MEET ANASTASIA SOKOLOVA …
|| By WILL FOLKS || Before I write a single word on this particular subject (too late!), I’d like the record to reflect that this topic was suggested to me by my wife.
That’s correct … my wife sent me a pole dancing video and suggested I write about it.
“It’s great exercise and an art form if done right,” she said.
So … what does doing it right look like?
Here’s a clip from the YouTube page of Ukrainian goddess Anastasia Sokolova, who is apparently “the world’s best pole dancer” – or in the words of her Facebook page, “the phoenix of the pole dance, on fire, fast and gracious.”
Take a look …
(Click to play)
(Vid: Via)
Wow …
Pole dancing isn’t just about eliciting the sort of Pavlovian, pre-pubescent sexual response I just provided, though. It’s a legit workout – especially for the upper body.
It burns tons of calories, enhances flexibility, improves your cardiovascular health, strengthens bones and joints, builds muscle and yes … boosts self-esteem, reduces stress and helps you sleep better.
It’s also becoming a sport in its own right – with competitions governed by the U.S. Pole Dancing Federation (no seriously).
This group – which has been around since 2008 – credits itself with helping launch the careers of pole dance superstars Michelle Stanek, Alethea Austin, Karol Helms, Sergia Louise Anderson, Natasha Wang and Jenyne Butterfly, to name just a few.
And yes, I’m about to Google every single one of those names … which led me to this glorious Instagram post from the page of Madame Butterfly.
Impressive …
Want to learn the way of the pole? You can. There are pole dancing classes and studios literally all over the country – and they don’t seem to be especially cost-prohibitive.
In fact we found one “Intro to Pole” class in Greenville, S.C. for just ten dollars.
Check your local listings now …
(Banner image via YouTube)