For many clubs that are implementing a Pilates program, the best solution for finding instructors is to train existing staff. It is usually a great fit, as they already know your members, your club dynamic and your club philosophy. And, now that there are on-site educational programs, getting your staff trained and classready is easier and quicker than ever before.
However, it is important to realize that although extremely effective, Pilates is a complex and nuanced form of fitness. There are many layers to Pilates that can take practice to perfect. It’s definitely different than teaching a group spin or step class. Your new instructors will be dealing with different body types and equipment, and they will need to know how to modify the exercise to best meet the needs of each participant. Not doing so can lead to member dissatisfaction, or worse, possible injury.
All this can seem a little daunting for a new instructor. So, I asked Nora St. John, our education program director, if she had any tips she could give club management to help their fledgling instructors. Here are some of her suggestions:
1. Get a mentor: Ask your instructors to find a mentor who they can ask questions, and with whom they can problem solve. If you have more senior Pilates instructors on staff, pair them up with your new instructors. The key is to make them feel like they are not all alone out there.
“When they complete their instructor training program they’re at the beginning of the learning journey, not the end,” says Nora. “If they have the opportunity to work with more experienced teachers, have them do it. They’ll learn so much from those who have been instructing for a long period of time.”
2. Pre-screen class participants: The beauty of Pilates is that the exercises can be modified to meet the needs of each and every participant. But, with a class full of different body types, conditions and abilities, the right modification can be tough.
“Your instructor should meet with your participants before they start a class to see if they have any physical conditions or limitations that they should be aware of,” Nora says. “It’s also a good idea to have group participants, particularly group Reformer participants, take a private session or two before starting the class so that the instructor can gauge that member’s ability, and the member can become familiar with the equipment.”
3. Learn how to market your classes: This means getting feedback from class members and using that data to create sessions that keep them coming back. It also means learning how to conduct effective demos, both inside and outside of the club, to get new members interested.
“I’ve seen many instructors – new and old – just come to a class, teach, and then leave. For any Pilates program to be successful in the long run, that won’t cut it,” says Nora. “Instructors are ambassadors to their program and they need to be active in that role. As such, they need to learn how to retain their current members and attract new ones.”
(NOTE: For more information on creating effective demos, please see my article in the June 1, 2007 issue, called: “Demos: A Key to Your Pilates Success.”)
4. Keep programming fresh: In the same vein as the last point, one of the best ways to keep your members interested is to keep your programming fresh and fun.
“You can’t keep doing the same routines over and over. Eventually people will get bored,” states Nora. “Your instructors will need to keep things fresh, and that’s why it’s so important for them to continue their education.”
Some simple programming tips include: adding props like balls or resistance bands to a class, or creating classes for specific member demographics, like Pilates for golfers or Pilates for runners
5. Trust in the system and have fun: A lot of new instructors come out of their training program and then suddenly think they need to change everything.
Nora suggests staying the course: “Pilates, as it is commonly structured, is a system of exercise. Tell them [the instructors] to trust both the method and themselves. If they have been well-trained, they will have a good structure or base in which to start, and if they follow what they’ve been taught, their class participants will leave having had a good and effective workout. Above all, tell them to have fun. That’s key – make sure they are enjoying what they are doing. Suggest that they find something to like in each task they are performing that particular day.”
Ken Endelman is the Founder and CEO of Balanced Body Inc. Visit www.pilates.com for more information.
