Any advice or tips, suggestions on my first outdoor “Beginner Mat Pilates ” class?
This will be my first outdoor class as well as moving out independently in the group setting.
While I instruct in the studio, fitness center enviroment , both group and indiviual. I will be offering a beginner Pilates Mat class outdoors.
Any tips, or advice for outdoor fitness classes of any type including Pilates?
Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
I always suggest to new clients in group settings, to sit in the back. This way you can view other students and feel more relaxed. I know it can feel like a lot to remember all at once(breathing, engaging the abs, coordination), so don’t fret it. Remember your a beginner and a month from now you’ll be asking yourself, “what was I fretting about?”
Have fun.
I lead a donation-based mat class series in the parks around Santa Monica. It’s great to workout outdoors, especially when the weather is gorgeous 🙂
I would recommend suggesting that everyone bring a towel to put under their mat – I’ve found this is super helpful for keeping the mats as clean as possible.
Also, make sure you project your voice so that everyone can hear – sounds dissipates outside. I definitely walk around and provide physical adjustments just as often if not more outside than I do inside, just to make sure everyone gets it.
Also take note of your location – one place I teach happens to mow the law at the same time as my class on some days, which gets distracting and annoying… It’s good to scout your location during the time and day you’ll be teaching so you get a feel for the goings-on that will be going on during your class.
As with any class, be prepared with modifications for every exercise, and be patient with people who take a little longer to make certain connections. I like to be able to describe each movement in at least 2 different ways to appeal to different learning styles. You’ll also have people showing up with injuries they may or may not have told you about or be aware of.
Have fun! Bring an iPod dock or some music, make an upbeat playlist, and joke around with your new outdoor workout buddies. Put the fun, personal touch back in the training 🙂
PS> for beginners, especially first-timers, remember that almost right is good enough sometimes. People get discouraged when the teacher picks on them a lot their first time out there. Making 1 or 2 of the 50 million connections we make during a Pilates based movement is 1 or 2 steps closer to getting it perfect the next time 🙂
Congrats on starting out on your own, and good luck!
Kelsey and Heike’s info is very detailed and I agree. Maybe bring along props like bands or magic circles if you are able to add in another element. Bands are great to help people modify or stretch out tight hamstrings/hips. They can also help with standing arms work or seated rowing. Make sure to have fun, walk around so everyone can hear you and demo if needed. Enjoy!