Staying in Shape with Pole Dancing
It took two sessions of yoga and one too many “downward dog” stretches for me to swear off yoga forever. Before you start to write me off as lazy, I will tell you that I am a very athletic person. In middle school, I played basketball and I was a varsity cheerleader for five years. My world revolved around cheerleading in high school and all year-round I was in training. The day I decided to go to The New School, I knew my days of cheering were behind me. The lack of athletics is one of the many things that influenced me to commit to The New School in the first place. But after one long year in New York City with my regular habit of fast food for dinner and no fitness routine to follow, I knew it was time for me to start regularly working out again.
The whole point of yoga is to improve your mental capacity but that’s not what I was looking for in my fitness regime. I wanted action! I wanted to work out my body physically not mentally. Yoga just wasn’t for me, but I had an idea of what would be — pole dancing.
No longer exclusive to the gentlemen’s club, pole dancing is now a popular fitness regime available in your local gym and dance studio. Contrary to popular belief, pole dancing is a respectable form of fitness that is being welcomed in households all over the country and around the globe. The basics of the art are the combination of performance and acrobatics highlighting flexibility, stamina, and endurance.
One of the most popular reasons why people are attracted to the class is the confidence boost it gives the participants. In Amy Kuperinsky’s NJ.com article Pole dancing changes minds and bodies as it swings across New Jersey, Karina Hardy, a 29-year-old student of Alter Ego Pole Fitness, shares her sentiment of pole dancing.
“I like that you’re working out, but you’re bringing out your personality,” says Hardy. She practices “pole” three hours at a time. While the toning of the body increases, confidence builds through the art of performance. When the body looks good, you begin to feel good.
Dr. Kelly Schinke, an instructor at Aerial Dance Pole Exercise and licensed doctor of psychology, reveals in her Nature’s Pathways article, The Psychological benefits of pole dancing how pole dancing “helps manage and prevent symptoms of depression and anxiety.”
“Pole dancing increases serotonin and dopamine, the ‘feel good’ chemicals in our brains, which is how antidepressant medications work,” said Schinke. “It increases endorphins which act as analgesics against physical pain and promote euphoria. It improves sleep, energy levels, concentration, and decision making.”
Many take the class specifically to surprise their significant others by adding some flair to their intimate life. Some take the classes to boost their confidence. And some just take it because it’s a fun way to workout.
Pole dancing is more than what meets the eye — it’s a performance that deserves an encore. As the popularity of pole dancing increases, men and women are installing personal poles in their households and even performing in competitions. There are even talks of pole dancing being recognized as an olympic sport. The benefits of pole dancing go past the physical gains of muscle. More importantly, it builds the “inner” self.
Illustration by: Tasia Prince
Tené is a junior majoring in Journalism + Design with a minor in Culture + Minor at Lang. An Atlanta native, she moved to New York City with the desire of pursuing journalism as a career. She enjoys writing about pop culture, music, sports, and wrestling. She hopes to write for a magazine publication one day and ultimately, start her own magazine. Some of her favorite publications are Vibe, Complex, Bleacher Report, and Vice. In her spare time, she likes to listen to music (Kanye West, Rihanna, Aaliyah, Outkast, etc.), shop at thrift stores and American Apparel, and watch reality TV.
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