I was a doughy sahm fighting depression. I wanted to try "diet and exercise" before drugs and my college PE classes were riding and ballet. I was the most unathletic kid ever, the kid sneaking a novel out into left field praying no one would hit. Or God forbid, the ball to me.

I was looking for a stables and chances upon an ad for a ballet studio. I would not have called much less shown up if I'd known the teachers credentials.. But I didn't know, and I was really bad, and awkward, and my teacher took me from review of the five positions to being strong and so athletic when I checked out a dojo for my kiddo I didn't think twice about putting on a borrowed gi and joining a coed class.

I lucked into two very excellent teachers. My ballet teacher treated her adult beginners with the same attention she treated her pre-professionals and auditioning professionals. Sensei was the same.

I had coasted through school, been too disabled to benefit from the really excellent college I chose, and finally in my thirties got to have very positive gifted student-gifted teacher relationships. I was very lucky.