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CO-ED classes
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I actually have never had more than maybe 5 classes without a guy. One of my first instructors was a guy and there was almost always a man taking them. It always made the jokes a little funnier I must say but also it was a nice balance. The men usually pushed us girls strength wise but we pushed back with dance.
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Well…. when I opened almost 4 years ago I never really gave men much thought. I now have 2 (albeit gay) men enrolled, and they are just as loveable and wonderful as any of the ladies who take classes with us. I’d take 100 more of em if I could get em !!
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litlbit: you asked about men’s thoughts/feelings regarding initial class experiences, especially regarding form-fitting shorts. While men I know don’t talk about such things non-jokingly (really!), I’ll venture a guess: they’re worried about erections.
Not unreasonably, either. Lots of hip-opening warmups, upper-thigh stimulation, sexy songs, and extremely attractive, scantily dressed women nearby, plus the fascination the mere possibility of public exposure has on the imagination (that’s basic but unavoidable psychology). In my case it wasn’t a problem: my classmates told me explicitly I should wear booty-shorts to grab the pole, and erections are apparently no big deal, just another physiological response, like sweat or stiff nipples. But like you, I have noticed men not as comfortable with the process. Hope you can help them!
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I would love to take co-ed classes. Of course if someone is there to be a peeping tom I would expect the instructor to ask that person to leave. I can imagine that many women would not be comfortable with it so I think having some classes that are women-only is probably a good idea and perhaps necessary from a business perspective. I think 9 out of 10 classes I would probably choose co-ed if it’s available. Guys are always good for the mix–at least in my opinion. I have taken one class with a guy who does some Chinese pole and was also working on partnering tricks with one of the other girls in class–made me do a double take at first but then didn’t bother me a bit.
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I’ve taken co-ed classes and plenty of co-ed jam sessions. It’s never been an issue, but then again those weren’t sexy classes per se. There is a place around here (I see you’re from MA) that admits men to any class, including sexy stiletto dancing. And apparently they even come to that. Actually, that seems like a good compromise: men can come to pole class only if they wear stilettos! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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FoolsErrand, thank you for your response! As a retired nurse I thought that might be a possibility. When I had to assist male patients for example, they didn’t want me to help them in the bathroom etc. 🙂
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the studio i attend has classes for males, which I think is awesome. I don’t think we can discriminate against men doing pole, they should be able to take part as well.
I don’t think I’d be happy with co-ed classes though. Not because of any “inappropriateness” (I think men can be just as self conscious as women…I doubt that if they were taking a class they would be interested in checking anyone out)
But I think I would be intimidated. Boys are strong, and in the beginner men’s class at our studio, the boys are doing things the girls are doing in advanced levels. If that makes sense. I think if you were used to taking mixed-level classes, that would be fine but I hate that haha so I don’t think I’d like it too much.That being said, I think a co-ed doubles class could be a lot of fun!
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As I read through this thread I realized I would have had a different opinion about 2 years ago when I started. I would never have taken a co-ed class and I certainly would not have started wearing smaller clothing to stick on the pole in front of men.
We had a special guest a male performer (he was in a musical that was traveling through our city) come to our studio and take a few classes and the girls didn’t seem to bothered by it as long as it was just a few classes and they had a heads up so they could wear something a little less revealing. When asked if the class could be co-ed only 3 of us were okay with that. I am fine with it to a degree. If there was a man in the class that was not there to learn or was making the ladies feel uncomfortable I would not like it.
Here is what I would like to see in a perfect world there would be classes for men and for women and coed classes. That way everyone could go to the classes they felt comfortable in. I would be comfortable in any class now that my skill level has improved substantially and I don’t care as much about how fat my belly is because I can hang upside down by my toes…..okay that is an exaggeration but it just feels so good when I master a something new I don’t care but again I did care a lot when I first started.
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Sundcarrie, thanks! Your story confirms the need for single-sex intro classes, because pole is a challenging enough new activity without adding body-consciousness on top. But in the posts above, experienced people sound pretty chill with co-ed all around. Does anyone think there a need for single-sex non-intro classes?
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Our Studio has Coed classes on Fridays. At the moment we have one consistent male student,nobody in the class seems to mind the mix. Here, it seems the personalites, more then the gender, have a stronger influence on classes. We have also opened up the studio in off hours to accomodate some open pole practice sessions for one of our fast track program students whose schedule made the Coed times a challenge.
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To me, if it’s a sexy moves class, then it might be wise to separate the genders just for comforts sake, but if it is a tricks based class, I see no reason why men should not be allowed to participate. I see plenty of men who love pole and I find it unfair to exclude them or make them pay more for a private lesson.
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I agree with AerialGypsy – I think the only time I would want women only would be in a sexy flow class, or something of that nature. Just because when I am learning to try to be sexy, I don’t want to do it in front of anyone, even girls! But especially a male.
And actually, I sort of feel like there should be women only classes rather then men only classes. It seems to me that for the most part, most men don’t take classes. If you had men only classes, they might not fill up. However, if you only offered a few female only classes (I am talking regular, not sexy flow), then women who wanted to be alone with females could be. I don’t know, just my opinion. But if I were a male I would feel extremely discriminated against if I was told I couldn’t take classes with everyone else. If women are the ones having the problem, they should remove themselves from the situation. In most situations, the person having an issue is not catered to.. it just seems unreasonable to me.
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I remember when I was in high school there was a trip on. A army assault course thing basically to see a bit about army life opening the options for when you left school. So I went over went to put my name down then to be told this was a male only trip. I was vety annoyed 🙁 So think this is why im also against seperate classes. I didnt like being told I couldn’t do something becsuse I had a vagina. And to me men and women are the same minus a few different body parts lol
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And plus im in a gay relationship so if I was ever told I wernt welcome at a class for this reason id be very peed off xxx
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@zoeyxxxx that’s a good point I was going to make the point I am I’m a great straight relationship and I have a little girl BUT I have had just as many girlfriends as boyfriends. would I not been aloud in as I may find some of the women attractive? even though I would have zero interest and be determined to get a move etc. I think if we are all being adults we can look past the idea of a bit of skin and a couple of bits of wobbly parts and be united in something extremely fun and challenging… if I was told I could only have private lesson etc I feel hurt and like I was doing something wrong and seedy. x
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