Burned Out? Go Back To Basics
As I write about my experience to date, I can’t help but think about the thousands of people who might be trying Pilates for the very first time today! Yes, it could be thousands or even more, isn’t that amazing?
I wonder will they like it, or will they love it? Will they feel the power in the work, the detail and the nuances? Will they be introduced to the principles? Will their teacher present the exercises so that they can work with breath (things like “When in doubt, teach breathing by Joseph Pilates in Return To Life”), control, concentration, centering, precision and fluid motion? Will they leave feeling length, lift, strength and stretch? It’s my hope that they will, and that they’ll want more of it!
The Pilates Method has a way of doing that to a person.
When I was first introduced to Pilates in college as a scholarship dance major, I knew it was something very special and a profession I would pursue. I had no idea where it would take me, but I was drawn to it immediately. Gary Calderone of the then, Pilates Center of Ft. Collins, Colorado, was a graduate of The Pilates Center of Boulder who brought a three week curriculum to our modern dance class. He introduced us to Mat work. A few of the exercises were easy for me to do (flexible hips in certain ranges), but some of the movements were incredibly challenging for me (lumbar flexion and rolling movements), so much so that I was determined to find out why I struggled. Gary invited me to his studio to work their front desk for trade. I worked 10 hours/week and received one private lesson from him or a trainee, but even better than that was the opportunity to sit and observe the sessions that were going on. This was gold! I sat, watched, listened, witnessed this method in real time on real bodies of all ages and sizes. This, to me, has been one of the most valuable times in my career, and it was at the very beginning, lucky me.
Those were the good old days.
Every time I was in that studio a client was having an ‘ah-ha’ moment, a lightbulb turned on for them, they were connecting to their mind and body, it was inspiring. I think back on this often and ask myself - “when was the last time I had an ‘ah-ha’ with my own body?” Happily, to be honest, it was just the other day during self practice while trying to connect with my hamstrings - still and again. “OH….hello hamstrings!” I actually said out loud with a little giggle to myself. I had gone back to a fundamental exercise that helped me long ago (also with pelvic stability) and was reminded of the value of the simplicity of the cue and image. It was basic, nothing fancy, yet relevant and functional. It was supine “slide a long leg”, the eccentric phase of the movement. Pilates - deep, pure and simple. How many times do we extend our knee and hip in this method and how many times have I not been inviting this connection in, I wondered?
I’ve been in a relationship with Pilates since I was 22 years old, well over half my life now. I still go back to basics often; they’re home. I will never tire of the fundamental elements, concepts and themes. The fundamentals aren’t just ‘basic exercises’. They are THE root elements of this method, which take practice and time. I akin my devotion to the fundamentals to that of a chef practising his/her/their knife skills, or a painter attempting to improve their canvas techniques and brush strokes, never quite satisfied, but content knowing ‘there is always next time’, always time to practice.
Embracing the practice of Pilates
Practice:
noun. The actual application or use of an idea or method as opposed to theories relating it.
verb. Perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency.
Practice is one key to avoiding burnout, in my honest opinion. Step back every now and again, stay curious about the fundamental essence in the foundational level of this method, observe and heck, even take a break. YES, take a break, it’s ok, in fact, it’s necessary. It’s enlightening to come back after having a bit of time away. The clarity we can gain from taking a break is invaluable and can accelerate our teaching tenfold. It can be THE infusion we need to feel fulfilled and help us validate our “why”. We can come back with excitement, enthusiasm and more heart to teach with deeper compassion, clarity and continued integrity.
When you’re starting to feel burned out as a Pilates Teacher, perhaps stop and ask yourself ‘what’s missing?” Are you going through the motions, simply teaching exercise from a list and wondering why clients may not be progressing and/or changing. Have you gotten stale? Do you tend to teach on only one or two pieces of apparatus or use the same props? Chances are, this could be a good time to step back — even for a short bit — and let your teaching take a pause, let it breathe. When clients aren’t progressing and we as teachers get frustrated with their lack of forward motion, it’s time for us to reconnect to ourselves and our own practice, to be a student again, to seek inspiration.
This can be where a teaching advisor, a mentor, could make a big difference.
One such person for me is Pat Guyton. She’s been my teacher since 2008. Have you heard of her? If not, trust me you want to. She’s been in the world of movement education for decades, was Ron Fletcher’s assistant for 14 years, creating the syllabus for the Program of Study. At that time Ron didn’t notate anything, thankfully for us Pat did and without her, that syllabus wouldn’t exist. She is a spitfire of a woman, a Master TEACHER.
Years ago, when I started feeling burned out —owning a large, successful studio, managing teachers, becoming more involved with a large online Pilates company teaching and hosting other professionals, traveling, absorbing huge responsibilities due to family illness and being a single woman and income earner, I had to step back, to take a breath. I needed to take a look at what was pulling me away from my enthusiasm (no one knew this was occurring, but it was) and when I did some excavating, I realised I needed to go back and revisit my “why” and the foundational elements that I fell in love with way back when. I needed to remind myself that Pilates is evergreen, is functional movement and at its center, is a mind-body practice. It can be simple, should be effective and relevant, not full of tricks.
I am a happy Pilates Teacher doing amazing work with my clients, classes and workshops. I teach with integrity, enthusiasm and joy and am getting ready to embark on a wonderful, powerful collaboration!
Amy Havens has been inspiring others in their Pilates practice for over twenty-five years. She’s taught both nationally and internationally at conferences, retreats and workshops and is a compassionate and creative teacher and mentor. She’s also a specialist in bone health and age-related issues, including osteoporosis, spinal changes, back pain, postural changes, and balance concerns. You can reach Amy through her website.
Pat Guyton's can be found here.