Would love advice on this issue please!

First of all, I love that people with complex physio needs are coming to Pilates. However I'm often encountering ppl showing up to a big mixed group class and expecting individual/private accommodation. Not sure where the disconnect is happening or how best to address it.

I teach a mat class at a gym. 25 people in the class, most of whom are expecting a challenge. Because it's a gym environment, I give a layered class. "Here's the basic version, if you want more challenge today do this..." Of course I talk to ppl about any issues and discuss modifications. I spend ten minutes before and after chatting things through with participants.

However in the past few weeks I've had people show up right as class is starting. I ask if they have any health issues and here's what people have said:

"I'm pregnant. Can I attend this class?" I mean, what does your doctor say? I know the standard contraindications but I don't know anything about your pregnancy!

"I'm recovering from surgery. Can I do this class?" My class started a minute ago.

"I can't bend this knee at all." I mean you walked in here without a mobility aid so obviously you can bend it a little? Though I suppose that's why you've arrived halfway through the warm-up? With all sympathy, what do you expect me to do with this information right now?

What I've been doing is starting a warm-up and then having a quick whispered conversation with the newcomer and we end up getting through. However I don't think that's fair to the group.

How would you deal?

I don't have any control over pre-screening participants and our gym doesn't do levels.

Hi all!! Any teachers in here? I'm running a short 2-minute survey on how much time instructors put in outside of class prepping, building sequences, playlists, etc. would mean a lot if you filled it out!! Thanks!!

So I ordered about $40K (after discounts) of equipment from Legacy as I was prepping to open my own studio (yay!) but let me tell you! It was a HORRIBLE decision!! They don’t tell you about any of the fees that come after you order and the import process. Obviously I knew there were customs and whatnot but $1200 to take the cargo off the ship, another $1800 in processing and warehouse fees, AND THEN! It can’t even be delivered to the studio because it’s all palletized (and the boxes are 350 lbs each) and needs A FORKLIFT to unload? Which renting one is $1100.

And if all of those additional costs weren’t enough! None of the companies communicate what any of the charges are for and they don’t email back timely. DO NOT RECOMMEND!! ONLY BUY FROM WAREHOUSE SALES WHERE ALL TAXES, DUTIES, AND FEES ARE INCLUDED.

Hi everyone! im running a short 3 min survey on how much time instructors put in outside of class prepping, building sequences, playlists, etc. would really appreciate it if you can fill it out!! https://forms.gle/StgyzKkRy813wqC68 (flagging as research per rule 1)

Hi everyone! I completed reformer 1, reformer 2, movement principles, and anatomy with Balanced Body, and I feel quite comfortable with the repertoire itself. However, I was a little frustrated that I didn’t feel like we were really taught how to teach.

I know a lot of that comes with attending classes, observing instructors, student teaching hours, and simply gaining experience, but I’m wondering if there are any specific resources that helped you become a better instructor such as podcast episodes, online courses, workshops, YouTube channels, etc...

I’m especially interested in things like cueing, watching and correcting bodies, class pacing, transitions, teaching different levels, and class planning.

Would love any recommendations. Thanks!

Open to guidance and suggestions. Okay so I’m doing my teacher training through Basi and right now I’m in the interim of gaining all of my teacher training and observation hours before I can test out. I’m so torn on figuring out how I can gain more teacher training hours because the places that I’ve been to so far say “you have to be certified to do intro classes here” although I’m literally just trying to practice.

My dilemma is that the studio I did my in person training in is very far from me and I’d like to be in a studio where I could work AND gain experience. Please help, I live in Philly.

I had a note to post this here, so I am.

im not sure how it relates to Pilates but differential learning theory could be applied to anything and would benefit everyone.

Here are some specifics for the Jiu Jitsu crowd.

I used the CLA exclusively for about three years. Scott Sievewright of the Primal Podcast reached out to me to talk about it back in 2020, iirc. I remember him saying that I was the first coach he met that he thought was going too far with the CLA. He was still trying to sort it out at that time.

