So if you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen a recent reel about 5 things I wish I knew before starting to teach Pilates. Everyone loved it... so now I am giving you 10!
1. Instructors all have a different way of teaching that is their own unique, individual flare. Just because you think someone is great - doesn’t mean you need to imitate! Draw inspiration but have faith in your own style.
2. Just because an instructor has been teaching for a longer time, doesn’t always mean they are going to be more knowledgeable. Do your own research/ study and don’t believe that everything you’re hearing is factual just because “they have more experience”.
3. Programming takes a shit load of time! When formulating a seamless, effective class - it 👏🏽 takes 👏🏽 time. But it does get easier as you build your understanding and exercise library in your head.
4. Turning a passion into a career often means that the relationship with that passion changes. Pilates is still my favourite practice but it is also the last thing I want to do after a busy day of teaching it to others.
5. You’re not going to be for everyone. There’s that saying “don’t try and be liked by everyone, you don’t even like everyone”. This is sooooo true!!! You will attract the right crowd for you and they will be loyal to you. Don’t take it personally if someone seems disinterested in you or your class but also be proactive and ask them why (get feedback to keep showing up that 1% better).
6. Not everything is about you - if a client isn’t smiling at you or giving off a nice energy during a class, it is probably because they are focusing so damn hard on what they are actually doing. Or, they’ve had a shitty day at work and something is on their mind. Instead of getting flustered or upset about it, use it as an opportunity to make them feel special! Engage with them, correct them, and encourage them.
7. When teaching intermediate + advanced sessions, fluffy creativity isn’t always whats best. Some of the most challenging exercises can be very simple - it’s all about how you layer them, time them, and sequence them. Think about “sprinkling” creativity into your sessions but not to a point where it’s over-complicated. I guess what I am trying to say is, to be careful not to get carried away with the Insta-worthy/ pretty moves and to think about their functionality and effectiveness.
8. When teaching a class to beginners, tailor it to the person who is the LEAST experienced/ fit in the room. It’s common to want to “prove” how tough you can be as an instructor - but that’s not what a beginner level class is about. Entering a group class (or 1:1) is nerve racking for most! The last thing you want is for them to feel leaving incompetent.
9. When teaching intermediate, tailor it to the average of the class attendees experience and level. Always giving a progression before a regression. E.g. get them in a full plank before you say “if this is not for you today, perform in a half plank”. In these levelled classes, I wait for 70% of the room to show signs of fatigue or even failure before I complete the exercise.
10. Use music as your filler. There is nothing worse than when an instructor is filling every silent gap with nonsense. It can get confusing and quite frankly - annoying. Use music volume to uplift clients and keep them going in the exercise (after they are set up properly and already moving, of course). It also gives them time to take your previous cues on board.
I hope this helps any aspiring or current trainers out there! Shoot me a message on Instagram or email me if you'd like to chat further.