Mar 10

Mar 10 Why it’s ok to teach a hard class and push people

At least once a month a group reformer teacher DMs me with this problem…

They have been told that their Pilates class isn’t hard enough by insert manger, owner or client and that they need to teach more challenging classes.

They tell me how they feel super uncomfortable doing this, maybe it doesn’t align with their values, they worry about client form and managing injuries. They also feel that there is more to Pilates then ‘feeling the burn’! And that it’s their responsibility to educate clients about that.

I actually really relate to this story despite really enjoying teaching challenging classes. I’ve been there and walked their shoes! I asked questions but nobody ever explained to me why teaching a challenging class is a good idea apart from increasing class numbers. No mentor ever explained how it was helping people beyond the physical.

So I’m assuming if your struggling to move past this as a teacher and if teaching challenging reformer classes is a requirement for your job you probably haven’t been told this either.

Creating an environment where clients trust you and feel comfortable reaching beyond their perceived limitations is a skill.

A skill that isn’t taught to you in your teacher training so that’s why so many teachers struggle with getting a grip on it. Being able to plan and teach the mechanics of a challenging class is a skill you need to spend time cultivating.

It’s also a skill you should try and cultivate without being completely masculine and ‘drill sergeanty’ about it! You can teach with confidence, you can lead a challenging class without being demanding, without raising your voice, without pushing people to a point that are uncomfortable with!

I had a huge light bulb moment years ago about this!

You see when you get the environment right and start to add more and more challenge, you realise what you are actually teaching is resilience, trust, discipline and failing gracefully!!

These skills are essential in our lives. Teaching in this way opens up neural pathways and gets people excited to try rather than to be perfect!

Without cultivating these skills as humans we will never work hard for something we want, teach to our full potential, feel a sense of achievement, or fulfillment.

But when we teach these skills in a Pilates class we are not only teaching people to trust us but to trust themselves.

It not only lets us push them as teachers but for them to take ownership of their own body and mindset and do it for themselves.

This Is why teaching a hard Pilates class is so beneficial emotionally and physically for the humans we have the privilege of teaching every day!!

If you struggling with the tools you need to learn to feel comfortable teaching a challenging class.