These Pilates Teachers Better Understand Their Clients' Challenges and Can Confidently Help Them Feel Better
“I understand how to break down exercises and how to progress or regress them for individual clients!”
I've been a member of Pilates Encyclopedia now for 5 years already. I first joined during my teacher training. I'm now qualified to teach all apparatus but at the moment I only teach mat to small groups. The membership has taught me several very important things. First, no question is too dumb. As a result, I ask a lot of questions of Mara and I don't feel dumb doing it. 😆 (2) I understand how to break down exercises and (3) how to progress or regress exercises, depending on my need. Last, but not least, I've learned that I don't have to know it all to be a good and enthusiastic Pilates instructor.
During my Pilates teaching career so far I've learned that there is just sooooooo much to learn. That's why my advice to a new teacher is to take it slow, give yourself time to learn and be prepared to make mistakes. Not all clients will like you or what you want to teach them. Be prepared to keep learning. Your business might not succeed at first. That's okay. You may just have to do it another way.
Conella Slater
New South Wales (Australia)
“I have much greater awareness of anatomy and my cueing has improved so much!”
I've been a member of Pilates Encyclopedia now for more than one and a half years. My confidence has increased dramatically during this time, because I know where the movement begins and ends to benefit from the particular exercise. I have much greater awareness of anatomy and my cueing has improved so much!! One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that I must take time for my own practice. My tip for other Pilates teachers is to stay curious! Learn to understand the why and what behind each movement and share this information - through touch & reminders. Your clients want to know how the exercises will help them move better in their everyday lives. They’ll keep coming back.
Vikki Hooks-Bell
Club Pilates
Newport News, VA (USA)
“My clients benefit from Pilates Encyclopedia as much as I do. I would be lost without it!”
I teach small group classes of up to 4 participants, which include Reformer/Springboard (aka Tower), Open Studio (thanks to Mara's support and inspiration), Private and Duet sessions.
I have been a member ever since Mara started Pilates Encyclopedia. Prior to that Mara mentored and coached me while I was planning the opening of my studio and then she guided me as I encountered clients with issues that left me baffled.
I have the member library bookmarked on my desktop and use it almost every day. It is, by far, the most valuable online resource I subscribe to (and I have a lot of subscriptions!)
Many of my clients have several injuries or ailments that used to make me feel like planning a balanced program was impossible. The Special Populations section is the best place to visit for this - I can feel confident that the exercises I provide are both safe and effective.
The exercise lists with suggested cues, regressions and progressions help me to plan classes and private sessions. My work notebook is full of the class plans I printed from the platform. In short, my clients benefit from Pilates Encyclopedia as much as I do. I would be lost without it!
I have also worked 1:1 with Mara. That support has helped me work through the very unique business and teaching challenges that come with being a small studio.
My advice to other Pilates teachers is to trust yourself when it comes to making business decisions. That way, if things don't turn out the way you had hoped, you won't have to wish you had listened to your own instincts. And when things turn out better than you had hoped for, you can take the credit for it!
Resist the urge to feel as if you have to be a Pilates Guru. You will encounter clients who have extensive experience with different types of Pilates.
Continue to learn and experience many different types of Pilates as it is helpful to have some basic knowledge of methods new clients are trained in. This used to intimidate me but I now approach these situations with curiosity and openness.
I have learned that I can still support a client who works in a style very different than mine, and that I can learn a lot in the process. Experienced clients are often very proud of their Pilates accomplishments, are eager to share what they know, and are grateful for your respect of their work.
Stephanie Singer
Uniquity Pilates
New London, NH (USA)
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"I now know exactly how to plan for my client, without going beyond my scope."
“I've just been reading your Scoliosis info in detail on Pilates Encyclopedia, and I was compelled to say thanks! So useful to know exactly how to plan for my client, without going beyond my scope. She comes tomorrow for her 2nd session and I now feel competent with what to instruct. Without your website, I would have been doing guesswork and scrambling around on the internet for an age!"
Kate Cunningham
United Kingdom

"The membership clarified the confusion I faced in my practice and self-mastery."
"I joined Pilates Encyclopedia because despite the level of detail in my teacher training, I felt I still didn't understand some basics and I got frustrated at the deliverance of material.
When I stumbled onto Pilates Encyclopedia, I found the information easily accessible, concise, and to the point, which helps clarify the confusion I faced in my practice and self-mastery."
Elle Lee
Australia

"Breaking down the exercise and thinking about it in more depth is hugely beneficial to me!"
"I was watching one of your videos on a busy bus earlier. It made me break down the exercise and think about it in more depth which is hugely beneficial to me! It's so lovely to feel welcomed to ask questions!!!"
Natasha Haresign
United Kingdom
"My Clients Find a Deeper Connection In Their Bodies."

"I first found Pilates Encyclopedia during my Polestar comprehensive training. I really resonated with Mara’s teaching style, extensive knowledge, and variations on exercises. Once I signed up I was hooked! There is so much information here including cueing, equipment setup, benefits of the exercise, regressions and progressions, related exercises, and sequencing. The site is perfect for me (a beginner Pilates instructor) to dive deeper into the exercises which helps me for the classes I teach. So happy I stumbled upon Pilates Encyclopedia! Thank you, Mara!"
Angela Horswill (US)

“I have such a huge appreciation for the Pilates Encyclopedia. When I was just a student of Pilates, I thought it was a good idea, but being a teacher-in-training now, I feel like it's essential to put this information out there. There are so many times I need an answer to a teaching question and the encyclopedia tells me the information I need so simply and clearly!”
Kristi Paciello (US)

"The Special Populations chapter is very useful for giving me new ideas or confirming I am on the right track if I have someone who has a specific goal or injury."
"I use the Encyclopedia regularly and love the cueing lessons. The videos with their very detailed explanations are great for covering everything you need to know about each exercise. I like the variations to expand the ones I use already. The special populations chapter is very useful for giving me new ideas or confirming I am on the right track if I have someone who has a specific goal or injury."
Wendy Galbraith
Lake Hood Pilates (New Zealand)

Anonymous
"This site is amazing. I am a student instructor and the information, videos, cueing, progressions, regressions have been so helpful in my learning. I love that there are templates, breakdown of exercises by program and there is just so much more. I recommend this site to everyone, students and instructors. I love the daily tips, conversations, questions and have found this site such an additional benefit to my learning. Thank you so much for such an amazing learning tool! I plan to keep my subscription long into my pilates career. Thank you so much and look forward to everything you have to teach and bring to us!!"