3:13pm UK, Friday November 14, 2003

Sick of the gym and looking for a more exotic way to get your weekly workout?

Then the new poledancing craze taking the fancy of Britain's professional women could be just the thing.

New craze promotes flexibility

Hundreds of women are turning to what was once the exclusive preserve of seedy 'gentlemen's clubs' as a legitimate form of exercise.

Among them are 26-year-old management consultant, Jen Crosk, a 39-year-old PA and Katja Karppinen, a 30-year-old theatre nurse.

The new fitness fad has been helped along by stars like Kate Moss who features in the latest White Stripes video.

She's one of pole dancing's many celebrity devotees, twirling alongside Sadie Frost and Jennifer Aniston.

Angelina Jolie is even said to have purchased her very own pole.

The new trend is being supported by many sporting organisations, including Sport England.

A spokesman said as long as it's safe, any activity that encouraged people to getoff the sofa was a good idea.

But it's not just about fitness - after six weeks of gruelling, two-hour sessions on the pole, the girls say they've gained new-found confidence.

Emerging invigorated from a pole session, Birte Fehse said: "Everyone should do poledancing - every girl should do poledancing."

Schools are now popping up across the country - and it's no wonder.

According to these girls, once you try it... you're hooked.