“A daily personal practice is essential; you don’t get good at something you never do,” – PJ O’Clair
As a Pilates instructor, you spend so much energy guiding, encouraging, and caring for your clients. That generosity is what makes your teaching meaningful. But just as your students need consistency to progress, so do you. Maintaining your own personal practice is one of the most valuable investments you can make.
A steady practice fuels curiosity, keeps you connected to the method, and reminds you why you love movement in the first place. It’s where you can explore, recharge, and strengthen both body and mind, so that when you step into the studio, you bring confidence, clarity, and presence to your teaching.
That’s where Merrithew Connect™, a Pilates streaming platform comes in. Designed to support your journey with on-demand workouts, masterclasses, and tutorials you can access anytime, anywhere, alongside a global community of mindful movement professionals.
Expert Insights on Personal Practice
In the words of PJ O’Clair, Merrithew® Master Instructor Trainer:
“A personal Pilates practice is essential for a Pilates instructor because it reinforces the very foundation of what we teach. Through regular self-practice, instructors deepen their understanding of the method, refine their movement patterns and maintain the physical conditioning necessary to demonstrate exercises with precision and control.”
That consistency also builds resilience, helping you stay adaptable, injury-free, and energized throughout your career.
For Merrithew Master Instructor Jen Dahl, variety is the key:
“My personal practice is built on a consistent amount of variety. As much as I need to stay on top of repertoire and workshop content for education, I also need to train my body in different ways to prevent injuries and get as much balanced conditioning as possible.”
Why Personal Practice Matters
- Embodied Understanding Makes You a Better Instructor: Practicing regularly sharpens your awareness from the inside out. It enriches cueing and enhances programming.
- Staying Connected to the Student Mindset: When you step into practice as a learner, you reconnect with the challenges, breakthroughs, and discoveries your students experience. This perspective makes your teaching more empathetic, relatable, and responsive to their needs.
- A Laboratory for Exploration: Think of your mat or Reformer as a space for testing, exploring, and playing. Revisit foundational principles or trial new sequences before teaching them forward.
- Staying Inspired & Curious: The best educators are lifelong learners. A consistent personal practice nurtures curiosity and brings joy back into movement, helping you stay excited about what you teach and how you teach it.
As PJ O’Clair reminds us:
“Personal practice is a space to explore, embody the Pilates principles and stay inspired. It supports ongoing growth, not just physically, but mentally and professionally, ensuring that we continue to teach from a place of integrity, authenticity and lived experience.”
A Tool for Lifelong Teaching
Your personal practice is more than maintenance, it’s the foundation of inspired, confident teaching. Each time you move with intention, you strengthen not only your own body and mind but also the guidance you bring to your students. By committing to that daily practice, you keep curiosity alive, refine your skills, and stay connected to the joy of movement.