New To Pilates? Here’s How Beginners Benefit from Private Sessions

Whether you’re trying out a new exercise class or dinner party recipe, attempting something you’ve never done before in front of others can be an intimidating endeavour that can feel overwhelming.

While I am always so excited to welcome beginners into the wonderful world of Pilates, I know it can be a little daunting. New clients – especially those new to exercise in general – can feel a little self-conscious and, very understandably, lack self-confidence with the exercises.

That’s why I always recommend that total newbies start with a few private Pilates sessions before joining a group class. Very soon, the emotions you feel before class will transform into excitement and anticipation! Let me explain why this is the best course of action.

Why Private are the Best Pilates Sessions for Newbies

First, let’s look from this newbie’s view. We’ll call her Jill. Jill has not done any Pilates before. She hasn’t really done any sort of exercise consistently, and now she has decided that she needs to start doing something productive for her health and her body. She wants something that is low impact, slow, and in a controlled and safe environment. Pilates is perfect for Jill!

Jill arrives at class not knowing what to do. She follows along the best she can, but she finds that she can’t do some of the movements well, she doesn’t understand some of the language, instructions, and body positions. Now, Jill is feeling a little lost and struggling to keep up. She notices she is stopping a lot and is also getting quite frustrated.

The class community is wonderful and encouraging, and they make Jill feel welcome and part of the class. But Jill still has some hesitations about self-confidence and ability. As you can imagine, this is not what we want to feel. It’s certainly not what I want for any of my clients, and I will do my very best to help new members. However, it will soon transpire that this can be a particularly tricky balance to manage as a teacher in a group class setting.

How a Total Beginner Affects the Group Class Dynamic

With a total beginner in class, the flow and dynamic are challenged. As a teacher, I have a duty to help each member of the class with their form, technique, and movement. Unfortunately, if I am spending most of my time with Jill, going through the basics, then the rest of the class has less of my attention. This is unfair to other participants, and it breaks the flow of the class.

If Jill had previously done some Pilates or was generally more familiar with exercise, then the scenario would certainly be easier to manage for all involved. Jill would be able to integrate quite well into class without issue.

Private Training Helps You Have an Amazing Pilates Experience!

During private Pilates classes, we go through all the basics. I teach Jill about the philosophy of Pilates, the breathing style, the neutral spine required, all about the supporting muscles and everything works together. I show Jill what we call ‘pre-Pilates’ exercises so that she understands how the movements should feel, and I would give her some exercises to practice at home. She learns all about the unique apparatus and how to use it.

Jill asks as many questions as she likes during these private sessions. The time is all for her. She gets to practice the same exercise repeatedly until she understands it and feels confident about it. I teach Jill the terminology so that she can start to self-correct when I ask her to. The private sessions are tailored around Jill, and I get to see how best to teach her, whether it’s visually, audibly, or tactilely.

The Bottom Line

There are so many benefits to having private sessions, and you do not have to be a beginner to book them. In fact, if you wish to progress faster, I recommended booking private sessions regularly to improve or even supercharge your practice in many ways.

Getting to know my students, understanding them, and spending time with them one-on-one is so important to me because I know it will maximise their experience and allow me to teach them at a superior level. I have seen first-hand how private Pilates training boosts students’ confidence, builds their body awareness, and makes their time even more enjoyable. So, my recommendation is that everyone does private sessions so that they can improve their practice, their body, and their mindset.

Contact me for more information.