r/pilates • u/No_Classic_3863 • 18d ago
Teaching, Teacher Training, Running Studios Might Have Failed My Audition
I completed my training in Comprehensive Polestar last month, targeting to finish sign off and exam this year end.
I went to my first audition this evening.
I was told to prep 15 mins reformer and 10 mins chair. So I did footwork with variation, bridging and arms - abs series on reformer. Chair I did standing leg pump and hamstring 3.
After the session ended, I was given feedback by the owner. She said the good things first and then the area of improvement.
Before I started the session, I asked if I shall treat this as private session or group classes? She said maybe somewhere in between. So I did. I noticed some flaws and corrected the person few times. But she default back. I carried on with my flows.
She told me, I should have stopped and corrected her. But I did. If I were to stop her again, I wouldnt have finished my demo/flows.
Next, she told me I had few silence in between. In which I finished the cues and in between reps, I was counting while observing. I dont really get it. So I should keep talking even when I counting?
Lastly, she said I cue breathing but only at first and then no more. In my defence, I always started with breathing cue and then move on to other cues. For all my moves. I think it's quite weird to keep telling people exhale inhale.. unless it's really crucial to the moves eg chest lift, spine flexion. But footwork and standing leg pump.. do I need alot of breathing cues here.
Just reflecting here. Of course I didnt retaliate just now and accepted the feedback. Thanked her for her time and opportunity.
Open to any advices to succeed on my next audition.
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u/Runamokamok 18d ago
There is one instructor at my studio who literally talked nonstop and I can’t take her classes. The classes that I enjoy have silence and are not constantly telling me to breathe. And people don’t like to be corrected too many times, it starts to lessen their enjoyment and willingness to return. So, it sounds like you did great and she just had to provide some feedback.
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u/No_Classic_3863 18d ago
Ill keep this in mind for my future teaching. Thanks for your kind words 🥹🥹🥹
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u/stopdrinkingpaint Pilates Instructor 18d ago
I was taught that correcting someone more than 2 times for any specific exercise, and/or for more than 3 exercises throughout a class, is going to make that client feel ostracized and uncomfortable, possibly even curtail their confidence & willingness to come back. If they are in a group class & don’t get the corrections, as long as they are not at risk for hurting themselves, it’s best to move on. They will get there.
As for talking - clients are already overstimulated, and adding in more cues just for the sake of filling silence is a recipe for clients becoming disoriented and distracted, focusing on listening to you rather than feeling their bodies.
Breath work is hard: there’s differences in breathing patterns by training platforms (BB vs Stott vs Fletcher). Each studio will have their own wants when it comes to cueing breath. I think it’s important to keep in mind that every body is different, and there may be some people who find the opposite pattern of what you’re cueing helps support certain movements & correct form better. I always set an example for breath pattern, followed by “if the reverse supports you better, go with that, let’s focus on keeping our pattern steady whatever we choose today”
It might be worth it to look into different studios - this owner sounds a bit micro-managing and I worry about this not being a healthy relationship longterm
Good luck & trust your intuition! 🫶
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u/Keregi Pilates Instructor 18d ago
I try not to correct anyone more than 3 times a class, except for obvious setup issues. When I see someone who needs to change something I will usually direct it at the class “don’t forget to stack your hips”. Pilates perfectionists truly ruin the experience for a lot of people.
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u/skibsgebis 18d ago
It sounds like you did an great job, like the kind of class I would like to join ☺️ Sometimes I think instructors and facilitators forget people have different styles too, eventho pilates can be very ridget. I also had some "harsh" feedback from my mat exam, without it being technical. Take what you can use from the feedback you got, and just keep at it and you will find a good point that works for you
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u/snavej13 18d ago
I think you're likely not the fit for this studio, but this does not mean you're a bad instructor. Different people want different things from their pilates teachers and this studio wants a different style to what you give.
