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POLE DANCING

Hailed as the latest alternative to aerobics, it improves muscle tone, posture and flexibility, but don’t expect your gran to approve.

Inside Out captures a first hand account of what it is to work in a pole dancing club.

A former nurse, who describes herself as ‘very shy’, Clare has just spent an evening scantily clad, performing acrobatic moves that would impress even the most seasoned circus goer, to an audience of approving men.

Saving for college

Pole dancing creates strength and suppleness

Clare's friend, like many other pole dancers, is saving to go to college and finds pole dancing pays well and also keeps her fit. The downside, you may assume would be the customers, but not according to Clare.

"The majority of the guys are really nice."

With nine out of ten offering to "take her away from all this." But Clare is quite happy where she is thank you very much. Which begs the question, why aren’t more people taking to the pole?

Why should you give it a go?

Not only is there money to be made in pole dancing, there are numerous other benefits which means it is catching on as a pass time too.

Recent film, Dancing at the Blue Iguana, brings pole dancing to the big screen

Forget hours spent sweating out in a gym, pole dancing builds lower body muscles, improves your flexibility and is a great way of exercising the heart.

The skill required to move around on the pole improves posture and deportment. And carrying the body better instantly makes you look slimmer.

Any excuse to get dressed up in a glitzy outfit has to be good.

Partners are guaranteed to be supportive of this new exercise fad.

How to get started

American stars are taking to the pole

If you’re tempted to give it a go yourself, there are various colleges that offer pole dancing courses, be it for fitness and fun, or for professional training, with one college even offering a diploma in the subject!

The future for pole dancing In the UK, pole dancing, like other forms of erotic dance, is still frowned upon by some. But with the likes of Angelina Jolie rumoured to have a pole in her home and many dubbing it the new aerobics, opinions may be set to change.

As Clare can testify, "you never know until you’ve tried it."