I many countries, it’s linked to stripping and erotic dancing. In the United Kingdom, it’s considered a sport. In Montreal, the world-renowned dance troupe Cirque du Soleil recently added it to its tantalizing lineup. Now pole dancing has made its way to Santa Maria. Here, it’s an exercise class at The Dance Studio.
For the last two months, the studio has been offering Polerize exercise classes on Saturdays from 5:45 to 7 p.m. As suggested by its name, the class teaches dance and exercise moves on a pole. But unlike its sensuous and sometimes scandalous counterpart, Polerize is all about getting a good workout—and looking good while doing it.
“It’s a sexy workout, and there just aren’t enough sexy workouts out there,” Polerize instructor Layla Monk said. “It’s girly; it’s about getting back in touch with being a girl and being sexy.”
The class—which is only open to women (sorry, guys)—uses dance moves typically seen in strip clubs to build muscle strength and increase flexibility. Plus, unlike other workouts that only target certain muscle groups, Polerize exercises the entire body, including the arms, abs, legs, and even the brain.
“The class gives you a feeling of freedom and self-expression that you can’t get doing other workouts,” said Michele Woodside, who owns The Dance Studio with her husband, Scott. “It really opens you up without feeling threatened or inhibited.”
A longtime dancer, Woodside said she decided to bring pole dancing to her studio after taking a class called “Stripper 101” in Las Vegas. The Sin City dance class was a lot different than the one Woodside wanted to create for Santa Marians. Still, Woodside said she really enjoyed it.
“We’re always looking for classes that adults might be interested in,” she said. “[Polerize] is something that’s new and exciting and empowering for women to do.”
A lot of people—feminists perhaps?—might consider pole dancing the exact opposite of empowering. However, Woodside and Monk stick to their poles—er, guns.
“There’s no judgment in here,” Monk said. “It’s all about empowerment and expressing yourself.”
“It’s all about attitude,” Monk added while teaching her students to do a move she likes to call the “Scarlett O’Hara.”
Named after the Southern Belle heroine, the move is a flirty toss of the hair that can be added to spice up basic spins, kicks, and even crawls.
“You know you’re better than everyone else in the room,” she said. “You’re confident and you know you’re beautiful.”
Monk’s advice to new dancers also touches on practicalities: “You have to get friendly with the pole,” she said. “Warm it up, too. You want to get the coldness out of it because you’re going to be doing a lot of movement.”
Along with Polerize, Monk also teaches Strippercize on Saturdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Like Polerize, class participants are completely clothed, but use large, button-up-shirts rather than poles as dancing props. The class also incorporates other props, such as chairs, into its routines.
“The class isn’t as popular as Polerize,” Monk admitted, “but we’re trying to talk it up more.”
The reason Strippercize—and, to some extent, Polerize—doesn’t attract as many women as other classes, owner Woodside said, is probably because of the name.
“A lot of women are afraid to come in to try it because of the ‘stripper stigma’ attached to it,” she said. “But it’s not about being a stripper. It’s about having fun and getting a good workout.”
Jennifer Ashley, a Polerize regular, agreed: “Polerize really works your core. When you leave class, you totally feel stronger, like you’ve had a good workout.”
When asked what she liked best about the class, Ashley said, “Learning to do the spins and thinking to myself, ‘I can actually do this.’”
And while some women might be hesitant to give the ol’ pole a try, Ashley said she couldn’t wait.
“I’m so glad they offer [the class] here now. A lot of us have been waiting for a long time,” she said.
Annie Blackford, another Polerize regular, also said that she was eager to try something new.
“I’ve been working out for years. This is a great way to mix it up,” said Blackford, a cardio kickboxing instructor at Gold’s Gym in Santa Maria.
But for women who aren’t ready to give the class a shot, Monk also teaches private pole dancing parties at the studio. Monk said the private lessons are great for bachelorette parties and other “girls’ night” events.
“[The private parties are] a lot of fun because everyone gets giggly and starts having a good time,” Monk said.
“They’re usually surprise parties, so people are a little shocked at first and don’t want to do anything,” she explained. “But once they come out of their shells, they have a great time.”
Staff Writer Amy Asman thinks pole dancing is a lot harder than it looks. Share your unusual workout routines with her at aasman@santamariasun.com
This article appears in Dec 4-11, 2008.