To think this is unprofessional in a Pilates class?

[MsMonday]

I attend Reformer Pilates regularly, and in my class yesterday, my instructor kept telling me to look at “Bridget” (another student) for guidance during certain exercises. She said it a couple of times when coming over to help me, instead of giving me direct instruction.

It felt like I was being compared to Bridget, which I found off-putting. I go to these classes expecting personalised guidance from the instructor, not to be told to look at another student. I’m fit and active, and I do other sports as well, so it felt a bit frustrating to not receive direct feedback.

AIBU to feel this comparison is unprofessional, and should I stop attending these classes?

Lol well you clearly aren’t alright…

What a weird response to people simply responding to your question.

😂😂

Poor Bridget. I wouldn’t want people being told to look at me with my arse in the air.

To be fair, my yoga teacher never tells me to look at anyone else - she tells ME what I'M needing to adjust and gently shifts my feet or whatever herself.

I think with a "look at Bridget" type instruction, I'd respond with a "could you please show me what I need to adjust to correct my position?". Unless you've got an unobstructed view of yourself in a mirror, how are you supposed to know what you look like yourself?

Yeah, I'm about to start training as a yoga teacher. And I'd never do it that way.

Exactly this.

I don’t think it’s unprofessional, for the reasons everyone else have said…but I would probably feel similar to you in that situation. If I’m having a negative day I can be a bit more sensitive to feedback, I suppose it would depend on the tone in which the instructor said it as well.

I’d park myself on the other side of the room to Bridget next time, or somewhere that I can’t be told to look at her 😂

I agree with this completely. I actually don't think it is useful to just tell you to look at someone else in the class. You often can't see yourself anyway while in certain positions in yoga or pilates, so you wouldn't necessarily know that your form is wrong or different to someone else's, nor would you necessarily know how to correct it without advice on which muscles to engage etc. When I have gone to pilates classes the instructor walks around and gives helpful advice and tips to people, you should not have to attend a 1 to 1 class for that, that is what the instructor is there for.

From your responses here... I think you have an issue with criticism

Presumably Bridget is also using a reformer machine and the instructor is standing upright? Therefore it's easier to actually see what you should be doing in action rather than being told?

I'm a pilates teacher and have a home equipment studio. I only teach 1-1s. But I taught reformwr classes for ages. There is a huge difference in the type of reformer classes out there. There are the super choreographed classes to music, which are more exercise than pilates and have no instructor corrections, then there are classical classes that are in a very set order with learned transitions. Then there are classes that are more contemporary that are modified for the level and needs of the class.

Anyway the main thing that an instructor has to focus on, over and above the exercises is client safety, and honestly I've had clients do the most fucking stupid things even when told not to. It's not practical to demonstrate every exercise (which would involve stopping a class, getting on a reformer assuming one is free) and it's hard to correct everyone in a room. So yes, I'd use the most experienced in a class to show form, I might even correct them.

But honestly the reason I don't teach classes like this anymore is I got very tired of clients who came in late, or late cancelled, got stroppy and thought they know better. And demanded refunds all the time. If you don't like the teacher's style then there are other teachers there, but if you want personal attention you need 1-1s. And there is a reason they are expensive. Having my own business gives me more freedom and I do sack clients as I do many teachers I know.

Also: Reformer is expensive. ~£18 per class and that is outside of London, in London that is a starting point.

I'd be more patient with an instructor with this (to be blunt, amateur) approach to teaching in a community yoga class where I was paying £6 a session.

I would want to know exactly what I was doing wrong and how to correct it.

But using another student as a model of good practice is a really good teaching technique.

We learn from other people.

The instructor should have said something like “make sure you keep your back straight and elbows out, like Bridget is doing”.

I'm a Pilates regular, and it's happened before that I've been in a group and the instructor has got me to demonstrate something to the person next to me, if they're less familiar with the reformer or the specific exercise. It really doesn't bother me and it's usually done in a way that isn't meant to single out one person as better than anyone else in the class. So in that respect, I don't think it's unprofessional.

That said, I do think the biggest factor in whether you're going to enjoy and benefit from Pilates is your rapport with the instructor. Different teachers cue the exercises differently, some are very hands-on, some follow the classical sequence while others adapt and modify the exercises and you need to find someone you click with. I've done classes which tbh could have been a youtube workout while others the instructor really engaged with the class. If you didn't click with this instructor, maybe it's not the right class for you.

Charming.

Do you go through life being permanently outraged, OP?

My instructor uses a spare reformer if there is one, or else borrows one from a student. I don't remember a 'look at Bridget' style instruction.

Side note: reformer is £20 - £25 around here and I'm not even in London. So I want good instruction!

Personalised instructions and boosting is what PTs are for.

Can't believe people are being so shitty in response to an effing Pilates question!!!

I have done loads of sport classes and can't remember a single 'look at Bridget' comment, let alone several in one class.

I agree. She sounds like a good teacher. You sound a little hard to please.

I think you should stop attending the classes - I'm worried for Bridget.

I think the instructor is scared to directly critique the OP 😱

Ask the instructor to be more specific - which body part are they referring to? Which muscle group do you need do use?

I do a similar sport and we all have different ways of learning. I'm not a visual learner so the Bridget instruction is no good to me, but thankfully the teachers are open to different methods of instructing.

Aren't Reformer instructors supposed to have proper qualifications? Do shop around until you find an instructor that you like. If you go to a specific pilates studio the quality of teaching should be higher (and pricier..).

Unfortunately it's unregulated. There are studios out there that have integrity and fully qualified instructors (like me) who have worked very hard to study anatomy etc and there are studios that have weekend courses that are basically just a few hours. It's hard to know sometimes.