The seven best places to take pole dancing classes in NYC

This Chelsea-based pole studio teaches you “flows,” combinations of pole dancing moves. Starting from your first Intro to Pole Dancing class, it initially focuses more on strength-building exercises than moves on to choreography. The studio also teaches hoop and aerial classes, if hanging upside-down from a pole isn’t your thing but you still want to try something a bit weirder than a spin class. 115 W 27th St (212-334-6900, bodyandpole.com)

This spacious studio teaches comprehensive pole dancing courses, but it also offers fun drop-in classes, too (like pole yoga and Diva Pole, which focuses on creating full dance routines). Stressed out in your stripper heels? Try heading to the studio’s rejuvenation room, which includes a punching bag to help with anger release, a meditation area and a zen pool. Yep, this pole dancing studio has a zen pool. 8 Beach St (917-388-3399, citypolestudio.com)

One of this women-only fitness studio’s signature workshops teaches students how to build routines for performances or competitions—not surprising, considering that its owner, Ashley Fox, has won several national pole competitions. The intro classes are built around mastering a routine, which you learn and perform at your own pace—instead of hurrying through moves to keep up with the class. 355 7th Ave (646-683-0205, foxyfitnessandpole.com)

Where else but a pole dancing studio could you take classes in both yoga and lap dancing? New York Pole Dancing offers both, along with a large array of pole classes, of course. Its signature class, Climb and Spin, teaches you a surprising amount of moves in the span of an hour, and the $12 budget classes are among the best deals in the city. If you’re really brave, you can even perform your routines in a recital. 333 W 52nd St (212-956-7302, nypoledancing.com)

Planning a bachelorette party? Check out this studio, which offers private classes at $28 per person (it even has Toy ’n Pole classes, so you can buy sex toys and learn how to do sexy dances in the same night). The studio, which teaches burlesque alongside pole dancing, has hosted celebrities like Lady Gaga and Ashanti in the past—and have you seen their moves? 114 E 28th St (212-696-9642, shockrastudio.com)

In crowded Manhattan classes, it’s a common practice to share your pole with a few other people (and force yourself to stop thinking about germs). At Sugar Dance, however, the classes are small and having a pole all to yourself is common—and you get individualized instruction to boot. Because the classes are all mixed level, beginning students can learn from watching more advanced students. 1310 Kings Hwy, Brooklyn (917-600-9848, sugardancestudiony.com)

Pole classes don’t always have to be super sexy (surprise!). At Yoga Pole Studio, most of the classes are honest-to-God yoga classes that just so happen to incorporate a pole—the focus is on your breath, not your sex appeal. Unless, that is, the reason that you’re there is to ramp up your sex appeal; for that, try Learn to Pole Play, which teaches pole dancing with yoga making a brief appearance in the warm-up. 43 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn (917-365-3896, yogapolestudio.com)