#PracticeWhatYouTeach: What I learned from noisy seals!

Let me tell you about some of my favorite students. They are loud, giggly and sometimes don’t listen to anything I say. They often interrupt me when I’m teaching to ask questions like, “Can we do mermaid today, can I pick what we are pretending to sit against during Spine Stretch, or Mom did you check on the dog today (from my son of course!)” When I first started teaching them movement this really drove me a little (ok a LOT) crazy as a teacher. I often felt like a failure if all of them weren’t breathing properly, paying attention perfectly and doing exactly what I wanted them to do.

My favorite students also love to make up their own exercises, show me what new thing they did in dance or karate practice, and I often get hugs from them when they thank me for class afterwards. When they want to, these students can lay on a mat and practically perfectly execute the Pilates exercises that Joe created with amazing coordinating breath! During the school year I have been teaching the students of Hillside Christian School a Pilates class once a week for 6 years now. It’s always a highlight of my week. Every week I learn things that make me a better teacher and make be a better practitioner of the Pilates work.

When I started teaching at Hillside I learned pretty quickly that teaching Pilates and movement to kids is completely different from teaching adults. I am constantly bringing the lessons I learn from them into my own practice and into my teaching. After my weekly session with the kids this week I was reflecting on the many, many things that the kids have taught me and made a quick list:

Having fun and moving is more important than perfect movement! Do you ever watch kids play and move? They don’t overthink things, they move with ease and most importantly enjoy what they are doing! They trust their bodies! I’m all for safe movement, but sometimes Pilates instructors overcorrect! Most adults just need to move more!
It’s OK to demonstrate exercises or start to do them with a student! It has been ingrained in my head that my job is not to be getting a workout in while I am teaching…but I have to tell you I get a great workout in on the days I teach the kids! Why? Because they are visual learners and I’ve found the best way to get them moving is to get down on my mat and do the exercises with them while I teach. It took me a long time to be OK with this but let me tell you it has helped them learn 110% quicker than me trying to teach them simply with my words!
Go with the flow. As a teacher I have learned to tailor each session to the energy of the class. If it’s the week before Christmas and nobody can sit still because they are way to antsy…I have to get a little more creative to keep the class under control. I have to mix it up with random bouts of running in place, jumping jacks and silly variations of exercises. Yes…you guessed it…I’m not afraid to use this creative teaching tactic on adults either (you never know what I might throw into your regular mat routine on any given night!)
Sometimes all you need is a little motivation to try your best. You wouldn’t believe how a simple little”surprise” prize for the best behaved student encourages everyone to show up and do their best. (Yes I use this for adults at the studio all the time…. get a free Tshirt for getting your classes in, play studio Bingo and earn a free pair of Toesox!)
One of my favorite lessons…Animal noises while you are doing an exercise make it much more fun. I’ve tested this with adults too…it’s true! Some of the best form I’ve seen of the Seal is in a room overflowing with the noise of barking seals. And the swan exercise is much more fun if you pretend you are a snake hissing and slowing slithering up to look at your prey!

Hope you enjoy this little clip from 2015 when some of the kids came to the studio for our annual Pilates Day celebration!!