When an instructor is teaching, they must have compassion, caution, confidence, creativity and clarity which can be challenging if their student does not speak the same language. Luckily, Pilates is an universal movement language.
Touch Cues - Using touch cues can help show how the instructor wants the student to move. It does not require words but the representation of words through touch.
Examples:
- Gliding their shoulders down their back - gently take your hands and glide the shoulders back and down on their back the same way they would internally move.
- Lifting taller - take your hand and glide upward from their lower back to their upper back when trying to help them lift taller and grow that extra inch.
Tone of Voice - Even though the student may not speak the same language as their instructor, tones represent emotions, rhythms and energy. Based on the instructor's voice, one can move faster, slower, more or less vigorously.
Examples:
- Pacing your voice can help how you want the student to move whether it be faster or slower by picking up your voice or slowing it down
- When trying to get your student to lift, raise your voice as if your student is getting taller and taller
Demonstrating
Although classical Pilates does not encourage demonstrations or hand gestures, if the instructor is truly at a lost after attempting the above techniques, then maybe demonstration is necessary, after all, it is a form of communication.
Examples:
- Standing up and using hand gestures or leg movements to help convey your message
- Demonstrating on the piece of apparatus so your client can understand the exercise. This can be most helpful especially if your client does not want to be touched.
Movement becomes the universal language. When one moves their body, it does not matter one's race, gender, ethnicity or cultural barriers because everyone's bodies move. Movement is not discriminatory, it is a part of living.
