A Manhattan gym has recently become the subject of a lawsuit by a client who claims to have injured herself during a pole dancing class. This exotic dancing exercise craze is currently all the rage in gyms both in the US and the UK, with many gyms offering pole dancing classes to members. At the moment, pole dancing is taught exclusively for women by women, but men are becoming aware of its incredible calorie burning and muscle strengthening properties; up until now, men would much much rather just be spectators !
Pole dancing requires considerable upper and lower body strength and core stability, as you rely on your arms and shoulders to support your weight while your legs grip the pole. For novice exercisers this can be incredibly challenging and they really should not attempt any more spectacular moves until they have mastered the basics.
The lady involved is suing the NYC gym as she claims that she informed the instructor she was unable to support her body weight when it was her turn to try a challenging upside-down manoeuvre, but the instructor did not assist her, resulting in her falling from the pole and sustaining significant injuries to her shoulders. She is claiming unspecified damages for negligence in supervision on the part of the gym chain.
The word of warning here is that novice or out-of-condition exercisers should never attempt manoeuvres beyond their capability, no matter what the class instructor says. Pole dancing looks effortless and sexy when performed by a professional but it must be remembered that many hours of practice over probably several years are necessary to gain this proficiency. On the plus side, if you stick with this delightful and sexy form of exercise you can expect to burn as many calories as running for an hour, with the added bonus that you will trim, shape and strengthen your entire body. Just be ready for sore arms and legs and bruised thighs!
