Transform Your Teaching: 3 Advanced Pilates Exercises to Add to Your Classes
Do you want to set yourself apart as a Pilates instructor and offer more value to your clients? One way to do so is to offer more variety in your classes. Specifically, you can give your students the chance to progress their practice by learning advanced Pilates exercises.
Many of the most advanced Pilates moves aren’t covered in typical classes. However, these exercises are extremely beneficial and offer students the chance to improve their skills and gain a deeper understanding of their bodies.
Let’s examine a few of these advanced Pilates moves to understand their benefits and learn how to safely demonstrate and teach them in your classes.
The benefits of incorporating advanced Pilates exercises
Adding more advanced moves to your Pilates classes offers several advantages:
Variety: While all Pilates exercises are useful, following the same routine all the time can become boring. Mixing in new moves helps keep your classes exciting and your students engaged. Plus, adding advanced exercises gives your students a more challenging experience that can provide additional health benefits.
Value: Offering advanced classes makes you a valuable instructor. You can serve clients who are looking for something different than the typical Pilates class. Additionally, you can serve a more diverse range of students in all classes by offering advanced modifications to standard exercises.
Fulfillment: Expanding your teaching skills can make your work as a Pilates instructor more personally satisfying. You may have the chance to witness inspiring moments as your students make breakthroughs in their practice and progress beyond their expectations.
Advanced Pilates Move #1: The Snake
The Snake is a full-body move typically performed on the reformer. It bears some resemblance to a plank, but it includes a twisting motion that challenges strength, control, and flexibility in the entire body. The Snake specifically targets the obliques, shoulders, and deep core muscles and helps an advanced practitioner incorporate power and precision with rotation.
As an instructor, understanding the nuances of the Snake will help you teach students to maintain proper alignment and control throughout the movement. Emphasizing breathwork and spinal articulation during this exercise can improve your ability to guide students through complex Pilates sequences, enhancing their core stability and overall body awareness.
Advanced Pilates Move #2: Control Balance
Control Balance can be performed on the mat or the reformer. It’s an intricate exercise that requires a high level of core strength and balance. It also demands precision, flexibility, and control.
For this move, you start in a supine position and then roll your legs overhead. Extend one leg toward the ceiling while the other reaches toward the floor (behind you). Performing Control Balance on the reformer is often used as a way to dismount the apparatus at the end of a session.
As an instructor, mastering Control Balance enables you to teach students how to maintain core engagement and stability during dynamic movements. Breaking down the exercise into manageable steps, such as focusing on pelvic stability and controlled leg extensions, can help students progress safely and confidently. It also gives them the chance to practice being comfortable while being upside down.
Advanced Pilates Move #3: Hanging Series
The Hanging Series is performed on the Cadillac and typically includes several exercises such as the Hanging Pull-Up, Hanging Teaser, and Hanging Back Stretch. These movements utilized the Cadillac’s bars and springs to leverage body weight, promoting strength and flexibility and incorporating time upside down.
Hanging Pull-Up: This move focuses on upper body strength and scapular stability.
Hanging Teaser: This exercise enhances core strength and control.
Hanging Back Stretch: This move emphasizes spinal elongation and flexibility.
As a teacher, mastering these exercises helps enhance your ability to instruct students on the proper form and technique. Both of these elements are crucial to performing these highly demanding movements safely.
By understanding the mechanics and alignment in the Hanging Series, you can create a supportive environment for students. You’ll also have the knowledge to provide detailed cues and modifications to help your clients reach their fitness goals.
Ready to perfect these advanced Pilates exercises?
Adding advanced moves to your Pilates class gives your clients variety and makes your classes even more beneficial. By learning how to demonstrate and teach these advanced skills, you can showcase your value as an instructor and attract more clients who are looking to progress their Pilates practice.
If you’re ready to take your teaching skills to the next level, join us at Pilates in the Grove in Miami on October 20 for our Pilates Continuing Education workshop.
Taught by expert Pilates instructor Teri Seier Moore, this workshop covers a broad range of advanced Pilates moves — many of which are rarely seen in typical classes. In this immersive workshop, you’ll learn how to safely perform these exercises and teach them correctly to your students!
If you’re ready to become a better Pilates instructor and offer new experiences to your clients, join us in Miami this October. Get all the details about our Pilates Continuing Education workshop and save your spot today!