I got publicly shamed for the first time in beginner's pole at Ecole de Pole today.
It started out well enough. The instructor was a good-looking and energetic chick. She started the lesson fine and I remember liking her energy immensely. Mid-class, this fellow teacher came in and very rudely dissed her about some pole misplacement. I felt so indignant for her.
I've been taking pole on and off, so I wasn't a complete beginner, but I wasn't good at it either. My biggest problem is coordination. I sometimes confuse left and right lol. Yeah never ever take my car.
Throughout the lesson, she was madly encouraging to the other folks. I saw a girl distinctly doing a move wrongly but she happily chirped, 'Great job you got it!!!' and I was thinking wow what an encouraging teacher! I'm glad to be in her class.
But not for me oh no.
She took the pole behind me and so I couldn't properly see her moves. I had to twist my head and I got it wrong because bad coordination and mirror image. She sounded annoyed with me and the class was just quietly looking at her at this point so everyone witnessed me fumbling.
Then, she went around one by one correcting our strutting. I got bored so I started to walk in circles to entertain myself. The show was slow, I quietly entertained myself - is that so wrong? Everyone else were doing their own thing too.
Anyway, she came out of nowhere and loudly exclaimed, 'Oh my god why are you walking in circles hahaha! Look at this!' and she proceeded to usurp my pole and mimic my walk mockingly.
By now, everyone stopped practicing and stopped to watch her. There were no laughter for the first 3 seconds she did it (thank you everyone else for the mutual respect) so she dragged it out, walking some more till some people sniggered.
What the flying fuck?
You can discreetly and privately correct me, as you did with everyone else. Why did you have to shame me like that? Why did you have to wait for laughs from the class?
I was so shocked at being shamed for the first time that I just stood there in disbelief. She continued the rest of the class but by now, I was fucking furious and had half a mind to walk away, but I refuse to be that girl who gives up. So I stayed.
I stayed. I finished the choreo, and got the hell out of there.
Her name was Kim.
I can't believe this bullshit. I was so indignant for her when the other rude instructor spoke to her unkindly. I thought so well of her, and she shamed me like that. Pole girls are generally supportive. It's a niche sport and most girls go alone, so we are always kind to each other.
To think the greatest unkindness of all came from an instructor.
There is nothing more important than an encouraging instructor if you're at the basic level. You're new to the sport and you're confused and worried you can't take it up. You need someone who encourages you. I suppose she did; everyone else but me. Till now I don't know how I offended her.
Today, I have a part two to my review.
Despite my horrible experience yesterday, I decided to go back again today for my pre-booked Silks 1 class. I spent all day dreading it because I did not want any chance of facing the same instructor. But I managed to force myself to go.
And God am I glad I did.
I was rewarded with the sweetest, most encouraging instructor ever.
For starters, Ven conducted the class even though it was just me alone. She guided me through the warm-up and conditioning patiently, encouraging at every turn. We moved quickly to untied silks. It was my first time trying it, I've only ever practiced on tied silks/ aerial hammock.
It wasn't hard to pick up, but my arms were bummed from barre yesterday. Still, I did my best and she noted it. She commented that most of silks 1 beginner girls would be stuck at the first foot lock, a level I got past on my first try. So I tried my luck and asked for my tricks hehehe.
She caved in to my relentless requests for 'just one more trick pls pls' lol. Aiya there's nothing more I can say to compliment this instructor.
She would show me the trick, then patiently guide me through it first while seated then while standing, then spot me as I go up. Where to find this kind of dedicated attention? When you luck out and stumble on a 1-for-1 class of course hahah but ok back to business.
The last trick I tried before my vain photos was this knee hang. It was similar to a pole knee-hang so I thought I could do it but holy shit trusting my knee in mid-air is not as effortless as it seemed. She looked graceful while I looked like a dying pickle. Ah well.
Needless to say I decided to not ask for photographs of me doing that trick (even though I really wanted to do it again because I was sure I got the literal hang of it already) and instead did the comfortable two:
The first series of photos of the stag pose were great. I looked graceful enough. The last one was supposed to be a split but my arms were so bummed by then that it became a 'just hanging out' pose. Oh well!
She concluded the class with a warm-down and that was that.
All it took to change my poisonous review from yesterday was coming back to the same place (to potentially face the same demons) today. There is a deep and insightful quote I can generate from this but neh, I shall spare you my preachy peaches.
I am so grateful for this class that when Gabriel called from his ship, I was a little eager to explain my situation and quickly hang up and go back to class. SORRY BABY BUT YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU FOREVER.
Also I've finally submitted my grant application so, fingers crossed!
So concludes my surprisingly great day.
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