Am I overreacting? Feeling slightly upset/confused/discouraged

Kate O · 2014-07-20T06:27:17+00:00

So yesterday I went to a climbing and inverts workshop at my studio, as my teacher advised it might be beneficial for anyone who is struggling with the aerial invert. I can't quite get mine yet so I thought I'd give it a try, and was really looking forward to it. We started with stretching, lunges, squats, some pretty tough core exercises, and I managed to get through it all fine despite not feeling my best (overdid it slightly at my work's summer party the night before, oopsee). The first pole exercise we did was to pull up into a pole hold and stay there for 30 seconds before slowly lowering ourselves down. I slid straight down at first, because it's insanely hot and humid in London at the moment so it was really slippy. I applied some grip, tried again and did it without too much of a problem, but the teacher said 'You should try not to use grip, it'll make you stronger.' Fair enough perhaps if I was using it constantly, but it was pretty much the slippiest I've ever been and it would've been pointless to keep trying to hold on without it. I thought that was a bit strange, but anyway I said okay, and only applied it that one time at the beginning of class. We moved onto some climbs which were okay, some of the more advanced ones I found quite tough though, and then she asked to see us invert. I went first and she said it was good, then asked us to invert into inverted crucifix, slide down into a handstand and do butterfly legs. I know I'm not alone in this - handstands freak me out. I gave it a try but it didn't look quite right, so I tried again and asked if she could help me with my leg positioning. She did, but as she bent my free leg down over my head I lost either my nerve or my balance (or both) and started slowly falling. I managed to save my face by clamping onto the pole with my legs but I still landed in quite an ungraceful way. She looked at me on the floor for a minute and then started asking who my teacher was and how long I'd been doing level 4…

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CapFeb · 7/22/2014
My issue with the instructor is that she didn't pull you aside to tell you these things out of reach of another student's ears. Just because you can't do handstands due to an aspect of fear of mental block does not mean you are not strong. I was doing dead lift shoulder mounts before I could do a simple handstand. If her issue was really your safety, I would question why she felt the need to say it right then and there. If I were someone whose income depended on people LIKING the way I teach, and not going to another studio, I would be courteous and cautious as to how I approached girls when it comes to telling them to work on conditioning. Comparing you to another student in a negative manner is never okay, and I would inform the studio owner that she risks losing money by having her instructor say such insensitive, personal things, publicly.
korinne · 7/23/2014
I am going to be honest and say I did not read all the responses... so sorry if I'm repeating. I've been teaching for several years and most of my students struggle with the butterfly handstand. Finding the right balance is difficult, scary, and takes a lot of trust that you will be able to stabilize yourself. It's not necessarily a strength issue...
Invertedmonkey · 7/23/2014
I think I know who u mean (pretty sure we go to the same studio :) ) and I know several people that aren't that comfortable with her teaching style so it's not just u. I know it's hard but if that ever happens again, try and say something. I hate handstands too, never do them and when I do, they look hideous! Despite currently being level 7 at that studio! And the cheating with grip? In that studio in summer, I use loads of grip every time I get on the pole as it gets so sweaty the floor is actually wet! I'm not ashamed of it either and will still use it regardless of what someone else thinks, if u want to use grip, u are entitled to it. I agree that under normal conditions, we should try using less but not when it's dangerously sweaty! She can have her opinion but you decide! Luckily they are about to get air on units though so soon it'll get better :)
Kate O · 7/23/2014
Oh gosh, I knew someone else on here also went to the same place as me but I couldn't remember who! Thank you for letting me know I'm not alone, I really did wonder if I was the only one. I can't WAIT for the aircon! We worked on shouldermount prep this week and I was just so sweaty all over - hands, shoulders, feet - that I couldn't lift at all! I was sliding around like Bambi on ice :P