Helping Newbies?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Helping Newbies?
10
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 10:38am
Do you help newbies in class who seem kind of lost or who have poor form because they don't know what they're doing?





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 11:02am
if i'm taking a class, i don't bother with helping others - i'm off the clock! if someone's step is not aligned on the risers or something like that, i'll alert them, but if they are having trouble with form or choreography, that's between them and the instructor.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 11:03am

The only time I've helped someone in a class that I wasn't teaching was a couple weeks ago when a woman was having a lot of trouble finding the right spot on the ball to do crunches. In a cardio class, I would only say something if the person was next to me and in danger of running into me.

Otherwise, I agree with Jen - it's the instructors' business to help the person. I'm just another participant!




Edited 3/29/2005 12:04 pm ET ET by somerandomthoughts




Lilypie First Birthday tickers
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 11:08am

As a newbie myself, I would of welcomed the help. I talk to the instructor before class starts and ask her who the "old timers" are and plant myself close to them to watch/copy their form. I'll introduce myself and let them know I'm new then they help me out during class by showing me or slowing down the moves for me until I get it. I do not want to hurt myself with bad form if I can help it.

HTH.

Frazz

Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 11:21am
I'm glad to ask if the newbie asks or looks like he/she wants to ask. It doesn't bother me at all to stop and show someone choreography. I, on the other hand, wouldn't ask if I was new because I wouldn't want to disrupt someone's workout. Hmmm... How much sense does that make?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 12:26pm
That's what I was thinking--that it might help and they wouldn't get hurt then.





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 12:27pm
That makes sense--I'd feel the same way. The instructor is paid but the other students are there to get a workout.

Jean,






iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 12:30pm

Maybe it's because I'm rarely on the clock that it wouldn't bother me.






iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2004
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 12:33pm
My heart really goes out to newbies, especially in step class.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 12:50pm
i always help the instructor clean up too. especially in spin class, when no one removes their handle bars like they are supposed to.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 12:55pm
oh, i would definitely help someone if they asked me for help or if the instructor asked me to help them. but i feel like offering unsolicited help or advice during a class is stepping on the instructor's toes. plus, i don't want it to be obtrusive to the other participants that there is an instructor in the class.