So usually to observes a session it is customary to inform the teacher first, who then asks the client if it's okay, right? Even new dance teachers who watch to gauge the level of an open class are introduced by the ballet master.
I just started an apprenticeship at a Romana's Pilates training center. I went to observe a Level 5 instructor, not knowing that only teacher trainers (Level 4 and up) count toward hours. Well, instead of politely informing me of this policy, this teacher said I should always check with the client first. She even told me to introduce myself. She said it's just "standard" in New York (meaning TPNY) and is just politeness as if I had breached some class etiquette. I was a little surprised as I am from NY, and have always been introduced to an apprentice by the instructor (not always leveled trainers.) Okay, this could have been avoided had I known we could only observe instructor trainers.
I had told my teacher trainer I was going to take a group class, so this (same) instructor knew about me but we had never met before. The first thing she asked was whether or not I spoke German. In my experience, teachers always ask for the new student's name and then takes it from there. All the Americans who give workshops overseas make such an effort to learn every participant's name, no matter if it's dance, yoga, or some other form of bodywork. When I'm a new in a class, regardless of whether it's a guest or resident teacher, the first thing he does is tell me his name. This has also been my experience in the UK. So I am not sure if that was just a reflection of cultural differences, since it had also happened to me in other European countries.
Also, do clients get precedence over apprentices? As part of my apprentice program, I get to take all the mat classes, which are conducted on raised mats. There are only five, so I got asked to go on the Trapeze Table when we were six. I don't mind that it separates me from the group a little but I couldn't help but think, I am a client too. At some places, apprentices are billed as clients for their training. I know that Romana's Pilates has a hierarchical system, but I can't help but think: are apprentices at the bottom of the rung? I know it's different at TPNY as apprentices are constantly teaching on each other and stuff.
In the future should I always get permission from clients first? I don't want this to be a problem going forward as I will have to teach real people under supervision in the following stages. I'm sure it's not the case that I ask a client if I could please teach him/her, but that my trainer who gives me a client at a discounted rate but under her watchful eyes
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