All Pilates teachers know that there will be those moments that occur over your Pilates career that can shake the ground under you a bit. Your confidence gets shaken with that internal voice of “do they like me?”, “are they comparing me to that teacher?” , or that dreaded blank stare you see coming from your Pilates client that puts that thought of “ are they bored? did they lose interest? “ How can you keep that confidence or build it in those moments teaching Pilates. I have 5 great tips to getting more confidence as a Pilates teacher.

There are many things as a Pilates teacher that can make that ground under you shake or maybe even feel like it was yanked out from under you. Recently many teachers have felt that way as Covid hit the world and things shut down. I heard from many teachers who had never done virtual sessions or classes, many had not taught Pilates except on a Reformer or hadn’t taught mat in a very long time. One teacher was in a panic as they hadn’t done full mat since they were in teacher training years ago! This brings that whole questions of the exercise and why? is this right for this person? Do I still know this? More things to shake that confidence in even the most experienced teacher.

I remember the first time I was out of my Teacher Training Program and in my first Pilates studio as a teacher. I worried that all the other teachers were watching, judging and thinking “ she has no idea what she is doing!”. They weren’t of course as they were to busy with their own clients and focused on their own teaching but, I didn’t have the confidence yet to feel that I was good, that I knew enough or that I deserved to be there.

Over the years different things got that ground shaking under me. My first client with an issue I had not worked with before, having a client who had done Pilates longer than I had been teaching, having that client who had worked with another teacher for years and years, or later the first time presenting workshops to other teachers. Even today those moments will pop up. That is not a bad thing at all. It means you care, you want to be that GREAT teacher! The awesome teacher you know deep down that you already are!

All these “self confidence” shakers for you as a teacher are all about is do they like me or do they think I am doing a good job. For the teacher you can also remember that the client in front of you is also having confidence issues. They may feel lost, a bit unsure and are wanting to feel confident in what they are doing. They want to do a good job! The reality is they are thinking more of themselves in this moment that you. They came to you for themselves right?

I have some wonderful tips that I share with teachers to get that ground more solid under those colorful Toe Sox as they teach!

Here are my 5 tips to use and remember as you navigate those sessions with clients

1. Take the focus to the client- Give them a job or something to focus on in the work. Tell them what that “job” is. Whatever you are wanting in that session for them narrow it to one thing such as the hand grip activation or push of the legs. No matter what they are doing use that as their “job” for example with the hand grip whenever they are holding roll bar, push bar, foot bar remind them to wrap finger and grip tightly or push of legs- push that foot bar away as far as you can, push into the straps etc. This gives them something and an opportunity to feel what they should be doing. No more blank stares at you here!

2. Don’t ask questions- Don’t ask how something feels or are they ok. Be in control and if they are uncomfortable they will let you know. Tell them what they are doing, what you want them to do in terms of the movement pushing away, pulling straps etc. This gives them the safety and you know what you are doing aspect for their work. Asking if they are ok puts doubt into their head and can make you feel you are not sure of what is going on or happening.

3. Turn it back to the client- That client that questions you needs to feel you are the teacher and the guide. So, in this moment turn that question around back at them. If they questions “What is the point of this? “why am I doing this?” or “where should I be feeling this?” turn it back to them. You are their teacher and guide but just like us working at teaching they have to do the work. Give them a simple answer such as “ this is giving you the ability to ...” or “ you should be feeling this everywhere, your full body”.

4. Take a hard look at your schedule - If looking at your schedule and you have clients that you dread, that make your stomach hurt or fill you with anxiety maybe do some hard choices here. Sit them down and have a discussion ask them why are they in Pilates, what are their goals, what do they feel is missing. If the issues that seem to affect you are still there then maybe it is time for them to see another teacher. The bottom line is you want to have a long and happy career. Having clients that are sapping your energy, constantly yanking that ground out from under you or feeling that shaking, or making you unhappy.

5. Make them smile- We all have those clients that just have that non-expression or seem to be grimacing and unhappy as they work. Instead of worrying “what are they thinking” give them a smile. Say something like “ smile! this is fun! “ or “ what is that grimace about? you are doing great! “ put a positive into their mind and the air. Or give them something fun in the workout that will make them feel challenged and happy. They may not even realize they have grimaced or are looking at you blankly. This gives you both some laughs, joy and feeling of being a team!

Take a look at each of these self confidence shakers pick one that speaks to you for this week. Ask yourself what is in my way here in making this an issue. Take one step toward changing its this week.

Xo

Hilary Opheim