Pole Dancing – You definitive guide

Pole dancing burns calories, tones body muscles, increases flexibility, improves fitness and can help tone your whole body. If you want to take up pole dancing then head to a class or keep training at home with a portable pole dancing kit and the pole aerobics workout DVD included for the basic moves:

The Walk Around: Stand tall with your shoulders back. Hook your arm around the pole and tip toe slowly and sexily around the pole.

The Body Ripple: Holding the pole with one hand, move your shoulders into it. Stick your bum out and ripple inwards until your stomach is on the pole. Then pull out your shoulders, bringing your pelvis towards pole. Repeat several times so the movement flows. (more…)

POLE-DANCING is casting off its sleazy sex-club image as more women than ever give it a whirl as a great way to keep fit.

The gymnastic workout involves a series of moves carried out to music which strengthens and tones most of the muscle groups.

Mum-of-three Tracey Huckfield, 29, has introduced around 200 women to the sport since starting her business Pagan’s Pole three years ago.

Tracey works from home in Valley, Anglesey, where a pole takes centre-stage in the living room and a full-sized mirror helps students to monitor their movements.

Tracey first took to the pole when she was studying for her psychology degree at Bangor University and liked it so much she decided to turn it into a career.

“I’ve got the perfect job really because I’m doing something I love and the vast majority of my clients have become friends,” said Tracey, who is also qualified to teach aerobics.

“The initial thing I do is teach a routine that allows a student to become familiar with the grips of the pole and builds confidence into their upper body strength.

“The girls bring a me a song of their choice and I choreograph a routine to that song.

“I’m more of a trickster than a dancer and will put up to ten tricks into a routine but that is pushing yourself to the limit and it’s more gymnastics and aerial skills.

“We’re trying to change the name to pole-fitness to try and get away from the stereotypical image of the sex industry and there’s a petition going round to try and get it into the 2012 olympics as a sport,” she said.

Nadine Challinor, 24, from Amlwch, started pole-dancing with Tracey four months ago and thinks it’s a lot more fun than going to a gym.

Naomi Harries, 31, is also from Valley and said she couldn’t believe how toned she felt after her first pole-dancing lesson.

“I’ve had three lessons now and I love it, it’s fantastic and a great way to keep fit and so much fun,” said Naomi.

“The work-out is unbelievable and I will get my own pole eventually
when I can afford it.

“I would encourage people to try it because it’s a great confidence booster and it’s a full-body work out,” she said.