I've been a little quiet these past few weeks. In fact, I've been working hard to find a suitable studio in which to launch my very own pole school! After a few visits that unfortunately were unsuccessful, as it so happened I heard of an availability in the right place at the right time.
So from September, I will open classes in Schaerbeek, Brussels, 3 evenings a week. I have designed a schedule of levelled classes from beginner to advanced, as well as detailed programs.
Choosing a name for the school was tough! A lot of pole schools are starting to use a pole move in the title. I wanted to go with something a bit crazy. "Rainbow Iguana" was in the running. But eventually, Momentum sounded neat and fits pole sports very well.
Why my own school?
Since I started to teach pole, I discovered a new dimension to my passion for this sport and art form. I love to teach, the only drawback being the late evenings, which I'm hoping I will get used to! Completing the teaching certificate with Spin City also sparked my interest in the anatomy and physiology of pole sport, while at the same time putting a certain rigour in place when it comes to explanations, safety and class sequences.
As I planned my lessons, I started to design programs for progression at different levels, drawing on my experience as a student and as a teacher, bringing in the theory learnt during my training and also my particular focus on pole sport and technique. As I worked on these and with my own school in mind, I have since defined 4 levels, closely following the PSO level gudelines and my own judgement, which differ from the standard levels used in Brussels schools. Another difference is the semester approach, in which students will remain in the same class for half a year. I believe this is the timeline needed to acquire the skills required to move up to the next level.
At Momentum, I want to attract students learning for fun, as well as those interested in competitions. There will be social events and workshops for mixing between classes and trying out different styles. For competiton students, there is the opportunity to train twice or three times per week and as a qualified coach, I am able to offer further training, coaching and advice, tailored to the needs of each athlete. I want to promote a supportive, inclusive community, with team spirit!
What now?
Right now, I am working hard on completing paperwork for the creation of an ASBL and making sure I have all of the necessary documents etc. I have created Facebook and Instagram accounts that need filling and I am creating a website. My daughter helped me out by taking a photo of me on the pole, which I then transformed into a silhouette to use as a makeshift logo! One step at a time, I would like to improve on the visuals, but there is so much to manage right now.
Of course, I need to find time to train and teach, so it's going to be a packed summer! I am excited, but nervous. I need to fill my classes. The studio I am renting is gorgeous and easy to access, but it is also quite expensive. I am limiting my classes to 10 students, as I feel that exceeding that number would feel too cramped, so making a profit is not that easy if I want to offer competitive rates.
I am also working on a schedule of workshops and other weekend events, which I hope to finalise shortly. It is extremely important to me to have this social calendar alongside regular classes, which will also bring new people into the studio.
I will continue to blog :-), so watch this space for updates!
So from September, I will open classes in Schaerbeek, Brussels, 3 evenings a week. I have designed a schedule of levelled classes from beginner to advanced, as well as detailed programs.
Choosing a name for the school was tough! A lot of pole schools are starting to use a pole move in the title. I wanted to go with something a bit crazy. "Rainbow Iguana" was in the running. But eventually, Momentum sounded neat and fits pole sports very well.
Why my own school?
Since I started to teach pole, I discovered a new dimension to my passion for this sport and art form. I love to teach, the only drawback being the late evenings, which I'm hoping I will get used to! Completing the teaching certificate with Spin City also sparked my interest in the anatomy and physiology of pole sport, while at the same time putting a certain rigour in place when it comes to explanations, safety and class sequences.
As I planned my lessons, I started to design programs for progression at different levels, drawing on my experience as a student and as a teacher, bringing in the theory learnt during my training and also my particular focus on pole sport and technique. As I worked on these and with my own school in mind, I have since defined 4 levels, closely following the PSO level gudelines and my own judgement, which differ from the standard levels used in Brussels schools. Another difference is the semester approach, in which students will remain in the same class for half a year. I believe this is the timeline needed to acquire the skills required to move up to the next level.
At Momentum, I want to attract students learning for fun, as well as those interested in competitions. There will be social events and workshops for mixing between classes and trying out different styles. For competiton students, there is the opportunity to train twice or three times per week and as a qualified coach, I am able to offer further training, coaching and advice, tailored to the needs of each athlete. I want to promote a supportive, inclusive community, with team spirit!
What now?
Right now, I am working hard on completing paperwork for the creation of an ASBL and making sure I have all of the necessary documents etc. I have created Facebook and Instagram accounts that need filling and I am creating a website. My daughter helped me out by taking a photo of me on the pole, which I then transformed into a silhouette to use as a makeshift logo! One step at a time, I would like to improve on the visuals, but there is so much to manage right now.
Of course, I need to find time to train and teach, so it's going to be a packed summer! I am excited, but nervous. I need to fill my classes. The studio I am renting is gorgeous and easy to access, but it is also quite expensive. I am limiting my classes to 10 students, as I feel that exceeding that number would feel too cramped, so making a profit is not that easy if I want to offer competitive rates.
I am also working on a schedule of workshops and other weekend events, which I hope to finalise shortly. It is extremely important to me to have this social calendar alongside regular classes, which will also bring new people into the studio.
I will continue to blog :-), so watch this space for updates!
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