Pole position

Pamela Burgess has struggled with her weight all her life. She joined gyms but often got bored and stopped going.

Ho-hum.

So goes it for millions of Americans.

Well, that's where her story differs. The 29-year-old paralegal found a much less conventional way to get fit and turn her life around. That something is pole dancing.

"A girlfriend told me about a pole-dancing studio for fitness. I went with eight friends to take a sample class and was hooked," says Burgess, who lives in West Ashley. "I couldn't believe how much fun I had and didn't realize how much I sweat."

Since taking that first class in April 2007, she has lost 40 pounds and gone from a size 16 to an 8 — without partaking in any other kinds of exercise and without dieting.

"I eat what I want and work out to stay fit," says Burgess, adding that the bigger benefit of pole dancing is that it has helped her build confidence in all parts of her life, both personal and professional. "It's so empowering and so wonderful. I used to go to the gym and no one would talk to me. In here, it's an immediate friendship. ... It's a sisterhood."

Pole dancing for fitness, believe it or not, is not new. It's been popular in cities such as Los Angeles and Miami for more than a decade. In fact, it's been in the Charleston area for nearly two years. The first Goddess Dance Studio opened in Hanahan in 2007, the second in Summerville in May and the third in Mount Pleasant about four months ago.

Like many things in modern American life, Oprah Winfrey helped change its image. She featured it on her TV show, helped remove the stripper stigma, to a degree, and brought it closer to the mainstream. After all, what's more mainstream, or downright conservative, than Hanahan, Summerville and Mount Pleasant?

And apparently, that quintessential feature of the strip club is in the Charleston fitness world to stay.

Elizabeth Pike, a certified pole-dancing instructor and regional director for Goddess, says the Hanahan studio has 100 members, Summerville has 50 and Mount Pleasant 35, so far. That's not counting the ones who come and try it out a few times.

Pike, who was born and raised in Charleston, first tried pole dancing 12 years ago in Miami and continued taking it in California. When she moved back to Charleston, she decided to open a franchise in Summerville.

"It's just a lot of fun," says Pike, who says it taps into both the silly and sensual sides of women.

Workouts often start with some yoga- and Pilates-inspired stretching, then the pole dancing starts, where acrobatics include all variations of pull-ups, bending, twisting and even a tough-looking upside-down push-up. After that, the instructor finishes off the group with strength exercises.

Many of the women wear platform high heels, some measuring 5-7 inches in height, for two reasons: It requires them to work their core muscle groups because of the challenge of balancing, and it taps into a certain attitude.

Kristy Knox, a 29-year-old Huger resident who is studying for her master's in clinical counseling, wears 7-inch heels that she bought for $30 at a local store specializing in such things.

"Whether you are a little girl or big girl, you put on heels and you feel different about yourself," she says.

Knox says she's been taking pole dancing three times a week since April, has dropped three dress sizes, lost 10 pounds without dieting and has become a more confident woman, as well as something else.

"It has taught me about body control, posture and grace."

Like Burgess and Knox, fitness pole dancers come from all walks of life, but also ages ranging from the early 20s to late 50s.

At a recent class in Mount Pleasant, professions represented included librarian assistant, bartender, researcher at the College of Charleston and 22-year-old Charleston School of Law student Candice Shaver.

Shaver, originally from Atlanta, knew about pole dancing from a "bunch of people" who took it there. When she moved here, she decided to try it out.

Instead of losing weight, Shaver gained weight from pole dancing — 15 pounds of muscles.

"When I first started pole dancing, I had no muscles. Now I feel a lot stronger."

Reach David Quick at 937-5516 or dquick@postandcourier.com.

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