Episode 33
33. Do You Need to Be Perfect to Teach Pilates?
If you’re a Pilates teacher who is anxious about teaching a move before you have perfected it then you’re in the right place.
In this episode of Pilates Elephants, we’re busting the myth that Pilates instructors have to be amazing at every single move before they even think about teaching it to their clients. We discuss why students are looking for an instructor to inspire and empower them to grow, rather than a picture-perfect Pilates machine.
Great teachers don’t have to do the thing perfectly in order to teach it and if you hold onto that mistaken belief you’re limiting your clients’ potential as well as your own.
What You Will Learn:
- Why you don’t need to be perfect at a move as a Pilates instructor to teach it
- The importance of validating and affirming students and supporting them on their Pilates journey
- How to get clarity as an instructor on concepts that you’re not clear on
- Why we’re busting the myth that people need a Pilates teacher to look a certain way
- Why if you self limit as a Pilates instructor, then you’re also limiting your clients potential as well
- Tips for when you want to facilitate and cue a move that you haven’t perfected yet
Empowering Your Students
Don’t hold onto the belief that you shouldn’t be teaching students any moves that you haven’t yet perfected yourself. Teaching and doing are completely different skills, and as Pilates instructors, we need to let go of the myth that we have to be able to do all the moves perfectly before we go ahead and teach them. Being a great teacher is a very specific skill and we want to empower you to enjoy the process of teaching. Don't let the perfection mindset choke you when you’re following your passion.
Facilitating Progression
If you self limit as a Pilates teacher, then you’re also limiting your clients' potential too. We need to recognize that our clients don’t come to us because of our perfect Pilates body or flawless moves, they come to us because we have the skills to facilitate their progress in something that they love. The bottom line is that as a Pilates instructor it’s absolutely fine to teach a move without being able to do it perfectly yourself — you’re there to facilitate your students’ progress, not take center stage yourself.
Inspire Your Clients
Most Pilates students find it easier to be inspired by people that they can relate to, so it’s nonsensical to believe as an instructor that you have to be able to do all the things to be able to teach all the things. Your role as a teacher is to affirm your students, validate their efforts, and welcome them into the Pilates community, not scare them off with perfection. Pilates is for everyone, regardless of shape, size, or experience so why are we devaluing our awesome teaching skill by putting the stumbling block of perfection in our path.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
- People learn better when by watching someone similar to themselves, rather than someone who is perfect at the moves here
- If you really want to deep dive into the science of what enhances learning, and what makes a great teacher, read Visible Learning here
Connect with me on Instagram: @the_raphaelbender
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