Where are they now?

Nancy McKinnon shares her secret to a long and successful career as a Pilates teacher and movement educator

Career longevity. It’s a topic that interests Body Harmonics Teacher and Faculty Member, Nancy McKinnon, BASc (Hons), who has been teaching Pilates & Movement to clients and students full-time for more than two decades. And, in a profession where instructor burn-out is not uncommon, and full-time teachers are in the minority, it’s easy to understand why.

“In terms of my professional accomplishments, I feel one that really stands out is longevity,” says Nancy, 51, adding that continual learning and skills-building are a major part of it, and so is a sense of curiosity and building meaningful relationships with clients.

Longevity means “the ability to last for a long time,” and while most instructors and clients understand that practising Pilates and mindful movement can help people live better, longer, they don’t always realize that a long and rewarding full-time career is also within reach.

In this “Where are they now?” Shoptalk feature, we learn about Nancy’s Pilates journey, what keeps her motivated, and what advice she has for others looking to create and sustain a meaningful, rewarding and, yes, lengthy career in the ever-evolving field of Pilates and movement.

Paving the way for a Pilates & Movement teaching career

After completing an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Development in 1995, Toronto-based Nancy’s interests and skillsets were geared to mental health and social service, but that took a turn after completing a diploma in Holistic Health Promotion and simultaneously diving into doing Pilates as a practice client for a friend.

“At that time I was becoming inspired to shift my work life towards the preventative health field and my experience in Pilates felt so holistic in terms of health that I wanted to explore it more. Pilates is physical exercise, but it seemed to engage all my senses and faculties intentionally at the same time. It affected my mental, emotional and spiritual well-being which felt amazing, and I knew it was a missing link in all my prior education. It was interesting timing because it got me thinking about new avenues and vocational possibilities that I hadn’t thought of before, so I enrolled in an entry level course and knew right then that this profession could be a marriage of all my skills and interests, which felt like the right trajectory.”

It was a thirst for greater knowledge and a desire to affect people’s “whole health” that propelled Nancy further. She enrolled in Body Harmonics’ Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training program and then started teaching and building a clientele, and ultimately becoming a teacher trainer several years later.

Building a loyal client base and commitment to lifelong learning

Nancy’s journey led her to build a solid studio client base (many clients have been with her for 10-plus years) and become a key member of the Body Harmonics Education faculty, both of which she credits with contributing to her career longevity because one fed the other.

“I put emphasis into building meaningful relationships with clients. And that makes a real difference in terms of what I can do with people,” she says, adding: “Most clients aren’t interested in the detailed ins and outs of a practitioner’s knowledge or training, they want to ‘experience it’ and feel like they’re in good hands. When that happens their trust grows and then anything can be accomplished. Without that trust, the door isn’t open and it can be like climbing uphill trying to prove your worth and skill.”

So how do you build those one-on-one relationships?

Nancy offers these useful tips:

• Learn to listen actively.
• Listen for what ails them, but also for their successes and who they are as a person (what fuels, challenges and delights them).
• Reflect back what you learn by checking in to see that you got it right.
• Be curious (genuinely curious): Ask questions to learn more and understand more—it’s a sign of confidence & interest.
• Be consistent with session dates and times; avoid rescheduling.
• Initially choose exercises based on clients’ requests. Include exercises based on your needs assessment secondarily. As the relationship grows you can educate each client as to why they need certain exercises.
• Challenge clients in ways that make them feel accomplished and a bit out of their comfort zone, but never defeated.
• Summarize what went well at the end of a session (succinctly), and describe what you want to continue to work on next time.
• Keep building your skills and knowledge base to meet the increased demand of long term client needs.

Her attention to client connection has also stimulated her innovation as a teacher and fuelled her stamina and career commitment. “To keep things interesting for clients (and for me), I like to approach movement with an eye for sleuthing through the biomechanical puzzles that each body presents at any given time.” says Nancy. “I like to think outside the box and find ways that challenge clients mentally and physically—to do things they may not think they can. When they do, it is exhilarating for them and it moves the needle on really helping people make lasting changes.”

In addition to her individual practice she has quite a history teaching group classes of all levels at Body Harmonics. The cross section between group and private teaching has expanded her skillset and she delights in how they inform one another. “The skills are distinctly different, but the variety and challenges inherent in both helped build my confidence as a teacher.”

Near and dear to her heart is the Body Harmonics Neurofit program for clients with neurological conditions which Nancy has directed for more than fifteen years. It’s a series of classes for people living with conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease that encourages participants to set aside their canes or walkers for an hour of embodied movement practice.

“That program has grown a lot over time. And it’s been wonderful to see people really stick with it. They truly benefit from taking these classes and being involved weekly. We even continued classes over Zoom during the pandemic,” says Nancy. “Over the years it’s been amazing to see that their quality of life is much better for taking these classes. And those are actually their words, not mine. I hear over and over again how much these classes mean to clients. They explain that they feel stronger, more mobile, and that the classes are an uplifting, positive time in their week. Some receive news of improved bone density, and others are told their progressive disease has stabilized. They love to feel active and challenged in doable ways.”

