It's Official!

Well, it's over. That's right, I received final word that I passed my written test! I am now an officially certified Pilates instructor. It is a huge relief to be done, to take my lessons for me and my body, and to really start to teach (and, therefore, hopefully make money).

So, thanks to everyone who made it possible:

• My husband- super-supportive and encouraging
• Brie- I learned more than I ever thought there was
• The girls in the program- you can do it!
• The rest of my family- for putting up with my crazy ideas

Hopefully this blog will now become more about the challenges and situations of teaching, as well as general wellness and fitness, in conjunction with my new job at Wellworks for You.

The Psychology of Teaching

As I am starting to teach more, I am beginning to develop my own style, pace and wording. The problem with this, of course, is that it is mine. Working in an established studio, where some people have been with the same instructor for 5 years, can be a little precarious. They are now used to a particular way of doing things, hearing things, working. And here comes this new instructor, who looks like she's about 12, and asks for something else. Needless to say, there's some resistance. So, how do I break through? With little kids, it's a little easier. They will say "That's not how we do it in Miss So-and-so's class." To which the reply is "Do I look like Miss So-and-so?", and you can move on. Adults, however, require a little more information than that. (Not that I haven't been tempted to try it)

I think there a couple different attitudes of students out there:

• those willing to give you a chance, mainly because their other instructor said to
• those who will never like you
• those who just want the work, they don't care about the personality

and those categories can be broken down into a motivation for being the student in the first place:

• those who want a workout
• those who are there for their own "me"time
• those who are there because they feel like they "should" be (whether it's because everyone else is doing it and it's the hottest thing, guilt, or someone in their life made them come)
• those who are there as a social outing

In a private lesson, you can connect with a person and get to understand their motivation and their willingness to work. Usually whatever the reason for being there and attitude, I can get through to them. At least for an hour.

Group classes, however, are another story. When I enter a group class, my goal is to give them a good, true Pilates workout, safely. But, I am realizing, because there is more than one person involved, I cannot make all of them happy. The chances of all of them having the same attitude and the same motivation is probably 0.

Last week, I subbed a group class. There were 6 people. 2 were there for the work. They left happy campers, and 1 has joined another of my classes. 1 person wanted nothing to do with me. I tried to offer corrections, and she wouldn't take them. She left frustrated and unhappy. One was disappointed that the class did not take the full hour, yet she said the class was good. My guess is that she was there for "me" time. Her goal was unfulfilled (on all our paperwork, it says "Classes are 50-55min", but whatever). Now know why she is there, if I have her in a class again, I can be more sensitive to the fact that she is the for an hour, an hour she doesn't have to be anywhere else, doing anything else, and she would like to keep it that way. 2 people I couldn't get a good read on. They worked out, they left.

It took me a good deal of reflection to understand that my teaching style is not going to fulfill every one's needs. That's why all the mentors have said "Not everyone will like your class. Don't take it personally." I've wondered, "How do I not take it personally?!" But know I can see that there are just too many variables in a group of people to meet all of their needs.

The attitude someone comes in with can change, if they want it to. I can't make that happen, no matter how much I change up my style. If they want their teacher, that's pretty much ballgame for me. If they want the work, or if they are willing to try, then we're in business. I think your motivation drives your attitude. Again, if they are there for the work, they are going to leave fulfilled. If they came for another reason, I may be able hit that, but it isn't my main goal.

Having these experiences has helped me to clarify my teaching style- Work, technique, safety. But that doesn't mean I get to ignore the fact that people come in looking for something else. I need to learn to balance my goals with theirs.

Sorry! Let's get you updated.

Well, it has been a very, very, very long time since I have written.

First, the Pilates updates (life updates will follow in another post): I passed my Advanced practical with a great score at the beginning of March. I passed 2 of the 3 parts of the Advanced written, so I had to retake 1 section. I am still waiting to hear back on the retake.


Since I am basically done with the program, it is a good time to reflect. First of all, what an incredible experience it was. There really is no substitute for submerging yourself, day after day, in your area of study. Just being around Pilates and great Pilates instructors all the time provides great learning opportunities- you learn almost by osmosis! It is hard to believe that 9 months ago, I had no idea how to teach this work, and was terrified. Now, I'm getting paid to do it (although, sometimes still terrified).

Also, what the program and Pilates has done for me and my body is pretty incredible. I am a walking testimonial to the effectiveness of the method. I now have curves where I should have curves, muscles all over, almost even sides of my back, and am a lot more flexible. I even almost have a left split, which I never thought would happen. I have learned to work with my body and my issues: scoliosis, shoulder tension and I'm currently working through a little injury on my right side. The issues that I have make me a better teacher, as I now know the healing power of the work.

Pilates and this program have been great for my emotional health too. I am much more confident than I was before. I have done something incredibly difficult, that not too many people in the world have done, and done it well. I have achieved something that I wanted for my life. I am healthy and happy.

I have joined the staff of Pilates for Movement in Bryn Mawr. I am so excited to join them and look forward to building a schedule of both private lessons and group classes there.

Another Update

I passed the Intermediate Written! I missed some points, but I definitely learned a lot from the feedback.
I also scheduled my Advanced Practical for March 6th. So, moving onward.

I passed!

Hooray! I got a good score. Solid. Not as good as I wanted, but I have pretty high expectations for myself.... I did Reformer, a Mat class and and Arm Weights class, plus some other pieces of equipment.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and well-wishes. Chris was especially great. I came home to flowers, a card and champagne.

