By The Namibian. Months sped by as I binged on videos of super-toned women who would carefully hoist their taut bodies upwards, wrapped around a chrome pole. They performed such daring tricks, spins and plunges, I was utterly pulled in by how easy they made it look. In my attempt to find something new to help me get back into shape and possibly learn a new skill, I finally reached out to Windhoek pole instructor Laurisha Lowings and signed up for three months worth of pole dancing classes.
I had no idea what to expect, but I already pictured myself spinning around like some kind of pro. I got home after what was a very challenging class, and in no less than two hours, my decidedly unfit body started to complain β cramps, stiffness and the skin on my forearm was slightly bruised from contact with the pole.
I mentally give myself one of those Grade 1 gold stars after completing a spin, and it gets better every single time. Lowings started out as pilates instructor and Keil studied drama and dance and also has experience in personal and group fitness training and yoga. They both were looking to add something new and exciting to their fitness routines and took up pole dancing in South Africa. They admit to falling in love with it and being eager to teach pole dancing to others in Namibia.
Combining art and fitness, Lowings says pole dancing allows you to use self-expression and dance in your exercise routine. Sharing similar sentiments, Lowings also prefers to focus on the positive feedback. People joke a lot, but luckily I have never had any rude comments. Lowings says pole dancing does not make you a stripper, even though it is associated with erotica.
In an article published on The Daily Dot, the issue of tension between pole dancers and strippers and how the former prefer to distance themselves from stripping was brought up. Even though the origins of pole dancing are rooted in exotic dancing and erotica, there are many facets to pole dancing today, which should all be respected.
