Sheila Kelley S Factor

I’ve been dancing at SFactor for nine years… I started in Long Island, moved to the New York City studio, and now have been at the OC studio for the last two years… It is one of the best things that has ever happened in my life. It is fun, meditation, exercise, and therapy rolled into one. I love it more than I can put into words! :)

Love this place! My body loves this place! Cant wait to go back so I can do more dancing.
The first time I came was for a meetup event and it was incredible. The instructors were so incredible and taught me all kinds of new ways to look at myself.
Love the fact that there are no mirrors. Which may be odd but it keeps me in the movement (right or wrong) and out of focusing on if I am doing it «right». Yes I should do it safely but not worry about right or wrong.
If you get a chance I so very much recommend you come check this place out.

THE DREAM TEAM! Everyone who I have met at this location has been a true joy and light! The classes are incredible, I love feeling when I leave S Factor. It’s a natural high!!! It has the perfect balance of sexuality, philosophy, confidence and strength building. I wish I could be here everyday!!!

it’s more than pole dance. you learn to express your soul. in loving, safe, non judgemental environment. it will change your life ;D

If you give them your information to do an intro class, they will call you non stop and leave countless emails. I went in to discuss price and packages 2 months ago and have unsubscribed on my email and have told the representative to stop calling me. I feel like I am being harassed. I was really looking forward to signing up once I was ready (I had family in town for a long time and was waiting for them to go back home). But the constant calls and emails completely turned me off. I am currently looking elsewhere for a pole aerobics class.

Came here for an intro class led by Claire and Amanda, and had an enjoyable time, I guess.
The class was about two hours with just under one hour being a stretch/“work out,” about 55 min of pole and a bit of time on a routine.
Enjoyed the pole part the best, but I wouldn’t pay upwards of $ 400 for a package. No ma’am.
Like I said: happy I tried it but not for me. I ended up getting some pretty painful bruises on my legs from the pole. Not nice.
This could be a fun place to do the intro class with a group of girlfriends, but like I said — not my thing but A — OK with that.

I decided to try S Factor after moving to the area a few months ago. I had been watching the online videos for years and have the books. After discovering a studio nearby I signed up for the 2 free classes to try out the studio before paying for a series.
On tour day (they have you come in on a different day to tour first), I was slightly concerned and disappointed to see the disarray of the building it’s located in. The building has gated windows and at night you need a code to get in the unmarked door to go up the elevator. Also, All of the parking says 1 hour, and I was concerned about towing or a ticket.
Once inside the studio was nice and clean, with a overly (read annoyingly) friendly staff who tried to sell me on a series before trying out the studio. Since my trial, they have tried several tines to get me to come back offering 1 day only deals.
Studio B (the only studio I saw the 3 times I visited the studio) is dimly lit with red lighting, 3 poles and a long bench sofa. They have yoga mats for stretching, and cleaner for the poles (very important to me). There are no mirrors! They emphasize a «if it feels amazing, it was amazing attitude.» Which is great for those with self esteem issues, but I learn better when I can see what I’m doing.
My stretching class was nearly a deal breaker for me. The girl was using the same pep-​eness as I had heard nearly everyone else who works there use, but when stretching and relaxing it’s distracting. Imagine in the middle of a deep stretch hearing a cheerleader say «YEAH» «WOW». I stretched and I came out semi relaxed, but I didn’t feel like I had a accomplished much towards my flexibility goals, and that voice by the end made me cringe like nails on a chalkboard.
For my pole 1 class, it was dark outside and a random stranger had to let me in the door with the code to get to the elevator. The class had 6 people, and 3 poles; so we paired up and shared. The teacher «C» was actually very friendly and helpful, we spent more time or stretching and poses than spins but overall I left very pleased with the experience.
Would I go back? Probably not. Though it seems great for those who want that female girl power vibe, it felt too much like a fake sorority to me and it simply isn’t what I’m looking for in a pole fitness class or workout.

Pros :
Very friendly women at the desk & friendly instructors & tall poles. Air conditioned. instructor will pay attention to you if needed. You can take a water/​bathroom break. Easy to find.
Cons :
No mirrors (I’d want to see how well or not well I’m doing). Pricy. No spinning poles. No windows.

