09:48 AM CST on Thursday, November 20, 2003

MEG FARRIS / WWL-TV Medical Reporter

It's not the gym or the treadmill, but exotic dancing is hitting the Crescent City as the newest way to get in shape. In this Weight Loss Wednesday, medical reporter Meg Farris takes a look at who's trying it and if it's working.

It's become one of the hottest new workout trends in recent years. In fact, the American Council on Exercise said belly dancing and other forms of dancing are becoming the new way to get a cardio workout. And like other forms of exercise, it burns calories, works your muscles and de-stresses you.

Twenty-eight year old Amy Hession said she lost 25 pounds in seven months just from belly dancing.

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WWL-TV Belly dancers said the workout strenghthens their lower body

Hession said she got into dancing so much that, despite her time as a student and working in a corporate job, she made time to perform on weekends and even teach classes.

In just over five months, 26-year-old belly dancing student Laura Sarco lost 25 pounds. She was a little intimidated at first, but found the class fun and inviting. She said she can now fit into all of her old clothes.

“My eating habits are pretty much the same,” she said. “The leg muscle that I gained is extreme; it’s a lot.”

The class attracts all ages, sizes, body types and professions. In fact, one local athletic club now needs to expand its classes.

“We have some girls approximately 15-16 years old and the oldest member… is approximately 75 years old,” said Tom Sikorski, manager of Franco's Lakeview location.

Belly dancing isn't the only kind of dancing attracting career women and stay-at-home moms. There are now pole dancing classes for suburban women in Los Angeles. Carmen Electra has a cardio striptease workout video, and even Oprah has jumped on the bandwagon.

WWL-TV Rodriguez said the pole dancing has toned her upper and lower body

“It wasn't hard,” she said. “I switched from Pepsi to Diet Pepsi and I switched from whole milk to skim milk.”

Rodriguez said pole dancing is a strenuous workout. It's helped her develop toned, tight muscles in her arms, shoulders and thighs. Housewives and professionals women 22-50 years old have hired her to teach them how to do what she does.

“It is something totally different than what they do,” said Rodriguez. “It allows them to step out and not really be a dancer, but sort of have fun in their own way.”

Some of the dancers said that their weight loss and dancing have helped their posture and balance too. They said they're less clumsy, more graceful and inspired to eat better.