As a new, single gal in Denver, I have been poised with the task of writing a column about being single in the Mile High City. I have taken on this task with an open mind and some fun ideas, the first of which is a night at Flashdance Studios in Broomfield, which offers adults-only dance classes. On that fateful Monday night, I took four classes: Stripper/Pole Workout, Pole-ates, Burlesque, and Ghetto Ballet.

I'll be honest, while I was surely excited to try each of these classes, I'm just a nice girl from the Midwest. Needless to say I was nervous about getting my groove on - what could I expect? I assumed the class was geared toward actual strippers. However, I found that my classmates were in reality grade school teachers, nursing students and financial planners.

My biggest fears were looking stupid or falling on my head. However, once we started, the entire group was more concentrated on getting the their own moves down than they were on the way my legs often got tangled in the pole and the cellulite on my exposed legs.

While each of the four classes was unique, there were common threads thru each. The first two classes I took were very fitness intense. There's a lot of hip movement and abdominal and leg work in the Stripper/Pole workout. Once you were on the pole, it was very arm-intensive. The Pole-ates class, a takeoff on Pilates, was more about flexibility and pole technique. The last two classes I took were easier and more fun. The burlesque class was cutesy and playful. We used feather boas and learned a very cute routine - it was very much about being feminine and sexy and having a good laugh. The last class I took was Ghetto Ballet. I know what your thinking, what is Ghetto about ballet? For starters, the girl next to me was wearing ballet slippers with flames painted on them-not to mention her tutu was less then conventional with its homemade black and maroon tulle. We wore cut up fishnet tights as arm warmers and learned about being graceful with just a little bit of funk during our transitions. This class was by far the most traditionally educational of the four.

The best thing about these classes is that they include women from all walks of life, all body shapes and all mindsets. There is no need to be embarrassed or feel uncoordinated; everyone feels that way. I didn't once catch anyone checking my cellulite or the way my hips don't really rotate the way the instructors did. The environment was classy and fun - often times even funny - but mostly, encouraging. My favorite quote from the Pole-ates instructor was "it doesn't matter if you do it right, just end it with a something sexy and try not to look like a gorilla climbing the pole."

I also found that I have a new appreciation for the stripper/pole dancer. The muscles, talent and pure bravery required to climb a pole and hang upside down are not for the average Joe-sie. There is surely a reason that strippers have the lean bodies that they have. I really appreciate a good workout, and I can assure you that these classes were way more fun than running in place on a treadmill.

Ladies, leave your inhibitions at home and be prepared to sweat your booty off. Though I can't recommend taking all four classes in one night - as I can just barely walk today - I do recommend trying them out to find a class that suits you. It is a fun way to get in shape, meet new people and at times get in touch with your own inner stripper who's not afraid to look sexy in the mirror even if she is sweating.

I think next time I'll try the Circus Aerial class.