Why Your Teacher at Ease Pilates Isn’t Working Out Alongside You

Walk into almost any group exercise class, and there will be an energetic instructor at the front of the room, moving in sync with the music and sweating right alongside you from the warm-up to the cool-down.

Many Pilates classes are run like that too. So, when you join our studio, you might be surprised to notice that the teacher isn’t doing the workout. This is because our classes are designed entirely for you, not for your teacher.

When "Lead and Follow" Works

There are definite benefits to having an instructor demonstrate throughout a session. It gives beginners a clear visual to follow, keeps the pace moving, and a skilled, high-energy teacher can be hugely motivating.

In fact, I still teach my general fitness classes in a "lead and follow" style, demonstrating for around 80% of the session. It works brilliantly in that environment. When I first started teaching Pilates, I naturally tried to bring that exact same approach onto the mat.

However, not only was it torture on my own back to demonstrate through so many classes every week, but as I developed as a teacher, I began to realise that teaching Pilates is completely different from instructing a fitness class.

Why Pilates Requires a Different Approach

General fitness is often about strength, endurance, and big, dynamic movements. Pilates is much more subtle and small changes make a massive difference. Intermediate and advanced Pilates do involve big dynamic movements, but they are built on the foundation of correct fundamental movements, which are taught with more detail.

You might be moving through an exercise thinking you are doing it to the absolute best of your ability. Yet, with one tiny adjustment - creating a fraction more length through your spine, softening your ribs, or finding an extra inch of reach - the entire movement transforms, and suddenly you feel a new connection and depth of work.

To help you find those moments, we have to observe you, rather than only having you observe us.

Your Body Needs Different Cues Than Your Neighbour’s

If a teacher is flat on their back doing the exercise themselves, they simply cannot see what is happening around the room. And when it comes to alignment and control, broad, general cues quickly stop being helpful.

What your body needs in a specific movement might be the exact opposite of what the person on the mat next to you needs. One person might need a reminder to control their pelvis which is wobbling around, while the person beside them needs encouragement to let go of unnecessary tension in their shoulders. Only by watching how you move can a teacher spot what will make the exercise work better for your body. Generally cueing 'engage your core' and 'relax your shoulders' isn't helpful to the person who is already engaging their core or relaxing their shoulders.

Being Taught vs. Following a Video

Having a teacher actively observing you is what separates being taught from simply following along to an exercise video at home.

Our teachers will still demonstrate an exercise from time to time whenever seeing it visually helps - often when teaching a new exercise, for example, especially one with complex choreography. We are still there to bring energy, encouragement, and structure to your session. The difference is that the class is never a workout for us.

By stepping back, our teachers can keep their full attention on you where it belongs. That allows us to offer personalised cues, provide hands-on corrections where helpful, and notice the small details that help you get the absolute most out of every single class.