Planning Your Pilates Class? Don’t Stress!

The other day, I had a client contact me to say that she’d tweaked her back and didn’t think she could do class. In other fitness classes I’ve taught, my response would have been “Of course! Take time to heal and rest!”. But with Classical Pilates, my immediate response was that I could structure the class in a way that would accommodate her – and the rest of the class wouldn’t even know. This is something I love about the Classical method – planning your Pilates class can be flexible (and even fun!). 

Let’s Go Back a Few Steps

I can’t speak to what it’s like to do a Contemporary Pilates training program or how to plan that type of class. I have heard from colleagues that they spend a fair bit of time planning their Pilates classes, though. Other studios that teach mat-only or reformer-only formats may also fall into this “planning” category. Classical Pilates, however, is surprisingly flexible!

I fell into Classical Pilates completely by accident. Through my training, I learned that there was an order that Joseph Pilates planned his exercises, particularly on the mat and the reformer. I also learned (and this has taken time) that the exercises repeat themselves in slightly different variations on the various different apparatuses. For example, there are exercises that prepare you for subsequent exercises, and that the apparatuses help you to build the strength, awareness, or mobility required to do another exercise elsewhere. For instance, I could work on long back stretches, single leg pull back, and tendon stretches on the chair to help me to do tendon stretches on the reformer. 

So what does this have to do with planning your Pilates class? 

First, You Need the Framework

One of the reasons why a teacher training program takes so many hours to complete, is that the teacher trainee needs to know the exercises inside out and backwards. They need to learn the names, the set up of the apparatus, the order, and how one works with another. They need to know what is appropriate for a client and when a client is ready to advance things. You have the framework to then teach a workout and follow the order.  

This takes away the need to plan a class plan! You simply know the work. This might sound like it would be rather repetitive and boring. Yes, it is repetitive (like any other sport or exercise), but it doesn’t have to be boring.  There are all kinds of ways to keep Classical Pilates interesting. 

“Planning” Your Pilates Class

Going back to my client with a sore back, I could have incorporated more tall back and standing work. In a group class, everyone could do that workout and have a great session. A private session would be even more flexible. Another example could be having a client with foot pain. I’d teach a class that adds a finisher for the feet and maybe focus more on the feet in the regular exercises that we’d do. 

Even if you aren’t accommodating certain clients, you can still switch things up with Classical Pilates. You could pick a theme, like rolling, or teach variations of a particular exercise. Another fun idea is to teach a 1-rep or 3-rep class. This gets you through lots of exercises fast and will definitely have the class sweating and out of breath. 

It’s About Flexibility

Knowing Pilates and all the exercise and apparatuses allows a teacher to switch their plan on the fly. This is one of the things I love most about Pilates; there is something for everyone, no matter their skill level or possible limitations.