Personal #2: Strip, Pole Dance, and Burlesque Your Way into Shape!

Burlesque Aerobics, Striptease Aerobics, and Exotic Aerobics are some of the new exercise trends in the  U.S. I’ve heard about these new aerobic trends, but hadn’t tried any until today. Today, I took my first burlesque aerobic class and began to discover why this new form of aerobics is becoming so popular.

During my burlesque class we practiced a few “Betty Boop” moves, like the classic Betty Bop hand over your mouth move.  We were told to be sassy, confident, and tap into our inner sexy. We were given props like boas and fans to help us maximize our sexy. After class I decided to re-familiarize myself with Betty Boop, see why her moves were used in my class. I saw that though Betty was a cartoon, her look was classic, mixing the big sweet eyes with the sassy seductive legs and lips. Though a cartoon, Betty made sexy look effortless and fun.

I believe this to be the reason exotic aerobics has become so popular. Every women wants to feel beautiful, sexy, and confident in an environment that is nonjudgmental. Individuals get tired of the same gym routine and dancing aerobics like Zumba and  exotic aerobics gives us ladies a fun new way to work-out, have fun, and shed some pounds. What started out as a way for Sheila Kelley (creator of S-Factor strip workouts) to drop some baby weight, has turned into a national phenomenon (it’s a phenomenon when Martha Stewart is pole dancing!). You can head to your local gym (Bally’s/Crunch) with your 6’inch heels in hand wearing the outfit that makes you feel the sexiest and get a great one-hour workout and not be judged by your peers. It required me to take a class, to fully understand why this whole exotic aerobics has taken off, but after I did it I understood…It’s about self-confidence and fitness. Sadly I’m not very rhythmically inclined, but I had a ball today, worked up a sweat and felt good. Next class…the pole.