Pilates Instructor Myth Buster: You get to work out all day long!

When I meet someone new and our conversation leads into what I do for a living I often get comments like, “Awesome- you get paid to workout all day!”.  When someone asks me how many hours I teach each week and I answer 30 to 40 I usually get a jaw dropping expression.  Not because they are impressed with my work ethic but because the average person thinks that means that I am working out and exercising 30 to 40 hours a week!  (Could you imagine??)  Today I would love to give you a little more insight into my profession as a Pilates instructor!

First let me tell you I absolutely, positively LOVE what I do!  Just ask my husband who often marvels at the fact that I will spend 8-10 hours at the studio and then come home and do some light reading about Pilates, anatomy or the body because I enjoy it:).  Someone said “If you find a job you love you’ll never work work a day in your life.”  In many ways I am a true believer of this because I find that I enjoy what I do so much that it doesn’t feel like “work”…..but at the same time when I’m talking to someone who might be considering a career in Pilates I want them to know that just because it’s fun doesn’t mean you won’t have to put the hours in to teach, prepare, continue learning and growing, etc.

The myth I want to talk about today is what I spend my time doing.  When I say I am teaching 30 to 40 hour a week that means I am scheduled with clients either privately or in a small group class for those 30-40 hours a week.  My client time is spent taking clients of all levels through a Pilates workout that is appropriate for their body.   Yes on occasion I show them an exercise to help teach it to them but for the most part I am not doing exercises and working out with my clients.

My job is to use various teaching methods to help them learn the Pilates method of exercise, keep them safe and keep them progressing toward their goals.  My teaching time is truly dedicated to my clients.  Teaching Pilates isn’t a job you can check out of when you’re not feeling like it. As an instructor you are giving your time, energy, and knowledge to your clients for the time you are with them.  This is something that I truly love but let me tell you that it can be intense some days.  I’ve learned over the years that I absolutely have to take time to recharge myself when I’m not working, otherwise it can be a challenge to bring everything to the table when I teach.

My teaching hours don’t include the time I spend prepping for sessions, writing in client charts after sessions and as a business owner the hours I spend trying to run a successful business(that’s a whole other blog!!).  And in case you are wondering I have to schedule time to workout just like everyone else!  Usually for me this is a early morning Pilates workout and a walk, run or bike ride somewhere in my day.

Want to learn more about exploring a career teaching Pilates?  I would love to talk and share with you more about our Pilates instructor training programs!

Carey
@careysadler