While often thought of as a sexual thing or something done at certain types of clubs, there’s more to pole dancing than meets the eye.
Not only can pole dancing be an empowering way for people to connect with their bodies, it’s also a great form of exercise and a way to have fun.
Zoe Bentley, founder and owner of Misfit Aerial in Montgomery, Illinois, said pole dancing is a way anyone can have fun.
“How often do adults play? Which is really what we’re doing,” Bentley said. “We’re just playing. This is an opportunity for you to really start to learn the art of it, but also seeing what you can do. It’s not a cookie cutter thing. There’s so much to do with our bodies. This sport basically comes down to, if you have a body, you can do it.”
Just like any other form of exercise, pole dancing can help with muscle strength and flexibility, with emphasis on the core and upper body.
In a study tracking the effects of pole dancing on cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility, all three areas improved after consistent pole dancing classes, according to the University of Michigan. Of the three, the largest growth came in muscular strength.
“Besides the increase in upper body and core strength, with that can come flexibility,” Bentley said. “When we have a performance season, there’s definitely an increase in endurance, so you’ve got that cardiovascular health as well.”
In addition to the physical effects, taking pole dancing classes can help benefit people’s mental health and self confidence. Sexual confidence and sense of self can also be improved, according to the National Institute of Health.
“We were just laughing last week, someone was sharing a story about how they dropped something on the floor and they realized when they bent down to get it, they had done a sexy get up,” Bentley said. “It just permeates into your daily life, but I also think that’s where the confidence comes in. I just always tell people to not look at what their body can’t do, look at what it can do. And I think that approach can be an ego boost as well.”
Despite what movies or the media may portray, Bentley emphasized that pole dancing can be beneficial for people in different stages of their lives.
“I get people from all walks of life,” Bentley said. “You get to meet people in different industries who come from all sorts of different places in life. Maybe a woman who just had a baby and so they’re trying to get back in touch with the sexier side of themselves and feel like a woman, not just a mom. People in midlife who maybe have a sedentary job and want to find a way to get fit but don’t want a regular gym. Maybe they used to be a gymnast or a dancer and this is a way for them to connect with that side of themselves again.”
Misfit Aerial holds classes for a variety of ages and experience levels on 2057 Albright Road in Montgomery, Illinois.
