“Success in Pilates Isn’t What You Think”
What is the ultimate goal for us, as Pilates teachers, when we work with a client? What if we aren't seeing the straight-line progression you thought had to happen throughout a client's practice? The big question is: What does it truly mean for a client to be successful in Pilates?
In Season 6, Episode 14, “Redefining Success in Pilates,” we dive into several client experiences to show what real success looks like in a Pilates practice. Sometimes, achieving the specific exercises the teacher expects is simply not the client’s main need. It's not always about progressing, perfecting, or performing exercises.
Success Is Simply Showing Up
For many clients, success is simply showing up.
Think about those clients who routinely attend a private session—perhaps they've never previously had a regular workout routine, or they are currently navigating major life changes or stressors. They might not feel like working out, but they still arrived. They made it to their session. They didn’t cancel. That act of consistently walking through the studio door is the success for many people.
Their personal goal isn't necessarily nailing a perfect Swan or Teaser. They are moving consistently, even if it’s just a little bit. Perhaps they started Pilates because they were dealing with pain, took the time, made the call, and finally came in.
Teaching this client might involve focusing on functional movement, gentle corrective exercises, Pre-Pilates work, or less complex exercises like Footwork. The crucial point is that they are moving and doing something. If it weren't for their weekly session, they might not be doing anything active at all.
For this client, the movement they do in the studio, the simple act of showing up, getting advice, and staying social are all important. Perfecting advanced poses isn't. Their measure of success is less pain and feeling better. Moving, staying active, and getting to Pilates each week is their win.
Success Is Adapting to the Journey
Another powerful example is the client who came to Pilates while dealing with cancer and multiple surgeries. When she first started, she was doing full-out Pilates—Side Splits, Teaser, and using the entire system.
With subsequent surgeries, her Pilates work had to fundamentally change. She was no longer able to do the things she had done before. This is a person who is not progressing and getting stronger in the traditional sense, but is instead finding out what she can do now and continuing to move.
Our job as teachers is to give this client things that help her feel space and movement. The goal is not performance or getting her back to where she was; the goal is to simply breathe, be present, and feel listened to and fully supported in her movement.
This time in Pilates might be the highlight of her week—maybe the only time she gets out of the house, sees, and interacts with people. That is her success.
The Power of Connection
A huge, often underestimated, aspect of health and well-being is social connection. Seeing people in the studio and interacting not only with their Pilates teacher but also with other clients is just as vital as the physical activity they do while in their session.
This realization makes a huge difference. If we as teachers only focus on the "fix" or "perfect form," we miss the client's actual goal. We need to pause and ask ourselves: Why did I become a teacher? Why am I teaching?
Pilates is about movement. It means meeting the client exactly where they are and teaching to that specific individual without worrying about performance. As Joseph Pilates said, the work is often messy! We are simply on a journey with the client.
When clients have major issues like cancer, a hip replacement, or surgery, it is absolutely okay that there are things they cannot do or will not be able to do anymore. This is not a failure of the client or the teacher. We must make that very clear to them. We are just exploring a new pathway for their movement.
Normalizing the Experience
In this episode, we also chatted about a client who came to Pilates after a heart transplant, a consequence of childhood cancer treatment.
For this client, she wanted to enter the studio and not be seen as "the sick kid" or "the lady with the heart transplant." She wanted to be treated like a "normal" person. Yet, due to scar tissue and the unpredictable nature of her post-transplant health, the session constantly had to be adjusted for her.
The key to teaching her was observing what felt comfortable that day and what she needed, ensuring we never pushed her into pain—but also ensuring we never made her feel broken or fragile. Instead of constantly asking, “Are you okay?” or “Does this hurt?”, we can simply ask, “How does this feel for you today?”
The common thread for all these clients was the social aspect of being in the studio. They felt connected not only to their own bodies but also to the people and teachers around them.
We Are Guides, Not Fixers
It is so important to remember why the client walked into the studio in the first place and the unique journey they are on with their body. We must focus on what they can do, not what we think they should do.
We are not there to “fix” the client. We don't have a performance goal or a perfect shape we are trying to achieve for them.
We are trying to give them space to be in, help them move, and see what is available in their bodies today—where we can help them find space to open up or connect better. We figure out what is accessible to them in that specific session and go from there. We are not forcing them into a perfect pose. They are doing the best they possibly can.
Realizing success in Pilates means understanding that it is not about a perfect position or being fixed by the teacher as if they were broken. It is a success for them if we simply guide them and help them move. It truly doesn't matter what it looks like, if it’s messy, or not perfect. We are keeping them safe and giving them adjustments that lead to a healthy movement pattern for them, in that moment.
We never want to limit our clients or make them feel they can’t do something because of where they are. Instead, we show them what is possible and follow that path with them.
Remember, we are on this amazing journey with them, and because their bodies are constantly changing, we meet them where they are every single time. They keep showing up, and that is a beautiful success.
