In my years of experience as an instructor, Pilates studio owner, and fitness studio consultant, I have seen and heard it all when it comes to students. And I know my fellow fitness professionals have too! We are blessed to work with dozens if not hundreds of students from all walks of life who come to us with inspiring energy and dedication. Yet I see many of them are still a little misguided about a few things when it comes to fitness. So here is what I think we could say to help:

Assessing clients’ posture or alignment can sometimes be overwhelming for both novice and experienced Pilates instructors. Even with all our knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, movement and injuries, it can be hard to know where to start. The best place to begin is from a global, rather than a local, perspective; alignment anomalies translate into a bigger picture of how people move and what they feel in their bodies.

Many of us in the under-50 age range think about bone health as a concern for our grandmothers or our mothers, but rarely for ourselves. I did too, until I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my late 20s.

As human beings, we like to get attached. We get attached to our favorite foods, clothes, places and activities. We become attached to doing things a certain way and we even get attached to people - people we feel a connection to, relate to and feel comfortable around.

“I’ve been attending group reformer classes for about a year now and have recently switched to another studio for private lessons. At the group classes, I’ve been taught to exhale when extending the legs and inhale on the carriage return. My new instructor, however, teaches the opposite. So I’ve gotten a bit confused, and I have to ‘re-educate’ my mind as I’ve signed up for a 10-session package. Based on the information I’ve gathered so far it seems like exhaling when moving arms/legs away from the body is more common. What is your take on this? Or does it not really matter? Thanks!”

Have you ever been so tired that your eye starts twitching? Besides an awkward wink that is potentially attracting the wrong people, it’s a telltale sign of fatigue. A good night’s sleep is a quick remedy for an uncontrollable eye twitch.

When making a difference in our clients’ lives with the elite tools of Pilates, we’re typically teaching adults, not the younger population. I have to say that, as teachers, we should be using our education to make sure the next generation becomes familiar with Pilates and the benefits—for years to come.

We’ve all been there before - the eager Pilates apprentice anxiously preparing to become a Pilates instructor. We were drawn to the Pilates Method, each for our own reasons, and decided to share our passion for it with others. As a former dancer, I was drawn to “The Method” because it reminded me so much of my dance training; the control and concentration needed to perform each exercise with perfect technique. As a Pilates apprentice in the Power Pilates Teacher Training Program, I absolutely loved the way Pilates made me feel! I loved putting every ounce of energy into performing exercises to ideal standards and perfectly instructing my fellow apprentices using the Power Pilates teaching formula. I remember being surrounded by other like-minded apprentices and thinking, “We are all awesome Pilates practitioners.” I was living on a so-called Pilates cloud nine, and I believed that everyone I taught would feel the same way about Pilates.

Working with clients with multiple sclerosis can be challenging. After all, you’d be hard pressed to find another medical condition with more possible symptoms. Plus, every single case is so different that it’s hard to generalize what an “MS workout” looks like.

As an advanced level certified Pilates instructor of many years and Head Pilates Instructor at MINT Health Club and Spa in DC, I have worked with many women during and after their pregnancies. When I found out this year that I was pregnant, I decided to turn to a top expert to hear why she suggests Pilates as the best pre and post natal exercise.