I feel this place deserved a review after I have been with them for over 3 years without a break. Sheila s factor is one of my favorite pole studio after visit 4 out of the 8 studio she has all over US. What other studio allow you to sign in classes even when you are travelling to another state or city? Out of the 4 studio– costa mesa, Los angeles, chicago and new york city, my personal favourite is still the LA studio where I have spend the most time with. And I felt it has enough studios (3) to give plenty of choice for your class type — regular class, super pole, Ffm, pole yoga and pole stretch etc. Although the new york studio has a shower and locker room that I envy to have here in my current studio.
Each city have their own flavour of type of women that take class their but they all have the same uplifting believe of the s factor theory pole workout. If you are looking for a place for crazy pole tricks or getting prep to be a go go dancer, this is not a place for you. This is a place that it will give you self confidence regarless to your body type, age or race, strengthening your muscles in the most sensual way and self appreciation for yourself, not for men. And not to mention men are not allowed in the studio. They have no mirrors, no light in the room, so that you could disconnect yourself from all the exterior distractions and start truly to listen to yourself and your body, how it wants to move with the pole. It is a much dancy pole studio over pole tricks circus place. You will be able to walk in and out the pole in an organic form without awkwardness. transitioning from dance into pole moves back to your dance moves.
I have been to other pole studios in different countries, alot of them has only 1 hour long sessions, and a lot of them focus only on doing tricks like a robot. It just wasn’t as graceful and satisfying after class of what you have accomplished. Dance instructor here are very caring and carefully with you not getting injured.
Tip: go online and sign up for the two free trial class.

Five year vet. Love love love! Just wish it was more affordable
This place will change your life if you give it a chance. All the instructors are lovely ladies and so diverse. I suggest trying different instructors out until you find the one that you can connect with. Then. Sit back because you are in for an amazing ride that you will never regret. You won’t understand it now, but trust me. You will. Absolutely one of the best things I have ever done for myself.

I’ve never before found a «workout» that I liked, let alone looked forward too. It’s hard to describe S Factor; yes, it will tone your body and yes you will build incredible strength but it’s so much more than that. You will learn to let go and just dance. You will find music that inspires you and moves that make you feel good.
Yes, it’s expensive and at two hours, the classes are a big time investment but it’s so worth it. You have to go into this with an open mind, it’s not a cardio/​burn kind of workout so don’t expect that. It involves stretching and strength training, some pilates type moves and a whole lot of fun; pole spinning, pole climbing and dancing, dancing, dancing. The teachers are all amazing and the staff are helpful. Don’t let the scary strip mall scare you off…

I was looking for a new pole studio (and still am) after the one I had been going to closed. Thought I would try S Factor.
I do have to say, the studio itself is gorgeous and it isn’t hard to find.
Personally, they just didn’t seem to fit my needs. While they do have a great thing going and it definitely seems to be working for them (how else would they have been able to expand so much?), it just wasn’t what I was looking for. Here’s why:
1. The biggest room has 5 poles and they put 3 people to a pole in each class. I want a bit more one-​on-​one time.
2. They only have static poles, no spinning. When I asked the instructor the size of the pole (45mm or 50mm) she wasn’t even sure that I meant.
3. Different style than what I was looking for focusing a lot on flow and movement (which is something that everyone needs to take). While this is a good thing, I wish there was more diversity in the classes with some that focused more on tricks.
4. No aerial classes at all which is something I am looking for.
I don’t want to discourage people from going there, but I do want to let people know about the studio’s options so they can make an informed decision.

My response to Mary Kelley who flagged my review.
I am just going to assume that you are just not aware of what is going on in the CM studio. Fruit was sold, I witnessed it. Unilocal does not permit the publishing of names or I would have included the names of the people who were present that night. My Unilocal account is new because I specifically signed up to rate the CM S Factor. I complained to a friend of mine who told me to do something about it. So yes, my sole agenda was to save other people from what I experienced. That is what Unilocal is about (both positive and negative reviews). I really don’t see how I violated the rules. Please show me the specific place where I violated the rules and I will correct it. Everyone who knows me knows me as Milani. I am known as Milani in school and at work. I have an email account, a facebook page and a twitter account in that name so no, I am not an online ghost.
As the established business you are, I was kind of surprised at your reaction to my review. Most of your reviews are positive but you do have some negative ones and some of those raised the same points that I did so I was very surprised at your reaction to mine.
I will say again that I will just assume that you honestly don’t know what is going on in the CM studio or you would not have reacted the way you did. Maybe you should check out that studio covertly although the price in comparison to other studios, the location speak for themselves… everything else is my personal opinion which is what I thought Unilocal was all about.

