During the 20th century, Pole dance became an extremely popular staple of strip teases and exotic dances in clubs, synonymously sexualising women for the male gaze. This overt connection is at the forefront of everybody's mind when I tell them that I do Pole Dance. In Soho on sports night, you see the boys' gawk, and at home, my grandmother's eyes widen with shock and slight panic which of course gives me a bit of a rush, but the same old dirty jokes get old quickly. However, Pole is so much more than the sum of its reactions, it helps build strength, flexibility and confidence.
With multiple muscle groups targeted at once through spins and holds, it is a full-body workout that helps grow muscle mass much faster than targeted workouts in the gym. Supporting your body weight on the pole not only is fantastic for strength training but also for flexibility and cardiovascular health with dynamic static moves that force you to engage multiple muscles whilst creating a shape that requires a reasonable ability to touch your toes. Flexibility training is great for the health of your joints and helps your posture in everyday life, as well as allowing you to create some impressive shapes on the pole.
The Pole and Aerial Society not only offers varied classes for all abilities in pole and aerial (where a hoop or silk is suspended from the ceiling) but also yoga, flexibility, and strength classes to improve your overall abilities that will aid your pole dancing. Another class that they offer is choreo, where you learn to put the moves from class together in a nice little series to music.
Not only is it a great workout, but pole and aerial have improved my confidence and courage to try hard things, as most of the moves in class seem impossible at the start. The classes also promote a fantastically supportive atmosphere which is a necessity when you can’t quite get a move. I would recommend pole and aerial to anyone, including boys!
