To Pattye Bohnet, pole dancing is not only a business but a way of life.
“I feel at home here,” said Bonet from her location at Body, Mind & Pole in Mineola. “This gives me something to wake up to in the morning.”
Bohnet, a Franklin Square resident who opened Body, Mind & Pole in September of 2012, said the negative connotations of pole dancing as something done in a men’s club are quickly fading.
“Pole dancing has become much more acceptable. The stigma associated with it has been lifted,” she said. “There are competitions around the world.”
The studio, located at 460 Jericho Turnpike as part of Personal 1 Fitness, offers students a home and away from home, Bohnet said.
Kim Besab, a student at the studio, said she always looks forward to her lessons.
“It’s really fun,” she said as she prepared for an upcoming class. “I’m always learning something new.”
Carrie Cueva, who prepared for the upcoming class alongside Besab, said pole dancing is an important part of self-image for her.
“It helps you feel very comfortable with your body and where you are with your life,” she said. “There is a feeling of acceptance and family here.”
Body, Mind & Pole also offers aerial hammock classes, Bohnet said, which aids in learning dance moves and provides upper body and core strength while improving endurance and flexibility.
The studio also offers an introduction to Lyra, an aerial hoop program with its own set of techniques and endurance practices.
In addition to introductory courses, the studio offers more advanced pole dancing classes for students who progress through the beginning courses.
Reach reporter Bryan Ahrens by e-mail at bahrens@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
