Week 27. 2024. So how do I find a good teacher?

Blog Layout

Week 27. 2024. So how do I find a good teacher?

Ok, I understand about Pilates. Now how do I find a good teacher?

I mean obviously I would like to say you find a cheerful blonde lady in her mid 50's who teaches online and all will be well, but of course other varieties are out there!

So, you have decided to take up Pilates, or you have relocated or you have decided on a change. Whatever your reason, there is so much choice out there, how do you know where to go for classes and to make sure you will be taken care of?

I am always amused by people who say "Oh I tried Pilates but I didn't like it/found it boring/didn't like the teacher".....if you go for a haircut and you don't like the results, do you just not have your hair cut anymore? No of course not. You ask friends, you look around, you try again... and so the same applies here. If you really don't get on with it, then fair enough but don't give up after one class or one teacher who doesn't suit you.

I would say first of all, be very clear on what it is you want to achieve. Are you attending because you are recovering from an injury and your clinician has told you that Pilates will repair you in order to return to lifting weights/running marathons or whatever? Do you want to go because all the other mums at school are doing it and you don't want to be left out? or is it because you have heard so much about it and understand that it will only enhance your life in so many ways by building strength, mobility. balance, mind body connection and will help you to do all the other things in your life with more efficiency?

For my part, I don't mind if you don't really love Pilates but you understand that it makes such a difference to your cycling or tennis. Great because then you will be committed and work. If you are just tagging on because your neighbour says it is brilliant, then your attitude is going to be different. So as I say, be very clear on what you hope to achieve.

I have only ever once been asked if I am insured and what my qualifications are. Once. In 20 years. Please ask your teacher. Where did they train? How long have they been practising? Are they insured? Are they CIMSPA registered - this is a good source as in order to be registered, you are required to provide evidence of ongoing learning which would be my next question. Never trust a teacher who doesn't "practise what they teach" and are they committed to further learning?

Do you want an instructor or do you want a Teacher? Yes, there is a big difference. If you are looking for a full body workout that looks like Pilates, then you can find many, many instructors. If you want to practise Pilates, you need a Teacher. Someone who understands the Method, the history, has researched and learned about the origins and adaptations and who fully understands what makes Pilates the unique form of exercise it is. Either is fine of course but again, be clear on what you are looking for. An instructor will give you a super class (hopefully) but a Teacher will want you to learn more about your body, how you move, connect to the Mind Body connection and leave the class slightly. more aware of this than when you arrived.

I spent 6 years working as a teacher trainer and through that, have made many friends, learned a lot about people and seen a lot of very successful teachers evolve and grow. There is room for so many different types of people on this earth but for me, someone who turns up late, flustered, with paperwork in chaos and a bag full of excuses is not someone I would choose to have a class with. I would expect my teacher to be clear on what the purpose of the class is going to be, a brief overview of what to expect and an appropriate welcome and intro.

One of my big no no's and something I harped on and on about with my students was "Get off your mat!" - a teacher who doesn't leave their mat is a lazy teacher! I have occasionally been challenged on why I am not doing the class with my participants but if I am, then how on earth can I observe you from different angles, and correct where necessary? While there are music based classes with choreography that need the instructor at the front, leading the class, Pilates is not one of them and if your teacher treats your class as though it is her/his own, look elsewhere.

No-one can know everything and it might be that you need a more specialised teacher - someone who perhaps works more on orthopaedic conditions, or perhaps pre/post natal. Again, ask your teacher and if you have a very particular need, then you are best advised to find someone who is more trained in that area.

Your teacher needs to be able to adapt and modify to be all inclusive. Of course you need to make sure the class is the level best for you which might well mean that you need to go at a different time to your friend or that you can't drop in after work but it will pay off in the end. Either way however, your teacher should be able of offer alternatives for you and break down the moves if required. My own personal take on an advanced class is that you are not required to do all the moves at an advanced level but you have enough knowledge and experience to adapt for yourself without holding up the class.

A good teacher will challenge you and push you but also support and encourage so that you come away feeling you have achieved in some way. Maybe you managed to do 3 reps with both legs in Table top this week or you performed the seated work with your legs straight - a little win from when you started a few weeks ago.

Personally, I do something different in every class and would completely lose the will to live if we had to repeat the same class for 6/8 weeks but I know for some, this works. However if you find you could run the class yourself and are on automatic pilot, then perhaps you are due for a change of teacher.

