Traditionally, when people think about the words “Pole Dancing” our minds go directly to the dancers at the lounge who pole dance for money. In the past few years now Pole Fitness has been solidifying a reputation in the fitness world as one of the best ways to work out. Myself being a pole athlete and coaching my own group of students can confirm that Pole Dance in general has changed drastically throughout the years. In fact, even the Arnold Classic, a competition event held for bodybuilders and elite athletes has now adopted a pole fitness category to showcase some of the phenomenal things pole athletes can do.
We see some of the impressive moves and tricks on social media on the daily but how do you start? Are there places in and around Edmonton that teach pole fitness to absolute beginners? There are many. Aradia Fitness is one of the many well known pole dance schools around. In fact this is also where I had my start 4 years ago.
With four convenient studio locations in and around Edmonton along with plans to build and grow out in Leduc and Fort Saskatchewan, Aradia Fitness has built up quite a reputation for itself that gives students ranging from beginner to expert level a safe, healthy and supportive environment to learn and grow. They’ve also got studios out in Calgary and Stony Plain.
Edmonton alone has a team of 30 and more coaches all with different strengths and styles ready to help students grow any way they can. Every single one of these teachers are encouraging and supportive with every student that walks in through the doors and also with each other. The love and support these ladies have for each other is undeniably powerful. When I first joined the team I felt nothing but love and unity. There was no discrimination, no hatred, nothing. Just straight forward love and open arms. A team like this, at this size doesn’t just appear out of thin air.
Leading this team at the front end is owner and head instructor Chantelle Beasley. It is a huge challenge to manage a team so big with four different locations, but this fearless leader has figured it out and has built an amazing team in Edmonton as well as raising a family of her own.
I know many are curious but intimidated when it comes to how the classes are run. Each instructor has their own style of how they run a class however the core is the same. We all focus on fitness, building strength and flexibility while making it fun. In the past years more classes have been added that also focus a bit more on the dance aspect of pole dance such as pole flow or sexy flow and other classes such as silks, belly dancing, aerial hoop, aerial yoga, pound and so much more.