Why I Keep My Pilates Classes Small
Six people. That’s it. And there’s a very good reason for that.
When I set up my Pilates classes at Nu Energy Body Therapy, I made a deliberate decision to keep them small.
The maximum is six people.
Not because I don’t like people. Quite the opposite!
I love the community that has developed around my classes. But when you’re teaching movement, I believe there is real value in being able to see the people in front of you, get to know their bodies and give them individual attention.
It’s not private Pilates. It’s something in between.
- A one-on-one session gives you my undivided attention.
- A large group gives you the energy of exercising with lots of other people.
- Small group training sits somewhere in the middle.
You get the encouragement and connection of a group, while still having plenty of opportunity for individual guidance.
And that’s exactly what I like about it.
I can actually see you
This might sound obvious, but it’s important.
When there are only six people in the room, I can watch how everyone is moving. I can offer a correction when something needs adjusting. I can suggest a modification if an exercise isn’t quite right for you. And if you’re ready for a little more challenge, I can give you a progression.
Sometimes the difference is tiny.
- A change in position.
- A different amount of resistance.
- A smaller movement.
- A little more control.
Those details are difficult to manage when a teacher is trying to keep an eye on a room full of people.
Your body doesn’t follow a template
This is probably the biggest reason I like small groups.
Everybody’s body is different.
- You might be stronger on one side.
- You might have limited mobility somewhere.
- You might be returning to exercise after time away.
- You might find one movement easy and another surprisingly challenging.
And that’s okay.
I don’t expect everyone in my class to move in exactly the same way. The exercise might be the same, but how you perform it can be different. That’s where modifications and variations come in.
You can ask questions
I want people to feel comfortable asking…
- ‘Am I doing this right?’
- ‘Why does that feel different on this side?’
- ‘Can I do this another way?’
- ‘Can you make that harder?’
There is time for those questions in a small group. And sometimes a question from one person is useful for everyone.
You get to know your teacher, and I get to know you
This is one of my favorite parts.
Over time, I get to know how you move. I know what you’ve been working on. I notice when something improves. And I can encourage you when you’re ready to take the next step.
That doesn’t mean I’m keeping a secret spreadsheet of your squats! 😉 It simply means your progress isn’t invisible.
And yes, you still get a workout!
Small group doesn’t mean easy.
We work on strength, mobility, balance, coordination, control and endurance, and the exercises can absolutely challenge you.
But the goal isn’t to make everyone do the hardest version of everything.
The goal is to give each person an appropriate challenge.
Sometimes that means progressing an exercise. Sometimes it means modifying it. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is go back to the basics and get really good at them.
It’s also about the people
There’s another reason I’ve kept my classes small, and it’s one I probably couldn’t have planned when I first started.
Community.
People get to know each other. They encourage each other. They celebrate improvements. They have a laugh.
And they become part of a small, supportive group of people who are all making time to look after themselves.
That’s pretty special.
Six people. One class. Lots of possibilities.
I don’t think small group training is automatically better for everyone.
Some people love a big energetic class. Others prefer working completely one-on-one.
But if you like the idea of personal attention without giving up the community of a group, small group Pilates might be just your thing.
That’s why I’ve chosen to keep my classes at Nu Energy Body Therapy to a maximum of six.
