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CKR/CAR @ first pole class ever!
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I get scared when I see beginners getting taught to 'take a jump' into an invert…. this style of teaching really annoys me, the teachers are supposed to be the responsible ones.
Beginners won't know the full extent of how strenuous pole is on the body and it's the responsibility of the teachers to coach them how to work towards a move.
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what do you mean by a jump like a kick in?
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I have been called rude and pretty much a B@@ch on numerous occasions (just about a month ago again) because I have been very blunt about people doing things incorrectly and they don't want to listen to a voice of reason. If you come on the site and ask for advice and only listen to the advice that you want to hear then how does that help you?
So many owners think the only way they are going to keep students is by getting them upside down. So many have no idea how to progress students or how to even condition them. So many stop their own training once they become instructors/owners. As Empy stated, it is sad to say that hearing things like this no longer shocks many of us who have been around for a while.
I had a friend contact me to vent about a studio in her area that is teaching inverts and superman on a 6th lesson. Sadly places like this exist and continue to open.
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Hey, Chem. I virtually love you just the way you are!
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one of the studios near me, teaches inverts the first day you go…….. one girl was teaching a elbow stand to a CAR sit up, and i piped in and said that move is NOT a beginner move and that it is a toughy… The teacher told me, "OH NO ITS NOT" and then when she went to demonstrate to the student, she fell on her head… I laughed out loud, and she just looked at me… I couldn't contain myself. I don't ever wish bad or that someone gets hurt, but thats what she got for being rude to me and thinking she knows everything
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My first pole lesson was spins. To be fair my instructor had been teaching for 6 months and gave me loads of wrong information (inverted thigh hold was "butterfly hold" and side pole hold was "teddy" *roll eyes*) but she was 100% safe in teaching. The studio she worked for was the worst part, though. The owner had a real passion for pole, but didn't really want to invest in it for others. Like, the studio didn't have crash mats. For anything. And they had aerial rigs!
I learned CAR only after learning CKR which was like, my second visit. But you were spotted the whole way and they reminded you not to do it by yourself for a while, or only do the hold but not the whole layback, if that makes sense.
|: I am also annoyed by "kickers". Except for I get to watch kickers all day long. New girls, fresh pups in the world of exotic dance, watch me or another advanced dancer do a move and think that they can do it. My work dances are very different from my home dances. I'm told by co-workers that I do a "pouty, bitchy dance" but in the most positive way they can put it. In short, one new girl didn't understand that concept of "stage presense" and assumed I was trying to be "better than her" (*sigh* THESE NEW GIRLS, so ignorant) and tried to pop out a shoulder mount. Needless to say, she didn't and actually ended up just falling on her back and having the wind knocked out of her.
Pole IS too hard for some people. Especially when they think that they can dive right into it because someone else makes it look easy. Yesterday I had a private with my instructor and she told me some of the moves that she couldn't do or was still afraid to do after pole dancing for 10+ years. I'm more comforted by progress when I can actually see it, and am reminded people are still human.
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Thank you Saphyre!
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Hearing these stories make me happy that I have a studio that I feel safe at!
The disappointing and sad part is that beginners don’t usually know what’s right or wrong in pole and are being put in harm’s way.
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Me too Verticali! I'm so glad the studio I goes to takes things really slowly, and teaches at the student's pace.
That's not to say there aren't a few of these girls that capfeb mentinoed. There's a pair of teenagers a few levels below me, and they're always in practice trying to imitate the more advanced girls. eg. will kick up HARD into a shoulder mount.
Not only is it frustrating that they're diminishing (don't think that's teh word I'm going for, but it's all I can think of atm!) the hard work everyone else has put in. Also, the studio owners and teachers go to a LOT of effort to train us up and make sure we're doing it safe. If one of these girls injured themselves in practice by doing somethign silly it is the studio owner's fault.
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I can relate about being in an environment of early onset advance moves.
I lacked confidence in my ability & strength & held back from doing items I saw others attempt to do- do it in a range of performance (ekk-good-omg she’s awesome!)
My instructors asked me if I wanted my pole journey to include what they were teaching (I replied ‘ Yes, but I’m going to look forward to doing it when I’m ready’)
I’ve been the longest regular client of the studio’s due to the desire of growth, & I haven’t wore my body down attempting strong moves in a weak body/grip, realizing it’s not ‘you got it or you don’t. They like that I have the prospective of ‘building blocks’ I tell new girls: Work on goals for yourself, not what others can do. Measure your strength (different body grips!) the bruises (are they’re going away- time for new ones in new places (I share that I’m confident with my progress when I don’t bruise as much/anymore with skills I’ve been working on)), are you getting better at self confidence, having a healthier body image for yourself (loving your body -for what it is & not unfairly comparing it to others). It’s what the whole journey is FOR me. But I have to say- I am having the time of my life (child-like glee) with the spin combos I’m doing now. Glad I waited because they’re looking & feeling good.
It’s a thing to compare oneself with others. Yuck. It’s a problem with thinking anyone can do anything they TRY well. We got to practice!!!! Teach others the art of the learning process by teaching pole. -
Wait! What? I thought day 1 was supposed to be fonji prep???? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif Doesn't everyone teach the fonji in intro? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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I'm kidding about the fonji – ofcourse!
In seriousness I think beginners should begin with dance. I require beginners to take a dance/transition class that is multi-level because the advanced girls are required to keep working on their dance/flexibility/strength too.
In my class we work on ground spins then falling spins then lefted spins and work the floor, wall and work on feet and hands.
In my personal and humble opinion as a mailnly self taught dancer my progression was unsafe in the beginning – I am lucky I didn't seriously injure myself and I feel like even at the advanced level you should always be gaining strength and flexibility – the stronger and more flexible you are the more useful your trick time will be. I found through basic dance – high leg lifts, pirouettes, lifts and slides, floor work – and working on correctly executing the simple things my stength and flexibility doubled. So if this is true for someone who is advanced then how much more so for beginners who don't have technique yet, who will be prone to bruising and will have high fear factors – generally speaking.
Many studios feel "upside down" will keep students without thinking that SUCCESS will keep students around. No one wants to go any exercise class and feel "left in the dust" "unable to keep up" "scared" or "incapable." There is a line to be drawn between giving someone a great workout that challenges them but also makes them feel successful and pushing people way beyond their physical and metal limits.
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"Many studios feel "upside down" will keep students without thinking that SUCCESS will keep students around."
So true. This sport is made up of building blocks, IMO. There are so many moves that build directly on each other. Some you can learn in parallel, but it still helps to start with the easiest block. Then students are progressing and seeing success instead of just plateauing and struggling to master anything new. I think the best instructors are sometimes the ones who struggled the hardest to learn a trick.
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I have seen pole moves incorrectly taught, which I thought was dangerous so I left the class. Most of the teaching was also done without mats. The instructor is always injured and has not furthered her pole ability for a long time and yet attempts to teach advanced students moves she cannot do herself. I and a few others were expected to pay out for masterclasses elsewhere then give her our knowledge for free, for her to then make money from. I’ve also seen her teach inverts on 1st lesson without mats. Regardless of how strong someone is when they start I think they need to get used to the pole and the grip required to hold yourself safely. Another reason why I left was that I suffered an endless barrage of criticism and lack of support because I was making a lot of progress. I was told I was too fat, too tall, not flexible enough, not built right etc etc for moves I have actually been able to do since I left. I’m much happier in my new class!
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