When I saw the boas and disco balls being moved into the aerobics room, I knew that I had to be part of whatever was taking place inside! Urban Striptease was coming to Acheive Fitness and the waiting list was already filled with 40 people per class. Having been a fan of Carmen Electra’s Stiptease workout videos, I quickly “cut” in line on the registration form, added my girlfriend Michelle to the class, changed my evening hair appointment and anxiously waited for the class that is changing the face of fitness.
Urban Striptease is not your mother’s aerobics class nor is it for the faint of heart! Although the studio was filled with high schoolers, mothers and even grandmothers, one must not be afraid to loosen up and “bring sexy back.” Striptease aerobics classes are a fun new way to burn calories, get in shape and FEEL SEXY! To help get ladies in the correct frame of mind, we were all given “stripper names” with name tags – I was now “Heartbreaker” and my girlfriend was “Pa Pow (I definitely got the better moniker.) ” Bouncing Bunny was in front of me, Cherry Surprise was behind me and with our new alter egos, we proudly took our places in line.
The lights were turned off, the disco balls came on and class began with three lines of women “sexy walking” across the dance floor to songs like “Scandalous” and “Promiscuous.” I was then selected to be the “line leader” for the next series of exercises, which included some squatting and a little crawling around on the floor. Although I tried to keep a straight face, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself and giggle a bit as my girlfriend and I led the pack of suburban swim team moms across the dance floor. Some women sped across the floor like they were walking on hot coals and I think we even lost a few who defaulted to the treadmills in the first 10 minutes of class. Others were completely into the class, closing their eyes and really focusing on the “sexy” aspect of the class (I couldn’t help but giggle a bit here as well.)
When the “booty bop” started, I knew the class had begun! The pseudo suburban strippers, with their minivans and carseats or their Greek sorority life bumper stickers, lined up across the dance floor to be taught a choreographed, water down dance routine that any member of a bachelor party would be pleased to see. From body rolls to horizontal craws and thrusts, “Heartbreaker” and her friends were transformed from PTA moms and aspiring college students to one time exotic dancers. By the end of the class and with our clothes still on, we were out of breath and a little sore from our three minute routine!
Like any proud dancers, my girlfriend and I rushed to her mom’s house after class to show her our new routine. I felt like I was in elementary school again showing my mom the audition dance for the school talent show; however this dance probably wouldn’t have made the cut. We laughed while we inched our way across the kitchen floor to her mom’s clapping and laughter and high-fived each other after our grand finale hip roll and thrust. Aside from a great workout, Urban Striptease was a great way to bond with other women and enjoy a night unlike any other! In fact, with the kids taken care of and our spirits rejuvenated, Michelle and I decided to grab a Jeep and go “muddin” until midnight. That wasn’t necessarily the plan but after getting lost in a field of bulls and then covering ourselves in mud (stay tuned for that blog), we laughed on the drive back home that all started with an evening of striptease. I highly recommend classes like these for everyone, especially those with a cheer or dance background, although I can’t promise what you’re new personality will want to get into once you leave!