BlogHer - Strip Aerobics: Shake it Like it's Hot - Comments

An actual CLASS for

Zandria — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:23:03 -0500

An actual CLASS for hula-hooping? Sounds like fun! I may have to look into that, too! :)

Personal blog: Keep Up With Me
BlogHer blog: Singles/Fitness

It definitely makes the

Zandria — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:22:02 -0500

It definitely makes the experience less nerve-wracking if you have someone to go with you!

Personal blog: Keep Up With Me
BlogHer blog: Singles/Fitness

When I get back from the convention...

lauriewrites — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:21:54 -0500

I'm sure I'll be more than ready for strip aerobics. ;)

I'll let you know.

Laurie

Rock climbing

Vered — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:30:22 -0500

"I really want to try rock climbing next!"

Can't wait to hear about THAT! :)

Vered DeLeeuw

http://momgrind.com/

wow!

kazari — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:20:15 -0500

That sounds awesome! What an amazing workout. I was going to say I'd never do a class like that, but hey, i'll try anything these days. i'm doing a hula hoop dance class at the moment - but I think it mostly works my abs from all the laughing : )

I think I have a recipe for that...

what i'd like to do

courtenayr — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:33:12 -0500

i would love to take tap dancing again, but i'm afraid i'd be the oldest one in the class! what the heck, you only live once. but i would definitely want a friend to sign up with!

http://www.lifespearliscast.blogspot.com

The fitness advice we hear

Zandria — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:04:13 -0500

The fitness advice we hear all over the place is to "Change it up," so that's what I've been trying to do. (As for being "conservative?" Believe me, I grew up with very conservative, religious parents. It's taken me a LONG time to begin to break free of that.)

I really want to try rock climbing next!

Personal blog: Keep Up With Me
BlogHer blog: Singles/Fitness

Haven't tried it

Vered — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:02:56 -0500

I workout at home, and I don't do stuff that make you sweat. :)

But I think it's wonderful that you are so open to trying different types of workout routines. I am a lot more conservative (suspicious?) than you are.

Vered DeLeeuw

http://momgrind.com/

So true!

Zandria — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:17:51 -0500

Being a women-only class made the experience a lot less nerve wracking for me, too. At my old gym, one of the reasons I didn't take a Zumba class they offered was because all gym gym-goers could see right into the class through the glass doors -- and I was self conscious! This was a much better experience. :)

Personal blog: Keep Up With Me
BlogHer blog: Singles/Fitness

Sure, I Would Try It

geekgirl — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:58:24 -0500

I look ridiculous in every exercise class. What have I got to lose?

Though, I would be quite glad to be unnoticed.

I like that your class is women only. That makes is fun and funny to me, rather than something that is being done for male attention.

Christine

http://froginnorthgeorgia.com/

Laurie, if you're interested

Zandria — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:23:12 -0500

Laurie, if you're interested in trying this class, I will definitely go with you! Or even if you find something else that you'd rather do -- just let me know. I'm up for trying all kinds of new things. :)

Personal blog: Keep Up With Me
BlogHer blog: Singles/Fitness

Intentionally or not, this made me laugh:

lauriewrites — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:16:17 -0500

I feared the class might involve removing my clothes.

I somehow extrapolated that to graduate school and it sounded like a few related nightmares I've had. ;)

Glad you had fun...and sure, I'd try it. Although squats make me very sore and very sad, I'll try just about anything that doesn't involve standing in a line of miserable people in a crowded, fluorescent-lit gym. I just can't bring myself to do it anymore and I really need to start exercising on a regular basis again for my cholesterol levels and heart health (losing weight would be nice, really, really nice, but I'm finally more concerned about the other stuff.)

Laurie

LaurieWrites

Strip Aerobics: Shake it Like it's Hot

Zandria — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:05:39 -0500

Although I can put on a brave front, I must admit I was a little apprehensive about taking Strip Aerobics. I was picturing this big, brightly lit room with ultra-fit women parading around in skimpy clothing. I was afraid the students would laugh at me and critique my moves. I feared the class might involve removing my clothes.

Another misconception: I’ve read various reviews of cardio striptease DVDs, and a few people have commented that it wasn’t a good cardio workout. I actually went to the class thinking, “Oh, I’m not expecting this to wear me out.” Now that the class is over, what would I like to say to those people? Throw out those DVD and get yourselves to this class, or one that’s similar in your area.

Strip Aerobics at The P Spot not only busted the myth that striptease isn’t a real workout, but there was never a single moment where I felt self-conscious. “Never?” you ask. NEVER. How can that be? I was too busy trying to keep up! And so was everybody else. We were too busy trying to do the moves correctly to worry about checking each other out (much less worrying about critiquing each other).

So what did we do? There were a lot of squats. We did squats with and without the use of a pole (there were a number of poles scattered throughout the room because they also offer Pole Fit classes there). We would hold a squat as we bounced our booties back and forth and up and down. We would squat, then open our knees wide and bring them back together again (this is called a “butterfly”). Stand up, repeat. Hurt.

In addition to the squats, there were various shimmying moves and also an ab component at the end. (Who knew you could work your abs in a sexy way? It’s all in the way you flex your toes, reach with your arms, and trail your hands oh-so-seductively down your legs.)

Whenever we had a short break, my fellow students and I would look at each other in sweaty amazement. Oh my God, we mouthed. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

The P Spot is located on the bottom floor of a row house in DC, an unassuming place directly across the street from a large church. In order to read the small sign posted on the door that lets you know you’ve arrived at the right place, you have to climb the flight of stairs that leads to the front porch. (My friend Jen took the class, too. She writes for the DC Examiner and wrote an excellent article about her experience with the class, including a profile of our awesome and ultra-fit instructor, Michaela.)

Michaela wore a pair of clear stiletto heels with tiny lights inside that blinked on and off. She also had a selection of red heels for rent (which a few ladies were brave enough to try), but I decided to forego that option. Other things to note: only women are allowed inside while classes are taking place and the doors remain locked.

If you’re still skeptical about the cardio aspect of the class? Here’s photo evidence of Jen and me (ultra-sweaty!) after the class was over.

Have you tried strip aerobics? Or would you?

Related Reading:

Charlotte at The Great Fitness Experiment has taken Zumba and TurboKick, both of which include provocative moves.

Fit Bottomed Girls reviewed Carmen Electra’s Aerobic Striptease: Vegas Strip.

Chaos Noir disagrees with teaching pole dancing to young kids. (I totally agree with her.)

Jezebel: Pole Dancing Workout Stories Will Not Die

CNN: Pole Dancing Helps Strip Off Pounds

NY Times: From the Erotic Domain, an Aerobic Trend in China

(Contributing editor Zandria recently attended a Biker Bash and regularly blogs at Zandria.us.)