Businesswoman opens pole dancing studio in Yuma

Right, left, right. Grab the pole, hook your leg and spin.

It's not as easy as it sounds.

In fact, a pole fitness workout can be challenging.

California businesswoman Edith Aboul-hosn founded From Mind to Body Pole Fitness, a company that offers pole dancing and exotic dancing as a source of both mental and physical empowerment.

Since Aboul-hosn began almost seven years ago in Orange County, she now has opened studios across the U.S., teaching thousands of women.

Last month, she opened a studio in Yuma, located at 3970 W. 24th St. Suite 104.

Now the workout routine is not just a California trend - it's nationwide. It's also on the East Coast, with studios popping up from New York to Miami. Professional dance instructor and creator Aboul-hosn has been featured on the TV show "The Doctors" and an upcoming episode of the E! series "The Girls Next Door."

For more information about classes in Yuma go to http://FromMindToBody.com or call 1-949-903-1867.

Aboul-hosn says that for people who may have ideas of a strip club when the words pole fitness are mentioned, think again. There's one word that definitely describes the sexy workout: tough.

From upper-body strength, to abs, to helping improve coordination, there are many benefits to pole fitness.

For the most part, students do it to get in shape, not to just take their clothes off.

"Everyone comes for different reasons," Aboul-hosn said.

Whether they want to get in shape or spice up a relationship, she said, the type of woman who tries the workout varies greatly.

From lawyers to stay-at-home moms, there are all types of women at her 13 permanent studios.

"We have everything. (Or) they're just curious or want to come out of their shell."

The environment is for women only, no men allowed, Aboul-hosn said. That's just one of the things they do to help make women feel comfortable.

Yuma resident Sarah Haynes started classes in Yuma last month.

"It's great," she said. "It's a good workout."

After reading a little about the classes on the Web, Haynes said, she decided to try it out.

"It makes you feel sexy. It's good for your self-esteem."

That confidence is one of the greatest benefits she said she's gotten from the classes. "Not only is it a workout, but you boost your confidence."

Amanda Hernandez, of Yuma, said she agrees.

"You find your feminine side in yourself," Hernandez said after taking the classes for a few weeks. "A lot of people think pole dancing is bad, but it's a really good workout."

In the first two months, Aboul-hosn said, some of the things students will learn are pole fitness, lap dance, chair dance, floor dance and strip aerobics.

And they'll trim up while doing it.

The more advanced classes offer students the ability to work on core muscle groups.

"Then we show them how to put all the moves together," said Aboul-hosn.

The classes are designed to help the individual, not teach them to act a certain way, she said.

"I don't want to teach them how to be sexy, I want to help them find themselves - basically find the real person that's inside."