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?

You do sound extremely defensive and easily offended OP, as I would've not minded about looking at Bridget in the first place, but it really offended you! And now you're being as easily offended by posters just saying normal things

I’m an instructor/PT of 22 years. Also Pilates Reformer teacher. I’d never instruct someone to watch another class member for technique. It’s my job to coach you and give you options whatever the size of class. Having said that some commercial gyms have far too many people in Pilates classes (especially Reformer) which is better taught in a smaller group. Maybe look around for a new class/instructor that suits you better.

Did you expect to be told you’re good and a natural, and found not being told that and instead to watch Bridget, annoying?

I don’t think YABU. Emulating other people in weights or Pilates classes is exactly how you injure yourself. The instructor should have been describing how it ought to FEEL not look.
Reformer costs a bomb I thought for that exact reason.

I do a lot of difficult physical things - the most difficult is ballet. I’m pretty good but not professional level. I love doing class with professionals - I learn so so so much from watching the way they put the teacher’s instructions into practice.

We can all learn by watching others. YABU.

Yabu, if you want 121 tuition book a private lesson. Perfectly reasonable to highlight a longstanding student as an example imo

I wouldn't be happy with that. When your in a pose it can be very hard to see how someone does it. Sometimes extra instruction is needed. I can only follow by looking if I am mirroring them which usually in classes other participants are alongside you so I would need and expect the instructor to say "lift your left leg and right arm" for example. Life is too short to go to a class that makes you feel bad.

I currently go to 1 pilates class and 2 yoga classes and all of them give people individual instruction if they are struggling with the move. They have never said just look at someone else.

No. It’s unprofessional. The instructor should be showing you herself . Watching you carefully to ensure you are doing it correctly. It’s v different to watch someone and know if you’re using the correct core muscles. I would find another class/instructor. Your waiting your money

No need to make assumptions. No need to be nasty.

A lot of women (including me) are sensitive about things like this. For that reason it is important that instructors don't do anything that implies that students are being compared with each other. We don't pay for classes to be triggered in that way. I've taught all sorts of things (including physical classes) and I find that it is possible to teach without resorting to this kind of thing, no matter how advanced or inexperienced the students are. If a student wants to copy another student that's up to them, but a teacher has no business instructing them to do so.

That’s such a pity! I’ve been doing reformer for ten years and it’s the best exercise to keep joints and muscles healthy. The instructors at the class , unless it’s a complete beginners class, asked us to take 3 private lessons to learn how to use the machines, basic movements etc, before joining a group class. Definitely worth the investment. If I were you, I would go back.

More like £35…

You cannot expect personalised guidance in class settings. If you want that you need to book private sessions. In class settings, watching others (who have been there longer) is the best way to learn.

You can and should. Skilled teachers can teach to the whole class but also zoom in on those needing personalised guidance.
And for reasons others have already given but which include it being important to develop and understand your own sense of your own body, watching others in something like Pilates is NOT the best way to learn.

Wow! You sound like a delight!

Just do what Bridget is doing and get over yourself.

I've been teaching mat pilates for 15 years and I have never asked a client to watch another one to understand the exercise. I've never been taught to do that and I've never seen a master trainer single out a participant to watch either (sometimes they have a demo person though).

There is a huge problem in the industry with large reformer classes (I've attended a lot). With large classes you can't get adequate instruction. I've seen many, many people who clearly don't understand the basics of the exercises on reformers, where there's 9 to 12 people in the class, and the instructor isn't able to get around the room to adjust people and some instructors. Some instructors don't even try, they just stand in one spot.

Sometimes I've looked around a class and I can see not everyone's got the strength to be doing what the instructor's asking them to do. Alignment's off, someone's hyperextending, someone's not able to control their core musculature etc. Honestly, some of these classes are an accident waiting to happen. We really need more industry control.

I hope you're not a teacher of anything involving developing proprioception.

In fact, in teaching more widely, aren't you supposed to be aware that there are different kinds of learner and cater for them all as much as possible?

Nonsense. Peer to peer learning is very standard and a key part of working in a class. If you don’t like it, that’s a ‘you’ problem, not the teacher’s.
If you want to avoid it, do 1to1 instruction, not group classes.

Different opinion OP, but i'm a pilates instructor and reformer classes if not done well have the ability to cause massive injury to people if they aren't taught the right technique and cues. Every body is different and you need to learn the correct technique AND how to apply it for your body, your inbuilt tightness, weaknesses etc. Following someone else with different needs (bridget) will not teach you this. If the class is so big that the instructor can not give you 1:1 guidance, especially in the early stages when you are learning, you need to go somewhere else. Try a 1:1 session or even better a classical pilates studio (these are the gold standard in the pilates community). Sadly the trendiness of reformer pilates means that the market has become saturated, and you get loads of reformers crammed into a room, with generic 1 size fits all instruction.

I secretly copy others who look like they know what they're doing, but it would be annoying to be instructed to do so!

I do reformer and i would find this really irritating tbh!

In Pilates and yoga and probably other things, peer-to-peer learning is not generally encouraged. Partly because (for yoga anyway) a big part of it is that it's about you, your body and mind, and your own yoga path. Partly because, as has been said many times on this thread, in Pilates and yoga and probably other physical forms, what's key is learning and developing your personal practice and personal understanding of the form, through how YOU experience it physically and otherwise.
This holds in group classes (ones that are taught well, anyway), not just 1to1.

I hope you are not a teacher if your approach is to label an opinion that differs from yours "nonsense"

There is a real art to teaching that doesn't disrespect others.

Wow. Did you really think this was so important it warranted a post on social media? You have too much time on your hands, and you are very touchy.

I don't think you're being unreasonable. If they're walking around so that they are not the demonstrator then I would expect it to be for the class members to receive small snippets of personalised feedback or advice where/as necessary. It would be fine it is was an occasional suggestion but it is a very limited teacher if that is all they are offering you in a session.

Knowing what someone else is doing well doesn't help you know how to improve your own attempt, given most bodies are not straight and proprioception is often fooled by habit.

Of course for detailed feedback it should be 1-to-1 but to not receive any personal feedback in a class? I would be disappointed with that.