Don't take your Pilates clients movement away from them
What does it truly mean to teach the body in front of you? When a client presents with an injury, a specific sport, or a perceived limitation, how do you adapt to what the individual needs? Does an injury mean the teacher should completely eliminate certain types of movement regardless of the client's specific abilities?
In Season 6, Episode 9, “Stop Limiting Clients' Movements,” we tackle a problematic trend we're observing in social media discussions and hearing from students in our teacher training programs: the idea of entirely eliminating certain movements from a client's Pilates practice.
We're seeing a proliferation of workshops marketed with titles like "Pilates exercises for golfers/tennis players," or "What to do for clients with disc issues/osteoporosis." While these titles suggest specialized knowledge, they can inadvertently promote a mindset of restriction rather than exploration.
The fundamental principle of Pilates is to help clients move better in their daily lives, in their chosen sports, and in every aspect of their physical existence outside the studio. When we, as teachers, preemptively decide to "take away" a whole movement, we risk limiting our clients unnecessarily. The Pilates studio, with its diverse apparatus, varied spring tensions, and different orientations, is precisely the place where clients should feel supported and safe to explore a full range of motion.
While we've previously discussed the fear of movement from the client's perspective when experiencing pain, this episode shifts the focus to the teacher's potential fear of movement in terms of the fear of exacerbating the client's pain, and how that can inadvertently restrict a client's potential.
One of the first questions a Pilates teacher should ask themselves is: "What is this client actually doing in their daily life?" It's highly likely that the very movement a teacher fears or thinks should be avoided is something the client performs regularly day to day. Life demands bending, reaching, and twisting in many environments outside of the studio.
Consider a client with osteoporosis who will still be bending over to tie their shoes, reaching for something on a high shelf, or twisting to look behind them. For this reason, we shouldn't eliminate these motions entirely from their Pilates sessions. Instead, we use the studio as a safe, supportive environment to help them find a range that teaches them better support and control as they execute these essential daily movements while learning appropriate load and range for themselves. We're not adding harmful compression but helping them find space and comfort within movement.
Similarly, if a client has a wrist or arm injury, we cannot completely abandon all arm work or loading. Instead, we work with them to discover their available range of motion. We explore different orientations and loads, allowing them to feel what works and what doesn't. This process empowers clients to understand their own bodies and apply that awareness to their activities outside the studio.
Giving clients the autonomy to find their own range and understand their capabilities builds immense confidence. When a client feels safe, comfortable, and connected to their body's movement, they can truly engage with the work and gain strength, stability, and mobility.
This often involves guiding clients in smaller ranges initially, allowing them to feel crucial connections, length, and support. This feedback helps their bodies learn what they can do and how to do it effectively.
The current trend of workshops prescribing specific exercises for specific conditions or sports can be problematic. They might either encourage unnecessary movement elimination or lead to repetitive motions that mirror a client's sport, potentially contributing to or exacerbating injuries. Instead, we should focus on complementary movements, like counter-rotation, stability work, hip mobility, and spinal segmentation, that support the client's activities without simply replicating them.
The beauty of the Pilates apparatus lies in its versatility. Each piece, each spring, each exercise offers unique support, creates different ranges of motion, and communicates with the client's body in various ways. Rather than eliminating movements or hyper-focusing on isolated issues, our goal should always be to foster full-body movement, finding connections that support whatever a client is trying to achieve.
Consider one client who is a sculptor who lifts and carries extremely heavy loads daily but refused to use her arms in certain ways in the Pilates studio due to a fear of pain. Her teacher wisely decided to empower her instead of adding to her fear. By simply encouraging her to "circle her arms in a range that felt pain-free," the client, feeling supported and safe, ultimately moved through a full range of motion she had previously resisted, realizing what she could do instead of being afraid. The apparatus and springs provided the necessary support and feedback, helping her discover what was possible.
Effective Pilates teaching requires critical thinking. What movements are clients fearful of? What are they doing in their daily lives? How can we offer counter-movements to support them or build new understandings? It's about finding what works for each individual client, without restricting or eliminating their movement. We support it, we figure it out.
Communication is paramount. Ask questions: "When do you feel this pain or challenge during your day?" Listen not only to their words but also to their body's cues – did they hold their breath at a certain point, make a face, or change how they were moving? Holding breath often indicates a guarding reaction to unconsciously protect the body. How can we reduce the range or increase support from the apparatus to allow them to find the available movement where they can feel safe and capable?
When a medical professional advises a client "not to do something," it's crucial to understand the why. Is it a temporary restriction for healing, or a misunderstanding of what's truly needed? Can the movement be adapted with a different orientation to gravity, different load, or a different angle? Our role is to properly adapt and adjust, not to blindly eliminate.
The most challenging and fascinating aspect of teaching clients is that there's no single "correct" exercise for a specific issue. What feels good and supportive for a client will change daily. Our role is to find that personalized support and range that speaks to their body in that moment, and be willing to adjust.
Taking movement away only increases the chance of injury in the outside world. Instead, use the incredible support of the Pilates work, the springs, and your clear communication to empower your clients. Help them connect the movements in the studio to their outside lives, demonstrating the profound relevance of their Pilates practice. By guiding, supporting, and encouraging exploration, we truly embody the essence of Pilates: helping clients move with ease, strength, and confidence through every aspect of their lives.
