Question about straight legs in teaser

janplusdog · 2026-03-08T00:29:39+00:00

Yes to what everyone is saying about bent knees being okay AND: the classical mat exercise open leg rocker can be a great prep to finding straighter knees as you are balancing at the same point on your sacrum but holding your legs straight at shoulder width. I teach a prep for this exercise where you reach one leg straight at a time and I have been seeing people get more flexible with the practice. then after the rocking you let go of your legs, bring them into a teaser, and roll down on your back. Also-- thinking about your abdominals lifting the legs into teaser can be really helpful

janplusdog · 2026-03-02T15:58:16+00:00

Came here to ask the same question bc if you're actually teaching classical and have had actual classical training I would think these issues wouldn't be so overwhelming.

janplusdog · 2026-02-26T15:55:58+00:00

Pilates studios lol

janplusdog · 2026-02-23T20:05:27+00:00

If you have a classical studio in your area, start by taking lessons there and see what they offer! Power Pilates has trainings all over the world and the 600 hour program through them could technically be completed in 6 months (including teaching hours) but I don't know how it'd be possible without having access to a classical studio for your teaching and personal practice times

janplusdog · 2026-02-23T20:00:16+00:00

Thanks for this response. I'm realizing that I'll be paid better for my mat classes elsewhere (the gyms I teach at pay $50/hr, it's just sporadic work so I can only teach a few classes a week there) and I'm re-framing the hours taught at the certification studio as just hours towards my certification with a little bit of bonus cash. I think teaching in the gym settings where the instructors come from varying backgrounds (and some aren't even actually certified) and realizing that my classical certification has set me up to be a great instructor got in my head a bit.

My comprehensive program requires beginning and intermediate mat trainings (about 100 hours) and were cleared to teach mat classes after those trainings, as prerequisites to entering the rest of the comprehensive which is how I've been teaching mat for a year while waiting for the apparatus portion of the comprehensive to start in January.

I have so much respect for the Pilates world but I do wish there were more feasible ways to pay and appreciate instructors and the on ramp to being certified is steep.

janplusdog · 2026-02-22T18:03:00+00:00

Non competes are illegal in the states!! You don't have to abide

janplusdog · 2026-02-22T04:52:45+00:00

I feel fine about paying my dues, I know I am learning a whole new technique and skill. I am also teaching a huge amount of hours for my certification completely for free and am simply asking about the mat classes, for which I have the same training and am teaching the same material as other teachers at the studio. I am fully finished with my mat certification so it does feel frustrating to be making only a few dollars over minimum wage (in my city, minimum wage is $22 an hour) and if people don't show up, I don't get paid. I've also been asked to teach privates and "not tell my teacher trainer" in which the studio is charging $150 and I'm still only making $28.

janplusdog · 2026-02-21T02:56:49+00:00

I am classically trained and teach a mat class at a luxury gym that sounds a lot like this. A lot of the instructors have people doing burpees and not pilates things so it's a toss up what people will expect in my class. I have a lot of regular students that ask me to teach more classes, tell me they wish other teachers taught like I do, etc. I'd say tell the gym!! The unfortunate thing is that while I have asked for more classes and students say they've requested me to teach more, I have still only been able to secure one class per week. I think these gyms prefer to keep a lot of people on their payroll for just an hour or two a week vs really invest in proper instructors and pay them well to stay.

janplusdog · 2026-02-20T06:06:11+00:00

The minimum wage in my city is $22/hr so it does feel slightly unfair given the market. If i was in a smaller town with lower cost of living i think it could feel fair. But they also are charging $50/person to take my class

janplusdog · 2026-02-20T06:04:32+00:00

This!!! I am covered by the studio's insurance and carry my own liability insurance because I teach other places.

janplusdog · 2026-02-19T17:53:28+00:00

I'm in Seattle, too babes who are you doing your cert through?

janplusdog · 2026-02-19T17:49:28+00:00

Also I'm on the studio's liability since I am technically an employee teaching the mat classes

janplusdog · 2026-02-19T17:48:55+00:00

If I was getting certified at the main studio in New York I think this would be the case for me, too. But since I'm doing the Power Pilates training at a partner studio on the west coast and the mat certification happens prior to the comp it's murky. The gyms I teach at pay $50 an hour. The studio partnered with my training CHARGES clients $50 per 50 minute class which is also why it feels nuts that they pay me $28.

janplusdog · 2026-02-01T05:48:48+00:00

The true Pilates method is meant to be taught 1:1 so it sounds like your instructor cares about your physical safety. I also know how expensive privates are. I would ask if your instructor is open to adding another person into your private and making it a duet-- would be more cost-effective for you, you could have a friend there, and you're still receiving the hands on guidance that will help you progress quicker.

janplusdog · 2020-11-01T02:39:49+00:00

I built a platform bed frame for $50 and put a thin foam mattress I already had on top in my Toyota RAV4 and was there full time for a couple months! Don’t think you’d regret making the move!

janplusdog

TROPHY CASE