Not feeling pushed enough

minicoopergrl started this discussion · 1/19/2012

Lately, I feel like I cant advance b/c im not getting the help in class. I dont know whether im over thinking this or its possibly true. Ive been going to the same studio and taking the same advance class for years now. Theres new things to learn every week so its not like its the same moves over and over. I kinda feel like Im not getting the help I need in class to get the moves. I love my instructor and shes really great at what she does but I kinda feel skipped over when shes helping out others. She shows us modifications for moves, which is great im all about the options. But I end up mastering the modifcations and I want to learn the move and challenge myself but I get no help. Then I start to feel like im being held back for whatever reason it may be. In which there are some nights I come home from class in tears b/c I just cant get these moves and everyone else does. Then the discouragement comes, and the negitive thoughts in my mind. I just want to be pushed and challenged to be a better pole dancer!!!

18 replies

nymphdancer · 1/19/2012
have you tried talking to your instructor and telling her how you feel?
Veena · 1/19/2012
I agree with nymph, you should talk with your instructor.
minicoopergrl · 1/19/2012
I havent really told her since I dont want to be that girl that complains shes not getting enough attention. By the time class is over (its the last class of the night), they are trying to clean the poles and trying to get out for the night. Then I try to take in the fact when our class is full there are 18 other girls in class, so including me and the instructor there are 20 people in that room. So its kinda hard to help everyone in the entire hour with the advance tricks.
dancing in the gray · 1/19/2012
Unfortunately, that's the downsize that comes with larger studios. My studio is max 10 girls in one class, but it's rarely more than 6. Is there another studio you can try? Or does your instructor offer semi private lessons?
amy · 1/19/2012
when you say you get no help, what does that mean? are you asking for a repeat of the demo of the trick on your pole, so you can see it? or is it much more involved?
Charley · 1/19/2012
I feel bad for the instructor having to manage that many people. Any chance for a private lesson? I'm not sure how much they are but I typically give mycurrent clients super cheap rates on privates so that they can get extra help when they feel like they need it. Also make a list of the moves you want to get and are curren tly working on and see if she'll give you more help in class. It sounds like she's over worked, it's hard to manage that many people - see if you can talk to her about it. I've had sutdents come to me before saying they don't feel like they are getting enough class time or my attention for certain things and sometimes we decided that they really need a private lesson for whatever it is or sometimes I will be sure to put that move into the next class they are in whether it's review or not for some because every trick can be bigger, deadlifted and bendier.
minicoopergrl · 1/19/2012
Amy - its more like she demos a trick and she does it a few times at various speeds and tells us the key points in. So I comprehend the move mentally. Then she will come around and check everyone out and their progress. There was one move I just couldnt whip my leg around to finish the spin and I told her I was having a hard time with it. She had mentioned to modify it but I want to actually learn the move. I dont want any 'hinderances' I may have get in the way. There was no suggestion from there. I kinda felt hurt. Here she was ive known her since I started taking class and her and I competed against each other in the first competition. We do over privates but I just dont have the time or the budget to get in there. The studio is a 30sec drive from my house and the nearest next location is over 30min away (which I knew some of you youd travel alot just to get to a class), and when youve got a full time life - its tough to make time for hobbies. A good friend of mine manages one of the Pole Pressure locations and told me anytime im down for some help just to give her a call and we can team up, its really nice to have that. I havent taken her up on the offer since ive been really busy the past few weeks with other projects.
dancing in the gray · 1/19/2012
Sometimes instructors tell you to modify until you gain the strength, coordination, or ability to do it without modifications. It's a way for you to get the hang of the move until you feel you can do it fully.
nymphdancer · 1/19/2012
with that many people in an advanced class it really would be tough for a teacher to spend much time with each person. I'm figuring if you do a 10 minute warm up that leaves 50 minutes. 50 minutes broken down by person not including her demo time for moves ect or cool down is just over 2 1/2 minutes per student.
Charley · 1/19/2012
