Posted on 11/17/2005 10:26:35 AM PST by SmithL
The joint partnership exercise and personal training studio began offering a cardio striptease class that the owners say is a fun workout targeting the entire body.
Fitness instructor and co-owner Christina Perez said cardio striptease is the latest exercise craze, hyped up by the women of "Desperate Housewives" and publicized by Oprah Winfrey. But there is something to be said for the unconventional workout.
"What do you think about this new stripping aerobics?" was the question Perez said she heard from clients, who had raised an eyebrow when viewing an episode of the "Oprah Winfrey Show."
"Can we do it here?"
Perez's response: "Why not?"
She attended an exercise convention in July where she learned how the workout can benefit those who practice it. And with that, she grabbed a pole and some training videos to learn the basic moves.
The intimate gym, which has been open for almost a year, put the class on its roster by August. The class meets Friday evenings and has room for six "strippers" -- plus their portable prop poles.
"The first time we did it, we were all sore," Perez said. "Your heart rate really gets up there."
Nancy Tietz, 57, said it wasn't the racy nature of the class that attracted her, but the improvements in flexibility it offered.
"Stripping at my age is not a pretty thing," she said, with a chuckle.
Jessica Maxwell, 18, said flexibility was a secondary benefit to the class she incorporated into her workout schedule.
"I was all about the strip part," said Maxwell mischievously.
Sue Allison, 46, said the overall body workout appealed to her, but the way it would be achieved made her blush a little.
"I didn't know what to expect and I'm not a prude or anything, but it's embarrassing," she said, a little shy to even speak about it. "It's kind of like bedroom behavior."
But Allison wasn't too embarrassed to take her 76-year-old mother-in-law to attend a class.
"She loved it," Allison said.
Using atypical aerobics lingo, such as "hip pump," "body swirls" and "body rolls," Perez warmed up her class. By the end of the hour, the class had worked up to constructing a full routine.
Perez and business partner Cecily Guest have plans to erect a stationary pole in a space they have newly rented next door.
Unlike some of the cardio strip classes that get students down to their skivvies, Guest said the only thing taken off in their class is maybe a sock or two.
She said the class is not about being lewd or indecent, but about having fun with a workout and gaining some self-confidence.
"It was just thought to be too risqué for the East Bay and I was saying, 'Nonsense, nonsense,'" she said. "For us, it's a little more about freedom of expression."
Leave it on. PLEASE.
Ladies?
Oh no!
No way, no way, no way.
I could certainly get into Cardio Clumsy Retard classes, though. I am excellent at falling down and getting up.
Just throwing it out there for everyone's consideration. A public service kinda thing.......
Off topic, but do you remember the Noxema commercials..with that Sweedish blonde, and the "Take it off, take it ALL off" tag line?..and "The Stripper" music..perhaps the best and most effective commercial ever..BTW..wonder what happened to her..she must be in her 50-60's now?
Er,
No.
nonononononono.
NO!
no.
Wonder what her stage name is?
Hmmm - I think in this case when you say no you MEAN no. LOL.
Hope all is well with you today!
All is well,
Hope all is well with you too.
Not necessarily. Kind of depends who you are stripping for.
"But Allison wasn't too embarrassed to take her 76-year-old mother-in-law to attend a class."
SWEET LORD IN HEAVEN, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
That'll kick-start the old pacemaker.
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