Three Favourite Mistakes When Teaching a Pilates Class and How to Avoid Them

Whether you are a seasoned Pilates teacher or just starting out, it's a good idea to consider your style. What image are your presenting to your clients? You may not have given this much thought, you may even feel that your image is immaterial. It's not. In order to develop relationships with your class participants that create loyalty, they need to like and relate to you. Developing a personal style takes time and thought.

Here are three favourite mistakes I see time and again in both experienced and new Pilates teachers.

Mistake number one - using a fake voice. Because Pilates is usually taught calmly, teachers sometimes develop a sing song voice in an attempt to enhance the mind and body atmosphere. Avoid this like the plague it will reduce your credibility. Pay attention also to the volume, speaking too softly will be distracting as class members strain to hear you.

Solution. Make your cueing and instruction as conversational as possible. There is a lot to say in a Pilates class. Information about movement quality, positioning and safety. It will be so much easier for your class participants to absorb and apply your instructions to their practice if your voice is natural and they recognise it as yours. Be yourself.

Mistake number two. Standing, sitting or pacing at the front of the class. A good Pilates class is not only an excellent workout but also an opportunity for the teacher to inform and educate the class participants about posture, breathing and performance of the exercises. This volume of information can sometimes lead the teacher to deliver it in a lecture style. This teaching style will create a barrier between you and the class.

Solution. Move into the group as soon as you can. Being in a position to notice the movement quality of the people in your class will allow you not only to deliver all the great information you have but also help them apply it to their practice with hands on correction and your guidance. Something you can't do from the front of the room. Moving among the group will also create a more relaxed and friendly session, confirming that you are approachable, not separate from the group activity.

Mistake number three. Talking in bullet points. This ties in with mistake number two. Because there is a lot to say, Pilates teachers sometimes get into the habit of simply listing the safety and quality cues, maybe to ensure they get them all covered in the session. This is a very boring way to deliver information, it will send your class to sleep or to another more interesting teacher.

Solution. If you advise your class about a certain way to perform a movement tell them why. For example "stabilise your shoulder girdle" is a very specific, technical way to say "slide your shoulder blades down" think about your choice of words; do they mean anything to the group. In addition to telling them what to do offer them an explanation as to why you want them to do it and what benefit it is to them in their Pilates practice and every day life. So, "stabilise your shoulder girdle" becomes, "slide your shoulder blades down to help support your head and neck alignment" will probably be more useful than a short, precise technical cue that not all your class members understand.

By taking this approach to cueing and literally talking to your class you will start to notice how performance improves, the atmosphere in the class changes for the better and you will become more engaged with the group.

If you recognise any of the above in your teaching style it won't take long to make small changes; your class participants will definitely appreciate your new skills.

About Nuala Coombs. With over 25 years experience in the fitness and Pilates industry Nuala has taught hundreds of students worldwide to teach Pilates. She is the author of Golf and Pilates published in 2005 as well as an international presenter and teacher trainer. Based in the south of France along with teacher training and workshops she offers career guidance to teachers in training and qualified Pilates teachers at a crossroads in their working life. Nuala also offer Pilates Retreats for Pilates enthusiasts. Contact her to sign up for her free monthly Newsletter at http://www.thepilatesconsultant.com
email: info@thepilatesconsultant.com