subject: Vertical Dancing for Fitness and Personal Empowerment [print this page] Vertical Dancing for Fitness and Personal Empowerment
In recent times Pole or Vertical Dancing has been becoming ever more popular at an amazing rate. Speak about pole dancing and the majority of people will usually associate it with partially clothed ladies cavorting around poles in seedy gentleman's clubs.
This dates back to the 1920's when traveling dancers used to utilize tent posts as a prop but its notoriety most likely hails from the performance of a certain Belle Jangles at a strip club in Oregon in the late 1960's.
The reality regarding Pole Dancing
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. In reality it is a recognized sports activity and art form a crossbreed of dance and gymnastics sometimes practiced as part of an aerobics workout. There is even a debate about getting Pole dancing acknowledged as an Olympic sport in time for the 2012 Olympics.
There are a good amount of new recognized dancing schools springing up specializing in this art form. Furthermore a few countries' already have their own national pole dance contests just like the Pole-A-Palooza in the us. There is even an international competition known as Miss Pole Dance World currently in its third year in addition to the Pole Championship which also includes a Man's division.
The advantages
While some movements might be learned pretty quickly, proper pole dancing isn't really something you get good at overnight as it takes a mix off strength, suppleness and endurance. It is an intense form of activity that may burn up around 500 calories an hour leaving its proponent feeling empowered both mentally and physically.
Through regular practice the advantages to be gained are: -
* increased stamina
* increased suppleness of the body
* increased muscle tone and actual physical strength
* weight loss
* a better looking figure
It makes a great cardiovascular exercise. The truth is, these resulting psychological feelings of self esteem, and sexuality coupled with a certain decrease in inhibition that regular pole dancers are left empowered with may be the main reasons why it's so addictive to so many people.
A word of Caution
Although Pole Dancing may appear the perfect solution it includes a lot of extreme body movements often accomplished at height above the floor; movements which other more expert dancers might have been practicing for a long time, so it is very important to be aware of your own limits and take great care.
As with every physical sporting activity it's been known for a number of dancers to end up having injury to the wrist and shoulder joints through either overdoing it or through lapses in concentration.
