As instructors, we all got into Pilates and fitness to help people; to help people feel great moving their bodies, to help them feel more confident, to help them gain more mobility, flexibility, more quality of life, right?
Creating a positive and enjoyable experience for your Pilates clients goes beyond just the workout itself. It involves building relationships, addressing their individual needs, and continuously striving to provide a high-quality service. This level of support can make a significant difference in your client’s Pilates journey, helping them achieve their goals whilst enjoying the process along the way. Looking to bump up the serotonin levels in class? Here are 4 steps to help you achieve total client happiness!
1. Correct your clients’ form!
99.9% of clients love to have their technique corrected. As soon as an instructor ever so slightly tweaks where your shoulder / hip / back / knee should be, you feel the exercise working so much more; it’s magic! They often thank you for it too; thank you for taking the time to care enough to correct them and help them get the most out of their practice.
Don’t be afraid to correct form physically. Verbally correcting form by speaking to the whole class can be useful; however, the client/s who need the correction may not know it is for them. People are very susceptible to physical corrections, therefore, a gentle adjustment can assist their technique much more than words will. Disclaimer: Always ask clients new to your class individually if they are comfortable being physically corrected and respect those who may not want to be touched.
2. Teach fundamental Pilates exercises.
The fundamental Pilates exercises have been the bread and butter of Pilates for decades: because they work so well! When instructors stray too far from the fundamentals and teach a whole class of crazy complicated moves they have seen on social media, clients often get lost in the complexity of the setup and the intricacy of the move. By the time they feel they have finally caught up, another obscure move has been introduced and they are lost again. I’ve seen it a lot in my years of teaching.
I love introducing intermediate Pilates moves in my classes, but my advice is to pick 1-3 of these exercises’ maximum per class, so as not to overwhelm the clients. Clients will feel better about themselves if they can attempt to master one or two complicated moves, as opposed to having to learn 20! I personally love when I see clients get more out of an exercise they have been practising for weeks / months / years; it means that I am doing a good job explaining the building blocks of the exercise. Never think the basics are ‘boring’; you can always add pulses, a prop, or a new cue to make the clients feel the exercise in a new way!
3. Cue, cue, cue!
I know not every Pilates instructor is a talker, but a lot of us are! I’m always telling my students to never worry about saying too much to your class. Keep cueing those technique tips, as they help your clients get so much more out of an exercise. If a client looks confused by something you have said, find a different way to explain the instruction. The vast majority of our clients are there to learn more, to work hard, and to better themselves in every class; so give them that opportunity by sharing all your knowledge! Maybe don’t give them a massive anatomy lesson on how the rotator cuff muscles work (unless they specifically ask!), but often an explanation as to why we do an exercise helps the clients understand more. They will be happy to know that they are moving their bodies in so many ranges of movement and that you are taking the time to explain to them!
4. Do your own Pilates practice.
It sounds so simple to do your own Pilates practice, but if you have a full instructing schedule you are often so tired you can’t fit in your own classes! Make the conscious effort to fit in your own practice, as this is how you stay inspired and passionate about Pilates!
Book into a physical class, or find an online Pilates studio you love if scheduling is your challenge; just put your mat out and get moving! This is my favourite way to get inspired; I put my music on and just let my body move as it wants to; and I teach myself so much. It’s also such a mental release for me.
By doing your own Pilates practice, you gain valuable insight into how exercises feel in your body; you learn the common technique errors, you feel exactly what muscles are switching on and you know how to tweak the exercise to get more out of it. You will then impart all this knowledge to your clients during their classes and they will be more knowledgeable and happier Pilates clients because of it!
So there you have it! Prioritising these 4 steps will elevate your instructing and leave your clients feeling happy, valued, and accomplished. Boosting a client’s Pilates fitness goals and expectations is one thing, but fuelling your own passion can be just as important. Don’t forget why you started and your purpose in this role; to help people.
Want to advance your Pilates skills & knowledge? Come and join us at a PPF Instructor Course. We offer a range of introductory, intermediate and advanced instructor courses so you can continue to boost your skills and ignite that passion for Pilates! Our students leave feeling confident and inspired to share their passion with others. Click here for more information on our courses.