If you want to chat a lot then you will need a different teacher perhaps from someone who wants to concentrate and focus. If you fancy a workout that is low intensity but are not really bothered about understanding Pilates then perhaps choose a class that is more general as believe me, it can be really challenging to manage a class where everyone is focused in their practise and there are those one or two who are not as considerate about timekeeping and concentration!

Your teacher should be able to give you some time before or after the class for any reasonable enquiry and if they can't answer on the spot, agree a time to follow up. This can be tricky in the larger chain type gyms where classes can be huge but you chose this class, you have paid and you are entitled to be cared for. Talking of huge classes - really not ideal AT ALL but that may be all that is available to you in which case, please make sure that your teacher allows you to move places so you are not in the back corner every week and that he/she is always walking around to see that everyone is working correctly. If you cannot see or hear clearly, please do speak up and ask to be moved.

It is SUCH a personal thing too. You need to feel safe, supported and understood in order to achieve. I also believe you need to have fun! If you don't like me, please find a different teacher who is a better fit. We cannot possibly all like everyone and you will do a lot better if you like and "get" the person teaching you.

This is YOUR class. If your instructor spends more time talking about their domestic problems than teaching, look elsewhere. If they haven't corrected you in any way or given any feedback, look elsewhere. If they are constantly late, distracted by their phone, have obvious class favourites or short change you on time, look elsewhere. If they do not check your physical well-being on a regular basis or adapt for that strain from gardening or that crick in the neck, look elsewhere. If they are reluctant to offer information on insurance, qualifications or training, run elsewhere.

However, if they understand how to best accommodate your level and adapt accordingly, if they have a class prepared and offer support and encouragement and give you time to ask questions and feel a sense of achievement then do please thank them. We work very hard you know!

Next week - what makes a good client... mooowhahahahahah

What we have been up to!

We had a really windy "Let's launch Summer 24"beach class on Wednesday.

Clare and I were so pleased to actually see eachother in person and were delighted to see such a good turnout, both on the beach and online. I was thrilled at how many of you made the effort and of course it is always lovely to get together.

We managed a very blustery class in the July sunshine, some drinks up the road and were home in time for the England/Switzerland kick off.

Put Wed 11 Sept in your diary for our "Closing the Summer on the beach" class and drinks.

As you recall, we had to cancel our Isle of Wight jolly but are planning to hopefully make it happen on Wed 7th August but I will confirm asap.

I believe there have been 3 birthdays this week but perhaps the one to draw attention to is a certain lady who has just celebrated 80 times circling the sun. Many, many happy returns from us all and please find good company in the Octogenarian's club who are rolling up, lifitng weights and inspiring us all - not me yet by the way, despite someone who shall remain nameles, asking on the beach if Clare was my daughter!!

My goodness, we have been busy and the library is postively bursting with new content.

In the libary this week -

Up Against the wall, Abs on Fire and "Some of the moves we don't do as often" (mixed ability)

Tues functional strength and Friday 8am Abs and legs (both in Strength)

Clare's Wed class (in her very own section)

Fitbands full body and full body moblility (all levels)

I am slowly wading through the library content and taking out some old classes while we load up all these sparkly new classes so if there is anything you particularly like, please let me know,

Why not try a class that you may not usually attend - you may suprise yourself!

So I hear that French lessons, Walking and doing daily exerise are some of the choices for the July 21 day challenge - any other takers? how are you all getting on? I would love to hear.

I am positively brimming with ideas and inspiration from my podcasts, not least Gabby Logan's reference to our 50's and 60's being a snipers alley... so many fascinating lessons out there!

What is coming up.

I am taking a few days off from Tuesday lunchtime next week and Clare is covering on Thursday. Please note there are no live classes on Friday but you have lots of new library content!

Clare and I have got our heads together to make sure that we have some time off here and there, but continue to offer you as much as we can. Clare will be covering here and there and there will be a couple of Wednesdays when you will find me waiting for you in Clare's place. There are a very few days with no live classes but they are minimal and I do hope you will see how hard we work to offer as much as we can.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Weekly Wrap up. Week 8. 2025. There's none so easy to delude as oneself....

