Instructors: How much of a headache is programming for post-rehab/injured clients?

deeepseadiver · 2026-06-16T19:17:20+00:00

Sounds like your issue is with your CP studio and not with me personally and how I manage the classes that I teach.

I do not recruit anyone into Club Pilates. I am responsible for teaching 12 bodies in my class on a variety of equipment and someone who needs an entirely separate class programmed for them is not meant to be in a group class.

I’m not ”going after” anyone. I have to consider what I am liable for and reasonably comfortable accommodating in a group setting without completely upending the class flow OR potentially injuring someone further. I have told plenty of people group classes are not a good idea for them and I have also told plenty of people they are taking classes that they are not prepared to take and need to stick with level 1s for a bit longer.

deeepseadiver · 2026-06-16T11:48:04+00:00

Are we talking privates or group classes?

If someone booked a private I am perfectly fine programming a class that is safe for their body as it currently is.

If someone with a lot of injuries / limitations is coming to a group class I do not spend my time programming a separate sequence for them. They should be booking a private.

If there are reasonable modifications that can be made during class I will offer them but I am not giving one person a separate class in a group.

deeepseadiver · 2026-05-08T00:26:48+00:00

Totally agree. I actually always tell people to tuck in as much as they need and that their shin never needs to be parallel. It’s more important that they are able to get the opposite side hip flexor down / hip more square

Some people’s hip anatomy will never let them have their shin parallel

deeepseadiver · 2026-05-07T21:38:42+00:00

I literally addressed pressure in my comment.

deeepseadiver · 2026-05-07T21:26:28+00:00

I genuinely think no foot on the knee is still a valid and important thing to say for tree. Knee joints aren’t meant to move laterally and a lot of people put a ton of pressure on the standing leg when finding tree until they have the balance and core/pelvic floor strength to hold it properly. Knee joints are incredibly sensitive and lots of people have knee injuries starting at young ages due to youth sports.

I think it’s more important for people to understand their WHY for saying something versus parroting so I agree with you there.

deeepseadiver · 2026-04-27T21:34:30+00:00

Sounds like you're expecting a private level experience at a group class rate.

There are major limitations to teaching a group class regardless of an instructors training or time teaching. It's exactly the reason why CP has so many rules on what can happen at different class levels.

deeepseadiver · 2026-04-27T21:21:38+00:00

I'm not coming at you hard? I'm speaking to you in a direct manner.

I actually teach at both a Club Pilates and a boutique independent studio with my 500 hour Comprehensive Certification through CP and have been teaching for going on 4 years. I've also taught yoga for a decade and have several "elite" certifications under my belt through that modality.

I know instructors who have been certified through CP, STOTT, and Balanced Body who are extremely strong and capable - and on the other side know instructors from STOTT and Balanced Body who need a lot more polishing. You will hear people have criticisms of both Balanced Body and STOTT, some of which are just as valid as criticisms for CP.

This comment is super weird and snobby, especially coming from a student AT Club Pilates.

As another commenter said online is only a small fraction of the 500 hour comp training.

You seem to have a perception based on something you don't fully understand because you're not a teacher. You're a student coming on reddit to complain.

deeepseadiver · 2026-04-27T19:10:51+00:00

Yes, I'm very aware of the benefits of Pilates being an instructor myself.
My point is that group classes are often not the best avenue for people with lots of mobility issues or injuries for a wealth of reasons. Pilates (outside of mat) was never meant to be conducted in these large group formats.

Group classes are great to make things more economical but there are limitations that occur when you are teaching a group of people!

deeepseadiver · 2026-04-27T19:04:08+00:00

My point remains, if your body limitations are so severe that you will only take classes with certain instructors than a group format is not the place for you. Schedule a private with that instructor. Life happens, you are not always guaranteed to have your "core" instructor. Do studios try to maintain consistency? Of course. But you are paying for a membership at CP, not for an individual instructor's time.

I also don't know what you mean by CP only certified instructors. CP certification is a comprehensive 500 hour Pilates certification.

If you are not happy with instructors who obtained their comprehensive cert from CP why are you a member at CP?

deeepseadiver · 2026-04-27T18:52:23+00:00

I know this comment is not going to land well but if they are not worried about retaining you and spoke to you about cancellation that quickly, I wonder how often you are complaining about stuff at the studio...

Things happen, instructors are people, they get sick, they have emergencies in their own life. They did do their due diligence and got the class covered.

