Pole Dancing. Put together, these words are bound to raise some eyebrows. Once the exclusive domain of exotic dancers, you wouldn’t be going around telling people you spent last night spinning around a brass pole. Then there was the introduction of pole dancing as a fitness category and it sent everyone abuzz with excitement at the possibility of a merger between two very different worlds. The adventurous jumped at the opportunity to try something new but it was more giggled than bragged about between close friends. Now, only a few short years since its creation, pole dancing has evolved into a legitimate form of exercise and recognized by the North American business world.

Aradia Fitness is the innovative product of two friends, Christine Boyer and Tracy Gray. Perpetually bored of going to the gym, they decided that there had to be a more interesting way of staying in shape. Pole dancing came to mind but they couldn’t find a single facility that offered any classes. Immediately recognizing the appeal of such an option, they set out to create the first Canadian pole dancing studio. Skeptics brushed the idea off as another fad that wouldn’t catch on but boy are they eating their words now. Since opening up their first location, the two entrepreneurs can’t seem to meet the demand. There are now 17 locations across north America and with professionally trained instructors like Caroline MacGillivray, Aradia has taught over 20,000 women of all ages, sizes and professions.

I sat in on one of Caroline’s advanced level classes and I have to admit, Christine and Tracy have achieved the goal they set out to accomplish back in the summer of 2003. There are plenty of women eager to learn and you may be pleasantly surprised how down-to-earth all the students are. I have to admit I anticipated finding model thin types with a lot of attitude but I got none of that. This class proved to me that every woman has a sexy side that they have yet to unleash. You don’t necessarily need to be an extrovert or have an unbelievably out-there personality to appreciate pole dancing. You’re just as likely to be in a class with a 20-year-old student as you are with a 50-year-old engineer or lawyer. All these women are after is a fun way to work out.

And it couldn’t be more fun than this. You may have to suffer a few callouses on your hands and the bruising on your arms and inner thighs will probably raise some unnecessary concerns but classes are filled with laughter, encouragement, and before you know it, you will not only be able to spin effortlessly on the pole but do it inverted! Some moves come naturally and are relatively simple to grasp but others can take you a year or even a year and a half to master. That is why pole dancing is so addictive. Unlike a step class where you can virtually memorize every step and do them in your sleep, pole dancing offers something new in almost every class and there are always ways to increase the level of difficulty.

You’ll spend so much time perfecting a move that you’ll forget your body is getting a full workout. All of the moves are broken up into smaller easy-to-learn steps and incorporate sensual movement, dance, Pilates, yoga and stretching. You’ll be building muscles in areas of your body you didn’t know existed and you’ll be sore in areas you didn’t even realize HAD muscles. Your flexibility and upper body strength will increase dramatically and your confidence level is guaranteed to get a boost.

A pole dancing class feels very much like a regular fitness class. Some girls may choose to wear high heeled boots but for the most part everyone is barefoot to get a better grip on the pole. Students generally wear form-fitting yoga clothes for practical reasons but there were also women wearing t-shirts and shorts so you won’t feel the pressure to ‘dress up’ to go exercise. Everyone is so busy trying not to fall off the poles that no one will be looking at you. And if you need a spotter, there’s always one available.

It is jaw-dropping what pole dancers are capable of doing and the strength and control that is required is unbelievable. I have a newfound respect for those who can do it. He won’t admit it, but my guy was with me and even he wanted to try some of those moves. But sorry fellas; pole dancing is strictly for the girls. If you really want to get a taste, you can always buy a removable or permanent pole from Aradia. Just make sure your bedroom has a lock first!

To find out more about Aradia Fitness and what their classes offer, read the Appendix entitled “Meet Your Sexy Side with Aradia Fitness.”