Learning from different instructors
We've had a lot of new instructors join the fold recently over the 3 KPole studios and it got me thinking about the different personalities and coaching styles all of our instructors have at KPole, which THEN got me thinking abut taking lessons from different instructors in general and how all the people I have learnt from over the years have impacted my journey in different ways. There's a lot to unpack here so lets take a dive into some thoughts on learning from different instructors at your studio and beyond!
I get it. It took all the courage and confidence you could muster in yourself to even start going to pole or aerial classes. You've done the hard bit and joined classes, you've got your tribe that you see at class every week, you trust your instructor and think they are amazing at what they do (which they absolutely are).
Then comes the day. Your instructor tells you you need to move up a level into the harder sessions. Or worse still, timetable changes mean you can no longer go to your usual instructor. Worst of all, your instructor leaves and now you have to learn from someone new!
I very much appreciate that the idea of having to switch instructors can be very overwhelming and push you again into uncomfortable territory, so this blog post isn't in any way trying to diminish that feeling, or tell you that you're overreacting for feeling that way. It's really hard when you have built a bond and trust with someone to think about trying a class with someone new. Will it be too hard? Will they understand that I don't pick things up quickly? Will they think i'm not good enough to be in this session? Believe me, I think I have thought all these things when learning from someone new as well!
BUT, hear me out. I'm going to go through a few things below that will hopefully make you realise that maybe learning from different people actually isn't as bad as you thought it would be and hopefully, might push you to try out some different instructors of your own free will to see what new things you can gain from them to help your overall journey!
Firstly, you might not have noticed, but instructors tend to have one thing which they LOVE to teach above everything else. Take Hannah, pictured here - she is our absolute flowy hoop queen, whereas Flossie loves a dynamic drop and anything to get your heart racing. Ellie is a goddess on spin pole, and Hannah is absolute fire in heels, whilst Matt would pick strength tricks and drills all day everyday! Not every part of pole and aerial is going to be your favourite thing to learn, but you can really benefit from finding out what each instructors strength is and going to them to learn that particular thing. I can guarantee that I am not the best instructor to go to if you want to learn spin pole, but if you want to know about static rotations, then you bet i'm going to tell you come and learn from me. Start finding out what part of pole and aerial other instructors are passionate about and go to them to learn that.
Secondly, and this is a big thing I have found in my own training, each instructor will have different methods of teaching things and, more importantly, different cues which might just make that move you have been struggling to get your head around all make sense. Our brains work in such weird and wonderful ways and sometimes all it takes is that one little cue that someone hasn't heard before to literally make all the difference. This is why we also would never discourage you going to other studios and learning from different instructors there. A lot of KPole instructors have learnt what they are teaching off other KPole instructors, so another studio might use different cues or a different entry to a move which you haven't seen before and that might make it all make sense!
Finally, as uncomfortable as it is to go to a new class and learn from someone new, continuing to push yourself out of your comfort zone is only going to make you grow. Not only as a poler/aerialist, but as a person. You will meet new people, try new things and show yourself that you really can do anything. It is scary and overwhelming, but future you will thank yourself for doing it. Whether its booking onto a workshop with an external instructor, trying out another local studio or just trying out a new class at KPole, put yourself out there. Nothing bad will ever come from opening yourself up to new opportunities :)
If you want to know more about who would be the best instructor to learn something specific from, ask your current instructor! They will be happy to speak to you about who they feel you would work well with and which instructor is more knowledgable about the move or style you are wanting to learn. Alternatively, drop me a message, i'm always happy to point you in the right direction of one of our fabulous team or even an external instructor who I think could help you!
Happy learning folks.
Lots of Love,
Kim xxx
Kim
Director