NICKY Jameson was not a fan of PE when she was at school but she did go along to Pershore Leisure Centre and joined some of the fitness classes.

And then, while she was studying Psychology and Management at Aston University, she used to go to the gym and do aerobics.

She enjoyed the classes so much, she went on courses to train to teach various forms of exercise and later took aerobics classes in the evening while working for a high street bank for 18 years.

But her focus of attention changed when she visited a friend in London. “We went out for a spa day and while she had a massage, I went and did the pole dancing class,” said Nicky, from Worcester.

“I thought it was amazing – just because it was so much fun and so different. It was just so graceful and I was interested in the dance side of it. It was so different and creative. It is exercise to music and it is like gymnastics.”

The teachers at the London venue were from Southampton and Nicky booked herself in for some private lessons. “I drove to Southampton and after the first class I went out and bought a pole dancing pole for £550 so I could practise at home. I loved the pole dancing.”

Nicky finished her instructor training and set up her own pole dancing exercise classes called Pole Angels and has been running it with the help of additional in-house trained instructors. Classes are held in Worcester and Leigh Sinton, although she has operated from other locations in the past.

She said: "We have been teaching for over 10 years now and it never gets boring. So many different types of people join, many come alone and/or are nervous at first, but most people love it and continue coming, seeing a noticeable body change after just a few weeks."

She added that the classes are carefully structured to allow students to safely make progress. They begin with simple moves that can be linked together, but follow a grading system of beginner, intermediate and advanced level moves.

Very quickly participants, who have never been on a pole before, are able to perform routines and strength moves. Flexibility and strength are important aspects of pole dancing and are incorporated into classes. In addition special programmes are put together to focus on these areas.

The Pole Angel classes are very much fitness orientated and smash negative stereotypes of what some people imagine it to be. Many people attend as they just don't enjoy the gym or jogging, yet find they can be fit and healthy through pole classes in addition to making friends in a fun environment.

Nicky, aged 41 who also works part-time as a financial advisor, said: “Most people when they see the pole dancing classes, want to try it and when they come, they love it and they do not want to leave.”

She said some of the students have a change of life, such as children leaving home or they become single and they want to try something new.

The classes are open to both men and women and all age groups. The current age range is 16 to 62 but children as young as seven have been known to accompany their mums and she has had students in their mid 60s. Under 16s need to have parental/guardian consent. “We also have quite a few larger ladies,” said Nicky.

For more information about Nicky’s classes visit www.poleangels.co.uk or ring 07803 700559.

“When you go to aerobics, it feels like hard work when you are doing it. If you go to a pole class, it just feels like fun. You get as fit by doing pole classes. It is the only class I know where you can talk to people while you get fit. It is so enjoyable,” said Nicky.