Five Ways to Stress Out Your Pilates Trainer

A couple of months ago, I had a drink with a dear friend of mine, a successful corporate lawyer in a big pharmaceutical company. We talked about all kinds of stuff, from new trends in trademark law and freshly patented inventions in the fitness industry to dealing with long-distance relationships and coping with stress at work. One moment she smiled and kindly mentioned that, well, Pilates trainers do not encounter that much stress.

Can You Care Too Much About Your Pilates Client?

A couple of years ago a future client of mine – a flight attendant in her late twenties -booked a one-on-one Pilates class with me: because of many hours spent in the air during the transatlantic flights, she felt physically uncomfortable most of the time, with her lower back aching and her neck cracking.

We had a super friendly introductory class, where I estimated her exercise capacity, explained what we were going to do over the next few weeks, and introduced her to a few basic exercises to get a taste of Pilates benefits and a feeling of what Pilates is about. She booked the next class, and just in the moment when we were about to say goodbye to each other,

How to Deal with Seven Nightmares of Every Pilates Trainer

One chilly morning I was sipping my coffee, thinking about how awesome should it feel to be a morning person (a mystery for me, despite having my first Pilates clients at 6:30 a.m.). I was reading The Bloomberg Businessweek magazine to stay sharp and tuned because being a Pilates teacher is not only about stretching cheerfully all day long and giving advice on how to get slimmer ankles. 

Seven Secrets I Wish I Had Known Before Opening My Pilates Studio

They say human mind constantly evolves. I am not sure if it was evolution or just jumping into deep waters like in that ‘legitimate’ learning swimming technique. But after a few years of teaching experience in fitness, Pilates, and dance, I decided to launch my studio, primarily, because I had a bunch of ideas in my head about how things should be done. 

Honestly, Why Do Many Pilates Trainers I See on Video Seem to Be Unfit?

That is the exact question I was asked to provide an answer to by Quora – the world’s bank of questions and answers. The irony here is that Quora distributes the questions automatically, judging on authors’ credentials only.  So, on one hand, it sincerely is “waiting” for my answer, since I am a Pilates instructor, and, from another hand, the reaction such “laughing out loud” and “Screw you!” wouldn’t be appropriate and sufficient. So, I call my 12+ years of Pilates and fitness experience, and my lawyer background (to stay objective), and here is 2,5K word long, juicy and (almost) non-biased answer to this question, based on ten different approaches. 

Fifty Absolutely Awesome Motivational Phrases from Personal Trainers

Whether you are just starting out, becoming curious about how to get fit, and are looking for those special offers for beginners at the nearest gym, or you are already a fitness nut who nails two workouts a day and runs ten miles every morning, we can all, sometimes, use that little extra bite of motivation. Us too! So we asked a number of personal trainers, all with different workout focuses (indoor cycling, Pilates, and running), to share the favourite motivational pitches and phrases they use in their classes.

Here is Exactly How to Do the Splits Easily. As an Adult.

I really, really almost could not resist writing this article’s headline as “Spilt Survival Guide”.  Don’t bet surprised: listen to three of my stories that I believe capture all the challenges of mastering, performing, and imagining this flexibility miracle – front and side splits. All stories are based on facts. Names are changed, though.

Want To Get Flexible Fast? Read This Before You Start Your Stretching Routine

This morning one of my Pilates clients made a post-holiday remark I often hear: “Oh, I felt so stiff before the class! Now I am much better!” It reminded me that flexibility is one of those things we do not appreciate for its own sake, but we definitely notice its absence, or when we lack it. So, today’s post is all about flexibility and stretching: How do you define flexibility; Guidelines for flexibility training; and How flexible can Pilates make you. And, as a free bonus:  How to finally master the splits?

So, You’re JUST a Pilates Instructor? Oh… I See.

I love my Dad. I really do. But every time we talk via Skype (since we live in different countries it is the most convenient way to communicate so far) he asks me whether I plan to gain a new profession or apply for any job. “But Daddy, I have a job already: I am a Pilates instructor, a personal trainer, you know,” – “But it is not even a real thing!” And I am absolutely sure that every Pilates instructor experiences once in a while that questioning from others (not only relatives) whether their job is worth doing. 

How Much Do You Charge For Your Pilates Class? …Are You Nuts?!

Perhaps, the question “Why are your classes so pricey?” is the most sensible one among other things you may need to get used to hearing as a Pilates instructor. So, today I want to share my personal story as a Pilates trainer and Pilates studio owner on determining what to charge for a class. It took me 6+ years to get used to answering the question about price without questioning my credentials and sanity afterwards, and I really hope this article will shorten this inevitable, but not such a pleasant journey for other trainers. So, let’s give it an honest (slightly biased, maybe) look at how much a Pilates class may/should cost.