Online Teaching

In 2020 as the pandemic closed down the world, my small Pilates business shuddered. Everywhere, people were discovering Zoom, Facebook and Skype and our worlds were within a computer screen. I am not at all techy and successfully audio recorded classes for clients for nearly 3 months but creating an Online Pilates class became a necessity, I needed to see them and they wanted to see me!

5 years on, I am living in Mid Devon but I still teach many of those clients online and it works! They are in the South East and I also teach clients in Bristol, Cambridge, Cornwall, even Italy and Portugal. So why has it been so successful?

My teaching style has had to alter. I have to choose the exercise that can be easily felt, understood and is safe. Safety of the client is paramount. I even have an emergency contact number I can call. If something happens in my class but I’m hundreds of miles away, I need to know, who locally, I can contact!

Talking through an exercise, I need very clear, concise instructions. This was a challenge for me at the beginning but overtime, I’m much better at describing what I want and why. I find how I use language, influences the movement quality and the way my client performs. My tone of voice impacts movements too. Soft and gentle leads to a calmer quality, louder and stronger will illustrate the dynamic change. Using imagery as much as possible and describe the sensations helps. Often I say “feel my hands gently sweeping your shoulders downwards” or “Imagine my hand touching your lower back” If there are two clients in the class together, I ask one to be me and tactile cue the other. It works very well.

Teaching a client in their own home, I find, means they are more relaxed and open to learning and working hard. They’ve reorganised the space, thought of what they want from the class that day and are keen to connect. Of course, they don’t need to travel anywhere or pay for parking or transport either. For those, unable to travel easily due to mobility issues, working with me online has been a lifeline. The class is at a time that suits and I’m open to altering their slot if they find themselves double booked.

During the class I ask the client to move themselves, the camera or their Mat position if it helps me see more clearly. I too, change positions and the view so clients can see me demonstrate as clearly as possible.

Be ready to accommodate tech problems, even going from one device to another and then modifying the class to bring back a sense of control and calm can happen! The weather, roadworks even computer updates can lead to issues.

Recently, I was able to visit my online clients and teach them in person!

It was a huge success. I visited each client at their home, over two days. It ran almost like a workshop type class going over various exercises that could be explained or expanded with hands on tactile cueing, each client having differing areas they choose to work on. This isn’t always possible and not all my clients were able to meet me or wanted to meet up but for those I met, it did enhance their understanding.

So what do you loose from doing Pilates Online? Let’s be honest, being in the same room as your client will bring benefits. It’s harder for me to see the tiny adjustments or “ cheats” the body makes. I can’t move and see all around the body at the same time. As I am unable to tactile cue, or use touch, perhaps the connections through the body aren’t performed correctly all of the time. However, I feel we have a mutual understanding that this is the case and I work extremely hard to create as much clarity, quality and precision to the class.

Online Pilates, I believe, still has its place as the World has reopened. I am a better teacher for it, with a deeper awareness and knowledge of the Pilates repertoire.

Contact me, wherever you are in the World. I would love to see you on the small screen!