What is with the boom of the Virtual Pilates world? Is doing Pilates in a virtual live setting worth it? Should you do a Pilates class only and not a private one-on-one? What if you don’t have Pilates apparatus in your home or work? Once we are in the world can this boom continue? Will Pilates clients still want to do virtually if they can go into the studio?

I believe yes! Entering into another year I have found that this new reality of Virtual is something my Pilates clients have embraced for many different reasons!

On March 13, 2020, when Los Angeles shut down and had stay-at-home orders due to the spread of the new Covid-19 virus I only had my Pilates studio opened in the Brentwood/Santa Monica area of Los Angeles since January 6, 2020. I had left Houston after 15 years of owning and running my Pilates studio and as the shut down began I only had 3 LA Pilates Clients.

March 2020 hit and It soon became clear that we would be weeks at home, little did we imagine a year, so luckily I had experience teaching Virtual Pilates with my Teacher Training students and fellow Pilates teachers who didn’t live in my city. I had a Zoom account and knew my way around it to teach.

I quickly did as all Pilates studios and teachers did and reached out to all my Pilates clients and those in my Teacher Training Program but, also I reached out to my previous clients in Houston as well as my fellow Pilates teachers to let them know I was teaching Virtual. I added some weekly classes to my schedule and booked some clients for private sessions on Zoom. Everyone was stuck at home missing their Pilates so, soon my schedule was getting some bookings.

In the beginning, I had a few clients who had some apparatus. A reformer or spine corrector, some would go into their studio to use their apparatus for our session. Many more had only a mat and some props. Some were a bit hesitant wondering if they would get the same workout as in the studio, especially with no apparatus!

It was soon proven that YES you can get that workout and get stronger! This was really shown to the Pilates clients when we opened back up and those who did their virtual workout through that year, hit the apparatus and had new connections, they were stronger and they SAW and FELT that!

I have to say this Virtual Pilates teaching has been the big silver lining that has come out of the Pandemic. Continuing into 2022 it has not slowed the Virtual Pilates teaching aspect at all. In fact, it has opened up a whole new world for not only my Pilates clients but those students in my Pilates teacher training program.

So, is this boom of Virtual Pilates going to continue? I have no doubt it will and here are some reasons I believe it will and what I tell my Pilates clients.

1. The new reality of being exposed or testing positive is here! When that happens and the Pilates client is stuck at home, guess what? They can keep their Pilates session and do it at home, not missing Pilates.

2. Pilates clients that travel a lot can log in they are out of town and continue to get their Pilates workout in and not miss for a week or more!

3. That moment when the client is rushing at home and something happens with a sick child, long phone call, got lost in time and suddenly they know they can’t make it to the Pilates studio for the session in time. They can keep that session and just do it from home! Not late, no stress of rushing to get to the Pilates studio!

4. Pilates clients who want to work with you but have moved away or don’t live near you or the Pilates studio you are teaching at. Now, they can jump on and work with you as if they were in the Pilates studio!

5. This could be an extra session to add to their visits to the Pilates studio!

6. Virtual Pilates is a great moment to really dig deep into the mat work and all the connections to then apply into the studio and the apparatus. They will see how much improvement they have after getting the Mat work in each week!

The world of Pilates and Pilates teaching has changed over this Pandemic but, this is the silver lining for Pilates clients and Pilates teachers. Think of it as another tool and option for some extra work, not missing their session if they can’t make it into the Pilates studio.