Progress Report

I am getting ready for my Intermediate Practical. It will be on Tuesday. I will have to teach someone the intermediate exercises on the Reformer, an intermediate Mat Class, and whatever else they ask me. I feel pretty prepared, but nerves can make a lot of things go wrong. I will post on my way home on Tuesday night to let everyone know how it went.

After this practical, I have my Intermediate Written on Jan 9th. Then I will have to do my Advanced Practical and Written. I hope to be done by March. We shall see how it goes!

Frustration or Why I Love the Minute Clinic

I am incredibly frustrated with my body right now. Defeated by it, even.

On June 6, it decided to get strep throat. Annoying, as it was my first week at the Pilates studio. However, I was not totally shocked by this, as strep throat is my disease of choice. Anyone who has lived with me will tell you that. I still remember junior year of college, and Melissa telling everyone I had scarlet fever.....I went to the Minute Clinic, in the CVS in Rosemont. For the record, I recommend this. No waiting at the doctor's office, early hours and weekend hours, all in all more convenient.

Since I liked my first trip there so much, my body decided it would like to go back. Today, please. Thursday I started sneezing a lot, Friday I had a runny nose, yesterday I felt pretty crappy (but we decided to go to the beach, which sounded more fun than the Minute Clinic, nice as they are. Besides, that fresh air should have helped me out, right?). But last night and today, I couldn't do anything. My head hurt so badly, my throat was sore, and I absolutely could not breathe through my nose. I called my doctor's office at 2:30AM, hoping they would just call something in. They said they don't do antibiotic call ins without seeing the patient first, so if I wanted to come in on Monday or Tuesday.... Um, no. Thank you. Chris wouldn't let me go teach this morning, which I got up to do, so I decided to put that time to good use and go get better! Minute Clinic to the rescue!

I had to wait 15 minutes, which compared to your typical doctor's office waiting room time is not bad. I had the same nurse practictioner as the last time. We are now good friends. Hopefully my body can go more than 3 weeks without seeing her again. Other good thing about the Minute Clinic- the pharmacy is right there! So within half an hour, I had a diagnosis (sinus infection), drugs (amoxicillin and Mucinex) and was on my way (to a Fringe rehearsal). Hooray!

The frustration is this- Why is this happening????? I'm supposed to be at my healthiest. I'm eating more than usual, working out, doing something that I love, sleeping, even the occassional nap! But with these 2 infections I feel really defeated. I can't work out as hard as I want to, nothing sounds appetizing. Plus, I am just plain stressed out from being sick- I don't work that much, so I hate missing that money, and I need lots of hours at the Pilates studio, as I am still catching up from the first time I was sick!

There was a radio commercial on when I was young that went "If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired..." (and I can still sing the jingle), and that is how I feel right now. I really can't go through 3 week cycles of this. I don't know if it is my schedule, just the change of seasons, the change of jobs/lifestyle, the anxiety that I am carrying regarding all of it, or what. All I know is, it's got to go!

Philly Inquirer Article on Career Changes

I was interviewed for an article on under-30s making career changes from their degree fields. As I reflect on my transitions, it is great to see other people are making them (and pretty radical ones) too! http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/19208149.html

Transitions

Today is the first day of the 3 day "Basic" seminar. It is official. I am moving from paperwork and administration to Pilates. I feel nervous- I'm even shaking a bit (although that may be the 2 cups of coffee).

The nerves are not about the class. It's about the sudden real-ness of this change. I've been training and preparing for almost 8 months now, so it has always seemed pretty far away. Now it is here! The nerves are definitely mixed with excitement- I've been wanting to do this, and now I have the chance. Valerie has a quote from Jack London on her blog (The Road Lots Travelled), about the point of life is not to exist, but to live. I think I am making steps in that direction. Side note- if you have not read Val's blog yet, do it! She is friggin' hilarious, and has had some pretty cool adventures!

In the TV show "LOST", when people travel through time, they have to have a "constant", a person that grounds them in both the past and the future. I think it is the same for transitions. Having some connection to your old world and your new at the same time makes it smoother and easier. I am blessed enough to have many constants: Chris (who loved me as an insurance administrator, and has been my biggest cheerleader for this change), my apartment (didn't have to pick up and move to make this happen), even my job situation, as my boss has agreed to have me work on some projects at an hourly rate.

So I don't feel totally at sea in my new life. I'm in a lifeboat, with lines to solid ships. I feel like I could let go of some of the lines, or I can ride with them all. Right now it is a nice place to be. We will have to see if that remains, or if one of the lines starts to tug a little harder than the others.

So, why do transitions, even ones you are excited about, cause fear and nervousness? It seems a shame to let your happiness get overrun, even just occasionally, by fear of the unknown. Isn't the unknown what makes life worth the living, not just the existing? If we knew it all ahead of time, it would a pretty boring way to live. You may not have the fear, but you also would not have the excitement, anticipation or surprise. So, maybe fear, rather than prescience, is a good trade.

Updates

Well, I passed my Initial Assessment! Hooray! I am officially an apprentice in the Romana's Pilates Teacher Training program.

But now the real work begins. Over the next 6 months to 1 year, I will be observing lessons, taking lessons and teaching lessons. I will attend classes and take tests. It is a very intense program, but I am very excited to be a part of it. I know that this is a fantastic opportunity for me to learn from the best. So, my goal is to be the best student that I can be- to learn as much as I can, to not be afraid of making mistakes, to ask questions, to explore- so that I can be the best teacher I can be.