Things to Consider When Choosing Your Home Studio
I answered another big Pilates question on TikTok recently. – VIEW
There are obvious answers: Google, social media, and word of mouth.
Finding a space where you will enjoy trying in public, managing self-doubt, sweating in front of strangers, and having a human grabbing your feet for 50-minutes (😂) is a lot. How will you know you will like experiencing this five months from today?
Answer: Asking yourself critical questions.
Here are other things to consider beyond costs and popularity:
Are the instructors certified? Does it matter to you through whom?
It matters. Some folks know movement, but not how to make it function for different bodies. Being a decent instructor takes more than memorizing someone else’s videos*. You want a coach who can scale exercises up & down based on your physical abilities (injuries + conditioning), mental capacity, and immediate needs (maybe you are dehydrated today and cramping a ton.)
If your studio does an in-house training that is not a nationally recognized cert, understand that a studio that hosts their training (EX: Pilates for Lizards does a Pilates for Lizards certification for their hired staff) could be only exposing their trainees to idealized programming for their business that could stunt your growth or advance you far too quickly and lead to injury. (And still are viable contenders still.)
2. Think about it before you commit.
Don’t rush yourself. You are making a money commitment and a time commitment.
Can you get to the studio? On time?
Do you feel like you can grow there?
Does your vision expand at the thought?
Great! Hold this hand-in-hand when considering your budget and goals to set yourself up for success.
3. Do you and others feel mentally safe?
Is your instructor constantly bringing up food and how exercising fixes it? Are their colloquialisms about the body veiled by shame and leaving you feeling not good enough? OR makes you feel like you want to protect someone else in the space?
Can you ask questions?
Do you get 1:1 attention during a class? Private session? Do cues, programs, and workouts feel specific to you?
Do you feel like you are required to look, dress, or behave a certain way?
You will learn where to wait between classes, that close-to-body clothes help your instructor, and that your pace isn't always yours. You should not feel like a bad fit even if you are a "culture add". *Looks at you in “Girl, et al".*
Your instructors should cheer you but not judge your character based on your image, accent, or demeanor.
4. Check your self-worth.
If you did not enjoy your experience, that is enough reason to keep shopping.
Hold your instructors accountable. You are the driver here.
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Pilates is super fun (biased opinion), and choosing a space to put your body in motion is critical. Even more than trends, though, it deserves considerable contemplation.
REMINDER! I answered the question: “What kind of Pilates should I be doing?” on TIKTOK. View it here and comment if this post or the video boosts your confidence to find a practice you love.
*shoutout to teaching platforms. It makes the community stronger through fact-based education and consideration.
TAKE GOOD CARE!
