A Portland Stripper Designed a Workout Class Exclusively for Sex Workers

Twisted Stripper features a variety of exercises designed to ease pinched nerves, lower back pain, and torn shoulders associated with hundreds of spins around the pole.

Carlee Murrell (crouching) created Twisted Stripper, a workout program exclusively for sex workers. IMAGE: Christine Dong.

Carlee Murrell's daily wardrobe alternates between Lululemon leggings and 6-inch heels.

During the week, she's a personal trainer at Vive Fitness in Northeast Portland. But on Friday evenings, you can find her on stage at Lucky Devil Lounge.

Of her two jobs, Murrell says stripping is, by far, the most physically strenuous. In the past eight years as a dancer, she's suffered multiple injuries. At times, she's been left unable to move her neck without a "ringing pain."

It wasn't until last October, though, when a mentor suggested combining her two worlds, that Murrell decided to "quit fighting the obvious."

Twisted Stripper, the workout class Murell created, is the only one in Portland tailored specifically to sex workers. It features a variety of exercises designed to ease pinched nerves, lower back pain, and torn shoulders associated with hundreds of spins around the pole.

Classes start at $175 and run for six weeks. Nearly two dozen dancers have taken the course so far—the next cycle begins in March.

Alongside corrective joint practices, core strengthening, and "proper mechanics" needed to make those sexy moves without popping a hip, the class includes yoga and guided meditation—a mental health component Murrell believes is essential to combat the late nights and long hours as a dancer.

"I needed to give them what they wanted," she says, "but then I also needed to give them what they needed."

Related: A Local Chef Created a Service to Deliver Late-Night Health Food to Sex Workers.

32 Reasons to love Portland (wesley Lapointe)

1. Because we're creating new neighborhoods…

2. Because we made voting even easier… 

3. Because a doomed building is now a temporary work of art… 

4. Because we're still No. 1 in semi-factual superlatives… 

5. Because you can finally get a beer for less than $10 at Moda Center… 

6. Because our news anchors don't take crap from internet trolls… 

7. Because University of Portland continues to turn out some of the best women's soccer players in the world… 

8. Because we are the champions of cyclocross…

9. … and roller derby… 

10. … and air guitar…

11. Because we're turning wastewater into beer…

12. … and beer into exercise…

13. Because a local punk legend is holding a permanent rummage sale in the basement of a record shop…

14. Because we let you stop and smell the weed…

15. Because we're a world hub for slap-tagging…

16. Because even Texans are impressed by our barbecue… 

17. … and you can get almost any style of pizza here… 

18. … and also, we've perfected the soy curl… 

19. Because we're dedicated to keeping our strippers healthy and limber…

20. Because our gynecologists are building a better speculum…

21. Because our airport keeps getting more awesome…

22. …and so does Movie Madness…

23. Because we're making Halloweens more inclusive…

24. Because the city's most daring developer is growing strawberry fields in the sky…

25. Because we're bringing the pay phone back, minus the "pay" part…

26. Because you can turn on the TV and see your neighbor compete in an eating contest against a bear…

27. Because hardcore foosball players finally have a home…

28. Because we're home to the largest astrology school in the United States… 

29. Because this is the best place in the country to be a witch… 

30. Because we believe no kitty should be left behind…

31. Because the barred owls are taking over…

32. Because the best Trail Blazer in history is playing in front of us… 

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