This review is l-​o-​n-​g overdue. However, it doesn’t mean my love of S is any less.
In 2005, I heard about Sheila Kelley’s S Factor on the radio (98.7 fm) and the idea was intriguing. I wanted to try something new, shake things up a bit in my life. I had just gone through a terrible and traumatic year after the sudden death of a close family member, and I was needing to get out of that dark slump. Getting myself fit was something I was aiming to do, too. At the time, the OC S Factor studio hadn’t opened yet, but the ladies from the mothership (aka. the L.A. studio) were putting on some weekend workshops. Two weekends in a row were a crash course unlike any other, and completed my level 1 training. I walked out of my first class with a new swagger, a changed mindset, and a feeling of empowerment. Talk about a transformation! And it was just the beginning of my journey…
When the studio finally opened in March 2006, I was signed up for the first session as a level 2. My instructor, Megan Salisbury, was compassionate, funny, encouraging, and wise beyond belief. She was (and is!) a great representation of what S Factor is all about: no judgement, no limits, no to rules, no shame; yes to celebrating everything that makes you female, yes to taking risks, yes to positive energy and support of both ourselves and our fellow females. You think this is just a place where women learn to shimmy around a pole in tiny clothes and act sexy? Think again. It’s SO much bigger and better than what anyone could imagine if you haven’t experienced the power of S for yourself.
From the autumn of 2005 through the spring of 2009, I worked my way through level 6, but never stopped transforming. I never imagined I’d be able to climb up a pole, flip myself upside down, and hang there, arms out, feeling free and stronger than ever before. To take flight on that «verticle barre» made me feel like I was back on the playground again. To go through the feminine movements and cut myself free of any of society’s shoulds, aughts, and musts was enlightening, motivating, therapeutic, strengthening and invigorating — spiritually, emotionally and physically. S Factor isn’t just fitness, just like the pole isn’t just for strippers. S Factor was therapy, a fresh and healthy mindset, and physically made me stronger than ever. I never knew I had some of the muscles I developed. The mix of pilates, yoga, cardio, dance, philosophy and self expression is something I never believed I would find in one place — let alone what I thought would be just a «fitness studio.»
Yes, it is expensive, but I felt it was worth every penny. It did more for me than a gym membership. Every week, I was challenged and and encouraged to express myself out loud in the safety and privacy of a wonderful group of fabulously supportive women. Even if I traveled to another studio (NY, Chicago…), the women were just as welcoming and supportive. The friends I made through S are still some of my best friends to this day.
I joined a sorority unlike any other back in 2005, and my membership in it continues, despite my having moved over 2,000 miles away. I miss my studio and friends, but the movement — physically and philosophically — are always with me. I woke the S up back then, and I wish the same for every woman out there.
Thank you, ladies!

