In part 2 of “Body after Baby”, we talk to instructor Jamie about her views on why dancing is great for mothers who already have kids.

Jamie has been teaching at Bobbi’s since 2011 and currently teaches Beginners, Pole Grooves, and Beginner & Intermediate SLAP. She’s the proud mother of 4-year old, Kai.

1) Why do you think pole dancing is good for moms?

As a parent, ‘me’ time is hard to come by. Having a couple of hours of ‘me’ time definitely helps balance everything out. Which also results to fewer breakdowns! When mommy feels sexy, she is happy and confident. Happy mommy = happy baby.

Pole dancing in particular is a great balance between work and parenting. I’m a single mother and I work in the advertising industry, so work can be quite demanding. And once I get home, my very active 4-year-old son expects my undivided attention, so pole has definitely helped me build strength and stamina to keep up with him too.

It’s also a great way to tone your body and burn off the baby fat, fast!

2) What’s your advice for moms who are thinking about learning to pole dance?

Pole dancing gives you so much confidence. It could be from mastering a spin or a trick you never thought you could do, or as simple as appreciating your body, inside and out. After I gave birth, I became a little shy of how birthing changed my body (stretch marks, belly fat, breast feeding, etc). But because I now spend a fair amount of time in front of the mirror when I dance, I’ve come to terms with my tiger stripes.

I’m all for keeping the sexy in pole dancing, and through that, I’ve learned to love myself so much more! Dancing helps me express my feelings through the movement of my body without having to say anything.

Safety also comes first when I’m on the pole, so when I pay close attention to my body and coordination, my mind just puts daily activities and worries aside. The endorphins my body releases after a workout boost my mood making me feel strong, sexy and pumped! By the time the session is over, you’ll feel great!

3) Any personal tips for the moms who are already learning pole dance?

Get your kids involved! Pole dancing doesn’t always have to have sex appeal to it. When I’m practicing on my pole at home, I keep the tricks purely technical and leave the body waves and gyrations out.

Sometimes, I get my son to warm up with me and stretch out when I’m cooling down too.

I think it’s a great way to teach kids the importance of staying active and being passionate about the things you do. Most importantly, have fun and try not to take it too seriously!