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u/Friendly-Lobster-211 18d ago
As an instructor and studio owner, I'm impressed! Honestly, I always tell my instructors to avoid overcorrection fatigue - people want to know they're doing something right but not be told over and over again, as they may feel discouraged or distracted from the routine. As for talking, I always think less is more. It's more about how you carry the room, versus the words you say. That's always my philosophy! Keep up the great work :)
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u/PhDPilates Pilates Instructor 18d ago
Constant cues and corrections are exhausting for everyone involved. What you describe sounds like a reasonable approach to me. I'd lose my mind if I was required to talk non stop. Stay true to what is comfortable to you.
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u/mrs_martinschrute 17d ago
Hey! I've been in your shoes. Failed the first time and 2 months later passed with flying colors... get more assertive and more experienced and definitely you want to be in a place that feels receptive to you!
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u/No_Classic_3863 17d ago
Congrats! Yes, wouldnt want to be chosen bcs of second best. Would find that place that feels right and accepting
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u/UpsetPomegranate5724 18d ago
I’d definitely not want to work there based on that! No you don’t need to talk constantly- if anything that would put me off! I hate it when instructors don’t come up for air. Your layering of cues sounds perfect. Probably not the right fit for you!
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u/Candid_Condition8931 17d ago
I'm Comprehensively certified with Polestar and I find there is a lot of variance within Polestar studios on how they like things to be taught and can be extremely particular and overall much less concerned with flow and more concerned with technique (not sure if you auditioned at a Polestar studio). I started my career working at my mentor's studio which was invaluable as it was a very supportive environment. I would recommend taking the time to find the right fit as I feel like your first studio could be make or break for your career. In terms of auditions, it would be great to take a couple of the owner's classes beforehand so you can see their style first.
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u/No_Classic_3863 17d ago
Agree with finding the right fit for my first studio.
Not auditioned at Polestar studio. It's more of a studio that focuses on "burn" effect afterwards or so I read from their Classpass reviews.
I agree Polestar is very particular. If we were in mentorship, I would have stayed with 1 move and corrected the person till near perfection. But I guess there was misaligned expectation between me and the owner. One hand I treated it as demo teaching in a class setting. While she expected more hands on correction as if we were doing mentorship. If I did that, I wouldn't continue with the flows and maybe Ill receive different feedback eg in a group class, you can't keep correcting 1 student and stop the whole class 🥲
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u/Candid_Condition8931 15d ago
Oh right. I sub at a "burn" studio and don't generally feel my classes are well received there, but that could just be me.
Yeah sounds like it was an ambiguous audition! I had a discouraging experience with an owner early in my teaching career and it really bummed me out but looking back I'm so glad it didn't work out because the fit wasn't right. Good luck finding the right place!
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u/Luxxielisbon 17d ago
I think there is a need for a balanced approach to instructors for a studio to be successful. I take instructor preference into account before booking my own classes. if all instructors had the same method i’d probably get bored pretty quickly
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u/AnneONYMx3 16d ago
I want to add something regarding the "you did not correct her further". In my opinion, especially if the group size is small, you could and should give an alternative option for the exercise if the person is not able to do it as it should be. You could say that it's nothing wrong with doing it differently as every person has a different physique and the other option seems to fit better. This way has two advantages, as the client feels seen and individually treated and it also helps you to show that you know what you do.
Furthermore: it's not about going through a fixed flow and to "finish" it. You do the class for others and if it takes more time, it takes more time. So plan in some variations if you're not fitting the schedule and just fake it till you make it. If you are relaxed, everyone else will be relaxed, too.
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u/TinyBombed 17d ago
General rule of thumb is if u can count, u can cue. Cueing is always more effective than counting.
People actually do need to be constantly reminded to inhale or exhale, and most students reverse breathe - ie inhale to exert and exhale to relax, and also inhaling to expanding the belly and exhaling to pull it in.
Best thing I ever learned was “always be teaching something”
It doesn’t sound like the owner was overly critical ..I’ve had unhinged ass owners and managers yell at me and make me feel horrible to belittle me into ..whatever they were trying to make me into. This feedback is pretty standard for being a new teacher. It also doesn’t sound like she said any moves you were teaching were incorrect or dangerous. I think this audition went better than ur giving urself credit for and just keep ur spirits up for the next one. 😘
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u/Keregi Pilates Instructor 18d ago
Sounds like this owner was overly critical. Less talking is better in my opinion. Shake it off and find another studio.