Nikki Craven grabs a metal pole dancing pole, and to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” lifts herself up on it, flips her legs over her head, does a twirl and slides down, hands first, onto the light-up tile floor.

Her students, on a Saturday afternoon at Inferno in downtown Greensboro, break into applause.

The News & Record of Greensboro reported that the 26-year-old Craven is a pole exercise instructor. She is not, however, a stripper. And though she has had some students who were exotic dancers, most are just women wanting to spice things up in their relationships or looking for a unique way to get into shape.

“Some people, when I tell them I teach pole dancing, they instantly shut down,” Craven said. “They hear the words ‘pole dancing’ and then they just associate it with something unseemly. But this is more about getting women to come out of their shells, to be confident in their bodies.”

The classes are part of a growing national trend that’s drawing a wide variety of people. Craven’s students range in age from 18 to early 50s and include college students, a pastor’s wife and even a former body builder, Jody Luman.

(more…)

Dressed in a low-cut pink shirt, tight black booty pants, and thick, plastic platform stilettos, Stephanie Babines doesn’t look the part of a political rabble-rouser. Yet an activist is exactly what Babines became when her efforts to help women shape up through fully clothed, decidedly G-rated stripper-inspired aerobics ran afoul of overzealous officials in the small western Pennsylvania town of Mars. This unyieldingly perky 31-year-old entrepreneur, standing in the small forest of steel poles that shoot up from the floor of her mirrored dance and fitness studio, has taught dance-phobic authorities an expensive lesson in federal court. “It’s pretty surreal to get calls from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, never mind Dr. Phil, Jerry Springer, and America’s Got Talent,” Babines laughs, leaning back beneath a bookshelf filled with such revolutionary tomes as The World According to Mr. Rogers and The Housewife’s Guide to the Practical Striptease. “It’s not attention I went looking for.” A few years ago Babines was a senior executive at a financial services company, nary a feather boa dancing in her head, struggling with an 80-hour workweek that severely depleted her enthusiasm for the gymnasium. One night over dinner a friend mentioned that pole dancing had become the hot new fitness pole trend. (more…)

We are proud to announce the first and only affordable portable Dance and Aerobics pole kit. Pole Aerobics Dancing Pole Kit with DVD featuring 2 body-sculpting workouts routines. Made by the Peekaboo Pole Dancing kit factory in the UK. It has never been so easy and exciting to get into shape and practice your moves. We support you with our DVD that includes workouts and tips for you to learn and master. This is the craze with pole dancing classes all over the nation it is time to get your own kit for the home. It even supports up to 220lbs. So it is for anyone who wants to join in and get into shape while looking sexy at the same time! Our Pole Dancing Aerobics Kit Features and Benefits. (1) Extendable top section: For use on ceilings ranging for (72) to (86) in height. (1) Handy Carry & Storage Bag: For convenient portability (1) 50mm (1.96) chrome steel pole: Finish that is the choice of professionals everywhere. Finely wrought, slot-together sections: For easy assembly, strength, the ultimate in stability and smooth joints. No ceiling fixings or tools needed: Quickly erect and take down the pole without cosmetic damage to your home. The option to screw your Dance Pole into the ceiling: For loads of over 100 kg (220 lbs) (1)Easy-to-understand Assembly Guide: Getting started is quick & stress-free. (1)Fitness Pole DVD with so much to learn and have fun with! Pole Aerobic DVD features 2 body-sculpting workouts routines In an exclusive for Pole Aerobics users, founder of Long Beach, Californias Pole Position Fitness, Sharon Polsky has choreographed two fun and fat-burning, 20-minute dance routines. Suitable for all dancers from beginner to intermediate to expert, they’ll have you toning up in weeks. The DVD also includes top tips and a simple step-by-step guide to erecting your Dance Pole.

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.

Fitness Pole

Yamanaka who own Le Physique Personal Training with her husband, Brian often take there clients on an elliptical trainer every day of the week. Although she says there’s a place for equipment, Yamanaka thinks outside the gym literally. Forget the treadmill: instead, the 30-year-old takes her clients pole dancing as it improves muscle posture and development she thinks improving your fitness though pole-dancing is definatly the way forward!

Here is another pole dancing Intermediate work out video too liven up those boring pole dancing exercise routines.

Here is another Fitness video for the Intermediate Pole Dancer.