The Art Of Cueing
I had a student ask me recently what I enjoy most about teaching Pilates. I immediately rattled off something about ‘liking the flow...’ before giving the question a little more thought + replying: ‘Because I believe in the power of movement + know that it works.’
I’m very fortunate to have a delightful group of dedicated regulars who come to class each week (or, multiple classes!) I’m well in tune with the ‘bodies’ of each + their idiosyncrasies (although bodies are always changing!) I know what modifications I need to give to either regress or challenge a student + I know what things I need to look out for in order keep each unique body safe. Intermittently, our regular crew is joined by a new mover + this is always interesting from a teaching perspective. I’ve worked with my current students for a while now, + have enjoyed watching them grow + develop as movers. I sometimes forget what it is like work with those who perhaps don’t have a background in movement. Proprioception is developed over time + a seasoned Pilates student, generally speaking, requires less cueing (tactile or verbal) than a fresh-faced newbie. It is then up to me to effectively communicate instruction + ensure that a student new to Pilates has a positive movement experience. Interestingly, I have found that it is often more effective to encourage students to ‘feel’ their bodies + how they are moving, rather than relaying a exhaustive list of cues to ‘get’ the exercise. Sometimes, that means even getting the student to move in the ‘wrong’ way, so they have a point of comparison, ie. how it feels to move in one way + then in another way. It’s about exploring the movement.
Pilates is a beautiful blend of effort + ease (‘as much as necessary, as little as possible’) + requires a student to connect to the sensations of their body + where their body is in space. I’ve been a student myself in classes where the instructor rattles off the most intricately detailed instruction, + I’ve got to say, these are my least-enjoyed movement experiences! Yes, of course technique is important! No argument there. However, with a flood of cues, of breathing patterns, of imagery...my gosh, my brain just about explodes! Paradoxically, it actually takes me out of my body, because my mind is in overdrive, trying to decode an endless stream of words. It kills the flow of the class + leaves my mind exhausted + my body confused.
There is a certain art to cueing - I’m still figuring it out! - + it’s not just about word choice. It’s also in using the vocal qualities of volume, rate, articulation + tone to convey meaning... of late, I’ve even been exploring the use of onomatopoeia + alliteration in my instruction. It’s fun! It sounds pleasant + is effective! When I first started teaching, I was perhaps a little obsessed with the idea of perfect technique + my over-cueing reflected this. These days, I’m more interested in economy of words + in ‘communicating more with less’. My language is stripped back, simpler + my cueing is more direct. Now, this is NOT to suggest that my way of doing things is ‘better’ than someone else’s; different strokes for different folks, as they say. I’m simply noting my personal preferences + the evolution in my teaching, as well as highlighting the importance of the mind-body connection in Pilates.
Ultimately, my goal is to get you out of your head + into your body + I’m choosing a direct path to get there.