A decorative garden in Old Windsor

Knowing that I would be staying in Old Windsor for almost a month, I determined to find some fitness activities nearby. The Old Windsor Workout meets bi-weekly in the recreation ground Tuesdays at 9.15, and Saturdays at 7am. I turned up for the Saturday workout to find they were already running. Also, Saturdays are Men Only, but they kindly allowed me to join in. Starting out with light jogging, squat thrusts and push-ups, I kept up quite well. When the men started sprinting, I started thinking about ways to sprint off the field, but the instructor kept shouting us along.

Old Windsor Workout (Men's Group), instructor Mark is third from right

“Come on lads, and lady, push yourselves,” he yelled from the side. “I know you hate me now but you’ll love me later.”

The instructor gave us a few 30-second breaks, during which the men made comments like, “We’re only doing this so we can go down the pub and pig out for the rest of the weekend.”

The Women’s Workout is on hiatus for the summer, as is the Pilates group. I’m not sure why the Workouts in Old Windsor are gender segregated, but when I looked further afield in Windsor this was not the case.

Some 4Motion Dancers at Windsor Firestation, teacher Jess is 2nd from left

4Motion Dance classes run at the Windsor Firestation on Tuesdays at 7.35pm. 4Motion instructor, Jess, displays an infectious love of dance in her classes. Jess started with some fitness, including running around the room, crawling, rolling, and running backwards. Then she did some yoga moves in a circle and ended with a choreographed dance. It was a fun routine, involving pushing away of limbs, falling, and covering a lot of space in the room. The 4Square dancers are a young group, and I enjoyed their vibe so much I went back the following week.

Windsor Fitness Pool

Next I visited Windsor Leisure Center, a sprawling complex with two swimming pools, a full gym, tennis courts, a spa and exercise rooms. I took a dance aerobics class and thought I would find it pretty easy. But then, veteran dancer Charles created a ten-minute routine by combining four sections of choreography, which he kept swapping around. Trying to remember all the moves proved futile, so I just kept moving, and occasionally my body synchronized with the routine.

Windsor Leisure Pool, including slides, waves and 2 jacuzzis

Pole classes at Windsor Pole studio are on hiatus. So I went back to Windsor Leisure Center to swim. The fitness pool is heated and each lane had plenty of space to do laps without bumping into anyone. The space was great, but it also reminded me why I moved to the city. Sometimes life is more interesting when you can’t help bumping into people. Peace and quiet have their place, but so does organized chaos.

4Motion!

Photograph by Don Curry

Wendy Traskos is not only one of the strongest and sexiest dancers I’ve met, she is also an entrepreneur whose ventures include New York Pole Dancing Studio, Climb and Spin, and United States Pole Dancing Federation. Amazingly, Wendy did not qualify for the cheerleading team when she was in high school, despite already being a competitive gymnast and having sister Tracy in the team. But perhaps this early challenge contributed to Wendy’s tendency to push the limits. Maybe growing up with a father in the military helped too. Rules couldn't be broken, so she sought areas of life where the rules hadn't been defined yet.

From floor: Wendy Traskos, Tracy Traskos and NYPD instructor, Brynlyn Loomis

Sister, Tracy, went to college for Community Health Education, and became a respected bodybuilder and fitness educator. Wendy followed her own path, and—in her final year of high school—her parents told her if she didn’t go to college, she would have to start paying rent.

Photograph by Don Curry

“I left at 18 and never looked back,” said Wendy. “After that, I just figured I could do what I wanted because I did everything all on my own: my own decisions and my own failures and everything.“

“I needed a job when I came to NY. So eventually I started stripping. My parents would be so proud,” Wendy laughed.

“I never felt uncomfortable about showing my body,” she said. “And I knew that no one could touch me so I was fine with that. I drew a clear line and never stepped over it."

Wendy saved enough money to start her business in 2005, and to employ some of the finest pole dancers in New York including sister, Tracy. Although running NYPD hasn’t proved as lucrative as stripping, Wendy does it because of her passion for pole, and also because it empowers women, and creates a sense of community. Pole dancing is a bonding experience for many women, as they push their limits of endurance and strength together.

Photograph by Don Curry

Wendy refined the moves in the Climb and Spin method so they are safe for beginners and for progression to advanced moves. Unlike other studios, New York Pole Dancing requires testing before students perform invert (upside down) moves.

“I am trying to protect the students’ safety,” says Wendy. “Some people see a rivalry between New York Pole Dancing and other studios, but I feel there’s room for everybody.”

Wendy performing at Schtick A Pole In It

New York Pole Dancing offers drop in classes for students of all levels. Wendy frequently performs at events like the Northwest Championship, Schtick a Pole In It, and the Pulse Project’s Sirens 2. Currently, Wendy is focusing more on the studio and on Climb and Spin, which she hopes will become a standard method. Whatever branch of her business she chooses to focus on, Wendy Traskos is clearly a Pole Dancing Pioneer.