6 Ways to Have a Stress-Free Pilates Teacher Training

“It’s the mind itself which shapes the body” – Joseph Pilates

Enrolling in a comprehensive Pilates teacher training can be a transformative experience both personally and in your career.  Your commitment to this path of study requires significant dedication, planning, studying, moving and flexibility.  We recently spoke with Latonia Johnson, a comprehensive student in Miami Florida, who shared with us her excitement for her movement studies as well as the inspiration for this post: how can we help other Polestar students traverse their comprehensive training with more ease and less stress!  Latonia’s key for a stress free comprehensive is scheduling.  By scheduling out in advance the dates for her observation hours over the course of the 6 month comprehensive, Latonia found grounding and peace of mind; now all she has to do is study and show up – thanks Latonia! Find a Way that Works for You. Everyone has a personal method for accomplishing their goals – find out what works best for you.  Whether you schedule out requirements 6 months in advance, at the beginning of the month or at the beginning of each week, take the time today to lock down when you are going to study, observe and play.  Put it in the books! Your comprehensive training will also influence your existing schedule; your family, friends and personal life may take a necessary pause as you pursue the exciting path to impact the world through intelligent movement (a worthy endeavor!).  Make sure to look ahead and plan how you will fit your personal life into your teacher training schedule. Move Your Body: Exercise gives you endorphins – endorphins make you happy!  If you find yourself becoming stressed out from reading and studying, take some time to simply play and move your body (an often overlooked aspect of teacher training study time).  Your comprehensive training requires plenty of focused attention – being in tune with your own body will both help you manage stress and enhance your understanding of how others move and experience Contrology. Take Some Time to Try Something New: Over the course of your teacher training you will be focusing on Pilates Pilates Pilates!  Take the time to try some new movement like Tai Chi, Yoga, swimming, volleyball, or hiking.   Not only will you get the endorphins and possibly a good tan, it can provide a refreshingly different perspective on movement – do you notice anything new about your body or your observation of other bodies?  Better yet, take a group study break and try this with your fellow Pilates nerds! Study with your Buddies: Did we mention the numerous benefits to studying in groups?  By committing to a study group that meets regularly you are held accountable, which immediately solves the problem of procrastination. How many Pilates nerds does it take to attach a blue spring?  Group effort can bring refreshing energy to your study efforts – it is social, fun and often includes yummy snacks.  Spend some time with another comprehensive student to  gain a new perspective on the material.  Aspects that may be difficult for one person to understand might be your cakewalk and visa versa.  By combining scholarly minds you can discover new ways to look at material and teach each other.  Know Your Strengths and Your Weaknesses: Celebrate your strengths and weaknesses as a student-teacher. With attention and care, both things will make you the best teacher you can be.   Is there one aspect of teaching you avoid? – a posture, specific apparatus or a type of cueing?  Figure out what intimidates you and choose to address it with peers and in practice.  Journaling about your practice teaching both before and after can be a great way to illuminate these things.  The aspects of teaching that you avoid can be a significant cause of stress, but once strengthened, they become the very elements that most significantly improve your teaching!  Teacher training is a time to work through these things.  Take it with a grain of salt, face the music and sing! Like the Blog?  Sign up for the Newsletter!