Please go to Session 41/42 in your Course Packet and follow along. Pause the video to review the question and your answer as we progress through each question.

Take a look at the video and article on Contrast and Flow below. Now that you are deeper into the work, it is all about connecting the dots and making sure the work is relevant to the clients you are seeing. This means slowing things down or speeding them up depending on what they need. Mix and match strategies as varied as the bodies that walk in the door. This is what makes an excellent teacher.

FINDING A THROUGH-LINE

by Casey Marie Herdt

You will not, in every class you teach, be able to cue your clients seamlessly through the repertoire. In most cases, you will have to slow down a class, take out exercises that aren’t suited, and/or heavily modify to serve your clientele. So how do we still teach a class that is connected and seamless when we have to change so much of the sequencing? Establish a through-line.

What this means is that you should think of a skill or topic that you want to work on or hone within the class. From here the work will have more meaning, and it will allow you to set an accessible goal to work towards within the class timeframe. This is where you as the teacher get to take the reins and steer the class to be better, more efficient movers, not just shape-makers. When you are teaching with a goal or through-line, it gives you a clear focus to cue from and it illustrates how we really are doing the same exercise over and over again, but in different gravitational planes and with more or less support. This is the “why” of what we are doing within the work.

So here are some tips and ideas of how to create a well laid out class with a clear, focused vision.

• Think about who your clients are, and what their bodies need most. Our clients are our greatest asset. They inspire us, and by thinking of them we can find a theme that makes sense for their needs.
• Take time to prepare. Meditate on what you want to say. Knowing the ins and outs of what you want to teach that day keeps your mind fresh, and helps to lay plans for a successful class. Clients love that you are planning and thinking about them; it makes them feel as if their progress is your first priority. Which it should be!
• Know when to switch lanes. The best made plans sometimes have to be put to the side when the client’s needs are clearly steering you in a different direction. Some of my best classes started out directed down one path, but then when the needs of the class changed midway through, I went with the flow and great progress was made.
• Illustrate how simple movements or sequences will help your clients in their daily lives. This brings depth to the work, and they will start to listen more keenly when they are educated in how Pilates will help them with, say, their gardening, walking, or any other specialized activity. This can also be a great place to think about a specific through-line for a class—like Pilates for horseback riders, for example.

Have fun with your themes or your focus in a class. Many times clients will ask for classes on specific avenues or subject. Listen, watch, and looks for the gaps in their work. Always be on the lookout for areas where your clients need improvement, and focus on that. With the through-line of the class established, be creative in writing the story from there. Your classes will stay fresh and clear, and you will be able to easily accommodate anyone who walks through your door.

Make sure to initial and date that you have completed Session 42 in your Master Log.