a firsthand account by JOURNEY Contributor Jennifer Chatmon  of healixonline.com

​

     Energetic music filled the room at my firs Pole Dancing Class. If you are looking for a totally liberating, confidence-building workout that is both challenging and fun- look no further than pole dancing!  Dubbed “exotic fitness” ,  I visited Alter Ego Pole Fitness and Wellness Studio in Newark N.J. to see just how to walk the pole.  The studio offers classes like “Trick That Pole”  so I knew this would be fun!  My class was taught by Caprice, who is a pole athlete, actress and owner of Alter Ego.

     There were were. Four students and three poles, mirrors and hardwood floors.  I quickly realized I was overdressed, as shorts were recommended and most students take the class barefoot. I was wearing my standard exercise pants, long sleeve shirt and tube socks.  This was important because I quickly learned that skin-to-pole contact was especially important if you did not or could not rely heavily on your upper body strength.

     The class begins with a rather sexy warm-up sequence that stretches your entire body and focuses on the key muscle groups used in pole fitness.  The warm-up itself can be challenging if you are new to exercise.  From there, Caprice instructed us on how to approach the pole, “walk the pole”, suspend ourselves using our arms while doing crunches, perform spinning toe touches and finally spin around the pole backwards to the floor.   More advanced students observe, offer encouragement and demonstrate the moves.

     Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  I am always looking for rigorous workouts and I did not leave disappointed; my thighs and arms were immediately sore afterwards and I had a new appreciation for the importance of your core muscles in everything you do, let alone pole dancing.  I especially enjoyed the opportunity to explore my “alter ego”.  At the end of the class, students are allowed time to freestyle on the pole. You can really let yourself go!

​