I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous before my first Hoola-Fit workshop. I completed the training, and I learned everything I needed to know, in order to be successful. However, negative thoughts kept popping up…
What if no one shows up? What if I can’t explain a move? What if the group doesn’t have fun? What if this and what if that.
My desire to provide students with the best experience possible was making me a nervous wreck! Certainly I had prepped enough.
20 hoops on hand… Check!
Outline with class plan… Check!
Notes on power point…. Check!
So, I wondered why the negative thoughts kept creeping into my mind. Nerves, I suppose.
Meanwhile, the day had arrived, and the time had come to teach my first Hoola-Fit workshop. I got to the studio early, and a girl who I had known since middle school was the first to walk through the door. I should also mention that she has three years’ experience hooping, and I’ve only been hooping for less than a year. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to teach her anything.
I reminded myself of the old saying, “The show must go on!” So, I began the class with introductions, and I shared my hula-hooping background. As the class progressed, I became less worried and I relaxed into my new role as “hoop dance teacher.” I had nine people in my class, and for a first timer, it was a LOT of people to instruct.
I had girls ranging from 6 years old to fifty-three years old. I began to see that the younger girls definitely needed more attention, but I realized the importance of keeping the attention balanced between the whole class. Before I knew it, my friend (the experienced hooper) was helping teach some of the moves to a few of the other students while I was working with the younger girls.
Although I had been slightly worried about her being in the class because she had so much more experience than me, it actually turned out for the best. She provided great feedback and helped me ensure that the class flowed smoothly.
As a new Hoola-fit instructor, I now know that even if someone has more experience than me, I am still qualified, capable and equipped to teach great hoop dance classes.
Hoola-fit is formatted to allow students to progress at their own pace, and it’s not limited to new hoopers or advanced hoopers. Just like in the hooping community, a Hoola-Fit class is designed so we can all work together and encourage one another on our hooping journeys.
I know that I won’t ever feel discouraged again by having a more advanced hooper in my class, and I hope that every hoop dance instructor sees it as an opportunity instead of a hindrance. Having advanced hoopers in class will actually empower you to take the lessons learned in the training and apply them in such a way, where everyone benefits.
With Love,
Sarah
