Travelling? A Guide to Picking a Pole Studio!

When I’m travelling, I always look to see if I can book a private pole lesson in that city if there isn’t an Aradia studio. There are so many options, especially in large cities like New York, Chicago and LA for example, that it can get confusing. Here is a cheat sheet that can help when picking a pole studio:
– Location: This is the most important factor in my opinion. You don’t need to go to the closest studio, but you do want to find a studio that is convenient to get to (e.g. subway, taxi, car). There are definitely examples where I have not taken this into account because I really wanted to go to a specific studio/instructor. If that’s not the case, figuring out a convenient plan is definitely something to consider.
– Website: When checking a studios website look for the following: design, professionalism, instructor bios and pictures of the studio. You should have an overall feel of the studio through how their website is displayed as well as what to expect. It’s helpful if the website is mobile friendly.
– Pricing: Always know your budget and stick to it. Remember to take into consideration that you might find some cute shorts that you want to buy on the way out!
– Response Time: If the studio you contact via email or phone does not respond within 24 hours, this may be an indication of what is to come in terms of customer service. With a private lesson, keep in mind that they may need a couple of days to confirm an instructor after you have given them the date or dates you would like. Give them some options to accommodate you. For example in New York I requested a specific date but I was flexible within a four hour time period.
– Confirm your goals: In order to get the best experience out of your private lesson, you should confirm with the studio in advance what you can do (ask your Aradia instructor for the terminology if you are unsure) and also let them know what you would like to work on. I truly believe that learning from different instructors is a good thing. Everyone has their own style and strengths. I personally was taught by four Aradia Instructors when I was a student and I have taken over 15 private lessons or workshops in the US and Europe in the last four years. Committing to your home base studio is important but adding some outside learning can help you grow as an athlete as well.

We have also provided private lessons for people travelling to Calgary, and local students have requested our services as well. If you are or become a VIP membership client, don’t forget you have a one hour private lesson included at no charge.
Hope this helps and happy international poling!