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Newbie Here! Too akward and not in shape enough for pole dancing?
Hello! I'm new here and I've only just started with pole dancing. I've only taken 2 classes (each at different studios in my small town ) and both times I've gotten the feeling that I'm too big and clunky for it.
Both times while the classes stated "beginners" I was the only one who was new. While everyone else was spinning along, the teachers seemed frustrated with me. BOTH times I was just left in the back doing 'pole ups' while watching the rest of the class.
The first class I took I was told that I wasn't "in shape" enough and I needed to work on that if I was going to enjoy pole dancing.
The 2nd class didn't mention my lack of streanth, but they did say that it was more of an "advanced beginner" class and that I was "very behind" the other students.
I'm going to buy a pole when I get payed on Friday, but I have to say going to two DIFFERENT studios and both times beging shoved in the back doing "pole ups" after I couldn't do any basic spins It has me a little down.
Is there something wrong with me?
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27 Replies
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nothing is wrong with you! those classes were just too advanced for you- and it sounds like they were kind of rude about it. you either need to find a real beginner's class or just do some practicing at home. Those teachers could have offered you a private lesson or two. I think some pole dance teachers may be good at pole, but may not be good " teachers". Teachers are supposed to encourage students and make them feel good about learning. not shove you in the corner. dont give up https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
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Ditto–NOTHING is wrong with you. I am a teacher and I'm sorry they were rude and made you doubt your abilities. 🙁 I love, love, love to teach beginners–I love the 'beginners mind' and the sense that anything is possible and the newness of the journey…don't let doubt set in yet (cause it will happen lol) and I send you good pole vibes! GL to you!
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Thanks! I'm going to order a pole on Friday and start out with some of the basic viseos on here. I don't want to be discouraged! I know that I can get this~
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Another vote for "nothing is wrong with you." I was fortunate enough to start poling at a great studio with a supportive instructor. Then I moved away, and figured I could just find another studio in my new town. After all, it's just like finding a new supermarket or hairdresser, right?
Wrong! I tried another studio near my new place. It seemed OK in the beginning, but during the class I got very lost because it was a fast paced cardio dance class with a few pole tricks thrown in. The instructor made a lot of nasty faces at me in the mirror, and even spoke to me after class in front of everyone and said "you could be good, but you need a LOT of work." This was my first class ever at her studio! What a thing to say – I felt so ashamed. Needless to say, I never went back.
I used to teach fitness classes (not pole) and I know how hard to teach a beginner class. Unless you get a steady stream of new students, you will always have to balance the needs of total newbies with the needs of students who are just shy of being ready for an intermediate class. It sounds like this instructor did not do a good job at this task. The wonderful thing about Studio Veena is, you go at your own pace, with an infinitely patient instructor who doesn't care if you hit "replay" over and over again. 🙂 Plus, everyone here is interested in your success!
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my first class didnt go so good – the poles were all on spinny and within 10 minutes after we started learning spins, i was soooo nauseaus! i had to sit down for most of the class and i felt sick for the remainder of the night. the teacher could have put my pole on static, or taught me something else to do other than spin, but she just kind of focused on everyone else. i felt kinda shitty, but thankfully there was another lady that had the same reaction, so i at least i wasn't alone.
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Oh gosh, please don't feel discouraged! I started pole because I had no (I mean zip, zilch, nada) upper body strength– every time we practiced a spin, I could barely make it halfway around and would sink to the pole. I had a very frustrating instructor who didn't understand (or remember) what it was like to be a beginner and she would get frustrated at me, thinking I wasn't taking her advice! It takes time and experimenting to learn what moves are supposed to feel like, to build strength to do them, and have the confidence and concentration to make them look pretty!
Don't let anyone make you doubt yourself. Just keep trying, keep looking silly, but enjoy it and you'll get stronger and more graceful before you know it! 🙂
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wow this is something an instructor never tell their students… , maybe buy a pole and take the veena lessons instead !
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There's nothing wrong with you, there's something wrong with those studios. I'm the clutziest most uncoordinated person on the planet. I went in totally out of shape and couldnt even climb the pole and now, one year later, I'm doing all sorts of crazy stuff. You just need to push past the first few classes. They are always the hardest strength wise. Everyone progresses at their own rate so there is no being "behind". If you can't find a studio near you that is better than those studios then you can just be a home poler. Lots of people do that.
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I agree with everyone else; there's nothing wrong with you!
If you're feeling a little behind the other students in class, perhaps you could invest in your own pole and some of Veena's lessons? She will start you right at the beginning of strength training that will be essential throughout your pole journey. Plus, with your own pole you can practice at home if/when you go back to studio lessons!
