NEWS CHANNEL
Published: 22/04/2009 00:00 -
Updated: 23/02/2010 13:35
Staying active can sometimes be a torturous task but one entrepreneur in Milton Keynes set up MK Pole Fitness to add a new twist to exercise.
Hannah Taylor transformed her house into a studio and, with the business going from strength to strength, MK NEWS reporter Simone Corgan went to see why the new hobby is growing in popularity ...
MK Pole Fitness
When you walk into someone's home you expect to see a sofa, table, a TV, all the familiar furniture.
But when you step into Hannah Taylor's house you see your reflection in the mirrored wall, a bare laminated floor with just two poles from the ground to the ceiling.
It is a peculiar setting to run a business from yet Hanna's pole fitness classes have been a huge success.
She has tapped into a market of people who avoid the gym and seek an enjoyable element to exercise.
Five years ago Hannah, 29, stumbled across an exercise DVD which included a pole as part of the work out and decided to take a few lessons.
As the interest in her new found hobby grew she realised there was a hole in the market and set up her own business.
She transformed her living room into a studio to get MK Pole Fitness up and running.
Hannah, who lives in Two Mile Ash, explained: "I just wanted to get myself fit and I hate going to gyms, I hate the monotonous pattern of them, this just gave me such a variety of thing I can do and it's really addictive."
The greatest struggle in building the company has been the public's perception of activity.
The mum-of-one stresses her classes are not pole dancing, not the kind you would see in a club, they're another way of building strength in the core muscles, toning and staying active.
"I'm always keen to get across that it's not seedy, it's not erotic.
"Students don't have to wear shorts in my lessons, they can wear jogging bottoms, leggings, vest tops, t-shirts. "Even if they want to wear trainers then they can do."
Hannah also offers one-on-one tutorials and welcomes groups of up to four people for lessons.
"I try to make people feel at ease. I encourage them to come and have a go, and they all love it."
To many it would seem an easy skill to master, just swinging on a piece of metal when in fact it is very much an art.
Moves, created by Hannah, like the fairy, black widow, pole cat and cork screw really test a persons strength and balance.
"It's a really good all rounder, instead of going down the gym and having five or six machines to do six different parts of your body, we're working out everything with one pole.
"You're doing cardiovascular, body toning, working on your posture, your co-ordination, flexibility and confidence as well.
"I see the change in each individual person. Six months down the line you do see totally different people - their confidence has grown, their bodies have changed."
It turns out pole fitness is a popular past time for many in Milton Keynes, the demand for lessons has been so high for Hannah that she has recently extended the business.
She said: "I'm quite surprised because I originally started teaching as a hobby and even though we're in a recession I'm still getting loads of people through my door.
It's amazing how many people are coming to me.
"I have just recently franchised out and all the people I've franchised out with I totally trust and I've taught them from the word go."
As well as her home studio, lessons now take place at Atlas Fitness Centre in Wolverton and Houghton Conquest in Ampthill, while a night club in MK are also considering becoming a venue.
? More information on MK Pole Fitness can be found at www.mkpolefitness.co.uk or call Hannah on 07969621638.
Hannah Taylor transformed her house into a studio and, with the business going from strength to strength, MK NEWS reporter Simone Corgan went to see why the new hobby is growing in popularity ...
Video Content
This box contains video content. In order to view the video you require Flash Player Version 9 or above.
Download Flash Player here
If you are using an iPhone then click here
This box contains video content. In order to view the video you require Flash Player Version 9 or above.
Download Flash Player here
If you are using an iPhone then click here
When you walk into someone's home you expect to see a sofa, table, a TV, all the familiar furniture.
But when you step into Hannah Taylor's house you see your reflection in the mirrored wall, a bare laminated floor with just two poles from the ground to the ceiling.
It is a peculiar setting to run a business from yet Hanna's pole fitness classes have been a huge success.
She has tapped into a market of people who avoid the gym and seek an enjoyable element to exercise.
As the interest in her new found hobby grew she realised there was a hole in the market and set up her own business.
She transformed her living room into a studio to get MK Pole Fitness up and running.
Hannah, who lives in Two Mile Ash, explained: "I just wanted to get myself fit and I hate going to gyms, I hate the monotonous pattern of them, this just gave me such a variety of thing I can do and it's really addictive."
The greatest struggle in building the company has been the public's perception of activity.
The mum-of-one stresses her classes are not pole dancing, not the kind you would see in a club, they're another way of building strength in the core muscles, toning and staying active.
"I'm always keen to get across that it's not seedy, it's not erotic.
"Students don't have to wear shorts in my lessons, they can wear jogging bottoms, leggings, vest tops, t-shirts. "Even if they want to wear trainers then they can do."
Hannah also offers one-on-one tutorials and welcomes groups of up to four people for lessons.
"I try to make people feel at ease. I encourage them to come and have a go, and they all love it."
To many it would seem an easy skill to master, just swinging on a piece of metal when in fact it is very much an art.
Moves, created by Hannah, like the fairy, black widow, pole cat and cork screw really test a persons strength and balance.
"It's a really good all rounder, instead of going down the gym and having five or six machines to do six different parts of your body, we're working out everything with one pole.
"You're doing cardiovascular, body toning, working on your posture, your co-ordination, flexibility and confidence as well.
"I see the change in each individual person. Six months down the line you do see totally different people - their confidence has grown, their bodies have changed."
It turns out pole fitness is a popular past time for many in Milton Keynes, the demand for lessons has been so high for Hannah that she has recently extended the business.
She said: "I'm quite surprised because I originally started teaching as a hobby and even though we're in a recession I'm still getting loads of people through my door.
It's amazing how many people are coming to me.
"I have just recently franchised out and all the people I've franchised out with I totally trust and I've taught them from the word go."
As well as her home studio, lessons now take place at Atlas Fitness Centre in Wolverton and Houghton Conquest in Ampthill, while a night club in MK are also considering becoming a venue.
? More information on MK Pole Fitness can be found at www.mkpolefitness.co.uk or call Hannah on 07969621638.
