The holiday season is here! Every year for the Holidays my Pilates clients know that I will be handing out a special treat for them a week or so before the holiday begins. It all started when I taught Group classes many, many years ago! I wanted to show those that showed up all year long to my class that I appreciated them and wanted to do something for them but, as Teachers you know you can have about 20 or more in a group class and then if you have multiple classes each day well that is a lot of gifts! What can we as Pilates teachers give or do for our Pilates clients during the holidays?  We can’t buy every client a gift or just some clients and not others right? To show your Pilates clients how much you appreciate them here are some ideas!

Years ago in order to solve this problem that is when I started baking Gingerbread cookies and using cookie cutters made cute holiday cookies! I ice them with colored icing and sprinkles and decor! The clients loved them! When I started teaching in a Pilates studio and was no longer doing group classes it then became individual holiday bags filled with the cookies! It has become such a tradition that just after Thanksgiving I start getting asked when my cookie week is!

So, maybe you don’t want to bake Gingerbread cookies and decorate them but, I have 5 great ideas that I think clients will love that are inexpensive, easy and they will see how much you thought about them.

1. Bread- How easy is it to make little loaves of a great holiday bread? You can do cinnamon raisin, or cranberry-orange or maple blueberry? A nice breakfast bread? The list is endless! Wrapped in a festive foil with ribbon and this is a wonderful easy gift!

2. Pilates sessions- Now, depending on how many clients you have or your situation of the studio you are at will determine if this is something you can or want to do! Giving a free session or 2 during the year to a client is always a great gift.Or get out of jail late cancel or bring a friend for free and then maybe you get a new client out of it?

3. Cookies- As I said earlier the Gingerbread cookies are a great hit but, you can do sugar cookies, oatmeal whatever! Even the slice and bake if you don’t want to do from scratch! You don’t need to decorate them either but, just put in a holiday bag or wrapped in holiday paper and ribbon and you are done!

4. Brownies or bars- Getting some lemon bars, brownies or even blonde brownie bars etc and just bake and cut! Just like the cookies, you can put in festive bags and you are done!

5. Mini Muffins or Mini Cupcakes- Another chance to just easy bake something as the bread or decorate and get creative with the cupcakes! Both are pop in the mouth treats and again can go in festive tins or foil for the muffins! Get creative with ingredients and colors for the cupcakes!

The holidays are a fun and wonderful time of year! It is a chance to show love back to those clients who all year long have supported you, let you share your Pilates passion and knowledge with them each week! It is a tradition that is fun to start with them and they will be smiling and so happy as they leave the studio that day! Holding their treat that you took the time to create for them. I know I usually get a text within a few hours that those cookies did not make it home! Gone on the drive home! ! I am happy to share this Gingerbread recipe with you! Just Click here and I will get it to you!