I recently noticed that I have a tendency to spite my clients. (Maybe spite is not the right word but letโs use it for lack of a better one.) As soon as a client tells me โI donโt like this exercise/apparatus/accessoryโ I immediately say โOK great, thatโs what weโre doing today!โ I believe that if someone doesnโt like something in pilates it is because they find it difficult or because they are scared and they get frustrated with themselves for not succeeding. The problem is that they tend to avoid these things that they fail at and so they never get a sense of accomplishment.. I believe that my role as a pilates teacher is to inspire people to push themselves past their limits, their comfort zones and overcome fears and difficulties. (I guess thatโs where my psychology degree kicks in ๐... ) So I try to push them, carefully but sometimes maybe too aggressively and Iโm worried that they might hold it against me. . . I had one client this week who didnโt want to get on the mat. I get that a lot because mat classes are cheaper than apparatus classes, but itโs important to know that basics too, even if itโs only 10 minutes in the beginning of the class. I tried to explain to her the importance of knowing the mat exercises but she wasnโt convinced. She finally agreed to do a few minutes on the mat and I felt a little resentment.... but what I found is a woman who has been doing pilates for 8 years and doesnโt even try to do a rollup. Of course the roll up is not an easy exercise, but after 8 years you are bound to be able to do it if you donโt have limitations... . . Anyway, sorry for the long post but I feel like I might be doing the wrong this trying to โeducateโ people who pay good money for a class that they want to enjoy. Perhaps some people donโt come to pilates to get better and stronger, maybe they just want to say that they did a workout today... If you have any thoughts on the matter Iโd love to hear them! . . Also hereโs a video of me doing things I find difficult. . . #pilates #progress #ilovepilates #pilatesmat #pilatesanytime #pilteslovers #pilatesbody #pilatesteacher #pilatesinstructor #fitness #trainer #fitnesstrainer #workout #motivatingothers