On “embedding inclusivity”

In terms of how important creating an environment of inclusivity is, Nancy offers: “Inclusivity is embedded into the Neurofit program (and into all my teaching in fact). Without it people are immediately turned off. In addition to the exercises chosen, the language I use is key in making an experience feel like people are welcomed and included. If you put yourself in someone’s shoes and imagine what it would feel like it can stimulate language that empowers, affirms and motivates a person. We all need to feel that way, and it is our duty as teachers to lead from that vantage point.”

As one of Body Harmonics’ first teacher trainers, Nancy has taught and mentored many students to become skilled Pilates teachers, but she has also encouraged them to go beyond the repertoire, as she has, to become true movement educators—by completing continuing education and specialist courses aimed at layering on knowledge about biomechanics, neurology, special conditions and the various systems of the body that need to work together for optimal movement and wellbeing.

“Growing as a teacher and an educator, and building new skills and capacities, and entering new aspects within my profession, has lent itself to … longevity,” says Nancy.

Advice on going the distance

When asked about the best advice she’s received during her career, Nancy offers: “The best advice, I would say, was early on … and that was to move out of my comfort zone. Once you have gained some confidence, it’s smart to actually step out into areas that aren’t your natural go-to areas and work with a variety of people in terms of their body compositions, their needs, their challenges, and their personalities—so that you are growing the ability to work with anybody.” That can’t be done without guidance and mentorship though—it’s essential to keep the momentum in learning things that aren’t within your natural inclinations.

While a lot is generally made of finding a professional niche within the Pilates and movement field, Nancy suggests that “going broad and deep” when it comes to the work you do with clients can itself define your niche. Because, after all, if you plan to work with clients throughout their lifetime, there’s nothing more certain than the fact that their needs, goals and abilities will change and evolve over time. And you may overlook a new client that isn’t within your comfort zone and miss out on some amazing opportunities for long term, faithful clients if you don’t stretch yourself professionally.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

But how do teachers like Nancy sustain such a high level of commitment and enthusiasm for their work over the long term, you might ask?

Well, on the topic of staving off career stagnation, Nancy offers the following insights: “I would say continue to learn and stay curious. That absolutely fuels longevity and helps to offset stagnation. It’s inevitable in any career that you will have plateaus. When I’m feeling a lack of motivation, I definitely know I need to take a course, or bury my head in a book, or I need to have some conversations with colleagues and move my own body. Stepping into being more curious in these ways is extremely valuable because that’s where you reignite passion for the work.”

For Nancy, lifelong learning and being curious is in her nature. Many teachers in this field have the same inclinations, but, “When motivation is low,” says Nancy, “it may not be the first thing we think of because it demands energy, yet it’s the thing that will move us out of the slump.”

This drive has led her not only to complete her Comprehensive Pilates education and Specialist Rehabilitation & Biomechanics education through Body Harmonics, it has led her to delve into: fascia mobilization & fitness, Shiatsu massage, Energetic Meridian Balancing, embodied movement practices like Feldenkrais & Body Mind Centering, a two year counselling certificate, Qigong, Mindfulness Meditation, trauma-informed brain and nervous system balancing workshops.

Anyone who has worked closely with Nancy knows that her philosophy around self-care has also contributed to her career longevity. Fortunately, she shared her thoughts and strategies on self-care in this excellent article, which she wrote during the pandemic. It’s a must-read for anyone starting out or looking to rejuvenate their career as a Pilates and movement teacher. (Actually, her insights and recommendations are salient for anyone looking to keep stress at bay and stay energized longer.)

“We care for others because it’s what we’re trained to do, but we often ignore ourselves in the process and risk becoming depleted. The truth is, we can’t care for others effectively if we aren’t taking care of ourselves too,” offers Nancy. “Please, take note of yourself and your needs. You will benefit and, ultimately, so will those you serve.”

Nancy McKinnon’s Top 10 Motivational Tips for a Long and Rewarding Pilates & Movement Teaching Career

1. Be curious and commit to being a lifelong learner.
2. Form long-term client & colleague relationships by listening well.
3. Observe, acknowledge and take heart in the positive changes your clients undergo – celebrate them.
4. Prize inclusivity and a sense of possibility with everyone.
5. Be intentional about your work. We can all get lazy and rote with our day to day regular habits. That’s where stagnation sets in. Set an intention to learn something new everyday.
6. Step out of your comfort zone and work with a variety of people.
7. Seek mentorship and tap into that throughout your career then mentor others once you have gained experience.
8. Break things down into bite sized pieces — it’s the essence of good teaching and good communication and is essential to the learning process (even for yourself).
9. Challenge your clients, but always leave them feeling accomplished.
10. Practice self-care! Read Nancy’s article “The importance of self-care for service providers” here.