Self-Mastery – if you can’t do something, should you teach it?

It’s a tough question but I think there are two scenarios:

1.        You used to be able to do it, but now it’s just not part of your practice for lots of reasons – honestly, you’ve felt it practically in your body and can use the language to safely guide your clients without having to demonstrate. Then go for it, but do use your words well!

2.        You simply cannot do it – maybe you are working to get there with a modification/regression and you understand the principles of the movement?

However, maybe your body isn’t made for it – lots of movements just suit certain body types better/ people with certain backgrounds in movement. You might not ever get there.

If you understand the theory of the movement and have maybe applied similar movements in different orientations, I don’t think it hurts to teach it. It is difficult though, as visual demonstration sometimes can cut 1000 words.

If you are newer to teaching, it is a lot easier to teach something you have self-mastered; however, it shouldn’t limit you. A lot of the more “advanced” repertoire have progressions to lead into the full expression. This is so that you can start to understand and learn the core principles first before making things more complicated.

Interested in a Pilates teaching career? Come study at Flux! We make sure our instructors graduate with the tools to properly cue and set up for the advanced moves.