The Fitness Pilates Blog

The Art of Cueing in Fitness Pilates

We’ve had an incredibly busy week running our Level 3 Reformer Live Assessments, everyone was so nervous but they all passed and it was a fab day,

One of my goals for 2026 is to create more events and experiences where teachers can come together. Last week I hosted a Retro Aerobics Masterclass at Nottingham University, and this week I opened up my home studio for a small, intimate Teachers’ Afternoon.

It was a chance for teachers to experience an Infrared Fitness Pilates class, followed by Reformer, with plenty of time to chat, connect, share ideas, create social media content — and most importantly, have fun together. It was a huge success, and I’ll definitely be running more of these in the future.

Alongside this, my experiment with long-form content continues — including a mammoth new VLOG over on YouTube.

Click here to watch.

Improving Cueing

The Art of Cueing in Fitness Pilates

However long you’ve been teaching, we can always improve our cueing — especially with so many new people joining classes this year.

Take time to:

Share the history of Pilates with new participants
Explain how Fitness Pilates exercises are derived from the original 34 exercises
Show how Fitness Pilates supports modern life, improves posture, strength, mobility and flexibility.

The success of your class often comes down to how you make people feel. Voice projection, cueing, and educating your members are essential skills in today’s highly competitive Pilates landscape.

I would love to know…….
What are your most useful and impactful exercise cues?

How great cueing improves learning, flow, and results

Cueing isn’t just about telling people what to do — it’s about how you say it, when you say it, and why it matters.

Strong cueing:

Builds confidence
Supports different learning styles
Improves movement quality
Creates calm, professional, purposeful classes

Here are practical ways to improve your cueing in Fitness Pilates.

1. Use your voice intentionally

Your voice sets the emotional tone of the room.

Tips:

Slow your speech slightly — clarity improves instantly
Lower your voice rather than raising it to gain attention
Match your tone to the phase of the class
(energising for standing work, calmer for floorwork and relaxation)
Smile when you cue — it genuinely softens your voice

Your voice should guide, not rush. Calm cueing leads to better movement.

2. Simplify your language

Over-cueing is one of the biggest reasons participants struggle with exercises.

Tips:

Choose one main focus per exercise
Use short phrases instead of long explanations
Pause between cues to let people process

Ask yourself:
If I could only say one thing here, what matters most?

3. Cue to how people learn

People absorb information differently, so variety matters.

Tips:

Demonstrate first, then speak
Use “feel” cues such as:
- “Notice where you feel this”
- “You should feel supported through the centre”
Use imagery sparingly but effectively:
- “Imagine length through the spine”
- “Move as if you’re gliding through water”

Encourage participants to feel rather than just copy.

4. Cue transitions early and clearly

Transitions are often where classes lose flow.

Tips:

Cue transitions before they happen
Always tell people where they’re going next

Clear transitions build trust and confidence in your teaching.

5. Educate in small, relevant moments

Sharing Education & Knowledge is powerful — when it’s well timed.

Tips:

Add one short “why” per sequence, not every exercise
Link movements to posture, daily life, and function

6. Use silence as part of your cueing

Silence is not a gap — it’s a tool.

Tips:

Stop talking during slow, controlled movements
Allow space during breath-focused work
Trust that people don’t need constant instruction

Silence allows focus, breath awareness, and internal connection.

7. Refine by listening and observing

Great cueing improves when you observe more and talk less.

Tips:

Watch how people respond to your cues
Notice which cues improve movement
Repeat what works — drop what doesn’t
Record yourself teaching and listen back to your language

Cueing is a skill that evolves with experience and awareness.

I’ll post this over in the Facebook group and would love to hear your thoughts, reflections, and favourite cues and share you essential cues.

Everyday we strive to be better teachers.

Have a wonderful day,
Rachel

Whats app 07976 268672

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