Pilates During a Pandemic

How Teaching Has Changed

When I left the studio back in March last year, it was a very scary time. Like most people I certainly didn't see this pandemic coming. In the weeks before stopping classes, I started to see how worried people were getting, understandably not stopping to talk, but wanting to carry on with their normal routine.

I took a wistful look around the studio and it really started to sink in that it might be quite a while before I would be teaching Pilates again. (This was at the Opera House which unfortunately has never re-opened since)..

I was always aware of the importance that Pilates and any form of exercise is for your mental health but particularly during this time.

Knowing that I wanted to carry on with Pilates for both myself and those that attended classes, I took a leap of faith and switched to offering online classes and gave people a week of free classes during a time of uncertainty, to help take their minds off things.

I was also gave free sessions to healthcare workers for 6 weeks to support them during such a challenging time. I have a huge admiration for anyone working on the front line and what they have done for everyone, so wanted to give something back.

I have been so grateful to be able to carry on with my online classes, both for my own mental and physical health and for those that have managed to continue.

Switching to online has been a learning curve, but I have enjoyed it and realise the importance of carrying on with these sessions, so made the decision to carry on online and combine these with my venue classes. These are ideal for people that want to have the flexibility of doing classes whenever they like.

I was fortunate enough to have a brief spell of face to face teaching last year and over the summer until our industry had to shut down.

But teaching face to face has had to change, I have to keep a distance and can do longer use tactile queuing solely relying on visual queuing which can be more challenging.

One thing this pandemic has taught me is that Pilates is an extremely important part of my life and an important part of other peoples lives for both mental and physical health.

I love the mind body connection that Pilates gives me, it helps keep me sane in these crazy times.