Swanning around. That is all I seem to do. Several people over the years have commented on what an easy life I lead, "swanning around" from class to class, wearing my favourite athletic wear and just teaching exercises to people. They are absolutely right of course. That is quite literally all I do.
Fortunately for me, I also have a handy group of elves who live in the cupboard under my stairs and when I am finished swanning and tucked up in bed, out they pop to do bookkeeping and accounts management, plan and write classes, research and development of industry changes, research on ideas for keeping the classes fresh and current, annual CPD management, taking care of all client emails and queries, website management, social media, business development, filming, editing and managing the video library, teacher trainer queries and sometimes if my luck is really in, they will run the hoover round and stick a wash on.
Beware! You may not be as fortunate as me and you may not have elves to do this. But do it, you must. So if you were perusing a swanning around type role that is as easy as mine, may I just draw your attention to a few points?
I spent several years working for a Fitness teacher training company, teaching the Level 3 and Level 4 Pilates qualification and have met many wonderful teachers, many I am still in touch with and several of whom still come to my classes. I could usually spot quite quickly who was going to succeed and in what way but there were the very few who did indeed believe that all they had to do was learn a few exercises, wear really fabulous leggings and that was that. I believe that rather worryingly, there are some very basic courses that do not require as much work and do not demand such a high standard and this has led to what is being recognised as a dilution of the true foundation of Pilates but more of that another time.
As a starter, before you do anything else, you are required to pass your level 3 in Anatomy and Physiology (A&P). This is about the equivalent of a GCSE so not to be sniffed at and a fair amount of work, which was quite a shock to some learners who honestly believed they could just skip that bit. As one student said to me - "seriously? SERIOUSLY? I have to learn all that s**t?".... "Yup you do" I replied " You have to learn a whole lot of other s**t too!"
(Before lockdown and various modules moving online, I had to deliver the A&P module and that really kept me on my toes!! Always a slightly nervous part of my course delivery!)
Just for the very basic qualification, you need to have passed your A&P, helping you to understand planes of movement, joint action and the different roles of the muscles as well as the cardio vascular system and circulation. We also go over special populations, common orthopaedic conditions, exercise for the older adult and children, general health and safety, safeguarding, basic business marketing and communication. That is before we get into teaching.
It has always slightly amused me how many new students do not want to stand up in front of the group and practise teaching, given that this a basic requirement of the job they are training for. We cover all the different teaching styles to accommodate the different learning styles of our participants, how to safely warm up and. prep, WHY to warm up and prep, how to safely cool down and stretch, WHY to cool down and stretch, all the different types of stretching, and different types of relaxation. We cover what is called Lateral thoracic breathing for Pilates and how to teach, and then we get into the original 34 exercises. How to teach them, adapt, modify, use props, break down, build up, link to other moves and fully understand how to deliver.
So there is a fair bit to it and it was the attitude to learning that gave me a clue as to who may succeed. If you are habitually late, with your coursework in total chaos, with no completed assignments but an armful of excuses, it does not fill me with confidence as to how you expect to run your business. If on the day of your final exam, you are again late, your written exam work is not put together properly, (or unfinished?) it does not suggest that your heart is truly in it, or you just think that you will wing it. Bad news - I have elves, you may not. Your competitors may have a far more professional approach and you will find success a lot more challenging. I always said that your approach to learning should be as your approach to running your business. Meet deadlines, complete work efficiently and be ready and prepared. How on earth else can you expect to succeed?
Mind you, I will always be the first to admit to being a total clot on many occasions. While the menopause seems to have me fully in it's grip I have forgotten on more than one occasion what we are doing, and this last week while I am house sitting for friends, have looked several times at the screen thinking "who on earth is that" as I see myself in an unfamiliar room!
When I started, I was the only Pilates teacher in Lymington the local New Forest. Can you believe that! Now, I can't count how many studios and freelance teachers there are so if you hope to succeed, you need to be very aware of what your competition is offering and how you are going to promote yourself to get business. I am very happy in sales and marketing so that side of things suits me but it may not suit you and your skills may shine elsewhere but without some self promotion you won't have any clients so again, this is something to consider. Where are you going to teach? Are you insured? Before you turn your double garage or lovely wooden garden office into a small studio, do you know that if you are teaching small groups at home, your house insurance does not cover you and you may also need to check with your local council ? what equipment do you have? How will people pay you? how will you run your classes - will they be PAYG or terms? Do you know you need a license to play music? Are your health questionnaires up to date? You know you also need to include an informed consent form? If you are in a public hall or room, is access safe and what security measures might you need to consider? Are you confident with who you can teach with regards to your qualifications? Are you committed to ongoing training to keep up with CPD? Do you have a website? So many students have said over the years that they don't do social media but without it, you are as good as invisible.
Believe me - the teaching part really is the easy part or at least is the fun (or swanning around) part. It is very easy to forget with any business, just how much work goes on behind the scenes. A quote I have used before is "You are not paying me for the hour I teach you but for the 20 years of work that has made me the teacher I am today".
I would never put anyone off having a career change and getting into this industry but do please stop and take a reality check as I have had so many students really quite shocked at the amount of theory work, paperwork and so on that is required before you do the fun part.
But it is fun! Most of the time, and there is always the Swanning around to look forward to.