By juliet • February 20, 2025

Ok, full disclosure. I think it was me that dropped the clanger yesterday morning... those of you who joined me would have seen that I was not at home, and when I arrived at my destination the night before, I realised I didn't have a magic circle with me and went into the 8am class and edited it to avoid the little hiccough and I THINK I may not have saved the changes. I may be wrong as I am in and out of the library ever such a lot but I am going to put my hand up and say it was me. I could probably wing it and get away with it but I have never been very good at lying and dishonesty does not sit well with me. Mind you, I say that..... I remember many moons ago... many, many moons ago when I was 15. My parents had a bar at the side of the lounge - terribly "all the rage" at the time, then terribly naff and I believe, quite the rage again now. Anyway, I was home on my own, I was bored and I started looking for mischief. I took the carefully hidden key ( hidden above the door as we all knew very well) and let myself into the little bar. I worked my way through the optics of many, almost certainly past their sell by date bottles of revolting sticky liquid and tried each and every one. Needless to say it was not long before I thought I was going to die. I staggered out of the back door to find somewhere to hide (and possibly die) and spied my sister's Hillman Minx which I crawled into and gratefully slept. When I woke, the effects were swift and I just managed to wind down the rear window and get my head out before events overtook me. As I was walking slowly back up the garden, my mother and sister arrived home and my sister was horrified at the state of her car. I still, to this day do not know how I did it but without missing a beat, I just informed her that there had been a load of seagulls flying overhead and they must have poo'd down the car door. Im still laughing now, some 42 years later, at how I just came out with that line and that, as I was staggering up the stairs "with the start of a bad cold", I heard my mother and my sister discussing how shocking it was that the seagulls had done that.... dear reader, we lived in Enfield, North London. There is not a coast for a hundred miles. My mother told us stories about when we were little and I recall the story of how my sister furiously denied writing all over the new wallpaper in her bedroom with a crayon. It was the fact that she would not back down and insisted it could not be her that saw her sent to bed. "But how did you know it was me?" she sobbed and my mother told us that the writing was, quite literally on the wall - all around her bedroom in wonky letters read "Louise 4" Yet, as the saying goes, there is none so easy to delude as oneself. I can say for fact that I have on many occasions talked myself into or out of situations, telling myself I could justify that cake because I deserved it, I could have that drink because I had earned it, I could slack off work because I had earned the right to... How many times have you gone to do something and then given yourself permission not to because of the story you came up with? I guess that can go too far and I know more than one or two who have lied for so long that they started to believe their own warped narrative. One such was my ex husband who lied to me about his age... when he asked me once to get his passport from his laptop bag, I flipped to the photo page to see how bad his picture might be, only to be confronted with a date of birth quite different from the one he had told me.. and he admitted that he had been telling me for so long that he had actually convinced himself he was indeed 8 years younger... Mind you, I still married him so who's the fool!! We all tell white lies and we don't want to cause unnecessary discomfort - if someone has just spent a fortune on a new outfit and they are thrilled, would we honestly tell them we didn't like it? ..... on that note though.... when we were teenagers, a friend of mine's mum and her neighbour went down their road to the church to watch the arrival of a bride for her wedding. Maybe it was because they hadn't been invited and were a bit miffed but they were less than complimentary and I can honestly remember this to the word and I am laughing as I write this ..."Crikey, the bride has clapped some weight on, hasn't she? I thought brides were meant to lose weight in the run up - do you think she has already eaten all the wedding cake? I would definitely wear sleeves with those arms" ... "And WHAT is Sheila wearing on HER HEAD? Call that a hat? ".... all this said unfortunately, very close to the videographer, back in the days of wedding videos being very new and with none of today's editing available. Every word was captured and saved.... on their ACTUAL wedding video... I kid you not... Learning to be brutally honest with ourselves is one of life's greatest lessons. One of my favourite books is Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes. Marian is an addict in recovery and weaves addiction of many forms into all her novels (also brilliant - Again Rachel and Grown Up's) and she talks with such candour on the subject of addiction - I have heard her interviewed many times and it is the power to delude ourselves that is so shocking. The lies we can tell ourselves when all around us can see through it. Another great speaker on the subject is the mighty Edith Eger, who I have mentioned before. A holocaust survivor, she continues to lecture as a psychotherapist in her 90's - her books The Choice and The Gift are absolute must reads. She talks about healing without distraction - whether that is alcohol, drugs, food, shopping, exercise, scrolling social media... it takes so many forms but it is only when we remove the many distractions that we can start to sit with ourselves, get to truly know ourselves and then, and only then may we move forward. We know the need to be present, to be still, to be quiet but sometimes it helps to hear it delivered in a different voice or explained around another approach for us to see how it may benefit us. Anyway - my name is Juliet Nicholas. I am 56 and when I was 15, I vomited down the outside of my sister's car. There are no seagulls in Enfield.