Pilates Workout Blog

What kind of Pilates Teacher are you?

Laurette Ryan

www.balancepointpilates.com

I actually started my movement teaching career almost 33 years ago. As scary as it was to get up in front of a group and do my thing, it was always exciting and addictive too. The first time I ever taught a class I could barely speak,I had butterflies and my heart was racing a mile a minute, and I couldn’t wait to do it again! The butterflies lasted about 15 years at least, although they were smaller and smaller as the years went on.

In the beginning I just wanted everyone of my students to love to move -just like I did. My focus was choreography. I would write out complete outlines for a class. Trying to include new and exciting exercises, trying to invent the most incredible exercise-that no one had ever thought of yet. (Sometimes, I did crazzzy things!)

The next phase I went through was my form and safety phase. The phase where you are surprised that anyone can tie their shoe without herniating a disc or you are sure that turning your head in any direction is certain to put you in a neck brace. It really put the brakes on any “crazzzy” choreography. The more you learn about safety, contra-indications and potential injury -the more frightened you become. At a certain time in a teachers’ development this is a good and positive thing. It brings about a sensible melding of creative fun choreography and safe effective movement. You begin to see that, Yes, we (most healthy adults) can and in fact must be able to tie our shoes and turn our heads without risk of injury and you don’t have to do 3 sets of 500 leg lifts to tame those saddle bags!

In my next teaching incarnation I began to explore the entertainer in me. That part of me that was always excited to get up in front of a group and become an object of their attention. You start to see that people come for the workout , but they stay for the connection. You must try to create a rapport, make them feel like- “hey that teacher knew I was here-she’s/he’s not just working-out for herself/himself.” Personally, I like to banter with a class a bit, learning a little about them (helps me understand why they might be there) and share a little about me. I have often found sharing a little about yourself with humor is a wonderful way to connect with people and can be entertaining as well. (P.S. Please do not share trials and tribulations of your life-EVER! Class time is not YOUR workout or YOUR therapy appointment!)

Now going into my 4^th decade (OMG-as the kids say) of teaching. I am starting a new phase and honestly I’m not quite sure where this one is going. This is the phase where, I know how wonderful, effective, amazing and miraculous this work is. I will talk your ear off about it’s joys and wonders. Let’s talk anatomy and philosophy and related modalities and history and more ! But when encountering that individual or student who has decided that they need you to tell them every day how good it is, and how they can do it and how they should do it and on and on and on…you know, the person who saps your energy. I’m not talking about that client or student who just needs some encouragement. I’m talking about those people who have a million reasons (read-excuses) why this probably won’t work for them. I have very little patience now . I’ve started to develop a radar for those who merely want to “talk” about their health issues, they identify with their issues and they really don’t want to improve their condition. I think we’ve all spent hours and hours of our precious time with these students only to find next year- they’re still talking. So let me be clear , it’s not those who just need a little push I’m talking about-most everyone we meet has been there at sometime…it’s those who never have any intention of taking you up on the wonderful information you gladly and most times freely, provide. So in my current phase when I encounter Bonnie-Back pain or Tina-Ten pounds , I merely state that Pilates absolutely works, I know it does and do you want to? Or no? End of conversation…. I feel like a grumpy old person or my Dad,when you asked him “why?” one time too many. Someone told me it’s normal at “my age”…hmmm how does that make you feel?

I view this phase like this; I have seen the proof, it’s no longer a matter of faith for me, it’s a matter of fact. I have a strong and abiding faith-based-in-fact in the work of Joseph Pilates and I want you to share in it’s rewards. I hope that my strong belief in the work will in some way inspire others. So that’s where I’m at. Where are you at? I’d really love to hear…..Isn’t it exciting to know that decade after decade you will be changing and growing in your teaching. I think it is, and as always, I wonder, what would Joe think?

Laurette Ryan

Balancepoint Pilates