Just remember we were all new and lacked strength and felt awkward on the pole at some point! Even those instructors https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif
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I agree with what everyone has shared.
*ouch*… those instructors were extremely demotivating. We can always improve our skills and gain new skills. You level of fitness and strength and dance confidence can improve with practice.
We all progress at our own speed. If you have a goal to pole dance, don't let anyone stop you. You've come to the right place.
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I teach a beginner class that will have a mix of ladies who are brand new to it and need to learn the very basics and ladies who are almost ready to "test out" to intermediate with their wrist sit, pencil spin, handstands, and planks. I try my best to set the class up with my true newbies on poles next to each other. It is quite a balancing act keeping everyone engaged and having a good time. I have to demonstrate and teach one side of the room, let them have at it, then turn around and demonstrate and teach something else to the other side of the room. Then I have to critique everything going on around me, check for proper form in all areas, and keep the feeling in the room upbeat and positive. It is not easy but I manage! I believe I make everyone feel encouraged and like they can do it. I'm sorry that you encountered such insensitive teachers. I've had ladies who are very out of shape in my class, but I am excited that they are there! Pole will get them in shape and I am there to guide them. I know how to modify moves to get them involved, not just pole-ups. We do modified fireman spin, step-arounds, pirouettes, pole sits from the ground, and we try one climb up just to see how it goes, for fun! I guess what I'm saying is, you can most certainly pole dance. Do not let a couple unimaginative insensitive teachers make you feel like you can't. You just couldn't do what they were teaching, but they weren't teaching appropriate moves for you! Use Veena's lessons… they are phenomenal and you can progress at your own pace. However fast or slow that pace is, be glad that you are actually doing it!
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I have been poling dancing for a year and a half. I am by NO means where I want to be. My inverts are not strong at all so i refrain from doing them. I have listened to my body and I could probably push myself harder than I do, but I am personally terrified of injuring myself so I have taken my journey especially slow. I know what my limits are.. Its not about how many spins and tricks you can do- its about enjoying what you do while you are doing it 🙂
The credit that I can give myself is that I have come a long way from when i first started…
Just to give you an idea of how out of shape and weak I was- it took me 3 months to be able to climb properly and all the way to the top of the pole. That was going to a class once a week. Not really doing any strength training like I should have been. This was before I found Veenas site.
I have read blogs where some teachers on here say they have had students take up to two years to be able to invert properly- and some only two months, but it is possible no matter where your fitness level stands now..
I promise it will get better… There have been days in the past that I have shed tears about pole until I found this site and read blogs about other polers and their journey!!
It really is a personalized sport…
Do what makes you happy!
And I agree with everyone else- There is nothing wrong with you 😉 -
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with you. Those “teachers ” lacked their skills to do their job. So the only way for them to deal with you as a beginner, (and there really shouldn’t be that much difference in being a beginner,whether it be “advanced” or a”fresh start”, still it could’ve been handled differently.
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Please before going to this other class TALK to the owner/instructor and explain your abilities and issues. In no way should an instructor make you feel out of place but at the same time if someone does not speak up and say something how does the studio know that you were unhappy? I have been in this situation with students and while difficult, there are other things that can be shown besides pull ups. All of the beginner spins can be done with your feet on the ground to start out. There are bends and turns and walks and hair flips and body rolls and soooooooo many transitions that can be worked on. I was lucky that my mixed class was more than happy to take some time to rework moves they had learned or work it on their opposite side.
One last thing, please enter this new class as if you were entering one for the first time. Do not take the issues you have had at these other studios and walk in with a chip on your shoulder. It is not fair. And again, I strongly urge you to talk to the owner/instructor and to also talk to teh owner of teh otehr studios and tell them how you feel.
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People should know how to treat people and you should not have to tell them that for them to know it. Those instructors were not sensitive to your needs and rudely didnt seem to care. I'm glad my instructor wasnt like that. In my beginer class I was consider the thick chick because everyone else was much smaller than I. I didnt let that stop me tho. I put on my big girl panties and did what I could and what I couldnt, oh well imma keep it going. I am proud to say that I have been poling for almost 2yrs now. I'm not great by no means but I'm a long way from where I was. My inverts arent great and there are loads of low level spins that I still havent mastered but guess what there are also loads that I can do and I am very proud of that. Dont let them still your joy. If being a pole dancer is your goal then shoot for the moon. Luv what you do and do what you luv. Keep going I am!https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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