Lemondrop

Like most of us, I'm willing to try new ways to get healthier -- if they won't bore the heck out of me. But after trying out a hip-hop workout and yoga classes, I was still on the hunt. Then a friend mentioned that she's been taking another class that's worked wonders for her -- pole dancing.

"You should try it," she said. "It's really not as bad as you think, and I'll cover your first class since your birthday is coming up."

I hesitantly agreed. She got points for a creative birthday gift, but I still didn't know how I felt about thrusting my hips and swinging around a pole in front of a room full of people. Besides, how much of a workout can you really get from that?

Click here to find out how it went ...

Do Strippers Get Nerves?

Walking through the studio on a Sunday morning, I felt like a 4-year-old on her first day of kindergarten. But when the door to the studio opened, women of all ages and sizes filed into the room, which had a few lamps covered with red fabric and (thankfully!) no mirrors.

Five poles stood from the floor to the ceiling. After each student took a mat (which was so much softer than any yoga mat I've ever laid on), we introduced ourselves and class began.

Like Yoga, But With Sexytime Music

Like in yoga, the instructor told us the class was a safe haven and an escape from everything outside. But the focus wasn't so much on breathing technique as it was on awareness of the body and "feminine movement." As Robin Thicke's "Lost Without You" flowed from the speakers, we closed our eyes and started our warm-up stretching.

Although the movements felt like sexified versions of what you'd normally do before any workout, everything seemed to be deliberately slowed down. We even had to do our sit-ups and push-ups in a sultry manner, which I later realized worked my abs more than they have ever been worked before. Moving from stretch to stretch, muscles that I haven't used in a while or even knew existed started to sweat. This wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be.

Workin' the Pole
Unlike other instructors I've had, this one was more encouraging than intense. At times, it seemed like she was flirting with us -- especially when she told us to move our hands over every curve of our bodies or, you know, smack our asses. The combination of bump-and-grind tracks and slow hip circles makes you feel like you're not exercising anymore.

After a long warm-up, it was time to try out the pole. We had to swing around it with both hands and legs -- whether you've seen it in a movie or live, you've got to hand it to strippers for all the moves they can pull off. As the teacher broke it down, I already imagined myself flying off the thing and busting my butt (ahem).

But "It's all in the booty," as she reminded us. "Even if you do it wrong, just slowly lift that booty in the air." Before I could even laugh at that comment, she started to count down. On "three," I miraculously spun around that pole like I've been doing it forever. By the end of class, the sexual energy in the room was at an all-time high, and the endorphins were kicking in.

The Results!
According to some reports, pole dancing can burn 280-400 calories per hour. And even though the workout could be considered low-impact, I definitely felt that every inch of my body was worked. My abs and ribs never felt so sore, and my leg muscles were so stiff it felt like I had run a week-long marathon in stilettos.

Despite the next-day soreness, the class was a lot of fun and not as hard as it may look. It not only helps you get a substantial workout and tap into your inner sex kitten, but after it's over, you have a nice case of post-sex hair.

Emily Tan is a frequent contributor to Lemondrop.com.