After completing my three Pilates mat certifications (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced), and with a few months of teaching now under my belt, I am feeling like things are slowly starting to come together. I’m relying less on my notes for understanding and simply using the list to stay on track throughout the class. I have also been experimenting with using music in my classes. So far it has been instrumentals but I can see how using different styles and genres can totally change the feel of a class. This is something that I am curious about exploring more – both in my personal practice, and in my teaching since music is such a big part of my life.
Back in 2008, my husband and I created PortSports Social Club as a way for adults to find the joy in play again through team sports. Over the years we have experimented with many different sports and leagues, and currently run Volleyball and Ultimate. I had never played either sport until we began offering them as leagues – those first few seasons were really rough for me. Being a newbie at something is challenging. Especially when there are other people around, potentially judging you for your ability. I have found this can be the case with group fitness too.
How many times have you been in a Pilates, yoga, Zumba, etc. class and you look around the room to see where you stand among your fellow practitioners. How many times have you compared your progress to others? Not only is it not fair to yourself, but it isn’t fair to those you are judging either. You don’t know their struggles, whether they are rehabbing from an injury, post-pregnancy, or whatever. The only thing that should matter is the work that you are putting in on yourself.
This work on myself, as a teacher, is what I need to remember to focus on instead of comparing myself to other, more seasoned teachers. Now is the time where I need to take the knowledge I learned in my initial training, and deepen it so that I can apply it to the bodies that I see in front of me on a weekly basis. I am finding that the more I learn, the less I know, which is both exciting and scary at the same time!
Cheers to our ever expanding knowledge and perspective. It’s time to put in the work.
With gratitude Stars,
Morgan
Blue Star Pilates 