The WHY Reformer Pilates Classes Exist
Your clients come to Reformer Pilates for a reason. They have been told that Reformer Pilates is a great form of physical exercise that is low impact, fun and suitable for all levels. Some might come in order to get rid of shoulder, knee or pack pain. They want to improve their overall strength and the list goes on. There are other reasons such as gaining more mental clarity and being a part of a community that cannot be overlooked either!
In this article I discuss a few ways of weaving valuable information into your verbal cueing (educational tips and motivation) that will help to make your clients came back and stay with you. In addition I have provided a few practical examples that you can use and tweak to make them your own. I hope this article inspires you to articulate the WHY (why we do this exercise and reformer pilates in the first place) more often to your clients. I hope your clients appreciate you leveling up and that it makes you even more succesfull Reformer Pilates Instructor!
Choose The Most Important WHYs
When you know the WHY behind your chosen exercises/class plan for your clients and can articulate the WHYS your clients WANT to hear (that relate to their goals, attitude and mindset) clearly in front of the group, you are more likely to retain your clients and build a following. You stand out as a knowledgeable, passionate and on top of your game Reformer Pilates teacher who wants the best for their clients!
There are also lot of whys clients cannot comprehend or they do not always need to hear or understand in such detail. I am talking about using too in depth anatomical language, explaining the smooth flow of your class, the chosen order of the exercises and set ups that make your clients stronger and are suitable for their abilities. Or the nice glute bridge you offer after multiple boat pose or table top exercises to give hip flexors a well deserved break and stretch whilst glutes and hammies are on duty! Choose to keep some things for yourself and your fellow trainers only 😉
How Can We Deliver The WHY Smoothly
First of all we do not want to load our clients with all the information at once but rather sprinkle some motivational tips here and there. Choose couple exercise you are gonna focus a little more on a particular day that align with your clients goals. Like for instance when the intensity of the class is high and clients are pushed out of their comfort zones they are more likely to give up. Be prepared to say something small but mighty.
Let clients know why we are increasing the heart rates and what good comes out of it for them. Yet still be empathetic towards your clients different skill levels and understand that every day is different. Remind clients to pace themselves, take shake outs, breathers and cue ways to regress or progress the exercises to serve everyone in the room!
Alternatively an exercise may feel odd or weird to many clients especially if it is their first go. The exercise may not feel or is meant to be as tough or challenging as some other exercises in the class. Remember to tell your clients that “this one is for xyz and we are learning the movement here first”. We build foundation before we can add fancy layers.
Articulate WHAT we do (we do scooter for glutes) and HOW we do it (stand on the floor on the right side of the reformer machine and face the mirror. Place you right foot next to…). Weave the WHY we do it during the movement when you find there is a good time for short motivational info splash. Such as “we are strengthening your lower body here team, especially your butt and hamstrings. This is complimenting your marathon training Joe”).
Read The Room and Talk To Your People
With more experience we can develop a better eye for clients daily moods and how they move on the reformer in their warm up. It is important to talk to your Reformer Pilates clients prior the class and ask how they and their bodies feel. All this will help us to determine how far or how little we push every individual that particular day. Things like day of the week, ladies menstrual cycle, sleep, emotional state of mind, nutrition and many other factors play a role. This is also THE WHY it is ok to slow down, reduce the range of motion and take it easy every now and then.
When you articulate the benefits of the exercise try to use inclusive language that is so simple your grandmother would understand what you say. Clients are already juggling many things at once. Beginner clients can take less information in whereas your more advanced clientele may want that tiny bit more extra education about their bodies and learn to understand how things work a little bit more in detail.
Show Me The Money: Reformer Pilates Exercise Examples
I have listed a couple exemplary ways to weave in the why to motivate and keep your clients engaged during Reformer Pilates classes. When you pick your WHY cues be mindful and have a think. What tips and whys will bring the most value to clients in the room in that given day and time?
- Lateral flexion: The missing piece in many great session plans. Such a wonderful treat for spinal health and mobility. Goodbye stiffness! Side bend allows us to stretch opposite side of the body as we are shortening and crunching the other. We are opening the space between ribs that will allow us to breath better and deeper as the opposing side is working hard to strengthen our core and waistline. Hello obliques! Juicy stretch brings us a sense of a more open and flexible body. It is a feel good move! Exercises like: Mermaid, box oblique crunches, hip dips, added lateral flexion in lunge series, splits, squats or single arm overhead presses with straps.
- Intense, complex or technical exercises: One step at a time progress mindset and consistent effort will lead to great things. Have confidence in your clients, give them a push, create a positive environment and use empowering language with patience! Good things will start to happen. Not just in reformer room but in other parts of your clients life. Build up their confidence in their own abilities and tell them “If we can do new and hard things on reformer we can do new and hard things anywhere.” Exercises like: Spicy layers in planking sequences, snakes, tendon stretch or working under heavy load for long periods of time.
- Cardio: Cardiovascular endurance. Last longer, feel better. Endorphins – feel on top of the world. Heart health. Improved Lung function. Sweat it out. Prevent and reverse nasty health conditions. Increased brain power, creativity, longevity. More energy. Better mood day in day out and enhanced quality of sleep. Exercises like: Upper body series with straps utilizing low to high kneel combo, most of the heavy spring load exercises going for long duration or work in intervals, double leg jump board exercises, compound exercises / exercises that recruit lot of muscles at the same time as well as use of props such as dumbbells with lunges, skaters and scooters.
- Glutes and Hamstrings: Strong butt and hammies help prevent injuries (think knees, hips, ankles). Have you got clients who would love to run or ride their bikes faster and longer? Tell them to learn to love their side lying glute series and scooters. Exercises like: Arabesque lunges, scooters, carriage kick aways, kickbacks, side lying glute series
Beyond The Physical Benefits Of Attending Reformer Pilates Classes Regularly
As a health and fitness professionals it is vital we have sound understanding of anatomy and physiology. And those who are so damn good at it want to share those physical benefits of exercise in nitty gritty detail. And this is more than fine as long as you keep it short and sweet. Give bite size info splashes here and there and move on!
I sometimes tend to fall in to the trap of educating clients about the strength benefits of the exercise so passionately that I forget the rest. I love the physical benefits of movement, to push my limits and be as strong as I can be. But that is me. Everyone is different and we tend to be biased towards our own motives and desires to exercise.
I have made it my mission to try my best also to add on one thing every class that approaches the topic WHY from different perspective. Such as the fun factor and learning a new skills; having a laugh with the person next to you for your mental health and overall well being. For example if we practice teaser on the Reformer machine I try to change the vibe and tone of my voice towards more playful. I encourage my clients to experiment the move. I allow my clients to test their coordination skills, practice it with less seriousness in order have fun! Physical benefits are the by product and results will follow!
It is such a rewarding experience for you as trainer, for your client and others in the room once someone masters a new exercise and we have a good time together smiling and laughing. When your clients are challenged in their abilities (to certain degree that feels achievable) they grave for more – that is the human nature! We as trainers are the ones who can make a simple exercise challenging by shaking things up; changing the words we use verbally and paying attention to our body language. Or by adding a layer or a little spin to basics. We can create an environment that fosters both hard work but also playfulness, experiments and allows the movement exploration!
If you are after more inspiration for creating your WHY -verbal cue library, check out “What makes a great Reformer Pilates class” and pick things that reinforce the reasons clients attend your Reformer Pilates classes!
