What once was a taboo subject reserved only for strippers has become a national pastime. Pole dancing has finally moved beyond the strip clubs and is now a fixture in thousands of dance studios and bedrooms across the country.   

Pole dancing has become quite the new craze in fitness and it has not taken long for others to catch on to this growing new trend. In fact, it may not be long before you find more women trading in their treadmills and dumbbells for a sleek, long, hard stripper pole. 

Paulette, owner of Paulette’s Studio of Dance located on Holland-Sylvania, is one of the only dance instructors in Toledo to offer pole dancing classes. After watching a class in action, it was apparent that there is a lot more to pole dancing than just wild hair and seductive gymnastic moves. 

The moves are actually quite rigorous and physically demanding, and work the entire body, specifically, the core and upper body. 

Pole dancing is a great way to build upper body strength. You are supporting your entire body’s weight with your arms and core muscles. The estimated amount of calories burned during a pole dancing session is about 400. What a fun way to burn calories with your friends. 

Over the seven-week session Paulette offers, she said students are welcome to take as many classes each week as they would like. With summer coming up, what better way to get that body ready for a bathing suit.

Paulette is a classically trained dancer, with a bachelor’s in fine arts. When she first decided to teach pole dancing lessons at her studio, she said she decided to make a strong emphasis on the ballet aspect of it. Paulette said pole dancing is a combination of ballet and gymnastics, and with each class, students learn a new ballet position. 

Has this new craze changed women’s perspective on strippers? According to Paulette, the answer is yes. Paulette said that after classes, several students leave with a higher respect for strippers. 

While it would seem that pole dancing is only geared toward young women, Paulette said her classes include women of all ages, and that her youngest student is 18 and her oldest is 63. 

According to Paulette, there are a variety of reasons why women take pole dancing classes. Many women see it as a way to boost their self-confidence and feel sexier in their own skin. Others take the class for their significant others. They want a new and exciting way to spice up their relationships. Paulette said there are also ladies who view the class as a challenging way to get in shape. For whatever reason, more and more women are catching on. 

Paulette also offers  a “girls night out” workshop where women can bring their friends, family or coworkers to join in on the fun. At the workshops, students are taught specialty techniques such as chair dances, lap dances and dancing with props. 

Paulette said taking these workshops are a great way for women to bond and gain more confidence and provide a fun, new way for women to put their inhibitions aside, all while burning calories. 

Paulette also said many women sign up for classes by themselves and develop friendships with other students. 

Now, one may ask, “How do I keep up with this on my own when the seven-week session is over?” Along with providing the lessons and poles at the studio, Paulette also sells portable poles. She said many of the women purchase these poles so they can practice their moves at home, in between lessons. 

 With more people following this new craze, Paulette said the classes do fill up fast. Paulette’s studio offers a seven-week session in May so if anyone were interested in taking this to get in shape for the upcoming swimsuit season, you may want to  sign up quickly to hold your spot. Think about it; you could be just seven weeks away from feeling more confident, sexy and fit.