TL: DR: S Factor is amazing. Do it. Do it NOW.
Up to this point, my only experience with a pole was one drunken night at a friend of a friend’s place which, needless to say, resulted in a massive hangover and the lingering question of «why is my skin stained the same color as this skimpy red number I don’t actually recall putting on?» Word to the wise ladies, invest in high quality exotic wear and save your friends the embarrassment of having to explain the altogether awkwardly positioned red stains on their skin the next day, and the next day…
While that experience (what I can remember of it anyway) was let’s say… interesting, it hardly awakened my inner siren, nor did it make me want to learn more about the practice. S Factor however, HOLY S***! I left class feeling so much more aware and attuned to my body, wanting more, and most importantly, feeling EMPOWERED.
The ladies at Costa Mesa are wonderful. From my first phone call to the actual class, everyone was super helpful and encouraging. I arrived early as instructed but still had a few minutes to wait so I decided to check out the space. A lot of exotic wear, skimpy skirts/​shorts, stripper heels, fishnets, and S Factor branded stuff like Sheila’s book/​dvd/​etc. The space was clean and organized, albeit a bit on the small side once our intro class was all there and the previous class started coming out of the studios. The actual class space was pretty large though. Very spare but with interesting details like a vintagey looking lamp in the corner (with a red bulb, of course!) and a big comfy chair, which maybe they use for their lap dances? The most important thing though, is that there are NO MIRRORS which means no self judgment. They also dim the lights waaaay down too. My inhibited self was very grateful. :)
The class itself started out with some floor work which was all about slow, intentional movement with a sensual, seductive twist on yoga/​pilates type exercises. It was fun but left my out of shape butt with sore muscles the next day! The instructors went around to check on everyone and correct mistakes or give more detailed instructions if we couldn’t get the hang of it. They also whooped and yelled and screamed when we did it right which was really encouraging and added to the overall come-​as-​you-​are-​you-​amazing-​sexy-​beast vibe. Next we learned the S walk which was actually kind of hard at first. I didn’t realize how little intention goes into walking and the S walk made me so aware of this. After that we learned a move on the pole, the firefly, which some got the hang of right away. I was not one of them, although I did manage one or two halfway decent ones by the end. At the end of the class the two instructors did a demo for us which was AMAZING. I think my jaw dropped a few times. The crazy part was some of the wow moments weren’t even on the pole! It was so memorizing to watch two women do some really very athletic stuff all the while being incredibly in tune with their bodies and the music, and needless to say, super sexy.
My instructor, June, was great! She’s very energetic and enthusiastic and super nice. She made the space a very safe and inviting place and did a great job of showing us how pole can be a conduit to empowerment and a better relationship/​understanding of the capabilities of our body. Her old instructor (sorry, I forget her name!) was also there to help teach the class and she was phenomenal too.
I have a friend who RAVES about S Factor and now I know why! Classes are pretty pricey (I used my groupon, which was about to expire, but they let me sign up for a class after the expiration date, such excellent customer service!) but you get a $ 40 discount code for your next class at the end, which in this economy, every little bit helps! I’m a total convert now. It was by far the most engaging «workout» class I have ever gone too and the transformation is one you can feel instantly. If you’re even remotely interested, DO IT! You won’t regret it!

I first took the intro class with my mom and I loved it! It started off with a lot of yoga. They want you to come with your hair down! It was a totally comfortable environment (I am super uncomfortable with my body so the no mirrors and dim lighting worked for me!) I thought it would be a fun «activity» for us. At the end of the class they showed us all that we would learn if we enrolled for the class. I enrolled, I am finishing up my first «8 week series». My instructor Lisa is great! She really works with us to «Own» enjoying our bodies. I feel more confident now about being the seductive woman I want to be! I encourage every woman around me to at least go to the Intro class and see what it is all about. I look forward to my class every week!
LOVE LOVE LOVE S Factor!

I’m an S woman!
This journey through discovering my feminine powers is the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. Learning how to improve my strength, agility and utterly magnificent pole tricks is but a side effect!
I tell all my friends and any women open to discovering more about their power and beauty to try this wonderful gift of S Factor!
I’ve been doing it for 5 years and will not stop! I simply can’t live without this beautiful, magical journey.

i did an intro class here. i would give this place another try but for right now, i feel its just eh…
pros: i love how they dim the lights unlike other pole dancing places. i also i like their philosophy of women empowerment and confidence. they dont have mirrors so you cant be judgmental. their poles also reach way higher than other classes. can build self-​esteem for women who need it.
cons: i really dislike their pricing because basically the first 8 sessions you barely learn to climb the pole, then you gotta pay for another package. of course its confidence and whatnot, but im not in desperate need to pay that type of money to feel sexy or confident. the place also has much more older women than other dance places. it also has a «cult-​ish» feel to it, claiming that its woman are «better» than other pole dancing places. of course its a safe place to play, but so is another place. if your already confident and just wanna learn to pole dance, this place isnt for you. its a slow pace, supposedly for you to enjoy yourself.
bottom line: i did enjoy and have fun at my session. sheila kelley is a huge company now and lots of celebs do it so it has a good name. for the price though, there are other places that are better. besides that, i already got my own pole where i play at home. completely safe, empowering, and i get to play any music i want =)