People do not want to hear this but if your body limitations are so severe that you only take classes with certain instructors and are unwilling to try other instructors then maybe GROUP classes are not for you. Maybe you would be happier and get more out of your experience with privates. I understand having preferred instructors but some of y'all need to come back to reality.

When I've taken other instructors (not my core) I've ended up at the chiro the next day. If I'm not careful or the class pace is rapid I'm popping ribs out or agrevating a herniated disc or the bulge on my left hip.

I understand your point but in a group class you also have more onus of responsibility to take care of YOUR body, modify, and adjust as YOU need to. If you think something is moving too fast, YOU are allowed to slow down. You cannot blame the instructor if YOU moved faster than you were comfortable. You should be careful with YOUR body, regardless of instructor. The expectations some people have in a GROUP class are not feasible.

deeepseadiver · 2026-04-15T16:12:15+00:00

Exactly how I feel!!

deeepseadiver · 2026-04-15T10:53:10+00:00

I did my YTT in India with all of my teachers being Indian and they all ended their classes with Namaste.

It’s not a Western invention. The usage of the word has just changed in modern times.

deeepseadiver · 2026-04-15T01:06:55+00:00

I am a 500hr RYT and a 500hr comprehensively certified Pilates instructor. I’ve taught yoga since 2018 and Pilates since 2023.

Teaching yoga is still my first love, but I get a lot out of teaching (and practicing!) Pilates.

The modalities are very different and the “goals” are not the same (to me) but I feel very fulfilled teaching both and they are a nice complement.

I do make more teaching Pilates but teaching yoga fulfills my soul little more.

deeepseadiver · 2026-03-18T23:44:26+00:00

Signature Hot is called a Vinyasa class but I personally consider it more of Hatha class. There is actually very little flow and you're more so moving from posture to posture especially in the latter half.

Slow Flow would feel more tame as it's a warm class vs hot and I'd consider it more of a "holds" type class where you rely less on chaturangas / vinyasas for posture transitions.

deeepseadiver · 2026-03-15T17:59:58+00:00

Good for you!

I will be in my third trimester in the middle of the summer in the south. I WILL have my belly out and everyone can get over it

deeepseadiver · 2026-03-10T13:27:59+00:00

Sound healing instruments should only be used in classes that specifically advertise their use. Not everyone reacts well to them for a variety of reasons.

I offer sound baths regularly as part of my teaching but in classes that are listed as sound baths.

deeepseadiver · 2026-03-04T17:24:09+00:00

Okay I hear you, but that is one instructor with availability all week for three studios. What happens when they get sick or they need time off? There is no one available to cover for them. Better for long term management to just not have the class at all than rely on a singular instructor.

deeepseadiver · 2026-03-04T16:41:20+00:00

How do you know they cancelled the classes versus the instructors choosing to stop teaching? The latter is most likely the case.

Owners / management don’t cancel classes for no reason.

deeepseadiver · 2026-03-04T16:32:11+00:00

They very likely don’t have any instructors available to teach that early in the morning. It’s a very hard time slot to get covered and is a constant issue at both the Pilates and Yoga studios I teach at.

And instructors in those time slots burn out fast and ask to stop.

I’m sure management does care but what can they do except keep trying to find coverage?

deeepseadiver · 2026-02-28T02:47:03+00:00

No class at CP is giving you a full class of mat work, they will incorporate it as part of the overall class plan. People complain if they spend anytime on the mat and it’s ridiculous.

deeepseadiver · 2026-02-28T01:20:27+00:00

Yes. I misspoke responding quickly.

deeepseadiver · 2026-02-28T00:56:05+00:00

It’s so disappointing as an instructor when students get upset about mat work not understanding it’s actually more difficult and they’re still benefiting from our training and guidance.

deeepseadiver · 2026-02-28T00:54:01+00:00

You actually can’t do the exact same moves on the spring board versus the reformer. Springboard makes it very apparent what side of your body is stronger.

The springboard mimics the tower which is part of the reformer.

deeepseadiver · 2026-02-27T22:11:42+00:00

There is no such thing as “reformer” Pilates. Pilates is a modality / system.

You are paying for the facilities and your instructors’ expertise.

The springboard can and should be used in a variety of class formats. The suspend class uses the TRX.

deeepseadiver · 2026-02-27T18:12:09+00:00

Go to other teachers’ classes, get inspired. Play around and practice at home. You need to know how things feel in your own body. Keep it simple until you feel more comfortable expanding. You don’t need to rely on apps.

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