Instructor Spotlight: Cam Anthony
We speak with Pilates Instructor Cam Anthony about her Pilates career to date.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your Pilates background
I’m Cam and I’m based in Newtown, Sydney, Australia. I teach at HIIT Pilates studio which opened in Rosebery during Covid. I started teaching there in 2021 after one of their teachers discovered me on socials and encouraged me to apply. I’ve been teaching movement since I was a teen assistant ballet teacher, but in my late 20’s I qualified to teach Yoga, which was soon followed by Mat and Reformer Pilates, Barre and even a little pole dance! My friends would describe me as intense, but inspiring!
2. How did you discover Pilates?
I’d been practicing and teaching Vinyasa yoga for some time and I became extremely flexible, but was finding (of course) that training excessively in one discipline couldn’t give me all I was looking for in my movement practice. I was encouraged to try reformer pilates and at first- I didn’t like it! But after a few sessions I started to find it to be a brilliant style of cross-training for my yoga and pole dancing. All my pole dancing friends wanted to know where I got my core strength from!
3. How do you keep learning?
I’ve done my fair share of training and when I can afford to do more, I do it, but my daily learning comes from being disciplined in my personal practice. I try to do something challenging every day, and because of this, I find the inspiration and drive never really runs out. I learn from other teachers, I get inspiration and guidance from my peers, clients and mentors. I’m also inspired by my varied movement background; I love to push boundaries and see where movement styles can overlap.
4. The best advice you were ever given as a teacher…
It’s just Pilates. Don’t take it so seriously!
5. Is there something you try and instil in each of your clients?
You are stronger than you can even begin to know. Back yourself fiercely, apply yourself, and magic will happen. I wish someone had said these things to me earlier in my life.
6. The best Pilates course you ever did was…
Every training course I’ve done has been exceptional and I’m utterly grateful to the teachers who have trained me over the years. I’ve been really enjoying co-teaching at the HIIT Pilates Academy and I’m finding this course to be particularly comprehensive. Ultimately, I’ve found that how you handle yourself once the training is over is where a lot of growth really happens.
7. What’s your favourite piece of equipment to use with clients in studio and why?
I’m a reformer teacher so I have to say the reformer bed. I love a Long Stretch and any plank work on the reformer.
8. How do you stay motivated?
I’m not motivated, I’m disciplined. Most of the time, I just have to have faith that what I’m doing is paying off.
9. What makes you laugh the most?
When people turn up to my class hoping for a “good stretch”.
10. What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?
Lots of rest, food, of course movement, and family time!
11. How many pairs of grip socks do you own? Do you love or hate a stretch band?
Way too many pairs. I think most of my income is spent on pilates accessories! I’m going to have to cut myself off. What’s a stretch band? A theroband? Love them- especially for shoulder “flossing”!
12. Does your family ‘really know’ what’s involved in your job?
Absolutely. I live with my sister and she’s seen the years of hard work, tears, self-doubt, late nights and early mornings, time spent class planning, and hours spent at the studio- and she’s also a pilates instructor. So she gets it!
Cam @athleticpilatessydney works for HIIT Pilates Studio in Waterloo, Sydney, Australia.