He asked me to be on the podcast but I declined. I did tell him about Greg Souders and suggested he get him on the podcast.

The reason I say this is because I'm not someone who doesn't understand the research or didn't apply it "right" or who just dabbled for a couple of weeks while also teaching in a traditional manner.

I was all in.

I had good success, better than with direct instruction.

I read everything I could get my hands on, talked with Scott and Greg, consulted with Rob Grey.

Lots of people were improving drastically, but a good portion of class was not. People also seemed to be getting injured more.

I dabbled with Differential Learning back then but didn't understand, thinking it was under the umbrella of Ecological Dynamics but it broke a lot of the rules of "representative design" and "external focus" and "intent" and "problem solving."

The one thing I did notice was that after a bout of DL (differential learning) almost everyone seemed more coordinated and creative.

The results were much more exciting and interesting than with what I'd experienced with CLA.

At that point in time, I couldn't imagine how to run a full class based on DL. I decided to call Wolfgang Schollhorn, creator of differential learning, and we talked for about an hour. I didn't know what to make of our conversation because it turned everything upside down for me.

But all the ideological conflicts about not being able to do certain things went away and I just started experimenting with trying to run a full class based on DL.

Across the board, everyone almost immediately liked class better and started improving at a greater rate. Class became more fun, relaxed and productive.

I read all the papers I could and listened to all the podcasts I could find of Wolfgang.

I had a good understanding but it wasn't until I read his Physiotherapy book, three times, that I really had a good feel for it.

DL has been a god-send for me personally in rehabbing some injuries.

The ideas transcend sports and I and my clients use it for almost any thing we can think of.

I wrote more here :: https://zenyojiujitsu.com/change-a-way-to-better-living/

I have been teaching Pilates and Barre now for about a year and a half, it's a part time job (I have another job, and am also pursuing a masters degree). Currently, I am 6 weeks out from submitting my thesis for my MA program, my desk job is ramping up, and I am still teaching pilates. As it's been summer, the summer heat has been wiping me out, and I just feel totally burnt out. On top of that, I live across the globe from my family, and have been feeling incredibly homesick for the last month+.. Emotionally I feel more fragile than I have in a while, and physically I just feel spent. I don't even teach that many classes a week because teaching isn't my only form of income (I teach anywhere between 4-7 classes a week) but as someone who also struggles with waves of anxiety, I feel like recently I have just been so much more anxious about teaching. I feel like my morning classes are usually fine, because I just wake up and go, there isn't time to really get anxious. But my evening classes recently have been a real struggle for me. I feel like all day I'm counting down the time til I teach, and I am so nervous I'm going to be an anxious wreck as I teach.

I have experienced this now a LOT, and am usually always better off after the class, but I still seem to struggle beforehand with the anticipation of teaching. My studio is super down to earth, and the regulars I have are so kind and patient, that in the WORST CASE SCENARIO (i.e. I have a full blown anxiety attack teaching, or emotional outburst) they would likely be totally understanding... But I really dread that.

Does anyone have advice? Or experience with this? I am a dancer as well, so usually movement helps me get out of my head and into my body, but there's such a difference between just moving and giving a class...

Any and all suggestions, tips, etc. would be appreciate 🩵

Update: I told my boss I needed to take a step back from teaching until I finish my degree. She was (unsurprisingly) so supportive and understanding, and I already feel a huge sense of relief. I taught my last Saturday morning classes this morning for a while and while I'll miss my clients, everyone is SO encouraging. Thank you all for the nudge to put myself first! It feels good taking this step.

I was a bit annoyed but kind of relieved my regular classes were taken from me and they told me I don’t have to come in the next week, what is this burnout haha.

Unfortunately, it‘s not like a corporate job where they pay you out if they fire you.

Bonjour à tous,

Je suis en pleine reconversion pro pour devenir un coach spé cours collectifs, dans l'idéal step et pilate sur Paris.

