When people hear about fitness and the health benefits of different forms of workouts, they seldom think about pole dancing as a viable option. Much like some popular Latino dances like tango, which started out in shady back alleys of poor neighborhoods only to later gain popularity across the globe, pole dancing has quickly become a very popular form of exercise and even a competitive event.
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Not only is it a great way to embrace your inner sexiness, but it also has numerous health benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked. If you want to learn more about the benefits of pole dancing and how it can improve the quality of your life, just read on.
1. It helps you burn calories quickly
Most people in the modern world could stand to lose about 10 pounds of fat, so any form of exercise is welcome. However, pole dancing taxes the muscles in the entire body and you are always moving – making it a great isometric and cardiovascular exercise wrapped into one. You can burn as many calories in a 30-minute session as you would doing aerobics and calisthenics, and this will lead to significant weight loss over several months.
2. It builds your self-confidence
Once you get the basics down and strengthen your muscles a bit, you will quickly begin to develop some serious skills and a body that makes heads turn. Being confident isn’t just about your state of mind – you will actually start to walk tall and improve your posture. Your skills on the pole will translate into real life and you will be able to move with the nimbleness and graciousness of a cat.
3. You’ll be less stressed out
One of the biggest benefits of pole dancing is actually related to your psychological and emotional health.
When you are stressed, adrenaline starts slowly building up in your body, making you anxious, easily annoyed and depressed. An intense pole dancing session will help you blow out all that adrenaline and cause your body to start producing endorphins, the hormone associated with feelings of euphoria. You will be calmer and happier after a good workout.
4. It will motivate you to work out more
If a workout feels like a chore and you don’t really see any serious progress or you don’t actually pick up any skills that are applicable in real life, then you will quickly lose motivation. Pole dancing develops a strong body, builds stamina and makes you feel sexy. As your skills improve you will be motivated to work harder and it is incredibly simple to work on your moves at home – all you need is a pole and some free space.
5. You become more limber
People often forget the importance of joint mobility and flexibility. As you become more limber you will have fewer problems like back pain, a stiff neck and muscle soreness. You will also minimize the risk of sprains and will be able to move more freely.
6. It’s good for your bones and joints
Joint pain is a serious and persistent issue for many people and women in particular have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Developing strong bones and connective tissue, along with increasing joint mobility, helps significantly decrease the risk of osteoporosis in women. Since you are not putting huge stress on your joints, as you would if you were running or skipping rope, pole dancing is a very safe form of exercise. Due to the fact that you are constantly strengthening the muscles in your hands by gripping the pole, common repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome can also be avoided.
7. It’s good for your heart and blood flow
Pole dancing is as good for your heart as any form of moderate-to-intense aerobic training, and since all the muscles are being engaged at some point, regular exercise promotes blood flow. This is particularly important for women who live a sedentary lifestyle and spend hours sitting in a chair.
8. You develop greater balance and kinesthetic awareness
Kinesthetic awareness is your brain’s ability to calculate where your body is located in three-dimensional space in relation to other objects around you. When you start performing more complex routines, your kinesthetic awareness increases. This means less chance of injuries due to bumping into stuff. Combined with good balance, increased kinesthetic awareness allows you to avoid nasty common accidents like slipping, falling, and knocking things over and having them fall on your feet, etc.
9. It can help you have an easier time during pregnancy and at childbirth
One of the lesser known benefits of pole dancing is that this form of training can be beneficial later on in life when you decide to have a child. Pole dancing develops exceptionally strong back and abdominal muscles, which helps minimize back pain during pregnancy and actually helps you have a smoother and less painful childbirth.
10. You will be able to fall asleep much easier
Resting is just as important for a healthy body as working out and eating the right food. Unfortunately not many people get enough sleep and most of the time it’s because they just can’t go to sleep. Regular workouts that tax the body, combined with the stretching you do as part of your pole dancing training, will ensure that you get a good night’s sleep every time you hit the hay.
The benefits of pole dancing aren’t limited to developing a strong body. It can help you improve your mental and emotional health, prevent injuries and increase mobility, as well as give your social and love life a boost by making you more confident and agile. You should definitely give it a try.
