How to teach an effective online CLINICAL Pilates matwork class

Everyone is jumping online to get their Pilates fix. So how exactly do you teach an effective clinical Pilates matwork class online that incorporates the attention to detail and personalised approach that you as an allied health professional pride yourself on.

Yes, movement is great. Pilates is fantastic and yet...

"If you move the way you always move then you'll move the way you'll always move"

Our job as allied health professionals (such as physiotherapists, osteopaths, myotherapists etc) is to help clients move differently; change unhelpful movement patterns and feel better as a result.

How do we do that with our hands behind our back, so to speak and a 2D person standing in front of us. Like wearing slightly out of focus glasses. 

By using our amazing APPI Clinical Pilates skills that's how.

With these 3 magic words

Assess. Empower. Basics

ASSESS

Spend 5-50 minutes assessing your client before they join the class, if they have had a break or a new/ongoing injury.

Tip 1. Get your clients to film themselves standing at different angles and doing movements to send to you beforehand.

Tip 2. Use a couple of the warm up exercises from your APPI matwork 2 course to assess while your client is performing the exercise. For example the roll down for lumbar spine flexion

Tip 3. Ask the client to self assess using a mirror. Give them a couple of pointers. For example, hands on hips "is one hand higher?"

EMPOWER

Empower your clients.

"How does that feel?" 

Give them the tools of self-awareness so they can do exercises by themselves too. 

They are more aware, which may prevent injury and target where they need it. Doesn't mean you become obsolete - you just get to move them from where they develop from rather than the same spot each time. Get their brain on board. 

"Focus. On your movement. Not your shopping list"

As a bonus you can combine your assessment with their self-awareness. When clients are empowered they are more compliant and more likely to do your exercises outside of the class.

Tip - Provide feedback on where you would like them to feel it, where you would prefer them not to and ask them to report where they "feel it" whilst moving. 

Tip - Give the reason why you are asking them to notice something and how it relates to them.

Tip - Film yourself demonstrating certain exercises in the class (on Zoom) you can give as homework.

Back to basics

I don't know about you but I am much less inclined to give advanced Pilates exercises online, particularly to those with any current issues or with a history. 

I can't see exactly what is going on and can't use my hands to guide. 

I've also found over the duration of my career as a Physiotherapist and Pilates Instructor that very few can do advanced exercises without using less than ideal movement patterns. 

The basics of Pilates movements are hard enough when taught and practised correctly. I've seen professional athletes sweating and swearing whilst mastering breathing and moving their pelvis into a tilt without their hips helping out.

Use the "online" time to help your clients master their five key elements, slow down (don't let speed cover up their weaknesses) and break down the exercise.

Educate your clients on why the basics are so important. How they lay the foundation for the advanced Clinical Pilates exercises they so desperately want to do.

Watch and learn as I take you through the 5 key APPI foundation elements. These exercises are specific to the APPI Pilates method and will help you on your quest to teach an effective Clinical Pilates online class. 

To summarise:

Assess first and throughout

Empower your clients to help themselves using self-awareness and education.

Remember the advanced level IS mastery of the basics.

A final 3 words.

Good, better, best

Are they moving? That is good

Are they aware of how they are moving? That is better

Are they aware of how they are moving and able to move differently? That is best.

Remember good is good enough

I am sure you are doing the BEST you can in these difficult circumstances.

Keen to start teaching Clinical Matwork Pilates online? Check out our upcoming courses here!

If you have any questions at all, reach out to our education team here.

Take time out for yourself with one of Unite Health's Online Pilates classes.

Enrol in an Online Pilates course to upskill and connect. 

About the author:

Eva is a Physio and Presenter for APPI. She is obsessed with human movement. When she isn't learning, teaching or seeing clients, she is riding her bicycle or going on adventures with her kids, pooch and husband. 

You can find her at @havemovement on Instagram