and overweight myself and I was quite good at it Grin

Chopstheduck · 20/11/2013 09:39

It's fantastic fun. It was a fab girly atmosphere and it was more like learning a form of gymnastics than seedy. Pole did originate as a sport long before it went into the strip clubs.

Don't worry about fitness or weight. Bigger girls can pole quite successfully! All you really need to start with is to be able to hold your own body weight for a few seconds - which almost anyone can do. I started quite overweight, I was running but needed to tone, and it was great for that. I would have loved to continue but it is an expensive hobby!

Check out She was fab on X-factor America, and really shows anyone can pole!

samandi · 20/11/2013 09:41

I don't particularly like the "gyrating round a pole" aspect, but the more acrobatic elements are great. Not sure how much you'd learn of that just from a taster class, but you'll never know if you don't go. On the other hand, if nothing about it appeals, I wouldn't bother. I know that I wouldn't enjoy paintballing so there's little point in me going on a paintballing weekend. Just depends on your interests.

samandi · 20/11/2013 09:42

Oh and yes, no need to worry about being heavier - plenty of bigger women do pole.

Original poster
BadgerBumBag · 20/11/2013 12:42

I think I may try it... Might be fun. Looks like I may have the wrong impression of it. Thanks all!

OP posts:
FloraFox · 20/11/2013 17:43

As Ryan Gosling's character said in Crazy Stupid Love: "The war between the sexes is over. We won the second women started doing pole dancing for exercise."

Mitchy1nge · 20/11/2013 19:18

I would rather do gymnastics I think, everything about pole dancing seems so grim. Do you have to do it wear high heels too? Grin Maybe in about a million years when everything else has evened out between the sexes.

Original poster
BadgerBumBag · 20/11/2013 20:08

I know, I have an underlying unease. It is good exercise but I have a niggle about it.

OP posts:
MistAllChuckingFrighty · 20/11/2013 20:15

This thread will become very polarised (see what I did there), they always do

"Pole dancing as exercise" is an absolute triumph of choicey, empowerfulising bollocks designed to make women look very silly indeed in the face of their own objectification.

Please use your brain, and not your manpleasing shimmy.

Mitchy1nge · 20/11/2013 20:18

what about adult gymnastics or crossfit or something like that?

MummyofIsla · 20/11/2013 20:19

I used to do pole dancing (for exercise) before having DD. I even had a pole (which I sold to buy a cot haha.)

It was an all female class and it was the best fun i've ever had, not to mention extremely hard work! You only had to look at the instructor (tbf an ex stripper) who was about 50 but had the body o a 20 something year old to know that it worked.

Mitchy1nge · 20/11/2013 20:19

oh I seeeeeee is a night out

sorry

MummyofIsla · 20/11/2013 20:21

and no you don't NEED to wear heels, though many people do as it works the legs harder. Its only "sexy" if you bat the eyelids and puff out your chest, other than that its just swinging round a pole.

Most people wear tiny shorts but this is for the simple reason that you need flesh to be in contact with the pole (i.e. in a ple sit) in order to stop from slipping.

MummyofIsla · 20/11/2013 20:23

Now tell me that isn't cool!

Mitchy1nge · 20/11/2013 20:33

ohmygod @ 'works the legs harder'

it looks ridiculous to me Confused

what is wrong with weight lifting and actual sporting activities? if it's about strength why not gymnastics, or acrofit or something that isn't such a male idea of what female sexuality is?

Mitchy1nge · 20/11/2013 20:38

(to be fair the 'artistic elements' of gymnastics are looking more ridiculous every year too so maybe it's just me, I don't get the decorative function of working out at all)

MummyofIsla · 20/11/2013 20:44

But if its something that a person enjoys and it really is a fantastic workout then whats the matter with that?

And it absolutely does work the legs harder as well as further strengthening the core due to the added need to balance.

Just becasue it CAN be used as a form of male entertainment doesn't mean that it can't be totally non-sexual too.

And personally I think that having the physical ability and stamina to do that is really something to aspire to, these people are seriously fit.

Chopstheduck · 20/11/2013 20:45

MummyofIsla, she is seriously good! Surely no one can watch a dance like that and think it is seedy.

I do all sorts of exercise, I cycle and spin, I do body combat, body attack and pump (which is kinda weight lifting), I run. I loved pole because it was something different, it is a form of dance, you create routines, you learn new techniques, and you gain amazing strength. Quite different to other sports. It gave me tons of confidence, as I am NOT a dancer generally!

MummyofIsla · 20/11/2013 20:48

That's what I mean Chops, I think its utterly beautiful. As I said the lack of clothing is for the simple fact that it requires skin to be in contact with the pole. Nothing seedy, its more like ballet than stripping imo.

I remember DP saw pole dancing videos on my web history and confronted me, I then showed him them and he couldn't believe how artistic and impressive real pole dancing is.

FloraFox · 20/11/2013 20:49

Yes I've often seen male athletes work out in heels because it works their legs harder.

Chopstheduck · 20/11/2013 20:49

Another thing is that it is very social, it's usually 2 to a pole and you work with other women creating routines, etc rather than other classes where you tend to just work alongside.

Mitchy1nge · 20/11/2013 20:50

I was only answering the question from the first post does gyrating round a pole as exercise seem ok to you? and my first thoughts were 'ugh' and 'why would you do that when you can do something like gymnastics' which also combines elements of dance with acrobatics but without looking quite so silly!

Chopstheduck · 20/11/2013 20:51

My teacher was an ex ballet dancer! Grin

MummyofIsla · 20/11/2013 20:53

But Mitchy don't you understand that the majority of pole dancing is not about "gyrating around a pole" (how wonderfully cliched.) If you attended a class you would soon see this.

I agree with Chops, its very social and I used to have a great laugh and ended up really good friends with the people I shard a pole with in class.