The only thing I like more than instructing pole is being a student

 

Learning new things and sharing knowledge is the best part of being human. I make sure to regularly attend classes wherever I am. It keeps the mind fresh.

 

Here are my tips on how you can be the perfect pole student:

 

DO

show your enthusiasm! I was always very interested and impressed with all the things we were learning in class. I would laugh in awe of the trick the instructor was demonstrating, sometimes shaking my head in disbelief over their confidence that I could also do it. Then I tried, and maybe I could do it after all! It was a confidence boost, and made me look forward to attending each class. Allow yourself to be interested, happy, scared or anything else you are feeling. Let the teacher show you are thankful for being in the class. Perhaps you  inspire others, and the air will instantly feel warmer.

 

DO

Believe in yourself! Don’t dismiss something the teacher is demonstrating with “I can’t do that”. You don’t know that, you have never tried! You might surprise yourself. Even if you can’t do certain things yet, there is only ONE proven way to be able to do them later, that is: practice, practice, practice. Rome wasn’t built in one day. It takes persistence and dedication, trying over and over and over again. Your instructor didn’t just wake up awesome at pole, they worked their ass off practicing to get to where they are. With the same effort, you will too! Everything is possible if you work for it!

 

DO

Encourage your fellow students! I was very intimidated when in my first class. Wearing shorts in front of other people was scary. I didn’t know anyone. Soon, I realized how welcoming the teachers were. The other students made me feel wonderful. Other students would encourage and compliment me. I was flattered and impressed with how caring and supporting this setting was, so I started encouraging others. Pay it forward!

DON’T

Be late! Repeatedly showing up late for class disrupts whatever is going on in class at that moment. This adds stress to yourself, other students and instructor. None of us need more stress in our lives, we got enough of that! It’s hard being an instructor, planning a warm-up and then half of the class shows up late. It’s not fair to anyone if the instructor always needs to spend a few minutes helping you get started while the others wait. Showing up late is simply disrespectful of everyone’s time, and time is the most precious thing we have.

 

DON’T

Chat with your friends while the instructor is demonstrating or explaining. Sometimes people have loud conversations and the instructor can’t hear themselves, let alone teach. Extremely rude. We are all grown up. The instructor’s job is there to instruct, not shuss you like you are still in 3rd grade. The instructor shouldn’t have to raise their voice very loudly for people to hear them over your talking, and they should not have to repeat their explanations because the class didn’t hear. You are in pole class now, be there. Listen when the instructor is talking, then chat quietly with your friends after instruction. If you can’t wait, have your friend come with you outside the classroom and finish your discussion. We all want to be listened to, especially if we are there to instruct.

 

DON’T

Do something other than the instructor is teaching! I You learned something cool in another class or instagram and want to show it off. Nothing wrong with that, in the right setting. For example in an open pole class, where there is no specific instruction. I can’t think of anything more rude. The instructor is teaching a butterfly, you do an ayesha. Your instructor has put thought into the class and is teaching it this way for a reason (to teach correct muscle engagement and show the appropriate progressions). Doing something else can diminish the motivational levels of others. Class is trying to do butterfly and you do ayesha? Some of them might feel intimidated. Others might actually believe they are supposed to do this trick, then try to do it!! Extremely dangerous! The students have not gotten instruction and they might not be advanced enough to even think about trying it! Students can also become annoyed and complain. “Why are we learning the butterfly and she is doing this supercool trick?!” So much easily avoided stress. When I go take classes, I zip my mouth and follow the instructors lead from A to Z. I am there as a student to learn in a class setting.

 

DON’T

Interrupt the teacher. Your instructor very likely has a background in exercise science. Most instructors have invested a lot of time in this sport and know what they are doing. Never disrespect an instructor by interrupting what they are saying during teaching and don’t add stuff to whatever they are saying! This especially applies to you if you are an instructor. You might know a lot what you are talking – but at that moment, you are a STUDENT. That means you are going to study. Not teach. You are there to learn from this particular instructor. Being an instructor is hard, you have the spotlight on you, demonstrating hard tricks upside down while talking people through how to do them – sometimes instructors forget something. I’s not your place to add to what they are saying. Maybe they will realize in a minute they forgot something – then they will add that. Don’t you worry, you’re not the instructor, anyway!
Last, but not least, ENJOY your pole journey 🙂