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Students at an Xpose pole dance class exercise and practice their moves. (Courtesy of Anita Ammon) [Click to enlarge]

Okay, let's face it. Exotic dancing brings a slew of stereotypes to mind. But for some reason, when these activities are incorporated into a mix of cardiovascular exercise and Pilates with a dash of self-confidence-building thrown into the recipe, out pops the hottest new fitness trend. And heck, if Harvard grad and actress Natalie Portman can spin around a pole in Closer, Hopkins women should be able to give it a whirl, too.

Luckily, just a shimmy, dip and a shuttle ride to Towson gets girls interested in trying out the trend at Xpose Fitness, a center dedicated to exotic dancing fitness. Anita Ammon, owner of Xpose Fitness, became interested in the art when she took a real-deal exotic dancer class. "I never danced professionally before, but I loved that class," she said.

So much so, in fact, that she decided to bring the experience to other women, though in a less intimidating and "much less expensive" fitness and dancing combo form. Xpose Fitness has become so successful recently that Ammon is opening another center, located in Arundel Mills, later this fall.

Xpose Fitness offers a floor and chair class and two levels of pole classes throughout the course of the day. A 50-minute class costs $9, and various packages are available for those planning on becoming regulars. "Newbies," as the instructors call students lacking any experience in exotic dancing, can try a free introductory class Saturdays at noon.

Ammon says that devotees should expect "inches lost before weight," thanks to the muscle-building moves that result from the workouts. She also emphasizes that participants will sculpt "feminine, long and lean muscles."

And, unlike putting in another boring hour on the Treadmill, "the exotic aspect makes the time fly while you're exercising," said Ammon.

Fitness instructor Jennifer Chavis says that the floor class improves participants' flexibility and is very Pilates-based, with an emphasis on isometric, controlled movements. The pole class "is all about using your body weight as resistance," which builds muscle.

Learning the moves, particularly in the pole class, can be a bit of a struggle at first. "You need to trust yourself," Chavis said. "It takes time to do that."

But, perhaps more important than the obvious physical benefits, "self-confidence" is a word heard throughout the Xpose studio.

There's something weirdly empowering about strutting around to the pulsating music and mastering a series of rather difficult moves. Ammon says that the most rewarding aspect of her job is hearing women share their stories of newfound body confidence. "After taking a few classes, clients will tell me, `for the first time in years, I found myself strutting around the swimming pool,'" she said.

Chavis agrees. "Women should expect to feel better about themselves after taking these classes," she said.

A pupil in the pole dancing class, Amber Norwood, a Towson University senior, quickly became a fan of the workouts. "The first time I took this class, I loved it," she said. "It made me feel sexy, and I felt so confident about my body."

And, perhaps most importantly, "this is the only workout I've ever done that I actually look forward to doing," she said.

Regardless of whether or not you become an exotic dancing master, a visit to Xpose Fitness will make you follow the center's mantra: "Walk tall, walk strong, but walk like a woman."

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