Pole Dancing Fitness Gymnastic Workout

Men Join Pole Dancing Trend & Competition

Until recently, pole dancing made one think of one-dollar bills and a woman spinning around a pole wearing a barely-there costume and stiletto heels, but these days pole dancing is a "form of performing art, [and] a combination of dancing and gymnastics" and its not just women who are getting in on the act.

Male Pole Dancing on America's Got Talent

A poplar television show, America's Got Talent, recently showcased its first male pole dancer. Last year, judges Howie Mandel and Sharron Osbourne advanced "polefessional" Steven Retchless to the Las Vegas round of the contest against the wishes of the third judge, Piers Morgan.

More and more male pole dancers are taking to the stage and the classroom. More men are attending classes, as well as teaching them. There is a Mr. Pole Competition and the World Pole Dancing Competition now has a male dancer category.

Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Alistair Macdonald wrote on article on Mr. Shields, one of seven men who competed in the World Pole Dance finals for the first time. But Mr. Shields and many other male pole dancers have been met with a world of criticism. Some spectators at the competition told Macdonald that pole dancing is a "feminine sport" and that a man on the pole is a bit too much.

Check out this video that CBC posted of the Polecats in Manila, Philippines. This group of gymnasts focus their routines on the pole but argue that what they are doing is Parkour, a popular, otherwise known as free running. This involves that individual is his/her environment to jump, flip, kick, and move with speed.

Pole Dancing Competitions

There are now hundreds of small and large competitions that strictly focus on the art, fitness, and performance of pole dancing. Recently Stephan Smith of CBC posted an article about the Pole Fitness Association's attempt to get pole dancing recognized as an Olympic sport for the 2012 London Games.

The Pole Fitness Association is currently circulating a petition to recognize the sport insisting that "[l]ike the horizontal bar, the vertical bar should have a place in international competitive sport" too.

Pole Dancing Trends Ignites Controversy

Pole dancing has been linked with stripping for so long that there is strong controversy regarding the appropriateness of pole dancing for fitness. In an article for families.com, Michele Cheplic noted that the South Devon College in Europe offers a course in pole fitness to its students, but sees it as "merely a source of fitness."

Lindsay Goldwert, a NY Daily News staff writer says that a group of Houston, Texas women "aren't pole-dancing for tips[,] [t]hey're pole-dancing for Jesus." At the Best Shape of Your Life studio Crystal Deans teaches pole dancing to the top Christian music hits.

Pole Dancing Training

Loud music and sexy moves make pole dancing a lot more fun than walking on the treadmill. Pole fitness trainer, Susan Peach utilizes the pole for an all-body workout. She suggests 4 reasons pole-dancing should be a part of your exercise regime, namely to:

• build and tone muscle
• burn calories for weight loss
• increase your flexibility to help prevent injuries
• and improve body awareness to help you look and feel your best

Whether you're in it to win or to get fit, pole fitness is a trend that shows no sign of abating.