Issue #450
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Why New Pilates Teachers Are Tempted by Instagram Exercises
(And What to Do Instead)
by Mara Sievers
Scrolling through Instagram, you might spot a cool move, performed by a super-fit instructor on a reformer, and think, “That looks awesome — I should teach that!”
But hold up! Before you toss that shiny new exercise into your next class, let’s pause for a second and talk about why that might not be the best idea.
The Temptation: Fear of Boring Your Students
As a new teacher, it’s normal to worry about keeping your clients engaged. You want them to stay interested and keep coming back, right? You might even fear they’re getting bored. So, naturally, you start thinking you need to constantly switch things up with new exercises.
But here’s the thing: your students don’t need more variety — they need more depth.
What makes an exercise effective isn’t how “new” it is, but how well it’s taught. When you pull an exercise from Instagram without fully understanding it, you’re teaching at surface level. It might look cool, but it won’t give your clients the results that keep them coming back.
The Problem: Superficial Teaching
Teaching an exercise you found on Instagram without fully understanding its purpose and the specific movement skills required for it can lead to a superficial experience for your clients.
It’s not enough to see an exercise and try it once before bringing it to your class. You need to understand why you’re teaching it, who would benefit from it, and how it fits into your students’ overall progress.
Many new teachers fall into the trap of thinking more variety equals better classes. But the real issue is that, early on, you’re still developing the ability to get the most out of each exercise you teach. And that’s okay! Building your teaching skills takes time.
The Solution (Hint: It’s Easier Than You Think!)
Instead of constantly chasing new exercises, here’s a little secret: stick with what you know.
That’s right.
