Beginners Pole Fitness

You will need:

• to meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years or older
• a minimum of 1 years’ pole fitness experience (recommended)
• access to the internet via a PC, laptop, or mobile device
• access to at least 1 static pole
• a minimum of 2 hours’ study/training time per week (to complete the course within the 1-year deadline)
• a device to film videos on (mobile phones are allowed)
• at least 1 student for the teaching assessment (aged 18 or older)
• basic first aid and anatomy knowledge is also recommended.

BASIC POSES AND TRANSITIONS

• Prayer Slide
• Step Around
• Creating Momentum for Spins
• Pirouette
• Pole Squat – Step and Slide
• Ballerina
• Cartwheel

BEGINNERS MOVES

• Fireman
• Cross Leg Fireman
• Front Hook
• Back Hook
• Attitude
• Side Spin
• Chair
• Carousel
• Cradle
• Corkscrew
• Reverse Grab Preparation
• Climbs
  • Basic Climb
  • Side Climb
  • Thigh Climb
  • Forearm Brace Climb
• Seats
  • Cross Knee Seat
  • Cross Ankle Seat
  • Split Seat
  • Standing Crucifix
• Headstands and Forearm Stands
• Basic Invert Prep

This course has two main parts to the assessment; a theory assessment and a practical assessment.

The theory section of this course will give you a range of teaching and coaching techniques to make you a confident and effective instructor, supported by relevant pole theory. We will also cover the practical aspects of running your classes from how to structure your syllabus to the process of writing class plans.

In the practical section, you will learn the first part of the Spin City pole syllabus alongside a series of strength and conditioning techniques to help your beginners progress. We will complete your practical training with beginners’ combinations, sequences and choreography.

UNIT 1 – WARM UPS AND COOL DOWNS

This unit will take you through how to write and conduct a safe and effective warm up and cool down. We will look at the exercise science behind why we warm up and cool down, from the benefits to the correct structure, breaking down the individual elements. We will then focus on how to make your warm up and cool down pole-specific and provide sample plans of both.

UNIT 2 – BASIC MOVES

Here we will cover the core beginners’ pole fitness moves, looking at each move in detail, from the teaching and safety points, to progressions and regressions also touching upon common problems. This will be supported by foundation concepts such as controlling speed and creating momentum, the range of hand grips, correct shoulder positions and how we can teach safe progression through training. This unit finishes with a practical workshop on strength and conditioning.

UNIT 3 – TEACHING AND COACHING

This unit looks specifically at the theory behind teaching and coaching. We will start by considering the key skills needed by an effective instructor. This takes us onto theories of education and teaching methods including discussion on different learning styles and teaching styles. We round off this unit with a practical session to consolidate these techniques.

UNIT 4 – CHOREOGRAPHY

In this section we will cover different types of choreography, how to build routines and sequences, and how to effectively teach choreography to your class participants through a range of cueing techniques. At this stage we will start to build your choreography toolbox, giving you combinations and pole and ground-based transitions to start developing your own choreography style.

UNIT 5 – CLASS PLANNING

This unit returns to the theory of effective class planning. We begin with how you can structure your own syllabus, breaking this down into course and individual session planning with example session plans provided. We will cover all the elements you will need to start your own business including advice on choosing venues and equipment, approaches to class evaluation, and screening participants.

UNIT 6 – HEALTH AND SAFETY

Our final unit is arguably the most important unit on the course, covering the health and safety aspects of pole instruction. We will discuss the factors which will make your classes safe and effective, from creating a focused environment to liability insurance, risk assessment and injury prevention, ongoing training and first aid considerations. This unit finishes with pole-specific health and safety requirements, from clothing to equipment maintenance and, most importantly, the theory and practical knowledge behind spotting techniques and how to put this into practice in your classes.