extreme fitness
POLE POSITION Slide into this dance studio and discover a fitness craze where the perception and the reality are really poles apart... Writer: Raelee Tuckerman - Photographer: David Field Behind black and purple drapes, the music is pumping and women are contorting their bodies around 10 shiny, silver, floor-to-ceiling poles in a sweaty mix of skin on steel. But this is not some seedy corner of Melbourne’s nightclub district – it’s High Street in Golden Square. And instead of making money from their moves, most of these ladies are paying for the privilege of learning to perform the ballerina, the crucifix, the shoulder mount and more. Welcome to the world of pole fitness – the extreme exercise gaining popularity around the globe. “I don’t think there’s any other form of exercise I could compare it to,” says Charlie Lemdon, teacher and owner of Bendigo’s PhysiPole studio, which opened almost two years ago and now has around 120 devotees aged from 18 to their mid-60s. “It works on your flexibility, core strength, quad strength, even your wrist strength from gripping the pole. It’s great for your abs because your core strength has to be insane to hold some of the moves. “We always say that we teach pole fitness though, not pole dancing, because that lets people know we really focus on the fitness side of things.” While the mere mention of pole lessons
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may once have raised eyebrows, Charlie says old-fashioned views are giving way to acceptance as more people become aware of what the classes involve and appreciate the skills required. Contrary to popular belief, not all pole dancers wear lingerie and stilettos. “You don’t need to wear high heels, though we encourage it because it gives the calves and thighs a better workout if you do,” Charlie says. “It’s the same with clothes. In the higher levels, less clothing is better because you need to use your body to grip onto the pole. But you can get through wearing a singlet and shorts.” PhysiPole has developed a syllabus from beginner level one up to level 10 and elite, with students assessed after each eightweek term. It also offers casual strength classes that don’t involve the poles, spinning and burlesque courses, as well as fun-filled hen’s nights. “When you first start, you learn how to climb the pole, how to spin, and how to let go of the pole and be in a crucifix position,” explains Charlie, who started out as a student at the original PhysiPole in Ballarat, entered a pole dancing competition and was approached to set up a local franchise on
the basis of her performance. “Classes consist of a warm-up, learning some new moves, putting the moves into a routine, then strength work at the end. We have some students who just come once a week for a class, but many get addicted to it and end up doing three or four a week.” In her other life, 25-year-old Charlie works full time as a payroll officer at Bendigo Health, but she still spends six, sometimes seven days at week at the studio teaching or training. One of her big success stories is Laura Wilding. “I was one of Charlie’s very first students,” says Laura. “I was level one when the studio opened in September 2011 but I got fasttracked after reaching level four – now I’m one of the teachers.” I watch her demonstrate a shoulder mount to today’s level four class before encouraging them to have a go (picture leaning back with the pole against your shoulders, grasping it above your head, then pulling yourself upside down with legs akimbo). She makes it look easy, but seeing some students struggle on their early attempts and emerge with red marks on their back has me thinking pole dancing could be quite painful. “Pretty much every move hurts,” Laura, 21, laughs. “Well, it does if you are doing it