STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor Cheryl Preyer teaching a class at Premier Pilates St. Louis in Missouri before COVID-19. Photo credit: Chriss Tourkakis
Online learning might be a new experience for some, especially when it comes to fitness education, but it’s a great way to gain the same skills, knowledge and experience as you would in a traditional classroom setting on your own terms. It’s convenient, flexible and accessible, removing some of the barriers of in-person training.
We spoke to a couple of students who took virtual workshops with Merrithew® through the Toronto Corporate Training Center to find out how they set up their space, prepared for the course and maximized their online learning experience.
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STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor Cheryl Preyer at Premier Pilates St. Louis. Photo credit: Chriss Tourkakis
Cheryl Preyer, a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor who teaches at Premier Pilates St. Louis in Missouri, took two workshops: ZEN∙GA® Lower Body Focus and STOTT PILATES Sculpt & Tone, Flex Band® Level 1.
Here are her tips.
Before your workshop or course begins:
- Carve out some uninterrupted time for your training. Put your phone on ‘do not disturb’ to minimize distractions
- Gather all the props you need and set up your space. Buy or borrow what you need before the session begins. “Don’t plan to ‘make do’ with what you have on hand,” Cheryl says. “One of the workshops I attended called for a larger Mini Stability Ball™ than the one I had and it made a big difference.”
- Make sure you have a strong internet connection, test and troubleshoot before the session starts
Benefits of online training:
“I was so happy to be able to complete my CECs in 2020 in the midst of a pandemic. While I miss the in-person experience, it was delightful to choose my workshops to fit my schedule and to complete them at home. Scheduling directly through Merrithew for online training also resulted in confirmation of CECs attained at almost lightning pace!”
Keeping your skills sharp after it’s over:
“I am most pleased to have access to the related videos on Merrithew Connect™. Rather than relying on my notes, especially as I'm a visual learner, I’m so pleased to be able to remind myself of all I learned by practicing with video accompaniment.”
Liana Mauro, a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor and owner of Mauro Pilates in Austin, Texas, took the following workshops: ZEN∙GA Lower Body Focus, STOTT PILATES Matwork Strength & Mobility, STOTT PILATES Foam Roller® Challenge Level 2, and STOTT PILATES® Power Paced Fitness Circle®.
Here’s what she got out of it.
Perks of online training:
“In some ways, I found it easier to stay focused with virtual training versus in-person because of the decreased likelihood of others asking questions during the course. Most questions were discussed at the end which I found more efficient,” Liana says.
“I really liked the variety of Merrithew Instructor Trainers and content available virtually, and I wasn’t limited by where I could travel to. I loved having the opportunity to take courses with Instructor Trainers I’ve never worked with before, like PJ O’Clair! While there is certainly less interaction than in-person training, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and got a lot out of it.
“I really appreciate having the opportunity to get my CECs virtually as it’s much more convenient and just as effective. I also appreciate that the videos are included with the workshops.”
Putting your new skills to use:
“I have been reviewing my notes and the videos that were included with the workshops and applying them to my sessions with clients.”
Don’t miss the canfitpro Virtual Series – The Power of Connection from Sept 19-20. Sign up now for a Merrithew® workshop >