I was thinking about how I teach the other day and how it's different than what I thought I'd be doing when I first walked into Mat Teacher Training.
When I signed up for training it was solely for me. I wanted to know everything I could about Mat Pilates. I'd been taking mat classes regularly for 5 months when I signed up, and I had been doing my own research watching videos and tutorials, checking people out on Instagram, reading articles, reading Return to Life, all the things. It's in my nature to research/obsess and ask a lot of questions :)
I was doing all this because I was so amazed at how good I felt in my body after such a short time that I felt like I had to do the training. I needed that deep dive into the world of classical Pilates Mat.
I remember my mentor asking each of us why we were in training, our goals, and what we planned on doing after training.
I said:
I'm here because I needed to know everything about the mat work - because I'm obsessed.
My goal is to learn as much as possible and try out all the props and things.
And I'm not really sure if I'll end up teaching after training, but maybe if I did, I might want to teach people mat one on one and probably not classes.
I learned SO MUCH from my mentor (and still do). Going through training was one of the best experiences of my entire life.
I learned that props are tools and using them is empowering; it doesn't make your practice any less valid.
It reiterated that you should never judge a person based on how they look; you never know what is going on inside someone else.
Meet your students where they are and build them up by making Pilates accessible.
You don't have to stick to the classical order without props to be a classical teacher or classical student. It's about the connection to the work, not what it looks like or the lack of props.
Teach people; not exercises.
People need us.
The last two points are why I continued teacher training and became a comprehensive teacher. All it took, for me, was going through all my mat practice hours to see that I wanted and needed to teach people.
I loved seeing people try Pilates for the first time.
I loved seeing them figure out how to move their bodies to make connections.
I loved seeing their progress and understanding of the mat work.
I loved seeing them commiserate when I brought out the Magic Circle, and cheer when they saw the resistance band (haha!).
It was such a rewarding experience and I learned so much about my personal practice by teaching others. After I got my mat certificate, I decided to teach a couple of weekly mat classes while I went through the rest of the program. Then I started teaching a reformer class...and the rest is sort of history.
Teaching People; Not Exercises.
I've written a couple of articles where I've said this. It's about teaching the person in front of you, not teaching the exercises. It's about making the exercises work for the person and not jamming a person into what an exercise is "supposed to look like" - this is the basis for all my teaching.
However, I have to admit that when I first started training - I totally thought that I'd be teaching exercises. I thought I'd be teaching the order, in order, maybe adding a prop, maybe omitting an exercise based on my ability to time a class right, etc. This was my own idea, not something that my mentor ever said. Yes, we do have an order and we do run through it because it helps make our students independent - but there's more to it than just that.
People feel different in their bodies every day.
It's our job as teachers to find a way to help our students connect to themselves, and then the practice. Before every session, I check in with everyone.
How is your body feeling today?
How are you feeling today?
Is there anything you think you need today?
Based on their responses, I quickly come up with ideas to make their session personalized.
No, I don't class plan (gasp!)
Here's why. I spent too much time overthinking what to do when I was in training, even though I already knew the order. Plus, there were quite a few times when I had a plan and one of my practice students would have something going on in their bodies, so I ended up tossing my class plan. I also noticed a couple of teachers who would continuously apologize for doing things out of order when I took class from them, and I never cared when they went out of order, so I figured no one else would either. So why was I overthinking and over-planning?
Also, I need to be looking at my students to decide what to do next: give a variation, hand out a prop, skip an exercise, etc.
Evolving to a Student Focused Movement Teaching Style
Within the first year or so of teaching, I evolved from an "exercise cueing-based" teaching style to a "student focused movement" teaching style. The difference between the two is how you cue, how often you cue, and cueing to individual needs.
When I'm teaching in person, I only use external cues, I use fewer cues, and I repeat the same cues. I'm also not afraid to ask someone to move their foot to the left a little bit while they are in class with other people. I am creating a personalized experience for everyone.
I don't tell people what or where to feel things, and I don't use the typical Pilates cues that a lot of teachers memorize during training. I'm not saying that's wrong, it just didn't work for me. It never felt right. I cue based on what I see happening with each student.
Changing to this approach made it easier for me to teach and to connect with my students. It has also made it easier for my students to know what I want them to do. Another plus side to cueing less, is it gives students time to process and understand the movements in their bodies, which can make them an independent mover quicker.
I fully realize that my teaching style may not be for everyone, but that's why we have so many different Pilates teachers out there and why we need even more!
Now that I train others how to teach - I have them try the student-focused approach.
I give them permission to say less and watch more.
I remind them that the world needs all types of teachers, not the same teaching style with the same cues.
I tell them to try different things.
I let them question my cues, and I ask them why they picked certain cues.
It's all part of the process of becoming who they are meant to be. There are so many different types of people and personalities out there. We need all types of teaching styles!!! And we absolutely need teachers who observe their students and give them what they need exactly when they need it.
If you are ever interested in becoming a Pilates teacher who has a more student focused, inclusive, and accessible teach style - please reach out!! I would love to chat with you!
To note: Being in person with me (including live virtual sessions) is definitely different than taking one of my pre-recorded classes on YouTube classes. I talked so much more during pre-recorded classes - and that's also OK!!! Because these are two different types of teaching, and both have their place in the fitness world!
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