Making Pilates truly for everybody
Imagine the benefits if we shift our teaching to focus on making Pilates accessible for all
“I could never try Pilates, it’s too intimidating.”
“My core doesn’t exist, don’t you have to be really strong to do Pilates?”
“Isn’t Pilates for skinny dancer types?”
“Those machines look scary.”
“I tried Pilates once and my back and neck hurt so bad afterwards that I never went back.”
“I didn’t like it, the instructor got really frustrated with me because I couldn’t follow her cues, and I felt really lost.”
Sound familiar? These comments are just a sampling of what I hear from people when I tell them that I’m a Pilates Instructor. Unfortunately, our industry as a whole doesn’t do enough to combat these misconceptions and experiences. We, as instructors, can get so caught up in our lineage and idolization of certain long-time teachers, or who can do the best circus trick on the Cadillac, that we too often lose sight (and sadly repel) the folks we are there to serve. Pilates, in my opinion, has the potential to be the best movement modality for people who want to be in less pain, or practice their daily activities with more ease. Unfortunately, the folks who would benefit the most are the same ones who often feel too afraid to try. The message we often send, both intentionally and unintentionally, is that the client’s ability or body size or illness is the problem. What if, instead of forcing the person to fit the exercises or classical order, we focus on making a shift in how we teach to include more folks? If we want to shift the general perception of our work, I believe that the Pilates industry, which includes most of us reading this article, needs to move towards more accessibility and inclusivity both in thought, and in practice. Folks need to know that instructors are here to support them in their goals, not shame them or scare them away.
Before we move into concrete, actionable ways in which we can become more accessible, adaptable, and inclusive in our Pilates practice, I want to share a bit about why I’m so passionate about being part of this shift in our industry. A few years ago, when I was working for a larger studio, the owners asked how I was able to keep my client retention rate so high. This wasn’t something that I focused on necessarily. Instead, I made sure I was actively listening to clients, building relationships, practicing clear communication, and staying curious and trauma aware. Most importantly, I focused on helping folks feel Pilates in a way that helped their bodies come alive. It dawned on me that what kept clients coming back to see me, year after year, came directly from my Social Work background. The first tenet of Social Work is “Meet People Where They Are,” and this tenet is what I brought to Pilates.
When I took a step back even further to deconstruct my client retention rate, it became sadly clear how much of my career I had felt like an outsider in our industry. I think this was partly because of my approach, but mostly because my body doesn’t fit the cultural norm of what we consider a “Pilates Body.” This feeling was reinforced by the instructors, and influencers, who were chosen to represent Pilates in the mainstream, and also by personal interactions with people who considered themselves “master teachers” (a phrase I no longer use). Feedback from my clients kept me in the Pilates world, but I stayed under the radar, because the toxic part of the industry made me feel small and unwelcome. I vowed never to be a part of someone feeling shame or fear in a Pilates space, and to work actively towards creating a framework of accessibility for instructors. I began to curate a toolbox of small actions that teachers could practice to help people feel more welcome and supported in their spaces and empowered to take ownership of their practice. Sonja Price Herbert, the founder of Black Girl Pilates, talks about inclusivity (defined as the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised) in our Pilates studios and practices as an action, rather than as a final destination. I think we can say the same about accessibility or adaptability: they are living, breathing processes that shift as we know more about who we’re working with, and more about ourselves and our internalized biases. When we move someone towards a goal in Pilates, I hope that we acknowledge the small, meaningful steps that our clients take, and that we can extend that same grace towards ourselves as we take action towards a more inclusive, less hierarchical practice.
I’ve broken my approach to Pilates instruction into what I’m calling the 4 Cs: Communication, Comfort, Culture/Community and Collaboration. Please keep in mind that the categories inter-relate and are always expansive and open to re-interpretation. For instance, I recently offered a workshop on teaching a non-hierarchical group class and two of the participants used mobility aids. At the time, I did acknowledge that when I created the class, that I had not included options for people who used wheelchairs or had trouble getting up and down from the floor due to mobility. Now when I offer the workshop, it will be more inclusive.
Of course, when we talk about communication in movement instruction, we have to consider cueing. But rather than talk about how we say something, in this article, let’s look at how we listen. Active listening can be an incredible practice for effective communication in classes or sessions. Attentiveness, open-ended questions, avoiding judgment, and empathy are some of the key components. Questions such as, “Tell me about your body today?” and “What do you think your body needs in terms of movement or exercises?” are simple, open-ended questions to ask, but the key is listening to both their words (which are only 10 percent of communication) and their body language, and leaving space in class for feedback to make sure that you’re taking them in the most beneficial direction.
Comfort starts with a C, but what I really mean is support. When I start a class, I want to make sure that everyone knows that props are encouraged, especially if they are experiencing pain or tension. A simple pillow or towel under someone’s head goes a long long way for nervous system regulation, which helps our bodies move with more ease. In addition, I layer every exercise so that there is always an option that folks can choose that will work for their bodies. If there isn’t, I’ve already invited open communication and they can let me know what’s not working and we can find a way. When you help one person in a group class find support, I guarantee it will help others who didn’t know to ask.
Creating a culture of open communication and support brings an organic sense of community. We are conditioned to compete in fitness, to look at the person next to us in class and think, “Why don’t I look like them in this exercise?” Community takes away competition, provides a sense of safety to ask for what you need, encourages your classmates to find joy in movement.
Collaboration may require the biggest shift for some of us. Part of the culture of Pilates is to reinforce that we, as instructors, are the experts and the client needs us to succeed. True collaboration requires us to shed this bias and understand that the client is the expert of their own body. We can facilitate movement, but we have to be willing to listen, support, and tap into our curiosity. Collaborating in a session or a class creates a sense of empowerment for our clients and has the potential to reserve some of our energy as instructors so that we can remain attentive and passionate about what we do, and who we do it for.
Make no mistake, each action we take towards inclusion and accessibility in our personal practice and business will begin to shift the culture of the Pilates industry promoting long-term change for the better. The question is will you join us?
Ivy Baron, MSW has been teaching movement since 2005 and is the owner of Requisite Pilates in Austin, TX. Informed by her Social Work Background, her ‘Judgement Free’ approach to Pilates creates a space for people to explore movement that fits their unique bodies. Ivy offers private coaching and learning opportunities for Pilates instructors. Find more information here or on her Instagram @requisitepilates