Dancer Shamarra Cadogan shows off her moves, and we are impressed.

Crawl, crawl, crawl to the mirror
Arch your back
Toss your hair
Slap your ass
Touch your body
NOW FIREMAN!
Bend back
Yessssssssss! Here we go now.

…and you thought Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing was a sensual dance teacher. PUSHSSST –
Aradia Fitness is the pole dancing, strip teasing workout destination for ladies who’d opt for a little METALLICA over GIRLICIOUS and who’d trade in a fruity cocktail for a double vodka on the rocks. Make no mistake, you will learn to strip-style dance here, and put that frizzy haired twat from Saved By The Bell to shame. (like she hasn’t endured enough over the past two decades).

Walking upstairs and being greeted by a shoe rack of bitch boots, red vinyl pumps, thigh high lace ups it’s quickly obvious that this flirty school of seduction is a wee more hardcore than the usual crop of Miss. Piggy pink boas and ‘naughty’ bachelorette parties adorned with glittery princess crowns.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee – SMASH. Previous to my visit at Aradia my only experience pole dancing was being a drunk nineteen year old in a Northern Ontario dive bar. My girlfriends and I would do a couple blow job shots (cause that used to be totally cool) and take turns spinning around, crashing into a mirror and boinking heads. It was so fun, especially when chased with a pickled egg fight. (ewww) That said, it was anything but sexy and was very clear that we pissed off just about everyone as we whirled around maniacally until running to the bathroom to upchuck. Messy is an understatement.

My beginner class at Aradia, appropriately titled ‘Teaser’, was much more organized, seductive and of value to my body. In fact, I worked that poll so hard that my arms felt exhausted all weekend. Further, you can take those tricks right back to the bedroom – well kind of, perhaps with a bit more practice. I was doing the crawling cat move in my PJ’s when husband turned to me with a painful look, “WTF are you doing?” Wait until I take six more classes and BRING THE POLE HOME HONEY!! There will be no more necessary trips to FOR YOUR EYES ONLY when you can milk the cow and drink it to. Huh?

I’ve never been one to confidently speed walk around the neighbourhood while everyone inspects dimples in my derriere and I am one to join gyms with gusto, good intentions and then quit three weeks. SIGH, almost having given up on self fitness altogether, I knew I had found my calling when Sean Paul came on and I was told to “GRAB YOUR ASS GIRL” and so forth. Yes, this is my cup of tea.

The instructor was easy to follow and no one in the class took themselves too seriously despite their inconceivable talents of spinning round the pole, upside down, one hand, triangle legs and so forth. I was impressed.

Yoga, ballet, boot camp, abdominal strengthening or erotica – there are a variety of sensual workouts to fit every mood and ability. Yeah yeah – some people find this fitness style degrading but I think it’s a terrific way to work out, have fun and feel sexy. Ever heard of THIRD WAVE FEMINISM??

Strut your hot ass up to Aradia and take a spin. You will leave with an after sex glow and some new found confidence to take to the bar and pick up the allusive hottie you’ve been stalking.

For more information:
http://aradiafitness.com/franchises/toronto/httpdocs/