Is Teacher Training a Personal Practice Programme?

We are asked this question every so often. The short answer is that Teacher Training is designed to help you learn how to teach others. Self-practice is a big part of becoming a good teacher, and we encourage it throughout. It just isn’t the main purpose of the programme.

Teaching Is a Different Skill
When you train as a teacher, you begin learning how to guide someone else’s body. Your own body becomes one reference among many.

Your clients will move differently from you. They will bring their own flexibility, strengths and injuries. Some will pick up a movement quickly, and others will find something difficult that feels easy to you. Your role is to meet each person where they are and help them progress safely.

That takes time to learn. You start to recognise when a cue for the breath will help and when a change of spring will help more. You begin to notice when a client’s lower back is working hard because their rib cage is not moving. You come to understand why a client might need the Baby Arm Chair before they try Swan on the Push Thru Bar. These things are hard to find through your own practice alone. They grow through study, observation and the support of a mentor as you teach.

Where Self-Practice Fits
A strong personal practice is important for teaching Pilates. When you can feel the work in your own body, you are better able to guide someone else into it, and we value that deeply.

Knowing how an exercise feels and knowing how to teach it are two different skills. The first comes from doing the exercise. The second comes from studying the system, watching experienced teachers, teaching under supervision, and giving yourself the hours to understand both the exercises and the person in front of you. Our 500+ hour programme is built around that.

Are You Here to Practise or to Teach?
If your main interest is deepening your own practice, please keep taking sessions and enjoy being a student. That is a lovely path, and there is no need to rush into teaching.

If you feel drawn to helping others, and to guiding someone through movement so that they feel better in their body, then teaching may be the right next step. It helps to ask yourself gently which of these you want.

We love working with people who care about this work. They want to honour the method and look after their clients with skill and kindness.

If that sounds like you, we'd love to talk.