Inspiring movement and exercise ideas for Pilates teachers

Rewind to a few months ago, to a time when we were all teaching in studios, and it seemed that there was never a lack of creativity. You could look around the studio and take in inspiration from fellow teachers working with clients, take a class at your leisure when you had a break in the day, and there was always an unending supply of props to inspire an entire class.

Fast forward to the present, and we’ve been in our new normal for about seven months—so you could say we’ve adjusted to our new routines and found a way to make it work teaching from home. Zoom, for instance, has been a transformational tool in our industry allowing us to teach classes and privates very effectively so that we can keep our clients moving and feeling great on a weekly basis. For many of us, it may all seem to be going spectacularly well—except perhaps in the inspiration department.

With minimal props and a return to teaching primarily on the mat, we’ve really had to get creative when it comes to exercises and movements that keep classes exciting, fresh and new. As Pilates and movement teachers, we are self-starters by nature, but we’re also human and sometimes (whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned pro) we need a little nudge to get the creativity flowing to inspire our upcoming week of classes and privates.

The good news is that there’s a world of inspiration out there to kickstart the innovation process! I’ve pulled together my go-to articles that help me when I’m stuck in a rut, and I hope that after a quick read of the below, you will feel a lot more motivated as you get ready for the week of teaching ahead!

• I wrote an article called Movement inspiration for Pilates teachers and enthusiasts which includes some of my favourite ways to keep the creativity flowing
• Jackie Pardy writes a thoughtful piece on effective time management for planning your classes in Pilates class planning: Helpful hints on how to plan a class – or not!
• In Embrace your unique Pilates teaching style, Andra Wochesen shares tips for staying true to who you are and just how helpful that can be in boosting your confidence
• 8 Ways to improve your Pilates clients’ body awareness from Cat Kajary is filled with inspiration for working with your private clients
• After reading this story from Marnie Adler, take a moment for some self-reflection about why you embarked on a career in Pilates, and it might help set the tone for your week or month ahead: How I went from Pilates student to Pilates teacher
• This article by Margot McKinnon should keep you going with class ideas for at least a few weeks: 53 Pilates class theme ideas just for you

I hope you are now filled to the brim with inspiration and fresh ideas for your upcoming classes and privates. Remember, feeling like you’re out of ideas is something we all experience at one time or another, but it’s how we go about getting that mojo back for movement that really counts. Here’s to the beginning of a creative winter season!