Yeah Nmyph - there's no way that instructor is not hustling her hot little bottom off. That's a lot of work. I don't like more than 5 or 6 in a class if they aren't sharing poles too much bad stuff can happen - such as students feeling left out or held back or ignored. We pay a lot of money for classes the price should reflect the product.
chemgoddess1 · 1/20/2012
Holy Crap....18 per class? One instructor? I cannot even fathom that. I have issues when I have 8! There is always someone that I feel I did not pay enough attention to. Unfortunately this is going to be the case in large classes and it is going to take a lot longer to progress. Even if the teacher spent only a minute with each student that is 20 minutes to practice ONE move.
ronia · 1/20/2012
I agree with chemgoddess1 here. 18 students is WAY too much for one class! It's hard to handle it for any instructor. Even if she was the best, she couldn't pay enough attention to EVERY student in the class. In my opinion pole classes shouldn't be larger than 6-8 students. It's not yoga or aerobics that you can put 20 people in a room and just follow the instructor. In pole dance you need to pay attention to every little detail, like posture, hand and leg positioning, direction and speed of movement, etc. You also need a lot of hands on training and spotting. It is impossible to do it with that many students and pay attantion to their individual needs. It frustrates both the students and the teacher.
AmazonLady · 1/20/2012
Wow! 18 students is a LOT! I went to a class that large ONCE and never again, for the same reasons you mentioned. Are the classes ALWAYS that crowded? Sometimes classes at unpopular times (such as Friday or Saturday night) may be pretty close to empty so you can get more one-on-one attention. Also, try going to class when the weather is bad. Since you said the studio is only a minute or so from your house, you may be one of the only people able to make it up there in the middle of a thunderstorm or snow storm. You could also just ask the instructor, "Can you take a look and tell me what I'm doing wrong?" or something like that. If that doesn't work, you may want to consider going to the further studio from time to time. The studio I go to isn't the closest, but I feel like its worth the drive to get such awesome instruction. I understand the other studio is more convenient, but if your current studio has you in tears, then it may be time to give another one a try. You should leave class feeling happy, with am awesome pole-high, not frustrated or discouraged.
Mary Ellyn · 1/20/2012
It's not only difficult to teach that many students in one class...it's unsafe! For both the instructor and the students. That said...you keep saying that you can't get the move and that she gives you modifications so I had the same thought that polefairy did...maybe you just aren't ready for the full version of this spin?
minicoopergrl · 1/20/2012
Tues/Thurs are the only days I can make it for that class. Ive been going to the same class time my husband is used to that schedule so he tries to get off work at a decent time so I can go. I went last night and it was a full class, it wasnt as bad as its been a few times. Most of the time classes are full, best times for less people is around 4p which I cant make b/c my husband isnt home yet to take care of the kids. Fridays are our family nights and Saturday the studio is packed and the last class is at 3p. I just hate being stuck in neutral for a pole move. Its like 'what else can I do to improve and get to this move?' I try to calm down and tell myself there isnt a race on who can master the moves the fastest. But it just sucks when you keep trying and trying and you havent made much progress. I finally got the CAR last year from multiple attempts. Sometimes I think id learn better for a 6wk course where we learn the same moves and learn how to do them right, safely etc. But I do like the drop in option based on how crazy my schedule can get.
DragonPhoenix · 1/20/2012
Sounds like a Maryland pole jam sometime, is in order. Not only would it be spiffy as a get-together but fellow polers may be able to help master some moves 😉 It also sounds like the instructor would benefit from hiring at least one more instructor to help teach. If you're having doubts with the studio then it may be good to browse around for others closeby and see if they offer a tryout class or something, so you can get a feel of what they're like. Changes can be for the best. The hardest part may be explaining to the instructor. She will likely understand though. There's many studios with different payment packages, one being with drop in classes and another being with punch cards that give you the option to come in any time for how ever many times the card is good for.
dancing in the gray · 1/20/2012
I would really, really consider doing a 6 week session versus doing drop in classes, even if you can only go once a week. Usually they have cap sizes on the classes and you get so much more one on one attention.
JadeMeadows · 1/20/2012
(Off topic) How did the America's Got Talent Audition go?