Whether you teach Pilates as a side gig outside of your 9-to-5 or you’re teaching full-time, I think we can all agree on one thing: it is one of the most rewarding, yet most challenging things you can choose to do.
I am so grateful to be a part of my clients’ journeys, but being a teacher is about so much more than just the movement. Every time we step into the studio, we take on the energy of the room and hold space for so many different life stories. One day, you’re helping a new mom find a moment of peace and reconnect with her core; the next, you’re helping a client honor a loved one through movement or find strength after an injury. And through it all, we celebrate the wins, big or small, together.
Teaching Full-Time: Finding Your Balance
I was fortunate enough to get to a point where I could leave my 9-to-5 job and pursue teaching full-time, and it has been everything I dreamed of. However, if you’re a full-time teacher, you quickly learn that the energy required is immense.
For example, my current schedule with group classes and privates sits around 30 classes a week and I’ll be honest: it feels like a lot. Teaching 30 hours a week requires so much more energy than going to a desk job for 40 hours a week. No matter how you feel, or what you’re going through personally, you still have to show up fully present for your clients day in and day out.
That’s why I’ve learned that you must find a schedule that truly works for you.
Four Non-Negotiable Habits for a Full-Time Instructor
If you’re striving for a sustainable career in Pilates, you need to build boundaries that protect your passion. Here are the things I prioritize to keep my cup full:
- Prioritize Your Schedule: Design a schedule that allows you to prioritize the things that are important to your quality of life. Maybe that means being home for dinner with your family, or maybe it means getting to sleep in on your non-teaching mornings. Whether you teach 5 classes a week or 45, find a balance that gives you the flexibility you were looking for when you started.
- Make Time for Your Own Practice: It is non-negotiable. We spend so much time giving, we need time to receive. I have recently fallen in love with taking privates. Having an expert eye focus entirely on my body is invaluable for my form and my mental reset.
- Find a Mentor: Having a mentor has been critical for my growth. Find someone you trust, get their advice, ask them all your questions, and bounce ideas off of them. Their perspective is a priceless.
- Fill Your Own Cup: This is the most personal step. Figure out what genuinely fills your cup and make time for it. Everyone is different. It might be quiet time alone, a good book, or exploring the outdoors. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and your clients deserve the best of your energy.
Being a Pilates instructor is a privilege. It’s a demanding, beautiful career, and making time for your own well-being is the ultimate way to honor the profession.
What’s one thing you do regularly to fill your cup before a busy week? Share your tips below!
