Until I found my way to Seventh Dimension, my sole exposure to pole dancing was from police procedural shows, a titillating backdrop for the detectives pursuing leads among the unsavory characters ...

It could be a scene from any workout class: about a dozen women, outfitted in tank tops and T-shirts, sports bras, and stretchy pants, waiting expectantly for the instructor to begin. The difference?

It's the start of a new year, and that means gyms across Michigan are packed with people fulfilling their New Year's resolutions to get healthier, move more, and maybe lose a little bit of the weight ...

My legs are spread open in the instructor’s face as I attempt a basic wrist sit move (where you grip the pole with one hand under your butt, then kick your legs wide open), and she’s telling me off ...