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Are there any benefits other than looks when it comes to doing pole with heels.
I’ve heard from some people that the help tone the legs and core but i’m skeptical if that’s just a rumor.
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10 Replies
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if you’re talking solely fitness benefits- definitely works your legs! walking is a whole new process, and that recruits muscles in your legs and core even (if you’re really paying attention) to work harder to keep you stable.
other benefits- totally changes the way you move, and subsequently the way you dance. it’s really a cool feeling. you’ll see and feel your style change, and that can be a really nice break from however you’re normally moving. also some fun musicality additions are possible- like heel clacks! -
I feel shoes help with gripping the pole also. They also make certain moves possible that you couldn’t do without shoes , like toe slides to get up from the ground using the pole and doing toe slides is floor work , handstand press. I use the toe of my platform as a contact spot in a lot of floor work moves . Otherwise I would just being doing a shoulder roll without a toe slide and it is way less impressive . Heels are functional for pivoting in pirouettes around the pole and for spins as well
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If we’re talking just about fitness, sure heels going to work your legs and your core (because of balance issues) more than going barefoot, but, and this is a big but, they’re also ergonomically terrible putting you at greater risk of injuries in the short term and other problems long-term. If you want to work your legs more, try just dancing on the balls of your feet, you’ll be using your leg muscles to hold you up, without making your doctor grimace. Another potential fitness benefit is that platform stripper shoes tend to be heavy, and some of them are really heavy, so you’re basically working with ankle weights. If you’re strong enough to perform moves safely with this extra weight you’re probably getting a better workout, but, if you’re not really strong enough to handle the extra weight on the end of your leg (think about the physics of even a small weight at the end of a long arm) you’re putting yourself at greater risk of an injury. I’m not anti-shoe, but I think their benefits are largely aesthetic, rather than improving fitness.
As others have pointed out, you tend to move differently in shoes, I certainly do. Part of it is that they let you pivot better than bare feet, but there are changes beyond that. Shoes effectively make your legs several inches longer, which changes your center of gravity, and shoes change the way your knees and pelvis are positioned, all of which mean you are going to move differently, even in the same move. Having weight on the end of your leg means that you can make some spins spin a lot faster, which can be fun. As others have pointed out, shoes can improve grip and protect your skin making certain moves easier–the first time I climbed in boots, I thought I’d gone to heaven. But I am unaware of any moves that cannot be done without shoes (some may need small modifications). And of course platforms allow you to do some rolls and other moves without dragging the tops of your feet over the floor and probably taking off skin in the process. Personally, I also just like smacking my platforms together or on the floor, it’s just fun. Some women find wearing shoes makes them feel sexier.
That said, products like foot undies or similar foot protectors will allow you to pivot nicely (assuming you’re up on the ball of your foot) and protect the tops of your feet in a roll, without the potential risks of shoes. There are also some similar products designed for pole dancers that protect the feet, and provide added tack to help you grip the pole. I have the “sole savers” by Mighty Grip which just covers the ball of the foot and the top right over the ball, but they make some that provide more coverage. Although I enjoy dancing in shoes, most of the time I dance in my sole savers instead. I find that I can do toe dragging rolls in them, as well as climb, and slide nicely on the floor in pivots.
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I’ve kinda been wondering about shoes too. More specifically, getting something like foot undies because I practice on EVA foam mats in my garage (concrete floor sucks for doing rolls), but the grip of the mat makes it hard to pivot. I’m glad to hear people say the foot undies and similar stuff are effective!
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They also make me be super mindful of my feet. Nothing sticks out more than an unpointed foot with an additional 8 inches hanging off of it!
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In heels you need to lift off the ground, you cannot jump. And you must land with precision and balance. Your core is switched on longer while you transfer from and to the ground.
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If the benefit of shoes is that they force good form (e.g. not jumping, landing with control) wouldn’t it just make more sense to focus on having good form regardless of what is on one’s feet? Also, perhaps some people find heels useful as form correction devices, but I’ve seen plenty of jumping, leg swinging, and hard landing in heels–poor form is possible in all footwear.
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Just my 2p, as I’m pretty much a newbie with pole in the scheme of things. I’ve never felt comfortable or functional wearing heels. Even when I was doing ballroom/Latin pretty intensively I only wore teachers practice shoes that were lower than 3 inches and relatively thick. I find that when poling I’m most comfortable in ballet shoes. They still allow good toe and ball of foot spread for balance, and make pivoting a piece of cake as well. I think they do encourage pointing as well, just as a visual cue.
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Personally I think you all have great pro’s and con’s. In this case, like so many when it comes to personal fitness, it comes down to what you feel you feel safest and most importantly feels right to you.
You can have the sexiest most frisky feeling shoes or be the most nymph like with no shoes at all. As long as you feel ” you ” and ” one ” with whatever instrument you choose to show your inner style.
For as long as you do the rest normally falls safety into place.
Though do remember where all walls and careful of any beams. Lol, I remember goofing off with the cat and almost taking out a window on a flip down from my bed. The darn cat had decided to plant himself right under my ass and nearly scared me to death.
Lol. I will forever be thankful that I didn’t have heels on that night. In the end, it just wasn’t right. 🙂 But sometimes it is. -
This is actually a great question! Heels won’t improve strength by leaps and bounds but they DO add a challenge in balance, which involves muscles that help stabilize the body and some heels add the element of extra weight, which adds more resistance.
I always suggest learning with no heels then moving on to heels. I love wearing them and they make me feel sexy and add another element of expression to the dance!
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