One thing that my suburban, middle class upbringing taught me is that stripper poles belong in dark, seedy clubs, lumped right down there on the bottom shelf alongside low budget porn. Since the pole itself actually bears no physical resemblance to male anatomy, it’s safe to say that I was conditioned to believe this stigma through social norms alone.
Then along came Sheila Kelley’s S Factor, who taught me is that sometimes, a pole is just a pole. And at S Factor, the pole becomes an object that allows a woman to play, to empower herself, to be free, to «fly».
The difference between S Factor and other pole dancing classes is that in addition to a physical workout, personal growth and feminine power are encouraged. From the very first class, the nurturing instructors work to break down any preconceptions of what is proper, to embrace our femininity, and to learn to love our bodies as they are. Everyone at the studio, from instructors to students, are approachable, ordinary (albeit fun, passionate) women; they range in age, body type, and profession, from housewives to career women to mothers.
The studio itself is dark and lacks mirrors. This type of an environment encourages leaving your inhibitions at the door, and to forget the outside world, even if only for two hours a week. When learning new routines, the instructor and fellow students cheer one another on in a way that I have not experienced in the outside world for quite some time.
Cons? Well, the Orange County studio is located in a less than desirable building with a liquor store and a massage parlor. Students are encouraged to walk downstairs in groups when leaving at night, and to always have our keys ready when we get to our cars. This seems like a less than desirable scenario for an all-​female class of this nature. The course is also expensive, and the cancellation policy is not very customer friendly. It seems to me that a $ 440 investment could come with some sort of an ‘out’ so that new students who decide it is just not for them aren’t forced to continue with the entire eight weeks, or simply eat the cost of the course.
But for me, the good definitely outweighs the bad. Every woman deserves a place to play, a place where she can come alive, embrace her femininity, and act sexy — all the while feeling safe and comfortable. I’m happy to have found such a place at S Factor.

This review is for the intro class in the Costa Mesa studio.
I was really surprised to find the studio in a totally run-​down strip mall. With the price they are charging-​$ 440 for 8 sessions and all the celebrity hypes, I was looking for a spacious studio with lots of light and character. The shops on the first floor of the mall were half closed. The whole place cried out cheap and desolate-​I was starting to doubt my coming here. I thought, what the heck, I’m here already, why stop now.
When I finally found the tiny entrance into the mall to the second floor, I walked in and they were selling jewelry! I understand if the studio sells clothing or fitness books (which they do,) but jewelry? C’mon, now that’s not very classy. The intention to make $$ off of us was too obvious-​you have to at least try to make it more subtle. And the place was tiny. There were about ten of us for the intro class, and there were not enough seats in the waiting area for everyone. I was sitting so close to another lady that I could almost smell her breathe. yikes. There were only two rooms… what happened to the spaciousness? sigh…
The workout was disastrous. What attracted me here in the first place was their combined workout of yoga, pilates, dance moves and pole movements. Best of everything, I thought! However, ten mins. into this I realized the instructors were not properly trained in any of the fields. I was trained by some great pilates trainers who were also physical therapists, so we were always protected against neck injury or back strains etc. Here, however, they made you do some moves for a prolong period of time without telling you to hold onto your neck or warn you about possible back injuries. I saw a lady next to me who was obviously in pain but still trying so hard until she could not hold her neck any longer. I felt so sorry for her.
Yeah it may seem great that they wanted to promote women’s self esteem and to know and move their bodies in a non-​threatening way (no mirrors, dim light, and no men etc.) But at the studio the message the instructor was sending us was men are stupid and they like these moves that we were making («stupid men watching their sports, let’s do these moves and say it’s ok, darling, keep watching your TV…») If it’s really about us, was it necessary to trash men to elevate women? I didn’t think that was the way to improve a woman’s self esteem.
The cost for the intro class was a reasonable $ 20. However, after the experience I really wanted my $$ back-​it was not worth my time nor my dime.
Sorry ladies, this just didn’t do it for me. Now please excuse me, I am off to finding a truly great workout place! ;)