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 (Sun Media files) |
At the front of the studio stands a very tall woman wearing a black micro mini and shiny leather stiletto boots.
A poppy '80s tune by The Cure spills over an instructor's voice and a dozen or so women of varying ages come into sight.
Their bodies range from voluptuous to waif thin.
Most are outfitted in body-hugging workout wear (tiny boy shorts are the most popular) as they swirl confidently around poles stretching from the floor to the ceiling.
Welcome to pole dancing -- a blended mix of athleticism and eroticism that has become one of the hottest fitness trends around.
A friend and I have shown up at Aradia Fitness, which purports to be Canada's first pole-dancing fitness studio, where we hope to give our bods and minds a much-needed post-winter shakeup.
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The slogan of the company -- which has 17 franchises across North America, including this studio in Toronto's hip Queen West district, to sites in Calgary, Kamloops, Regina and London, Ont. -- speaks to us: "Meet your sexy side."
Seems my sexy side has been hibernating these past few months, buried beneath woolly oversized sweaters, chunky chill-proof boots and to-do lists that never seem to get done.
Think it's about time to unearth it.
But, before class begins, the leggy woman we spotted earlier takes a seat beside us.
Her name is Dawn McCormack, a mother of three grown children -- ages 23, 20 and 17 -- and the lead instructor for the Intro to Pole Dancing class.
McCormack's been teaching for almost four years and, even though she's not sure why she was originally drawn to the activity after seeing it profiled on Oprah, this much is clear -- she's hooked.
In fact, she's considering getting rid of her dining room and turning it into an exercise area, outfitted with a shiny pole of her own.
"I had no idea how hard it would be," McCormack admits.
"It's an amazing workout. I think one of the surprising benefits is the body confidence."
Don't be surprised to find your muscles shaking during a leg splay, or your hands getting sweaty and start slipping down the pole during this full-body workout.
If tapping into your inner prowess is the goal, it's going to take more than one class to get there.
We gyrate our hips and are encouraged to play with our hair while walking seductively around the pole, which of course causes us to giggle like shy school kids.
"If I came out on stage, men would be demanding their money back," laughs my good-natured friend.
We are awkward and we know it. After all, an entire wall of mirrors can't be lying, right?
The art-form -- typically linked to strippers and go-go dancers, has lured everyone from 20-something college students to middle-class soccer moms and enthusiastic seniors.
"Come on, you get to wear five-inch heels and work out!" says McCormack.
"And seriously, everybody looks cute in some little shorts."
Thankfully there's no mention of removing articles of clothing or packing along G-strings, pasties and thigh-high stockings.
You don't have to look like a scantily-clad member of the Pussycat Dolls to learn flirty and daringly erotic moves here. As for the pumps, most pros agree achieving a certain level of expertise first is recommended.
Once you get there though, it looks pretty damn hot.
But, before you get there, enjoy the great belly-laughing ride.
After all, you may not 'meet your sexy side' straight away, but at least those tummy muscles will be getting one heck of a workout.
TANYA.ENBERG@SUNMEDIA.CA
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POLE DANCING 101
- Bring a big smile and a sense of adventure.
- Be willing to make mistakes, look silly and laugh at yourself.
- Wear loose, comfortable workout clothing.
- Pack water.
- Be prepared to discover muscles you never knew you had.
- Many newbies are prone to bruising, particularly along the inner thighs, but this will diminish as you advance.
- All levels of fitness and every shape and size can learn the tricks of working the pole.
- Having a friend to laugh with will make it more fun. Pole dancing classes have become wildly popular events for birthday parties, bridal showers and planning a girls' night out.