Most studio owners are probably going to ask you to teach them a session as part of their consideration of having you work at their studio. This is the very best way for them to get a good reading on your style of teaching and to get an idea of your skills. My advice is to offer this right away before they even have a chance to ask you. This shows that you are confident in your abilities and ready to show them what you can do. Be as flexible as you can about scheduling this around the studio owner’s availability — a rigidity with your schedule will sound alarms and could be a turn off right away.
When it’s time to teach the session, don’t be nervous. Take complete control of the situation. Do exactly what you’d do in a real session with a new client. Don’t leave anything out. Ask about injuries or body issues before starting and be ready to modify your original plan depending on the information that you’re given. Be upbeat and positive, but don’t be afraid to make corrections and adjustments if there are any to be made. Just because the person you are teaching owns the studio and probably has tons of experience doesn’t mean you can just go through the motions. Let your style and passion for what you do show through.
Keep it to the task at hand. In our studio, we are not looking for instructors who are interested in chit chat during sessions. Obviously there is a place for some friendly back and forth, but you want to keep the session moving and not have any pauses caused by frivolous conversation. (Many clients love to chit chat during a session, but if you allow that they will leave feeling that their session wasn’t as productive as it should have been. Keep the client focused.)
Most studio owners want to see creativity, a fluidity in the progressions, an attention to detail, and possibly most importantly, an attention to safety. They also want to see your personality and your originality come through. The vibe you bring to the studio is just as important as your training and experience.
When the session is over, don’t be afraid to ask the studio owner what they thought. A prospective instructor who shows a willingness to keep learning and who isn’t offended at constructive criticism is a big plus. We want our instructors to constantly grow and to constantly improve their teaching and to always be ahead of the curve on new techniques and ideas. We have some great resources for new teachers at our studio, the best of which is the opportunity to watch our more seasoned teachers. I’m always completely flummoxed when new teachers don’t take advantage of this.
If you concentrate on doing what you do best, the studio owner will be able to extrapolate on this to have a clear picture of your skills.
We hope you found this helpful! If you have any thoughts to add, leave them below!
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thanks for the good advice. Would you work on equipment or a single piece of equipment?
Happy you enjoyed!
I would teach on pieces of equipment that I felt fit best for the client’s needs. That might change during the session, so staying flexible and showing range are helpful when choosing equipment!