The Fitness Pilates Blog

Matwork teaching framework- Fitness Pilates News

It’s been a very busy but brilliant week.

On Wednesday, we held our FitPro lunch and meetup, which was fantastic. It was wonderful to see everyone, share ideas and spend time together.

On Thursday, I taught the Fitness Pilates Reformer course, and on Friday, Kelly and I delivered the Level 3 Reformer training. It has certainly been a full on few days.

This week, I wanted to continue our theme of communication and teaching skills. I received some great feedback about last week’s newsletter, so thank you to everyone who got in touch.

Wherever we are in our teaching journey, newly qualified or have been teaching for decades, here is always an opportunity to improve how we communicate, cue and connect with our participants.

This is particularly important as we approach September, when lots of new participants may be joining your Fitness Pilates classes. Clear instructions, thoughtful adaptations and positive communication can make all the difference to their first experience.

With this in mind, I’ve created a new MATWORK teaching framework to help you plan, deliver and review your Fitness Pilates classes.

Take a look below and let me know what you think. I’d love to hear whether you find it helpful and if it’s something you will use in your own teaching.

Part Two: The MATWORK Teaching Framework for Fitness Pilates

Last week, I shared my ideas on communication, cueing and the importance of adapting our teaching style to the environment and the participants in front of us.

This week, I’ve created a simple MATWORK framework to help you organise and improve your Fitness Pilates teaching.

This isn’t a set of rigid rules. It is a practical checklist to help you deliver safe, effective and enjoyable classes while developing your own individual teaching style.

M — Meet and assess your group

Connect with your participants before the class begins.

Ask about:

How they are feeling
Pain, injuries or health changes
Previous Pilates experience
Any adaptations they may require

Consider your teaching environment too. Is it a busy leisure centre, a quiet studio, an outdoor class or an online session? Your voice, positioning and communication style should suit the setting.

A — Align the starting position

Before adding movement, help participants find an effective starting position.

Check:

Foot and knee alignment
Pelvic position
Spinal alignment
Shoulder placement
Head and neck position
Weight distribution

Keep your instructions clear and avoid giving too many corrections at once.

T — Teach in layers

Begin with the most accessible version and gradually add:

The basic movement
Breathing
Alignment and control
Range of movement
Arm or leg progressions
Equipment or additional resistance
Increased complexity

Always give participants permission to remain with the original version. They do not need to master every progression in one session.

W — Watch the whole group

Once participants understand the movement, stop demonstrating when it is safe to do so and observe.

Look at:

Movement quality
Breathing
Alignment
Range
Control
Signs of discomfort or fatigue

If several people are struggling, simplify the exercise or change your instruction. Repeating the same cue more loudly is unlikely to help.

O — Offer meaningful options

Every option should have a clear purpose. It may provide:

More stability
A smaller range of movement
Less load
More support
An alternative position
An additional challenge

Avoid presenting every option as easier or harder. It is simply another way of performing the exercise that may be more appropriate for that participant.

R — Reinforce the purpose

Participants engage more when they understand why they are performing an exercise.

For example:

“This exercise develops hip strength and pelvic stability, which can support your balance, walking and everyday movement.”

Keep explanations brief, relevant and easy to understand so the class continues to flow.

K — Keep the class flowing

Plan your transitions, equipment changes and changes of position carefully.

Consider how participants will move:

From standing to the floor
From lying to kneeling
From one side to the other
Between exercises
When collecting or changing equipment

Clear transitions make the class feel calm, organised and professional.

The MATWORK formula

Meet → Align → Teach → Watch → Offer → Reinforce → Keep flowing

Great Fitness Pilates teaching isn’t about using the most complicated exercises or delivering constant instructions. It is about observing, adapting and providing the right information at the right moment.

Let me know what you think in our quest for better communication & Cueing

Reformer Updates.

We are launching a new Reformer Cross Training Strength Class & Teacher Training course if you are interested in joining the pilot classes and course please send me a whats app.

Have a fantastic week and enjoy the last few weeks of the holidays

Rachel

I love to hear from you 07976 268672

Level 3 Pilates Course Dates on ZOOM