Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007
Potomac resident Karin Young was looking for a different way to celebrate her birthday this year. Saturday marked what she liked to think of as the 15th anniversary of her 25th birthday — an occasion to celebrate, not to shy away from. So rather than a quiet dinner and a few drinks, Young and her friend, fellow Potomac resident Lisa Sion, invited a group of close female friends to Sion’s home to let loose with a strip aerobics party.
‘‘It seemed like a good thing to do for a girls’ night because it’s more of a party,” Young said. ‘‘You forget it’s a workout.”
Women like to think of strip aerobics as the ‘‘fun” way to exercise — and it’s the only aerobics class where participants take breaks to sip wine or slip on a pair of high-heeled shoes.
Strip aerobics uses exotic dance-based moves and kicks them up a notch to incorporate aerobics techniques. And despite the slightly misleading name, it does not involve taking off clothes.
Once found only in the gym, strip aerobics is now eeking its way into private birthday parties and bachelorette parties. The trend is all about confidence and self-esteem, according to Stacy Holstein of Riptease, a Montgomery County group of strip aerobics fitness instructors who guided the workout.
‘‘Every woman has a sexy side,” said Jill Blumberg, a Riptease fitness instructor who led the party.
The popular workout trend began several years ago in major metropolis areas on the west coast. Launched by Crunch Gym, it was popularized by a series of workout videos hosted by MTV personality Carmen Electra. Now, however, it’s finding a new niche in small East Coast suburbs – including Potomac. Fitness instructor Blumberg said that strip aerobics is a way for normally reserved Washington-area women to show off their wild side.
‘‘D.C. is a very conservative place,” said Blumberg. ‘‘But women here want to break away from that.”
Blumberg, of Rockville, and Holstein, of Potomac, are fitness instructors who saw the business potential in bringing the strip aerobics craze from the gym to the home. In the spring, the two women launched Riptease — an arm of their personal training company that sends trained instructors to private homes to lead parties for women of all ages. So far, they’ve hosted about 10 parties in the area, and the Sion party was the first in Potomac.
Young and Sion first met several years ago when their children became friends at school. Young was first introduced to strip aerobics in May at the Riptease launch party at the Blue Gin Lounge in Georgetown. The idea for a private party has been in the works ever since.
‘‘I guess our friends are all pretty uninhibited,” said Sion, as she surveyed the group of Montgomery County moms and businesswomen who had gathered, ready to strut their stuff.
Though women often forget they are working out, strip aerobics can be just as strenuous as a spinning class, especially when it takes place in the gym, according to Tricia Murphy, developer of the Urban Striptease training course. ‘‘It’s a real, fitness workout,” Murphy said.
Murphy developed the one-day course for people interested in teaching strip aerobics, and travels the country teaching new instructors. Holstein and Blumberg, along with the three other Riptease fitness instructors, completed Murphy’s course before they launched the company. Recently returned from crowded training sessions in Boston and Chicago, Murphy said popularity in the course is skyrocketing.
‘‘It’s really become mainstream,” Murphy said. ‘‘And instructors are wanting more information — they’re asking, how do I really teach this class?”
Murphy said she teaches a series of core moves that instructors can then expand upon in their own classes. All the moves are based on exotic dance but have been modified for safety.
Murphy said that strip aerobics can be an emotional release for women as well as a physical workout. Women often become interested in strip aerobics after going through a divorce or other personal challenge, Murphy said.
‘‘They’ll say, I’m going through a tough time right now and it just felt so good to be in my own skin and to feel confident,” Murphy said.
Many, however, view it as an opportunity to have fun while they sneak in some exercise. ‘‘I never work out,” said Maria Ferris, a party attendee. ‘‘But this is so much fun I feel like I ought to work out more.”