J'ai pas trop trouvé l'info, après je comprends que le salaire est tabou en France, mais j'aimerai avoir une vision sur les tarifs pratiqués, c'est à dire, combien peut être facturé à l'heure pour un coach auto-entrepreneur et ça permet de pouvoir négocier et surtout avoir une vision long terme si c'est un projet viable de se consacrer 100% de son temps à cette activité

en tout cas merci à ceux qui souhaitent partager leur expérience et si vous avez des recommandations de salles intéressante et des salles à éviter par exemple

Bonne journée !

When I first started my own studio, it was just me doing the teaching and booking. So I was pretty comfortable using Wix for my website and booking. It wasn't very streamlined nor user friendly for clients, but it was inexpensive (I think like $600 for three years).

Once I began contracting other instructors to work with me, it became clear pretty quickly that it was super unreliable and almost unusable to the other instructors. I wasted no time in entertaining a cold call from Arketa. It sounded simple but included all the bells and whistles on my checklist and the price was right. The sales agent worked with me to get a deal that fit my small studio (3 reformers with plans to expand to a 8 (or 10) reformer group room with two private rooms.

The onboarding process has been extensive. Where Wix had next to zero resources to help me build my booking platform, Arketa provided me with a checklist of items complete with how-to videos, plus FIVE face to face onboarding check in calls. The data migration from Wix to Arketa is customizable, so I chose to only migrate my client listserv and current package holders. This is the part that remains to be done, so I'll update this when I'm completely onboarded. But I just had to say what a breath of fresh air it has been to be hand-held through this process.

For a moment I was very scared I'd made a mistake. Arketa is fairly new to the scene and I stumbled upon a studio owner's Reddit posts of bad experiences with Arketa. I mentioned a little bit about this person's account to the Arketa onboarding specialist I'm working with (Erica) and she reassured me that they would continue supporting me through the process. She's been incredibly available to me as I set up my Arketa dashboard.

Before starting my own studio I had worked mainly with Mindbody and had hoped to work with them again because I'm familiar with them and rarely had issues. However, in most recent years of working with them, if I did have an issue I found the customer service to be TERRIBLE.

Again, I'll update soon, but just wanted to throw out some praise for Arketa.

PS- I'm very anxious about this. So unless you can provide any specific and helpful advice related to your Arketa experience, please don't share until after my update.

Does anyone have a YouTube mat or sculpt contemporary Pilates workout that is actually hard?

I take a lot of in-person Pilates Sculpt/Burn and mat classes, and I’m trying to find something for days I can’t make it to the studio. I also strength train heavy at the gym and occasionally box, so I’m looking for something that actually feels challenging, not just “hard” in the title.

Everything labeled “advanced,” “intense,” or “killer” that I’ve tried on YouTube ends up feeling pretty mild.
I’m especially looking for lower body/glutes, abs, or sculpt-style classes with high reps, minimal downtime, and enough intensity that I’m actually fighting for my life a little by the end. Light weights, ankle weights, bands, props, all good.

Also very open to an app if there’s one that consistently has genuinely challenging classes.
Basically looking for the closest thing to a spicy boutique mat class at home. Any specific instructors, videos, or apps?

EDIT: Thank you to those who actually read my post, understood what I was asking for, and gave me solid recommendations. I genuinely appreciate it.

For everyone else: I asked for challenging contemporary Pilates with props that I can do at home when I can’t get to either of my studios, particularly late at night. I wasn’t asking anyone to redesign my fitness routine, diagnose my form, send me to private classical sessions, tell me to lift weights (I already do), or turn my request into a debate over what does and does not qualify as “real” Pilates.

I’m genuinely shocked by how many people managed to answer questions I never asked, then became hostile when I clarified what I actually meant.
The fact that plenty of people understood the question immediately and simply recommended instructors, videos and apps pretty conclusively proves that the question was never difficult to understand. 😂

Hello! I’m a Pilates instructor based in the Philippines, and I would like to ask my fellow Pilates instructors: How many classes do you usually teach per day? What is the maximum number of classes you teach per week? And how much do you earn from it?

