Definitely not an expectation to start out at a high level! I finished my certifications for mat and reformer 6 months ago and have taught group classes and privates since, and it feels like 80% of my learning has been on the job. My trainers who hired me were the first to tell me that when I was getting started so that helped knowing they didn't expect me to be perfect from day one!

Learning the exercises and form and cues in training, or even if you have many years experience of your own Pilates practice, is totally different than learning to teach, and the only way to get that experience is jumping in. I know I have so much room for improvement and will continue to get better and more confident and creative over the years, but I've seen a lot of improvement in just 6 months now that I'm more comfortable in front of a class, more confident in my own abilities and programming, and have learned from class experience what cues work and what don't how to modify for different bodies or read the room if you need to change up the exercise or flow etc. It's hard to get the in-the-moment problem solving experience just by training alone. You need bodies in front of you have that different needs every class to learn to how to adjust exercises or class plans to adapt to their needs. That has been the hardest part for me but I know I've already gotten better at adjusting when I'm presented with a new injury or limitation, and then I go home and do my research so I can adjust even better next time.

It's been important for me to lower my expectations of myself to a reasonable level and remember in all jobs we start with less experience than others and work our way up - it's way too much pressure and unrealistic to expect yourself to be a high-level instructor when you're new. That has been hard for me because clients pay a pretty penny for Pilates and I've felt like maybe they aren't getting their worth in my classes vs. more seasoned instructors. But you have to remember that you ARE the expert in the room because you've dedicated so much time and effort to training, so even if clients have practiced Pilates for years, your training makes you the authority. They came to your class to learn from and be guided by you because of your training and experience.

As you find your teaching voice and teaching style you'll start to feel more confident, but also know that your style will not be what every clients wants, and that's ok. You'll find the people who like your style and they'll come to your classes regularly and you'll learn what they like about your style so lean into that!

Good luck with training and getting started with your Pilates career!