others only like group classes,
some like a mix of both,
and some haven't tried private lessons.
I personally like private or semi-private lessons,
and I prefer to teach them too.
Private lessons allow the teacher to focus on you and your strengths.
Sometimes I have a class of girls and some want to learn a really flexible trick,
while others want to learn a strong trick.
Some girls in my class don't have the flexibility yet to get into some tricks,
and some of my girls need to work on their strength to get the strength tricks.
I do my best as an instructor to teach both students what they want,
but in essence, I feel like your time and money isn't being spent as well.
When I am teaching a private lesson I can work on a specific trick or combo for you and YOUR body.
I will always tell my girls to work on BOTH their flexibility and strength in unison,
but all in all group classes can sometimes not be as beneficial for the student.
Especially depending on your goals:
Do you WANT to compete? Do you want to improve at a faster rate?
Or perhaps you have time constraints:
Do you only have time for one class a week?
I especially love private lessons when my student returns.
This I think is the very best way to have pole progression with an instructor.
I can have you repeat exercises to improve them, we can work on perfecting our transitions and tricks, and all in all we have a better relationship so I know how to teach and respond to you well!
When it comes to things like Pole Expo or studio workshops,
I only pay for private lessons.
They seem more costly, but if I'm going to spend money on a workshop, I may as well spend a little more to get more from the teacher that may just be visiting that ONE time!
We all learn at different levels and have different needs.
Some are more flexible or more strong,
and private lessons allow you to enhance your strengths and work on your individual weaknesses more.
I think if I am going to pay for an instructor I want to get the most out of them I possibly can :D
Don't get me wrong.
I love to teach my group classes.
I love teaching.
I think you can learn a lot from classes and they are cheaper.
There also are a lot of perks to group classes: friends, observing other students, more support from others.
I'm not saying you should eliminate group classes entirely.
Just my thoughts on why I like private lessons more.
I think if you want to progress and make your money worth it, take a private with a teacher you trust and respect and who will teach you SAFELY and SMART.
Those are things you will come to understand or see over time. (Sometimes feeling safe is just inherent and doesn't need to be learned though. Don't ever be afraid to tell your instructor you don't feel safe or you need extra spotting, or maybe even that trick just isn't for you at the moment.)
Also, ASK. Ask others who may have taken a private with an instructor and see what their experience was.
If you have a pole star coming into town, send out a FB message asking about that instructor or make a status asking who has taken their workshops before and send a private message to talk to them.
I am not going to lie, there are a couple instructors I wish I had asked about before I paid $100+ for a private lesson or workshop with.
I hope people in the future ask me what kind of instructor ____ was and I will tell them honestly what I thought about their teaching style, use of time, and how safe I felt.
Essentially,
spend your money wisely.
Think about your goals and what you want.
Ask about instructors.
Try private lessons.
Have fun!
Love yourself.
I could go on forever from here ;)
<3
xoxox
Lindsay Lithe
