Hi guys, Pilates instructors, Pilates lovers!!! All Fitness enthusiasts !
I am going to share here how I am teaching a Pilates private session. I do analyse each session I have taught and make sure I include an appropriate cues, so my client will have a great experience during the session!
And remember: SAFETY first!
HERE WE GO:
“I am teaching a male client, he is around 50 years old, strong and active. I always find it a bit more challenging to applicate a tactile cues with a male client.
I am teaching Ladder Barrel Bridging. I adjusted Barrel and secured it in place. I told my client to place sacrum bone against the Barrel and place his feet one by one on the highest rung. He never done this exercise before, so I do demo as well as I found that he has better idea of movement as he has a picture in his head.
I place a non skid pad on top of the Barrel where his upper back will rest on.
My client carefully set himself on the Barrel and with control lowering his upper back down to supine position. He is a bit stiff in his back, so I make sure he is fine in this position. Placing a soft pillow under shoulder and neck area. So he won’t create any major discomfort in this position.
Spine is in extension position, hands are behind his head interlaced, shoulder/ shoulder blades are resting on the pillow.
He said he is feeling ok and secure in this position.
I ask him to direct a tail bone forward towards his heels and start to articulate spine into Bridging, which one he is very familiar with.
I know that for first time it feels a bit scary as your head will slightly slide down ( inversion). I am assisting him from behind and placing my fingers/ hands against his shoulders ( slightly on top of collar bones, so he is getting some feedback and feels more secure with a gentle touch from me.
As he is in his Bridging position I asked him to keep reaching his knees towards the wall in front and get lengthening feeling through his front thighs. Keep shining his hip bones up towards the ceiling, and create feeling of straight line : shoulders to knees.
Then , with exhalation, create a smooth articulation back down to starting position, bone by bone, not missing a single vertebrae. So I remind him to let gravity assist the body into articulation, as spine follows the shape of the Barrel.
Next variation, I ask him to reach long arms to the ceiling, keep wrist over the shoulders. I direct him to proceed into the same spine articulation reaching arms over his head. I am assisting him from behind and placing a box in front of me and as his arms are over his head he is reaching hands towards the box.
I ask him to press hands against the box. From other side I am holding box firmly. As I noticed that his rib cage are flaring I asked him to relax rib cage ( close and organise rib cage area ) and keep thinking of straight line he is creating in Bridging position without arching his back.
Then carefully with control guide him back into starting position: melting spine down bone by bone.
He really likes this exercise , found that he is getting nice opening in his chest and some shoulder mobility.
I feel that tactile cues I gave are assistive and if I have a female client I will usually ask them to press their hands against my hips, but with male client I found more appropriate to use box and they are getting same feedback.
This exercise really needs instructor assistance and I do include more movements into my program that requires tactile cues to assist my client, so I getting more comfortable and familiar with it. “
Look back, analysed session you have taught. It is your experience, the way you are getting more professional and can bring the best for your clients.
Luba Pilates 