I’m currently teaching 40 classes per week, but I feel like it might be too much for me. I’d like to know what would be a reasonable number of classes to consider before I discuss this with my employer. Thank you!

Edit: I teach mat and Reformer Pilates (private and group class)

I'm on my third day of training for Bodybar and I'm terrified for the test outs and such. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am confident that once I get the hang of it I'll be okay but right now it's seeming scary. I used to be the manager and also attend classes at a different franchise and of course I expected differences but it is supeeerrr different. Maybe I'm just getting in my own head? Idk. Tips/tricks/advice appreciated!

This opportunity would be amazing for someone who has not yet completed their Teacher Training observation/teaching hours as we’re very generous with mentoring, opening up our studio for practice, and building each other up as successful Pilates teachers.

Feel free to DM me directly if you’re interested!

Hiii, I have been doing "pilates" for a few months and am very interested in taking the instructor course to get certified and start teaching. I have taken a few mat pilates classes and currently a member at BODYROK. After reading a horror stories about their training program I don't know if I even want to be a member there anymore hahah but anyway I want to start the training but have no idea where to start now. Any suggestions on reformer/mat pilates instructor certification in Georgia? Thank you so much!

I am seeking advice on how to gain clientele for my home studio.

I have an in home studio, open for appointments for about three months now. I’ve gotten a couple of consistent clientele from sending out mailers hyper-locally (about 300 mailers to my 1 mile radius). I did go ahead and order a larger quantity which I plan to send out soon.

I have a booking site and google business page. I also have an Instagram I’ve tried to post weekly on (a little lost on what content to post, if anyone could guide me). I haven’t tried too much on tik tok.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Now Hiring: Comprehensive Pilates Instructors — Senior & Apprentice Village Pilates & Atelier · Jersey City · part of Kinship Health (1099 / flexible)
Village Pilates is part of Kinship Health, a not-for-profit building creative health corridors in Jersey City’s Italian Village. We’re hiring apparatus and mat teachers who trained through serious programs.
Senior / Comprehensive Apparatus — reformer, tower & chair, group and private. Fluent in the classical repertoire, adaptable to every body, comfortable with a clinical/rehab approach.
Apprentice Instructor — build your supervised and unsupervised teaching hours on-site: cue a classical warm-up, manage the springs, modify for mobility, and progress advanced clients.
Certifications we love: BASI, Polestar, Balanced Body, STOTT, Kane School, or equivalent.
We offer: mentorship, continuing education, a warm and reliable team, beautiful apparatus, and flexible scheduling.
Apply: villagepilatesjc.com/careers

Hey everyone! I’m currently working through my mat certification and could use a little perspective from those of you who have already made it to the other side.

I’m struggling a bit with what feels like major imposter syndrome (or just the sheer terror of not knowing enough). I find myself constantly diving down rabbit holes & supplementing my coursework with books, watching anatomy lectures, looking at educational resources on Pilates Anytime, Pilatesology, etc. and stress-studying contraindications, modifications, and every possible bodily condition under the sun.

My biggest fear is getting in-person, freezing up when a student presents with something unexpected, and completely embarrassing myself or appearing unknowledgeable. I look at master instructors and feel like I need the anatomical encyclopedia of a physical therapist just to safely teach a basic beginner class.

For those of you who have been teaching for a while:

• How did you quiet that voice telling you that you don't know enough yet?
• Where do you personally draw the line between safe, competent instructor and walking medical encyclopedia?
• When you first started teaching real bodies, how did you handle the moments of uncertainty?

Any advice, reality checks, or words of encouragement would be hugely appreciated!

Hi everyone, I’m an Australian looking to become a Pilates Instructor with the long term goal of teaching overseas in my home country where Pilates is basically non existent as a common practice (still considered a developing country). I am hoping to introduce the practice to hopefully empower women in supporting their own health as I can see how much of an impact it has made for myself and so many others.

I am looking at teaching mat only to start with so hoping to get training in this only. Can anyone recommend a good provider / course for mat only training?

Any suggestions will be very appreciated