We tried pole dancing at Aarifa Bhinderwala’s Pole Burnt Home in Juhu and boy oh boy, we were surprised. We’re certain this is one of the most fun ways to get fit and here’s why.
Nobody ever said pole dancing would be easy, but we’re all for challenges and took this one up thinking we’d get past it with ease. We were wrong. Pole dancing actually builds your core strength slowly, so you don’t need to be super fit and strong to master it.
What’s guaranteed is that by the end of one series, you will walk out a different person- upped confidence, better physique and flexibility, better core strength and so on. So be prepared to be sore the day after your first couple of classes (we swear we’re crying in pain as we type this).
If you’re pole dancing, firstly, remember to be dressed in clothes that are comfortable, but at the same time show your body (you will be watching yourself in the mirror and you need to know how your body moves). We suggest you wear a pair of shorts and either a sports-bra or a t-shirt. You have to carry two towels with you – one to clean yourself and the other, to clean the pole. Also, do not moisturise before class because it will make things difficult
One session lasts for 75 minutes, and includes warm up, conditioning drills, learning new spins, tricks and pole poses and putting them together. You end the session with cool down stretches. The moves aren’t easy at all. You have to be very attentive because one slip and you could fall. So, ensure your grip is good and you’re getting the technique right. Don’t hasten into learning what you’ve always seen on television (those epic swirls!). You will get there, one step at a time.
You can learn this form either in a private session or in groups with 13 students. At the studio, she takes private one-on-one sessions and group batches for the Pole Burnt Series One on the weekends. Series One comprises eight sessions of 75 minutes each spread over a period of eight weeks. For this, you need to pay a fee of INR 10,400. You can also take 4 sessions for INR 6000, a drop-in session for INR 1700 and a trial session for INR 1400.
Her classes usually happen on weekends in the afternoon, however you can contact Aarifa on aarifa.pole.burnt@gmail.com or you can find her on Instagram. She is also conducting online virtual sessions for Conditioning for Pole and Exotic Floorwork Choreography (off the pole).