Introduction to exer-tease

Move over Gypsy Rose Lee -- make room for some new talent in town. Welcome to Pole 101, the exercise class that many men would pay to watch.

After turning 40 and giving birth to her third child, personal trainer Stacy Rae Mednick, now 42, was feeling a little frumpy and noticed the baby weight wasn’t coming off as easily as she wanted. So she came up with an intense workout that combines sensual stretching, yoga, Pilates and pole work.

“Every woman is a goddess,” Mednick said. “She’s a gift to herself, to the universe, and to her husband or significant other. Women are beautiful, and so often we forget that.”

Classes are held in a private women’s studio in the back of Body Techniques, the personal training facility owned by Mednick and her husband. The atmosphere in the women’s studio is different from the typical gym setting -- relaxing music fills the dark room, and yoga mats and three poles in the center of the room are the only equipment.

While the warmup routine and pole workout Mednick developed is heavy on strength-training and muscle-building, it is entertaining enough that most students don’t even realize they’re exercising, she said. But what Mednick loves most is how good it makes women feel, how it can help build self-confidence and make them more comfortable with who they are and what they look like.

Plus, it is a great workout. After several weeks, most students notice a difference in their bodies and their strength, she said.

“It’s so awesome to see women of all shapes and sizes coming to these classes,” Mednick said. “These classes are drawing women of all ages and backgrounds. Every woman wants to feel sexy. Every woman wants to feel beautiful.... There’s something about working on the pole that’s so empowering.”

The hour-long classes start out with Mednick’s combination of stretching, yoga and Pilates. The women take this time to relax, leave the stresses of everyday life behind them, and focus on themselves and feeling good. But it’s a fairly intense warmup -- all the stretches focus on parts of the body that need to be strong in order to use the pole. Many of those muscles are not exercised in everyday activity. While holding poses and stretches, women are encouraged to rub their hands across their curves and through their hair, recognizing the beauty of their womanhood.

“I’ve watched women walk away [from the class] with a whole different awareness of their body,” she said. “Someone has given them permission to feel like a woman.”

After the warmup, the women start working on the poles. Stilettos are optional, though Mednick says that walking around in extremely high heels is a great way to strengthen your calves. The students learn a new pole trick every two weeks.

“We’re not here to be strippers, to be performers,” Mednick said. “What happens in here, stays in here.”

Michelle Africano, one of the pole exercise instructors and a personal trainer at Body Techniques, said she never in her life expected to be doing pole tricks, let alone teaching them to others.

“I just figured, Why not? And I’m really enjoying it,” Africano said, reiterating that it’s a great workout for all women.

“It’s amazing to me how much of a workout you get,” said Sheralyn McVeigh, 30, of Huntington Beach.

She said she has become more limber since starting the class. The entire routine helps strengthen and tone muscles and increases flexibility.

McVeigh started taking the classes a few months ago after noticing a sign when she drove past the gym. She has taken similar classes in the past and recently started teaching one of the Pole 101 classes herself.

Julie Angelone, 31, of Huntington Beach began weight training with Mednick to improve her overall strength. While she was working out at Body Techniques, Mednick told her about the Pole 101 class that started in the fall.

“At first, I was a little apprehensive,” Angelone said. “I came a few times and then I just loved it because I was getting a good workout.... My boyfriend likes it too.”

* LINDSAY SANDHAM covers education and public safety. She can be reached at (714) 966-4625 or lindsay.sandham@latimes.com.

20060202itz64mncKENT TREPTOW / INDEPENDENT(LA)Sheralyn McVeigh works out during Pole 101, a pole-dancing exercise class at Huntington’s Body Techniques Studio.20060202itz65lncKENT TREPTOW / INDEPENDENT(LA)Sheralyn McVeigh works out during Pole 101, a pole-dancing exercise class at Huntington’s Body Techniques Studio.