Yes, Brie Larson [1] is a fitness inspiration because of her skills, but even more so for her willingness to try just about anything. The "Captain Marvel" star chronicles many of her fitness ventures [2] on social media, and has shown us time and time again that she doesn't shy away from any challenge. From one-armed pull-ups [3] to push-ups with weighted chains [4], her latest conquest? Pole dancing.
On Monday, Larson posted a series of photos on Instagram [5] of her trying a pole-dancing class with the wonderfully punny caption, "Made an im-POLE-sive decision to try a new workout class." In the photos, you can see Larson climbing the pole (harder than it looks) and doing a version of what appears to be the "Ballerina" pole trick [6]. You can see she's gripping the pole with one hand and one foot while suspending the rest of her body away from the pole in a pose that's reminiscent of Dancer in yoga [7].
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If you've ever tried a pole-dancing class [10], you likely know that these skills aren't easy, though Larson is making them look like a walk in the park. TBH, we're thinking exactly what one commenter wrote: "what CAN'T you do????"
Pole dancing looks cool, sure, but it also requires tons of strength in your upper body — namely, in your lats (the big muscles that span most of your back), biceps, shoulders, and hands/forearms (i.e. grip strength). It's understandable why Larson is a natural: In the last few years, she's been working hard on pull-ups [11], an exercise that also targets all of the aforementioned muscles. Different pole-dancing tricks and inversions will also require a lot from your thighs and core, and help you improve your balance and flexibility. "Not only are you having to hold your own body weight up on a pole, but add in constantly spinning and changing positions on the pole, and now you are really challenging your body," Colleen Freeman [12], DPT, physical therapist and group fitness instructor, previously told POPSUGAR [13]. "Not only will your muscles be stronger, but also your vestibular, or balancing system, within your brain will improve."
To Freeman's point, pole dancing isn't a workout you do just for the muscle burn. It's also a very mentally engageing form of exercise since you're continually building new skills and being challenged, as Melanie Hsia, co-owner of pole-dancing studio VRV3 previously told POPSUGAR [14]. Not to mention, it's fun; you're getting to climb, dance, play, and explore moving your body in a totally new way (and, no, it doesn't need to be sexual).