Apologies first, for the too-long delay.
You must know however, that it is not that I have nothing to say that causes the long stretches of silence. Rather it is that I am overwhelmed with far TOO much to say and cannot imagine whittling my thoughts down to just one lonely topic.
Alas, it must be done so here we go;
I had the pleasure of presenting in Toronto in April to a delightful and hungry group of Pilates and Yoga teachers. The conference was spectacular in scope and quality. I had the distinct pleasure of presenting alongside such Yoga luminaries as Seane Corne and Rodney Yee and even had a few dinners with Pilates superstar Mari Winsor.
But the event that most inspired me in my three days at the conference was during one of my courses which explored the idea of “Pushing The Envelope” within a group Pilates class. I had presented this course before but as you know, teaching is an organic process and my outline notwithstanding, the lecture took off slightly to the right, landing still within topic but with a particular bent.
The thrust?
“What type of teacher do you want to be?”
I posed the question to the group and was met with wide eyes and tight lips.
A little prodding produced some single word responses. A short list of adjectives from the back of the room. Some further mutterings emerged, but nothing definitive.
And therein may be the problem for our industry.
How can you, or anyone for that matter, develop as a teacher without a clear vision of who you seek to be?
Here’s a tool I came up with for my Canadian attendees. I’d like to share it with you and hope it helps you to find your own vision as an instructor.
Describe, if you will, the exact words a student would use upon leaving one of your classes. It can be a phrase, or an expression.
Limit it to 7 words or less.
For some this is simple. For others, I suggest thinking back to when you first fell in love with Pilates. Who inspired you? What did you say about them? What words did you use to describe their teaching? Is that the way you want your students to feel? If not, how is it different?
For the record, yes, the students did ask me for my own answer. They wanted to know specifically what words I wished to hear my students utter upon their departure.
My answer, without hesitation, was simple.
“Pilates is Hard!”.
Over to you…………..
Alycea Ungaro
May, 2009