Burnout Behind the Smiles:
I’ve seen it countless times, teachers full of enthusiasm, eager to share everything they’ve learned. They cue every breath, correct every detail, and try to see and fix it all. It comes from a place of generosity and a genuine desire to help. Yet behind that, many struggle with exhaustion; physically, emotionally, and mentally.
At Exhale, as part of our training programme, and whenever an external teacher comes to me for advice, I always remind them,
“you don’t have to give everything at once. Don’t be afraid of the silence.”
Pick one or two things to focus on. Guide don’t overwhelm. When you try to cue and correct every exercise, you not only tire your clients, but you also tire yourself.
Teaching Pilates is a labour of love but love without boundaries can so easily turn into fatigue. Long teaching days, emotional investment, and the physical demands of being on our feet for hours can wear down even the most dedicated and experienced teacher. The truth is, when we stop caring for our own bodies and energy, the quality of our teaching begins to fade too.
That’s why at Exhale, we’ve added a ten-minute window between sessions. Time to recalibrate, have a snack, step outside for air. Those minutes matter. They create the space for presence to return.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that burnout comes not only from how much we teach, but how we teach. Many teachers feel a need to fill every silence, cueing every breath, movement and transition. But constant direction leaves little space for clients to connect with their own bodies. The body learns best when given room to listen.
My advice to teachers and apprentices is always the same: If you give too much, you will burn out. Offer them a cue, then let them count. Let them explore. Let them take ownership of their movement. That’s what Pilates is truly about, developing autonomy, listening inwardly, and trusting the body’s intelligence. When we allow clients to do that, we empower them, and we preserve our own energy in the process.
Don’t Forget Your Own Practice
Teaching Pilates is physically demanding. We demonstrate, adjust, and move all day, often without noticing how much we give. Maintaining our own strength, alignment, and mobility isn’t optional, it’s essential. Keep your own personal practice alive. Let your body feel the work again, because when the work is within you, you teach differently.
And make sure you’re also being taught. Find a teacher who inspires you. Allow yourself to switch off the “teacher brain.” Let someone else guide you and remind you what it feels like to be the student.
From Instant Feedback to Inner Listening
In a world obsessed with instant information and validation, Pilates reminds us to slow down. Its meditative movement with an internal rhythm which makes it so powerful. The quieter moments, the pauses, the silences, these are where the real teaching and recovery happens.
Keeping the Flame Alive
If you’re feeling depleted, take it as a message. Your body and spirit need recalibration. Set boundaries, Move for yourself. Keep learning in ways that nourish you. And always return to your why.
Reconnect with what inspired you to teach in the first place. When you teach from that place, when you give thoughtfully rather than constantly, your passion becomes sustainable
Because sometimes, the most powerful cue you can ever give yourself is to pause.
Gaby Noble, founder of award-winning Exhale Pilates London, brings over two decades of experience in practicing and teaching Pilates. With a dedication to the method's truest form, Contrology, Gaby's expertise extends beyond her 3 London studios. As an industry authority and educator within the global Pilates community, she has established her own Teacher Training school, shaping the next generation of Pilates teachers.
IG: @exhalepilateslondon Web: www.exhalepilateslondon.com