Shape Up NYC

S Factor… I have one thing to say, every girl needs to try this class!

Okay, I guess I will tell you more . S Factor stands for Sheila Kelly Factor, I first heard about this through one of my co-workers whose girlfriend works there. I have to say now after taking the class, he is one lucky man! S Factor is a pole dance, strip tease workout. Yes that’s right, pole dancing! You have no idea how nervous I was walking into this studio but it was honestly one of the BEST times I have ever had.

“S Factor is the original and most popular pole dancing and striptease workout designed by a woman for women. This radically wild workout combines ballet, yoga and striptease to nurture a woman’s natural S shape, promoting health, confidence and empowerment for all ages and body types. S Factor has been featured on Oprah, The Martha Stewart Show, and 20/20.” Celebrities like Kate Hudson, Teri Hatcher, and Vivca Fox have all done this workout.

This studio is a girls ONLY studio, which is great, it provides a comfortable environment where you can let loose and just be yourself. I went to the studio in Chelsea at 235 W. 23rd Street. It was located on the third floor. The lobby is very nice and has a little boutique where you can get all your pole dancing apparel (Yes I bought little booty shorts for my next class). All of the S Factor staff are so friendly and answer any questions you have. I took an introductory class which is two hours, most classes are two hours unless you do a drop in class, which is only an hour. Each class is taught by two instructors, one lead and one assistant. They come get you from the lobby and take you to a very dark studio with no mirrors. There are candles along the walls, chairs in each corner (I later come to find out these are lap dance chairs), and about 6 poles. At the start of class there are mats laid out on the floor for you. Each class can hold about 20 girls and for the first time most girls come in groups, I braved it alone which was fine.

The class starts out with a 50 minute warm up which includes stretching, ab work, glutes, and learning some of the S Factor moves. After the floor work you put the mats away and do some work in the center of the room like hips rolls and you learn the S walk. Then after that you get to try the POLE. Which was so much fun, it was so liberating! At first I was scared but once you let go (not your hands) it was a lot of fun. At the end of class you learn a quick seductive dance and it ends with a dance from your two instructors who show you all the moves you can learn if you continue with the class.

The reason why I loved this class so much was because it really gives you confidence and makes you feel sexy. Every girl who was in there and looked like they had been a student for a long time held themselves with such confidence. This class really teaches you to be happy with YOUR body and gives you the tools to empower it. It was an amazing feeling. And after watching the instructors, you just leave being like “I want to do that, I want to look like that”. You leave feeling sexy and really good about yourself. Having an all girl class is a lot of fun because they give you a lot of support, if a guy was allowed to take this class he would be in heaven haha.

As for prices an introductory class is $40, but if you sign up for the newsletter, you get 50% off your first class. The classes are done like semesters. It is an 8 week course and you start in level 1 and can go all the way up to level 6. An eight week course is $480, which is pretty expensive, but if I can save up for it, you will definitely be seeing me in class! They also offer one hour drop in classes which range from $45-$65. I feel like there is so much more to tell but you can find out more by visiting the website. It was an amazing class and I can’t wait to go back!!

You can watch the video here.

Filed under: Workouts | Tagged: Kate Hudson, Pole Dancing, S Factor, Sheila Kelly, Strip Tease, Teri Hatcher, Vivica Fox, Workout | 5 Comments »