It’s a far cry from her job in church administration but Katherine Fossler is expanding her pole dancing fitness center franchise to Eagan.

She opened her first shop in Hudson nearly three years ago and the private parties are "maxing out" that location.

Lady Katherine will have a grand opening on Dec. 17 at the new shop, 4178 Pilot Knob Road.

A few years ago when the economy started to nosedive Fossler lost her job. Depressed and sitting at home, jobless, a friend picked her up and swooped her off to a pole dancing class in the cities. It was on the car ride home she decided it was her calling to empower women to feel good about themselves through the alternative fitness route. Employing her business degree and passion for fitness she set out to open the sassy dance center.

Now a few successful years later the expansion to Eagan was exactly that- expanding. The new shop next to MGM Liquors has 21 poles, a changing room, an area for TRX fitness, restrooms and merchandise in 2,200 square feet. The Hudone location has 14 poles.

"Right now I have people coming from Minneapolis, Bloomington, Farmington, Duluth, Rochester, Eagan – all over the place," she said. "Eagan seemed like a convenient place for people to travel, especially for the private parties."

Her five year dream plan is to have five locations surrounding the Twin Cities.

This pole dancing fitness center, Fossler said, is about sisterhood, support, sass and self-assurance.

"Fun, flirty and sassy is the culture we created," she said. "It’s a very safe, supportive and classy environment center. The pole is a piece of fitness equipment."

Unlike other centers where sex or being sexy underlines the fitness aspect Lady Katherines has its own vocab.

"It’s not sexy, it’s sassy. We have abs and booty classes – never abs and ass," she said. "It’s cute and fun not dirty and sexy."

Benefits from "poling" every other day, Fossler said, are a strong core, shoulders and arms. She has regular fitness classes throughout the week in addition to the private parties and weekends.