Welcome back to another month of the XPERT blog! Whether you're a seasoned instructor or just starting to find your footing, this one is for you. This month, we're diving into something a little more personal: the reflections, lessons, and honest truths I would share with myself at the very beginning of my pole and aerial teaching journey. If you've ever questioned your readiness, found yourself battling with imposter syndrome, or simply needed a reminder that you're not alone – this month’s blog has got you. Let’s get into it.
There’s a version of me I sometimes revisit in my mind – a younger, more uncertain self, bouncing somewhere between excitement and fear, pondering my future development as a pole dance instructor. A past self that was just beginning to entertain the idea that maybe, just maybe, I could take that step into the world of teaching. That I could help others feel what I had felt – that incredible combination of power and freedom that you get as you fly round a pole or dangle off of your favourite aerial apparatus. If I could go back and speak to that version of me now, well, there’s a million things I would say. But here are the most important things – the things that really matter.
You probably won’t ever feel ‘ready’ – Let me get this kick started with the biggest myth: that teaching begins when you feel fully confident, at the absolute top of your craft, or absolutely certain. If you’re waiting to feel ‘ready’, you’ll probably never get going. Teaching isn’t about reaching a place where you’re a master of all things pole and aerial, and then turning back to instruct others – it’s about walking the path with your students, sometimes only a few steps ahead, sometimes even learning alongside them. The fear you may be feeling isn’t a sign you’re not good enough, it’s simply a sign that you care – which is a good thing! Those nerves that stir when you think about starting just shows that you respect this art form, that you want to do right
by it, and by your students. I wish I had known at the start that my vulnerability was not a weakness, but one of my greatest tools. Those moments of feeling unsure made me more empathetic, more careful with my words, more attuned to my students’ emotional states. Your technical knowledge will expand over time (trust me, the days, months and years are your friend), but your intention and your presence in class? That’s already enough. You are already enough.
Teaching Isn’t Just Sharing What You Know, It’s Creating a Space – When you visualise teaching pole and aerial, it’s easy to presume that the job is about knowing moves, breaking them down, and providing variations for different levels. And yes, the anatomy, safety, and having a deep understanding of the moves is essential. But what many don’t realise is this: teaching is creating a space where people feel safe to fail, willing to try again, able to show up in their full, messy, give-it-a-go selves.
The best instructors don’t just teach, they create a space to nurture their students and allow them to be themselves in class, whatever their needs that day. You’ll find that some days your student is less focused on nailing a trick and more in need of feeling seen and supported. Sometimes, your class will be the highlight of someone’s whole week. You’ll learn to read the room, to offer softness and encouragement where it’s needed, to push when someone is ready, and when to just have a little chat with someone about their day when they need it. These are the moments no one can truly prepare you for, they come from within, but they are such an important part of your teaching toolbelt.
Imposter Syndrome Will Show Up. Say Hi and Keep Going Anyway – There will be days when a little voice creeps out of nowhere and whispers a bunch of unhelpful things about how unworthy you are. That someone else knows more, looks the part better, moves more elegantly, teaches more effectively. That voice? Okay, it’s fairly normal, but remember that it doesn’t speak the truth. You’re not here to be perfect. You’re here to be you. No one else has your lived experiences, your humor, the vibe that you bring to the pole and aerial studio.
And guess what? The students who are meant for you will be drawn to all of that. You don’t need to be everyone’s favourite instructor. You only need to show up as yourself, consistently and authentically. If you haven’t found your voice and perspective as an instructor yet, you soon will, and the students that need what you have to offer will find and love you.
You Will Make Mistakes. They Will Not Break You – You will forget the name of a move mid-demonstration. You will cue something in a way that confuses someone. You might even misjudge a student’s readiness or struggle to manage a mixed ability class. These moments don’t make you a bad teacher, they (in the most annoying
way) help you to grow. Getting things ‘wrong’ allows you to troubleshoot what you need to do in order to ‘get things right’. What truly matters in any situation when something unexpected happens is how you respond. Apologise if that’s what is needed in that situation. Be prepared to clarify, and adjust, and rectify. Be open to feedback- your students know and that will
empower them to approach their own progress with more compassion. The best instructors aren’t the ones who never mess up, they’re the ones who grow from the moments where things don’t go to plan.
Celebrate the Small Wins – In the early days, you might be so focused on improvement that you forget to pause and celebrate the victories – yours and your students’. That first confident warm-up you lead without checking your notes? A win. The student who feels empowered to try a new trick that once scared them? Huge win. The class that ends with laughter and sweat and smiles, even if nothing particularly ground breaking or note-worthy happened? That’s a win too.
Make time for these acknowledgments. Teaching is emotionally demanding work, and the wins, particularly the understated, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ones, are what will sustain you and keep you going.
Your Energy Is Your Legacy – Trending moves will change all the time, and styles and methodologies evolve. But the way you make people feel, well, that stays. I may not remember every single move I’ve been taught by my pole teacher, but I can definitely recall countless times that they gave me the boost I needed, the confidence they helped me build, and the times we laughed together. You’re not just teaching pole or aerial. You’re teaching people how to listen to their bodies and how to learn to trust themselves, and their own incredible pole and aerial ability. It’s easy to forget, especially in a world of social and self-imposed pressure, but this space you’re creating is unique, and it’s yours. It doesn’t matter whether your students go on to perform, compete, or just come to class once a week for fun. What matters is that they leave your class feeling a little more connected to themselves.
You Will Change, and That’s Okay – As a new teacher, you might think you have to lock into an identity – whatever that may be. But let me tell you: you’ll evolve. Your
teaching voice will shift. Your values might expand and you will discover new layers of yourself both as a pole dancer or aerialist, and as a teacher through this work. My best advice? Let it happen, and welcome the change. The more you grow, the more you have to give So, to the version of me who was just starting out: trust yourself. Trust your curiosity, your compassion, your desire to uplift others. You won’t always feel confident, but you’ll always be committed, and that’s more powerful than confidence ever will be. Just keep going – trust that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Ready to take the leap and start your pole and aerial teaching career? Whether you prefer learning online or face-to-face, XPERT offers internationally recognized courses to support your journey – wherever you are in the world. Join us and turn your passion into a profession, and discover the joy of teaching pole and aerial.